Study On State Visit Of China Since 1978

Since 1978,the diplomatic practice of state visit in China has gone through a process of standardization.With document literatures buried in academic works,text books and reference books,this subject lacks specialized study,especially in China's theory circle.Consequently,based on the analysis on statistics of inward visits in China since 1978,this paper aims to examine the arrangements and characteristics of state visit in China,as well as to make a comparison with traditional one.This paper argues that there are three main characteristics of state visit in China:first,with 14 inward visits each year,there is no limitation for numbers of inward visits,which rises to 20 times nowadays;second,time of duration in China's inward visit is among 2 to 10 days,with an average of 5 days,and may decrease to 2 days when it comes to some visits by heads of state of great power;third,the definition of visitors remains an unsolved question before 1990s,when prime minister and leader of ruling party can also be classified to head of state.In recent two decades,there is no such controversial problem and it is very clear that only the highest representative of a state can be involved in a state visit.The findings of this study implicate that state visit in China shares the same procedures and protocols with western traditional practice,which in chronological order,including an informal reception,an official welcome ceremony,a state banquet,suitable public appearances(a press conference,a public address or speech to the parliament,certain opening ceremonies),visits to certain places or cities,a return banquet and a farewell ceremony;both of them attach great importance to neighboring countries;characteristics vary from countries due to various functions of heads of state,as China's state visit have gone through a sharp rise during the change of status of its head of state.