Milestone year for China's diplomacy

China's major diplomatic events in 2015, which started with the first ministerial meeting of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in January and ended with the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in December, were milestones in its efforts to shoulder more international responsibilities as the world's second-largest economy and largest developing country.

With greater focus on strategic planning and efforts to bridge the gap between developed and developing economies, China helped reach a historical deal at the UN climate change conference in Paris in December. The Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which was officially launched on December 25, 2015, six months after the article of agreement was signed by 57 founding members, was China's major attempt to reform global financial governance.

Confronted with the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, which 12 countries recently agreed to, as well as Washington's increasingly aggressive interventions in the South China Sea issue, Beijing has responded calmly but firmly, without losing its ground and relinquishing its legitimate interests.