On December 28, 2018, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi attended and addressed a work symposium on international law marking the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up in Beijing.

Yang Jiechi pointed out that China has forged ahead in its work on international law in a pioneering spirit under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee over the 40 years of reform and opening up, which has created favorable external environment for reform and opening up, and made important contributions to safeguarding global peace and promoting common development. China has extensively participated in international treaties and mechanisms, developed itself in integration with the world, and achieved common progress. China has applied and developed international law to properly resolved problems left over by history and international disputes, and resolutely safeguarded national sovereignty, security and development interests. China has always held high the banner of international law, extensively participated in the formulation of global governance rules in an in-depth manner, and contributed Chinese wisdom and strengths to coping with global challenges. China has become a recognized builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.

Yang Jiechi stressed that after 40 years of struggle, China's relations with the world stand at a new starting point. We should grasp the new requirements of the new round of reform and opening up for the work of international law in a profound manner, comprehensively implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs, take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy as guidance, firmly uphold the awareness of maintaining political integrity, thinking in terms of the big picture, following the leadership core and keeping in alignment with the central Party leadership, as well as have full confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We should constantly strengthen the level of legal work concerning foreign affairs, and strive to push the work of international law to a new level, in a bid to make new and greater contributions to deepening reform and opening up, breaking new ground in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics as well as promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era.