Senior official stresses military's role in diplomacy

BEIJING - Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, has stressed the role of the military in the country's overall diplomatic drive.

"Focus on fostering diplomatic ties with major countries as well as neighboring regions..., managing well significant diplomatic events, emergency responses and the guidance of public opinions," Fan said at a meeting on the military's foreign affairs work held on Friday and Saturday.

Fan stressed that the army should effectively contribute to the country's overall diplomatic work and serve for military construction as well as combat preparation.

The call followed President Xi Jinping's urges earlier this week that military authorities should unswervingly following the Party's "absolute leadership" in performing military diplomacy, strengthening international military exchanges in accordance with China's overall diplomatic and security strategies.