Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday the government will do its best to protect its citizens abroad in accordance with law, and he advised them to better protect themselves in the meantime.

He suggested Chinese citizens learn local laws customs and abide by them when traveling overseas, and keep in mind the phone numbers of Chinese embassies and consulates in foreign countries.

"Serving the people is the essence of China's diplomacy. It foremost serves peace, development and cooperation and meanwhile safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal entities abroad," said Li at a press conference held on the sideline of the annual session of China's National People's Congress.

Last year, more than 31 million Chinese citizens made trips abroad, and China's embassies and consulates handled nearly 30,000 consular cases, Li said.

In the road accident in Egypt and the attack of three Chinese engineers in Pakistan, China's ministries of foreign affairs and commerce and relevant diplomatic organs acted quickly to help the Chinese citizens involved.

"Some Chinese overseas told me that these incidents made them feel proud of being a Chinese," said the foreign minister.

Li said the safety of Chinese citizens traveling abroad is mainly the responsibility of the countries they are traveling in. Like the old Chinese saying goes: When you are at home, you rely on your parents. When you are outside, you have to rely on your friends.

"But once there are any incidents, people can rest assured that Chinese embassies and consulates-general in relevant countries and regions will go out to provide help to Chinese citizens in accordance with law," said Li.

Li said China has more than 5,000 permanent diplomatic staffs sent by more than 30 other departments abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)