It has been a year of "unprecedented activity" for Chinese diplomacy with the successful Olympics and a series of unexpected crises, China's foreign minister said yesterday.

"The year 2008 is a special year for China," Minister Yang Jiechi said in a speech at the ministry's New Year reception. He cited major events, such as the snow and ice storms at the year's beginning, the devastating Sichuan earthquake, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the summit of Asian and European leaders and the ongoing global economic crisis.

"More than 180 heads of state or governments visited China this year now China's fate is increasingly closely linked to that of the world."

The ministry's spokesman Liu Jianchao told China Daily at the reception he was particularly impressed by efforts to combat anti-China forces trying to politicize and sabotage the Olympics.

"We worked hard the Chinese people were of the same mind, and we finally hosted a successful Olympics," he said.

"Now, we are making an important step at the end of the year to dispatch warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect Chinese vessels and crewmen."

The move was hailed by Ambassador of Sweden in Beijing Mikael Lindstrom, who said: "I think it's a responsible action."

Sweden, which will hold the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2009, expected good cooperation with China, Lindstrom said.

US ambassador to China Clark Randt gave "high marks" on Beijing's diplomatic performance in 2008.

"It's very good and professional," he said.

The US embassy is busily preparing several big celebrations in Beijing next month for the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, which falls on January 1.

"We had ups and downs from January 1979 to January 2009, but we've come a long way. A lot of progress (has been made); it's terrific," he said.

Many big names in the history of Sino-US relations, such as former US president Jimmy Carter, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and all the former US ambassadors to China, will visit for the anniversary.

And "it's a good bet" US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will pay a farewell visit to the Chinese capital soon, the ambassador said. Rice had said she would devote her last foreign visit to China before leaving her post in January.

Despite the power transfer, Randt believes the positive relationship with Beijing would continue under the Obama administration.

"I think (there will be) no change; it'll continue to be increasingly good," he said.

Togolese Ambassador to China and head of diplomatic missions in Beijing, Nolana Ta Ama, said that based on "the facts we see every day the world cannot deny its need for China, a great country that deserves the name in various terms, and China also needs the world".

The envoy delegation will try their best to facilitate communication between their governments and Beijing in 2009.

"The task will be finished smoothly, as the country (in which) we're dispatched lays the foundation of its diplomacy on non-interference in others' internal affairs and never seeking hegemony," he said.

Questions:

1. How many foreign heads of state visited China in 2008?

2. What was the ministry's spokesman Liu Jianchao particularly impressed by?

3. Which notable figure also is expected to visit China before the end of her term expires?

Answers:

1. More than 180.

2. By efforts to combat anti-China forces trying to politicize and sabotage the Olympics.

3. Condoleeza Rice.