Full coverage: 2017 Spring Festival

The Spring Festival is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar, and it's just around the corner. To mark the occasion, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has hosted a New Year Reception for foreign representatives and ambassadors at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses a new year reception held by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

State Councilor Yang Jiechi and some 400 distinguished guests from home and abroad attended the reception.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech and wished everyone a very happy and prosperous new year. He said that over the course of the last year, China has played a leading role in the reform of global governance, made progress in boosting ties with major countries, maintaining friendship with neighboring countries, and expanding its "circle of friendship" with developing countries. Wang Yi also outlined China's foreign policy plans for the year ahead.

"In 2017, the Communist Party of China will hold its 19th Congress, and continue to implement its 13th Five-Year Plan. China will also host the International Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road Initiative, to push forward the construction of "the Belt and Road" and boost its development to a much broader, deeper and higher level.  We will also host the 9th BRICS Summit to provide a good platform for South-South Cooperation. We will continue to deepen friendly cooperation with countries from all over the world to better service these countries' development," Wang said.