BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The following are the top ten world news events in the year 2016 selected by Xinhua in a chronological order:
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L), South African President Jacob Zuma (1st R), Brazilian President Michel Temer (1st L)and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a BRICS leaders' meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
1. CHINESE DIPLOMACY MAKES HEADWAY IN ALL FIELDS
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran from Jan. 19 to 23, kicking off China's major diplomatic actions for the year.
In the past year, Chinese diplomacy has been moving forward in all directions with fruitful results. China successfully held the Group of 20 (G20) Hangzhou summit, leading global governance reform and showing responsibility on climate change.
In 2016, China has safeguarded regional stability and cooperation, maintained stable relationships with major countries, and expanded China's "circle of friends" in developing countries.
In the year, China has made new breakthroughs in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative with related countries, and firmly safeguarded China's sovereignty rights in the South China Sea.