In the evening of February 16, 2015, the 2015 New Year Reception for Foreign Journalists in China was jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Beijing Municipal People's Government in Beijing Art Bar. Guests of all circles happily gathered together to ring out the Year of Horse and ring in the Year of Goat. Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao was present.

Liu Jianchao expressed that where we gather now was the old site of the Sino-French University which, as a meeting place of Eastern and Western cultures, was built in the 1920s. It has witnessed the development and change of Chinese society as well as the change of China and the outside world in nearly a hundred years. The students studying here in those days committed themselves to exploring a revitalization path for the Chinese nation. Today, we have found it, that is, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics as well as the path of reform and opening-up and peaceful development.

Liu Jianchao pointed out that journalists of various countries have personally experienced the development course of China and recorded dribs and drabs of China's advancement, which enhanced the communication between the world and China. I appreciate the efforts and hard work of the journalists. If the journalists know more about China, the world will also learn more about it. In the new year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Beijing Municipal People's Government and relevant departments will continue their efforts in offering more convenience and service to foreign journalists. I believe that as long as we treat each other with sincerity and join efforts, the world will surely know a developing and prosperous China in a better way, while China will better understand a diversified world.

Nearly 500 people attended the reception upon invitation including the foreign journalists in China, foreign diplomats in China, heads of relevant departments of the State Council and the Beijing Municipal People's Government, and heads of China's mainstream media. Up to January 2015, there were nearly 700 stationing journalists in China from 320 foreign news institutions of 50 countries.