The time has come for country to set its own rules in diplomacy

I was struck by one particular remark Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made during his 90-minute-long annual news conference on China's foreign policy on Saturday.

"We have tried hard to enrich and expand diplomatic theory with Chinese characteristics," Yang told reporters at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Beijing's top diplomat made the remarks when summarizing China's diplomatic achievements of the past year on the sidelines of the ongoing National People's Congress session.