On May 27, 2026, Long Zhou, Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a discussion with teachers and students of China Foreign Affairs University at the Shahe campus on the theme of 'Diplomacy for the People, Answering the Same Question Together.' Before the event, Wang Shiting, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the University, presented Director-General Long Zhou with a letter of appointment as an (external) mentor for Party building and ideological-political work.

Vice President Professor Shi Yi chaired the discussion, attended by about 40 teacher and student representatives of CFAU. Professor Xia Liping of the Department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs Management, drawing on her overseas work experience and more than two decades of teaching and research, shared her reflections on diplomatic and foreign affairs work, especially consular work. Liu Ruifan, a 2023 undergraduate of the Department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs Management, drawing on his studies and exchange experience at overseas embassies and consulates, spoke of his growth in diplomatic knowledge and skills and his expectations for further learning. Sun Limin, a 2025 master's student of the School of Marxism, starting from the basic tenets of Marxism, shared her understanding of diplomacy for the people and consular work.

At the discussion, Director-General Long Zhou described the situation and tasks facing China's diplomacy and consular work from multiple dimensions including changes unseen in a century and Chinese modernization, and explained the profound connotations of diplomatic and consular work through vivid cases and weighty statistics. Long Zhou encouraged young students to keep the country in heart and aim high, comprehensively improve their knowledge and abilities during their university years, and forge strong character, laying a foundation for serving the motherland and the people on a broader diplomatic stage in the future. In the interactive session, students raised questions enthusiastically on consular work; Long Zhou affirmed their deep thinking and gave careful answers with vivid cases.

Participating teachers said the discussion gave them a deeper appreciation of the unique value of consular work, and that they would further optimize talent cultivation programs, improve the curriculum system, and enhance their teaching and research capabilities. Students said they were greatly inspired and resolved to keep the motherland in heart, view the world with broad vision, forge strong character, study diligently, cultivate the sentiment of diplomacy for the people, and be down-to-earth diplomatic students rooted in and serving the people. Going forward, the University will further broaden its thinking, innovatively develop the ‘Diplomatic Iron Army: Passing the Torch' Party building and ideological-political education brand, help students establish lofty ideals, and hone strong capabilities and conduct, so as to cultivate more high-quality successors of the diplomatic iron army for the cause of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era!