Chinese Foreign Ministry hosts 2025 Chinese New Year reception

Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the Chinese Foreign Ministry's 2025 New Year reception at the Beijing Performing Arts Center on Friday.

The event was attended by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, along with diplomatic envoys from various countries, representatives of international organizations in China, and representatives of Chinese government departments. Around 400 people attended the event in total.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that China's foreign service has held high the banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind, strived for peace, and fulfilled its responsibility for development. China's diplomatic efforts have brought more stability and positive energy to a turbulent world, he added.

Wang noted that in the past year, diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations have visited different parts of China to build bridges of friendship between the peoples, and devoted and contributed their strength to the friendship and cooperation between China and the countries they represent.

China will work with all countries to bear in mind the well-being of the entire world and rise above estrangement and conflict. "Together, let us promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

Martin Mpana, dean of the foreign diplomatic corps in China and Cameroon's ambassador to China, sent best wishes to the Chinese people for a happy New Year on behalf of the diplomatic corps.

He said that China's diplomacy demonstrates its responsibility as a major country and makes important contributions to addressing the growing uncertainties and challenges in the world.

Countries around the world are willing to deepen friendship, intensify exchanges and strengthen cooperation with China to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry hosts 2025 Chinese New Year reception

The Japanese intruder who broke into the Embassy of China in Japan on Tuesday morning was arrested by the police later the same day, with more information about the case disclosed, according to local media.

The intruder has been identified as Kodai Murata, 23, a second lieutenant in Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), stationed at Camp Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture, according to Kyodo News, citing Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. A second lieutenant is the lowest officer rank within the GSDF.

The suspect allegedly entered the premises of the Chinese embassy at around 09:00 local time, carrying a knife and shouting threatening words. He was initially detained by embassy staff and later arrested by police on suspicion of unlawful entry, the report said.

The man admitted that his act was illegal and he also threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel in the so-called "name of god." The GSDF said it would cooperate fully with the police and deal with the case "strictly," proceeding "based on facts."

According to the Chinese embassy in Japan, a man claiming to be "an active-duty officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces" forcibly broke into the embassy by climbing over a wall on Tuesday morning, threatening to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel.

The embassy has lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with the Japanese side, demanding that Japan provide a responsible explanation.

Intruder to Chinese embassy in Japan arrested, more information disclosed