Chinese FM pledges good protection of citizens abroad

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday the government will do its best to protect its citizens abroad, and he advised them to better protect themselves in the meantime.

He suggested Chinese citizens learn local laws, customs and abide by them when traveling overseas, and keep in mind the phone numbers of Chinese embassies and consulates in foreign countries.

"Serving the people is the essence of China's diplomacy. It foremost serves peace, development and cooperation and meanwhile safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal entities abroad," said Li at a press conference held on the sideline of the annual session of China's National People's Congress.

Last year, more than 31 million Chinese citizens made trips abroad, and China's embassies and consulates handled nearly 30,000 consular cases, Li said.

In the road accident in Egypt and the attack of three Chinese engineers in Pakistan, China's ministries of foreign affairs and commerce and relevant diplomatic organs acted quickly to help the Chinese citizens involved.

"Some Chinese overseas told me that these incidents made them feel proud of being a Chinese," said the foreign minister.

Li said the safety of Chinese citizens traveling abroad is mainly the responsibility of the countries they are traveling in. Like the old Chinese saying goes: When you are at home, you rely on your parents. When you are outside, you have to rely on your friends.

"But once there are any incidents, people can rest assured that Chinese embassies and consulates-general in relevant countries and regions will go out to provide help to Chinese citizens in accordance with law," said Li.

Li said China has more than 5,000 permanent diplomatic staffs sent by more than 30 other departments abroad.

China calls for early resumption of six-party talks: FM

China will continue to work for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia and to facilitate the talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Tuesday afternoon.

"China has maintained communication and coordination with all parties involved for the early resumption of the six-party talks," Li told a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Chinese president to visit US soon: FM

Chinese President Hu Jintao is going to visit the United States shortly, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday.

It is the first time that Hu visits the United States as Chinese president. Both sides are busy preparing for the visit, Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

China's defense budget much smaller than that of US: FM

China's defense budget is much smaller than that of the United States despite the expected rise of 14.7 percent this year, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday.

The per capita defense budget of China is only one-seventy-seventh that of the United States, Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Vatican should not intervene with China's internal affairs: FM

China hopes the Vatican will not intervene in its internal affairs in any form, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Tuesday in response to a question that the Vatican appointed a Hong Kong person as the cardinal-bishop recently.

"We hope the Vatican will not maintain a so-called diplomatic relations with a province or a locality of China," Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong is Chinese people's, including Hong Kong compatriots', said Li, adding that China is happy to see the achievements made by the Hong Kong compatriots under the leadership of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government.

"With the regard to the affairs in Hong Kong, We will abide by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong. "