Recently, State Councilor Yang Jiechi has written on innovations in diplomatic theory and practice by the new collective central leadership. According to the article, since the successful conclusion of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last year and the end of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) earlier this year, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary has promoted innovations in diplomatic theory and practice by keeping up with the trend of the times and pushing ahead with a pioneering spirit. It has actively promoted relations with the major countries, energetically worked to stabilize and advance the friendly and good-neighborly relations in the surrounding areas, vigorously worked to strengthen friendship and cooperation with developing countries, and deeply engaged in and shaped processes of multilateral diplomacy. These initiatives are strategic, overarching and innovative in nature. A good beginning has been made and an overall plan adopted in China's diplomatic work. The Party Central Committee has put forth many important strategic ideas as well as diplomatic policies and principles, such as the Chinese dream, building a new model of major-country relationship between China and the United States, upholding the right approach to justice and interests, strengthening top-level designing, strategic planning and bottom line thinking in diplomatic work, and enhancing coordination in diplomatic work. It has also taken a number of major diplomatic initiatives. All these have not only created external conditions favorable for facilitating the work of the Party and the state across the board, but also enriched and developed the system of diplomatic theory with Chinese characteristics.