China's foreign minister Li Zhaoxing answered questions raised by Chinese people through the Internet Tuesday afternoon, saying ordinary people's questions about whether China should adopt more aggressive diplomatic policies often left them deep in thought.

It was the first time for a foreign minister has communicated with ordinary Chinese via the Internet.

"Many of the Internet users' viewpoints are helpful for the government's diplomatic policy making," Li said. "We need help and support from our people."

The 105-minute-long online communication via the Foreign Ministry's website (www.fmprc.gov.cn) and Xinhua News Agency's website (www.xinhuanet.com) was arranged at the request of the public, ministry sources said.

People asked more than 2,000 questions of the minister, including "Will China participate in the reconstruction of Iraq?" "How are diplomatic policies made?" and "Are there any shortcomings in China's current diplomacy?"

Observers say the communication was a sign that ordinary Chinese are increasingly interested in discussing their viewpoints on China's diplomatic policies openly.

"The public will have a more significant influence on China's diplomacy as they are motivated by this fast-changing world," said Professor Shi Yinhong of the School of International Relations of Beijing's People's University.

Shi said different voices and even fierce controversies arose among the public in recent years as they feel directly the pressure from major international events like the September 11 terrorist attack, the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula and the Iraq war.

"China's surrounding security environment, and its status and role in the international arena will remain among the hottest topics for public discussion for the next few decades," Shi said.

More and more ordinary people in China are expressing their views boldly about diplomatic policies in the mass media, and this has begun to win support from the country's media, especially the popular Internet websites.

Even the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already opened an online diplomatic forum welcoming ordinary people's opinions and perspectives.

"The government should work even harder together with communications experts to create a more active atmosphere for people's diplomatic participation," Shi said. "This is important for China's future."

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2003)