BEIJING, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- President Hu Jintao told Chinese diplomats safeguarding sovereignty and national security is their top priority.
Hu made the comment during a conference in Beijing focused on China's diplomatic work. The five day gathering, which ended Sunday, was the first time since 1998 that Chinese envoys had reviewed recent achievements and set out policy goals.
Domestic economic development will continue to dominate China's foreign policy agenda. According to state run Xinhua, Hu said diplomacy serves the strategic goal of building a relatively affluent society in an all-round way as well as contributes to world peace and common development.
Hu holds two of the three most important titles in China's political hierarchy: President and General Secretary of the Communist Party. He does not have final say on the country's military.
Former president and party head Jiang Zemin continues to cling to his final position of power, that as head of China's Central Military Commission.
