Regulation on consular protection unveiled

A regulation on consular affairs was unveiled by the State Council on Friday in a bid to make China's consular protection and assistance more law-based, institutionalized and standardized to promote the safety and interests of overseas Chinese.

The 27-item regulation on consular protection and assistance will come into effect on Sept 1.

Vice-Foreign Minister Deng Li told a news briefing on Friday that the regulation clarified responsibilities of various departments involved in consular protection and assistance, such as the Foreign Ministry, Chinese diplomatic missions overseas and relevant departments of the State Council.

It also provided a detailed description of the responsibilities of domestic institutions with personnel stationed overseas and the self-protection duties of overseas Chinese citizens, legal persons and unincorporated organizations, he said.

For example, they have to abide by the laws of China and the host countries, respect the religious beliefs and customs of the host countries, and follow the security alerts issued by the Foreign Ministry, Deng added.

According to Deng, China has organized nearly 20 evacuation operations and has handled more than 500,000 cases of consular protection involving millions of Chinese nationals over the past 10 years. The 24-hour 12308 hotline for consular service has received over 3 million calls since being launched in 2014.

"Wherever Chinese citizens go overseas, our consular protection and assistance must follow," Deng said.

Zhang Yaoming, director of the first bureau of legislation of the Ministry of Justice, said Chinese diplomatic institutions stationed overseas provide timely consular assistance and protection to Chinese citizens, legal persons and unincorporated organizations abroad when their legitimate rights and interests are infringed upon or they need help.

It is an important public service provided by the government and a measure to safeguard people's safety, he said.