Global cooperation on public health crises, advancing the reform of global governance and preserving multilateralism are likely to top China"s diplomatic agenda this year, according to senior diplomats, scholars and political advisers.

By doing so, the building of the community of a shared future for mankind will gain greater impetus and, in return, could help the world grasp more opportunities and minimize the economic and social impacts amid unprecedented downturns, they added.

The comments came as the world"s second-largest economy takes the lead in the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, seeks to resume trade and logistics to bolster economic recovery and champions the authority of leading international organizations to preserve equity and justice worldwide.

Over the past year, diplomats like Zhang Qiyue, China"s ambassador to Greece, have seen the COVID-19 pandemic disrupt social life and deal a heavy blow to economic development, causing serious losses globally.

Now, meetings with leaders and officials are high on Zhang"s agenda to discuss ways to synergize needs to bolster the joint fight against the virus and chart new ways of revitalizing two-way exchanges in areas such as investment, trade and education.

Like many of her colleagues, Zhang, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People"s Political Consultative Conference, is tracking the health of Chinese citizens working or living in Greece and listening to their appeals for help.

"It is believed that surviving the ordeal brought by this once-in-a-century epidemic will prompt all countries to learn from their experiences, draw lessons and improve their governance capacity in an all-around way. Based on this view, I am full of hope for this new year," Zhang said.

She noted that both China-Europe relations and ties between China and Greece "have forged ahead by conquering vast challenges" posed by the pandemic in the past 12 months.

"The past year has made us deeply aware that unity and cooperation is the only way to tackle common challenges," she said.

Early in January last year, China quickly shared the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus with the world, and global COVID-19 vaccine research and development advanced at unprecedented speed, achieving early successes.

China also joined the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access distribution plan that will promote research and development worldwide.