China's Diplomacy in 2021: Go forward courageously with the world in mind
[Looking back at the world situation year-end]
In 2021, the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be intertwined with major changes in the world unseen in a century. The international situation is complex and changeable, the international system is profoundly adjusted, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation.
The Communist Party of China is celebrating its centenary. China has built a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, realized its first centenary goal, and is taking advantage of the momentum to embark on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way.
Facing the complicated international situation, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China’s diplomacy is based on the “two overall situations”, with the “big country” in mind, overcoming obstacles, resolutely moving forward, and composing pioneering, innovative, and all-inclusive The magnificent chapter of the world.
First, the heads of state diplomacy illuminates the way forward and pushes the world toward a bright goal.
In the past year, President Xi Jinping has personally drawn, directed, and personally carried out nearly 200 diplomatic activities of various heads of state, charting the path for global anti-epidemic cooperation, drawing a blueprint for world economic recovery, clarifying the direction for reinvigorating global governance, and promoting China’s cooperation with China. The relationship between all parties has continued to deepen, develop, and improve quality.
From the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Meeting, the Leaders’ Climate Summit, and the Global Health Summit in the strong spring, to the summit of the Communist Party of China and world party leaders in the scorching summer sun, from the summit of the leaders of the BRICS countries in the golden autumn. The 76th UN General Assembly, the Summit of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the New China to Restore the Legal Seat of the United Nations, the G20 Leaders Summit, the China International Import Expo, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in early winter Informal leaders’ meeting and the 30th anniversary summit of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, President Xi Jinping led the world to understand the original mission of the Communist Party of China, understand socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote the common values of all mankind, advocate true multilateralism, and clearly propose building a global world Important initiatives such as developing a community with a shared future, building a community of human and natural life, and building a community of life on earth have enriched the ideological connotation that promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and fully demonstrates the great insights of the leaders of the great powers and the leaders of the world and their deep feelings for the destiny of mankind , Won high praise from the international community.
The second is the coordinated and balanced development of relations between major powers to maintain the overall stability of the global strategic situation.
Sino-Russian relations show new vitality.
President Xi Jinping and President Putin have made many phone calls, video meetings, and jointly attended important diplomatic events. The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has been continuously expanded.
The two countries announced the extension of the "Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation," and the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era has a more solid foundation and richer connotations.
China-EU relations strive to overcome interference and consolidate the main tone of mutual benefit and win-win results.
President Xi Jinping had telephone exchanges or video meetings with many European countries and EU leaders, leading the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.
China and the EU have deepened practical cooperation in areas such as anti-epidemic, macro-policy coordination, and response to climate change. The China-EU Express has become the “main artery” of the global industrial chain and the “lifeline” of epidemic prevention and control.
President Xi Jinping had two phone calls and video meetings with President Biden, and conducted full and in-depth communication and exchanges on strategic, overall, and fundamental issues related to the development of China-US relations, as well as important issues of common concern.
President Xi Jinping proposed that China and the United States should adhere to the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation in the new era, and pointed out the four priorities that China and the United States should promote.
The two heads of state reached two consensuses in principle, both emphasizing the importance of Sino-US relations, opposing a "new cold war", and believing that China and the United States should not be in conflict and confrontation.
The heads of the foreign affairs, economic and trade, and finance departments of the two countries have communicated many times on bilateral relations and international and regional issues, and cooperation in the field of climate change has achieved positive results.
The third is to upgrade the quality of the partnership, and deepen and consolidate the cooperative relationship with all parties.
China upholds the concept of affinity, sincerity, benefit and tolerance, and opened a new chapter in good-neighborly and friendly cooperation with neighboring countries.
China and Japan agreed to promote the establishment of a bilateral relationship that meets the requirements of the new era and clarify the general direction of the development of the relationship between the two countries.
China and South Korea maintain frequent high-level exchanges. President Xi Jinping and President Moon Jae-in talked on the phone. The heads of the foreign affairs and diplomatic departments of the two countries have communicated face-to-face on many occasions. , To speed up the second phase of negotiations on the free trade agreement.
On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the dialogue relationship between China and ASEAN, the two sides formally announced the establishment of a China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, which has become a new milestone in the history of bilateral relations.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization celebrates its 20th anniversary, and its global and regional influence has increased significantly. The Council of Heads of State initiated the process of admitting Iran as a full member of the SCO, and officially accepted Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as dialogue partners, and each member country has strengthened Cooperation and actively promote the smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan.
China upholds the concept of truthfulness, affinity and good faith and the correct concept of justice and benefit, and has taken solidarity and cooperation with developing countries to a new level.
China proposes to jointly implement the "Nine Projects" with the African side to sincerely help African countries fight the epidemic and achieve independent development, and the tree of China-Africa friendship will become more luxuriant.
China and countries in the Middle East have deepened strategic mutual trust, promoted practical cooperation in various fields, put forward a "five-point proposal" for the realization of security and stability in the Middle East, a "four-point proposal" for the solution of the Syrian issue, and a "two-state solution" for the implementation of the "two-state solution" to resolve the Palestinian issue. The "three points of thinking" has been generally appreciated and welcomed by countries in the region.
New achievements have been made in the construction of a community of shared future between China and Latin America. The economic and trade cooperation between the two sides has bucked the trend and increased significantly year-on-year. China and Nicaragua have resumed diplomatic relations at a "record-breaking speed".
