"China will, together with all other countries, share opportunities, tackle challenges, and make new and greater contribution to the lofty cause of peace and development for mankind," Yang said at a New Year Reception hosted by the Foreign Ministry for diplomats and representatives of international agencies here Monday.

Briefing the guests on the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Yang said China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit; promote equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutually beneficial cooperation in international relations; firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace; unwaveringly follow the path of peaceful development and grow friendship and cooperation in all fields with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

According to the foreign minister, 2012 has seen fresh and important progress in China's diplomatic work, as it was evidence by the country's growing international standing and influence.

"We have advanced our ties with other countries and deepened good-neighbourly friendship and cooperation with our neighbours," Yang said.

He told the audience, "We have played the responsible and constructive role of a big country in dealing with international and regional hotspot issues, worked actively to push for peaceful settlement of disputes and issues, and stood for non-intervention in others' internal affairs and other basic norms governing international relations.

"We have carried out extensive public diplomacy activities as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges to encourage deeper understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people of other countries."

Yang said China's diplomacy will maintain continuity and consistency, and the country will adapt itself to new developments and requirements, both domestically and internationally.

"We will seek to create a more favourable international environment for our efforts to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieve socialist modernization," he said. "In the coming year, we look forward to maintaining good cooperation with all of you and stepping up mutual support and coordination with all related agencies."

In his address, Nolana Ta-Ama, dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Togo's ambassador to China, hailed China's great achievements in 2012.

More than 400 people, including State Councillor Dai Bingguo, attended reception.