China's Foreign Ministry on Monday opened to the public another batch of diplomatic files totaling 5, 024 items.

This batch of files, mainly on China's diplomacy between 1949 and 1955, are related to telegraphs between China and Asian countries on recognition of each other, establishment of diplomatic relations and sending ambassadors.

They also include part of the documents of Sino-US consular and ambassadorial talks, documents on Geneva and Asia-Africa conferences, and files on the Bandung conference, including materials about the "Kashmir Princess" event.

China declassified for the first time a batch of diplomatic files in January this year. More declassified files will be opened in batches and by stages, according to the Foreign Ministry.

An official with the ministry's archives said that China will open the remaining over 2,000 diplomatic files from between 1949 and 1955 at the proper time, and some of the files from between 1956 and 1960 will be opened in late 2005 or early 2006.

According to China's archives law and relevant regulations, historical files should be open to the public 30 years after their creation.