- Coordinates with relevant government departments according to the overall diplomatic planning, and reports and gives suggestions to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on major issues including foreign trade, economic cooperation and assistance, culture, military aid, arms trade, Chinese nationals abroad, education, science and technology, and public diplomacy
- Drafts laws, regulations, and policy plans concerning diplomatic work
- Handles global and regional security, political, economic, human rights, social, refugee and other diplomatic affairs in the United Nations and other multilateral forums
- Deals with matters in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; researches international security issues; and organizes negotiations on treaties and agreements related to arms control
- Concludes bilateral and multilateral treaties, handles international judicial cooperation, oversees or participates in dealing with major foreign-related legal cases that involve the state or the government, assists in examining foreign-related draft laws and regulations, and organizes and coordinates the work of fulfilling international conventions and agreements
- Leads or participates in efforts to formulate policies related to land and maritime boundaries; guides and coordinates foreign-related maritime work; organizes the work of border delimitation, boundary demarcation and joint inspections, and handles relevant foreign-related cases; and conducts diplomatic negotiations on maritime delimitation and joint development
- Releases information about important diplomatic activities, elaborates on foreign policies, conducts information-related work about important diplomatic activities, organizes public diplomacy activities, and takes charge of the affairs related to foreign journalists in China and resident foreign news agencies
- Oversees the state’s foreign-related protocol and ceremonial affairs; oversees the protocol arrangements of important diplomatic activities of the state; and oversees the courteous reception, diplomatic privileges and immunities accorded to foreign diplomatic missions in China
- Oversees consular work; regulates activities of foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China; oversees work related to consular affairs of Chinese nationals abroad; conducts or participates in handling representations regarding foreign-related cases in China; oversees consular protection and assistance, coordinates relevant government departments, local authorities and guides Chinese diplomatic missions abroad in handling cases requiring consular protection and assistance, and releases warning information for consular protection and assistance
- Coordinates efforts to handle urgent incidents abroad concerning Chinese interests, safeguards the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and institutions abroad, and takes part in efforts to handle urgent incidents in China involving foreigners
- Handles diplomatic and consular affairs in Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, and handles foreign affairs related to Taiwan
- Guides and coordinates foreign affairs work of local government and State Council departments, examines important foreign affairs regulations of local government and State Council departments, as well as the requests to the State Council for instructions concerning foreign affairs, and puts forward recommendations together with relevant government departments on the handling of major incidents involving violations of foreign affairs laws and regulations
- Handles and coordinates foreign affairs concerning national security
- Provides interpretation for important diplomatic activities of the state and translation of diplomatic documents and correspondence
- Leads Chinese diplomatic missions abroad and the offices of Commissioners in Hong Kong and Macao; oversees the personnel and organizational work of diplomatic missions abroad; provides directions to Chinese diplomatic missions abroad and offices of Commissioners in Hong Kong and Macao on the use of information technology, financial management and premises construction; and regulates the use of real property by foreign diplomatic missions in China
- Oversees the work of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and oversees the foreign affairs work of the Red Cross Society of China and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation
- Performs other tasks given by the CPC Central Committee and the State Councilni