BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin said here Saturday Premier Wen Jiabao's confidence expressed in his government work report in China's diplomacy is well grounded.

    "We have won more understanding, trust, respect and support from the international community, and we enjoy higher status and greater influence in the international arena than ever before," Liquoted Wen as reporting to the lawmakers Friday.

    Li said the China's diplomatic work is for all Chinese people and wins the support of the whole people.

    With China's peaceful development, the Chinese people have become increasingly rich, which represents the greatest contribution to human progress, Li said.

    Being engaged in diplomatic work is to provide services, Li said, adding that the services are targeted first at the China's lofty goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way and striving to create a good international and regional environment for China's economic construction.

    "Another purpose is to make friends. The more the better," Li said.

    Last year, China received 18 heads of state, 22 heads of government and 31 foreign ministers, and top Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao and Premiere Wen Jiabao visited 22 nations, covering with a total of distance of 166,000 kilometers, Li said.

    China's friendship with neighboring countries was brought into a new height and China's relations with big countries and developing countries was further expanded in the past year.

    He said China has joined 135 international inter-governmental agencies and Chinese diplomats have been active in the international affairs, including the Iraq issue and the Korean nuclear issue. Enditem