China's foreign minister: Country will continue broader foreign policy

BEIJING, March 8 (UPI) -- Last year was a time for "innovation and harvest" as China broadened its role in the outside world, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.

Wang spoke at a news conference during the National Party Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress, Xinhua, the official news agency, reported. He said the country will continue to pursue a more active foreign policy in 2014.

President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited 22 foreign countries between them and received 65 heads of state and government in Beijing, Wang said. China also signed a total of 800 agreements with foreign governments.

"China's diplomacy in 2013 was broader in horizon and more active in conduct," he said. "It is not just a successful year under the new leadership but also a year of innovation and harvest for China's diplomacy."

Wang cited Xi's planned visit to Europe later this month as an example of China's greater role in the world. The goals include speeding up negotiations for an investment agreement between China and the European Union and paving the way for future free trade agreements.