The main task of China's diplomacy in the year to come will be to make a favorable international situation for the country's economic development, said Qin Gang, spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, on Tuesday.

"In the context of international financial turmoil, China's diplomacy will be about trying to ensure a sound international environment to serve steady and rapid development of our economy," Qin said at the last press conference of 2008.

China would further its all-round diplomacy as well as enhance relations with all major powers and developing countries, he said.

Qin also said China would continue its constructive role in multilateral framework to better serve the sovereignty, territorial integrity and interest of the nation.

China would continuously play a responsible role in resolving international and regional issues, and work with the international community to safeguard peace, stability and development of the world, he said.

The spokesman said profound and complex changes would take place throughout the international situation and the negative impact of the financial crisis would be more apparent in 2009. Conflicts and security challenges in traditional and non-traditional areas would also pose new threats to all countries of the world.

Qin also said China's diplomacy was fruitful in 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2008)