'Public diplomacy at early stage'

BEIJING - China's public diplomacy has not surpassed that of the United States as claimed by a US senator, said Zhao Qizheng, spokesman for the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Instead, judging from the money China spends and what it has already done, its public diplomacy is in a very early phase, said Zhao.

Zhao made the remarks on Wednesday at the first press conference of the Fourth Session of the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC, which will meet from Thursday to March 13.