THEORY AND PRACTICE

In his report at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last October, President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, expounded the guidelines of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, proposing a new form of international relations that could better promote a com- munity with a shared future for mankind. The diplomatic theory, forged through careful deliberation on the future of human society and developing trends in China and the world, has opened a new chapter for China’s diplomacy.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has completed 29 overseas trips, setting foot in 57 countries and visit- ing almost every major international and regional organization, which has helped China establish a network of partnerships around the globe. Diplomatic efforts made by China in accordance with Xi’s thought have created a favorable external environ- ment for China’s development, as well as making more and more Chinese solutions and proposals appealing to the world. It is in China’s immediate neighborhood that Xi’s diplomatic thought is most visibly tak- ing effect.

Foreign policy core Xi has attached great importance to China’s relations with its neighbors. In October 2013, the CPC Central Committee held a seminar on China’s diplomacy toward the periphery under changing global circum- stances. In his speech, Xi addressed the changes and new characteristics of the international situation faced by China, and mapped the targets, plans and basic prin- ciples of China’s neighborhood diplomacy. He stressed that sound relations with neighboring countries are of strategic sig- nifi cance to achieving the great renewal of the Chinese nation.

Xi’s report at the 19th CPC National Congress reiterated that China is to deepen relations with its neighbors in accordance with the principles of amity, sincerity, mu- tual benefit and inclusiveness, as well as the policy of forging friendship and part- nership. Only adherence to these principles and policy can consolidate the peace and stability of China’s neighborhood.

Through dozens of visits to much of Central, South, Southeast and East Asia in the past five years, Xi has backed up China’s good-neighborliness foreign policy with concrete actions, which represent the top-level design of China’s neighborhood diplomacy as well as major country diplo- macy with Chinese characteristics.

At present, its neighboring countries remain the most important area in which China can put into practice its ethos of foreign affairs and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi’s thought on neighborhood diplomacy is significant to many aspects of China’s foreign policy.

Improving governance

In his report at the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi called on “the people of all countries to work together to build a com- munity with a shared future for mankind, to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosper- ity.” The idea of a community with a shared future for mankind adheres to the current framework of global governance. To solve the deficit in peace, development and gov- ernance, all members of the international community must work together, innovate theories of governance and optimize po- tential solutions. It is in this context that China is offering to build a community with a shared future for mankind to achieve mutually beneficial results.

In the 2013 seminar on neighborhood diplomacy, Xi urged the need to integrate the Chinese dream of national renewal with the aspirations of people in neighboring countries for a better life, and through the prospects of regional development, let the idea of a community with a shared future take root in neighboring countries and strengthen relations with them in accor- dance with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. The con- cept of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, as proposed in Xi’s report at the 19th CPC National Congress, makes China’s promotion of and participation in regional governance even more charismatic and influential.

As the theory of building a community with a shared future for mankind matures, the significance of the idea becomes more and more visible in global and regional governance. Regional collaborations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Boao Forum for Asia and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism have grown in stature to address regional challenges and promote mutual benefit.

Promoting development

In 2013, Xi proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, collectively known as the Belt and Road Initiative, in order to create greater trade, infrastructure and people-to-people con- nections between Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond by reviving the routes of the ancient Silk Road. In March 2017, the UN Security Council passed resolution 2344, which called for the international community to reach consensus on increasing aid to Afghanistan and strengthening regional cooperation through the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative is becom- ing one of the most popular international and regional public products, and one of the largest platforms for international cooperation.

The Belt and Road Initiative is represen- tative of China’s commitment to the world. It is also reflective of equality as it seeks to address the deficit in peace, development and governance across the globe. The situ- ation in China’s neighborhood is relatively stable, but problems such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass de- struction, en-vironmental and ecological degradation, sluggish economies and pov- erty remain severe in many surrounding countries. The Belt and Road Initiative pro- vides potential solutions for these regional challenges.

Xi has noted that the essence of the Belt and Road Initiative is the construc- tion of infrastructure and the facilitation of interconnectivity. Among those nations in China’s immediate neighborhood are many developing countries. There is great poten- tial for their improvement as poor transport and communication infrastructure has significantly impeded their economic and social development.

The construction of six economic cor- ridors under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, best embodied by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, have spurred enthusiasm in neighboring coun- tries for participating in the China-proposed development initiative. These nations can share in the benefits and opportunities from China’s development, and expand their cooperation in trade, finance, infra- structure and people-to-people exchanges to achieve mutually beneficial results. It will also lay the foundation for promoting common development and forging a com- munity with a shared future in the region. Forging partnerships

Though there are many differences be- tween China and its neighbors in terms of political, social and cultural conditions, they are alike in their pursuit of peace and development. This is why when developing relations with neighboring countries, China insists on enhancing exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, seeking to ex- pand their converging interests and forge a partnership network in accordance with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

Currently, China has established partnerships of different types with dozens of surrounding countries, including Russia, South Korea, Viet Nam and Pakistan, as well as regional organizations such as ASEAN and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Partners can reach consensus on issues of common concern as their relationship as equals predisposes them to solve problems through collabo- ration and dialogue. Partnership-building is a major contribution made by China to international relations, as well as an impor- tant part of China’s approach to developing relations with its neighbors.

However, this does not mean that there is no divergence within these partnerships. Even in cooperation at the highest level, there is still the possibility of major rifts on certain issues due to differing strategic per- spectives. Nevertheless, the fact remains that partnership emphasizes a spirit of the Chinese people and the peoples of surrounding countries, which is of great importance to China and its neighbors in their mission to build partnerships and a community with a shared future.

Public diplomacy is also embodied in foreign aid. China’s massive effort in as- sisting the Maldives with its drinking water crisis and contribution to earthquake relief in Nepal are a reflection of China’s respon- sible and capable public diplomacy. These practices portray the ideas of public diplo- macy inherent in Xi’s diplomatic thought, adding luster to China’s image around the world and winning greater trust from its neighbors. Alongside the Belt and Road Initiative, it represents a new arena for China’s public diplomacy.

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