Fourth, the diplomatic struggle is firm and forceful, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Over the past year, China has carried forward the spirit of struggle, resolutely struggled against American power politics, and dealt a heavy blow to American bullying and arrogance.
The Chinese side pointed out that the United States is not qualified to speak condescendingly with China, and the Chinese do not follow this practice.
Dealing with China must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect.
China has proposed "two lists" to the United States, drawn "three bottom lines" to it, and demanded that the United States take concrete actions to improve Sino-US relations.
China resolutely counteracts provocations by the United States to induce its Western allies on Taiwan, Hong Kong-related, Xinjiang-related, Tibet-related, maritime, human rights, and tracing the origin of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and against China's anti-China forces in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries and the European Union The introduction of sanctions has dealt a heavy blow to its arrogance.
Meng Wanzhou's return to China signifies that China has repelled the "long-arm jurisdiction" of the United States on this issue.
China resolutely responded to the dregs of Cold War mentality, opposed various "small circle" military blocs, and won widespread support from the international community.
The truth becomes clearer and clearer, and more and more countries recognize the hypocritical nature of international anti-China forces, and the world's forces supporting China to maintain international fairness and justice become stronger.
At the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, more than 90 countries made calls for justice, exposing the hypocritical mask of anti-China forces interfering in my country's internal affairs by using "human rights" issues.
At the meeting of the Third Committee of the 76th UN General Assembly, 62 countries jointly voiced their support for China to follow a human rights development path that suits its national conditions and oppose the use of "human rights" issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.
The fifth is to advocate the construction of a community with a shared future for global development and promote the recovery of the world economy.
President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the global development initiative. The core principles are to insist on giving priority to development, insisting on putting people as the center, insisting on inclusiveness and inclusiveness, insisting on innovation-driven, insisting on the symbiosis of man and nature, insisting on action-oriented, promoting the synergy and efficiency of multilateral development cooperation, and focusing on advancement. Poverty reduction, food security, anti-epidemic and vaccines, development financing, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, interconnection and other fields cooperate to build a community with a shared future for global development.
This initiative has injected strong impetus into the revitalization of the United Nations global partnership for development, and provided important action guidelines for all countries to focus on development, unite and develop together.
Based on the actual needs of countries to overcome the epidemic and economic recovery, China promotes the in-depth integration of the "Belt and Road" construction with the development strategies of other countries, gives full play to its ultra-large-scale market advantages and domestic demand potential, and vigorously maintains the stability and smoothness of the global industrial chain and supply chain.
China is working with all parties concerned to promote the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" to come into effect in January 2022, release the world's largest free trade zone dividend, accelerate the pace of regional economic integration, and be more conducive to increasing the international community Confidence in the development of globalization.
2021 coincides with the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO.
Over the past 20 years, China has effectively fulfilled its WTO commitments and built a high-level opening-up system. The overall tariff level has dropped to 7.4%, which is a relatively low level in the world.
The 4th China International Import Expo and the 2021 China International Service Trade Fair were successfully held, demonstrating China's sincerity and achievements in adhering to open cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win, and sharing development opportunities with the world.
Sixth, advocate the practice of true multilateralism, lead global anti-epidemic cooperation, and promote the improvement of global governance.
2021 coincides with the 50th anniversary of New China's restoration of its legal seat in the United Nations.
Over the past 50 years, the depth and breadth of China's participation in global governance has significantly expanded, and its role in global governance has changed from "adapter" and "participant" to "leader."
President Xi Jinping emphasized that China resolutely safeguards the authority and status of the United Nations, and unswervingly safeguards the international system with the United Nations as the core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
China has always resolutely opposed the practice of unilateralism in the name of multilateralism, and has always adhered to true multilateralism, opposed to "small circles" against third parties, opposed to use in conjunction with others, and discarded if not, under the banner of the so-called "rules." Destroy the international order.
China truly regards vaccines as a public product, launches the Global Vaccine Cooperation Initiative and the "One Belt One Road" vaccine partnership initiative, holds the COVID-19 International Cooperation Forum and COVID-19 Cooperative Enterprise Dialogue, and established the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center in China. Relevant institutions in three countries cooperated in phase III clinical trials, and joint vaccine production was carried out with 16 countries.
China provides a large amount of anti-epidemic supplies to the world, which is in sharp contrast with the narrow approach of "vaccine nationalism" in the United States and Western countries.
China hosted the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, promoted the conclusion of the Kunming Declaration, drawn a new blueprint for the protection of global biodiversity in the next 10 years, and promoted the 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Achieve positive results.
China has strengthened international cooperation in emerging areas such as global digital and green governance, and has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) and the Digital Economic Partnership Agreement (DEPA) to create new bright spots for mutual benefit and win-win results.
Looking forward to the future, forge ahead.
The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process, and at the same time, it has undertaken missions and responsibilities for the cause of human progress.
The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China passed the "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party's Centuries of Struggle", guiding the entire party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to learn from history, create the future, and make concerted efforts to advance into the new era and create new achievements.
China’s diplomacy will always be under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and guided by Xi Jinping’s Thoughts on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping’s Thoughts on Diplomacy, with the world in mind, march forward courageously, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Vigorously promote the common values of all mankind, strive to promote the construction of a new type of international relations, and actively promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
(Author: Xu Bu, Secretary-General of the Xi Jinping Center for Diplomatic Thought, Secretary of the Party Committee and Dean of the China Institute of International Studies)