Wang Yi's visit to many countries in South Asia, the high-level interaction between China and India has been effectively resumed, and China will also host the foreign ministers' meeting of Afghanistan's neighbors this week
What signals does China's "spring diplomacy" send?
Our reporter An Zheng
Last week, when the United States and Europe were wrestling with sanctions in Brussels, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on a multi-country tour of South Asia, visiting Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nepal.
Cooperation is a key word throughout the whole process.
This week, Wang Yi will preside over the third Afghan Neighboring Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Anhui to discuss regional stability and development plans.
Some foreign media said that the Chinese foreign minister set off a "diplomatic whirlwind" in South Asia.
There are also comments that China's traditional "spring diplomacy" picture is unfolding.
In this turbulent and hopeful season, what message does China's diplomatic actions convey, and what impact will it have on the regional situation and development?
One "fill"
Wang Yi's trip started from "Iron Buddy" Pakistan.
On March 24, as a special guest, he attended the OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Islamabad.
This is the first time China has attended the foreign ministers' meeting of the organization.
Wang Yi also met with Pakistani foreign minister, army chief of staff, prime minister, president and other senior officials.
Then, without prior notice, Wang Yi went to Kabul, Afghanistan.
Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Mottaki personally greeted him at the airport, and said that Wang Yi and his party were the most important high-level delegation they received.
During his visit, Wang Yi said that China is willing to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation with Afghanistan in an orderly manner on the premise of respecting Afghanistan's sovereignty.
On March 25, Wang Yi made a surprise visit to India, which attracted public attention.
This is his first visit to India since he participated in the meeting of the special representatives on the China-India border issue in December 2019, and it is also a rare interaction between high-level officials of the two countries since the Sino-Indian border confrontation in June 2020.
The Indian side mentioned that it is willing to strengthen communication and mutual trust with the Chinese side, so as to bring the bilateral relations out of the slump as soon as possible.
On March 26, Wang Yi visited Nepal and held meetings with the Nepalese foreign minister and president.
Foreign media paid attention, and the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed specific projects such as building cross-border railways and carrying out cross-border power cooperation.
"This visit is carried out under the background that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has not yet ended and the Afghan issue needs to be resolved urgently." Lin Minwang, deputy director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, pointed out that in general, it reflects China's two considerations.
One is diplomatic strategy.
South Asia has always been an important part of China's neighboring diplomacy, and its weight in China's diplomacy is becoming more and more prominent.
At the same time, under the background of the game between China and the United States, Wang Yi also took advantage of the opportunity of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to strengthen diplomatic contacts with Middle Eastern countries.
The second is to adapt to changes.
With some new changes in the international and regional situation, China can take the initiative to seek opportunities and resolve challenges.
For example, changes in the situation in Ukraine provide opportunities for China and India to ease relations.
Another example is that the Nepalese parliament approved the controversial "Millennium Challenge Plan" agreement signed with the United States some time ago, and elections will be held in May.
Under this circumstance, it is necessary for China to consolidate the relationship between the two countries, continue the positive momentum of the "Belt and Road" cooperation, and prevent it from falling into the "trap" of the United States.
"Each stop of Wang Yi's visit has its own significance. In general, the importance of South Asia cannot be underestimated." Hu Shisheng, director of the South Asia Institute of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, pointed out that, first, it involves the stability of China's borders and the stability of its borders. Development, energy channel security issues, Belt and Road projects, and traditional security issues.
Second, when India and the United States are getting closer and closer under the framework of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy", a good relationship with South Asian countries (including India) will help China to effectively deal with the containment.
Third, in the context of the Ukraine crisis, India's attitude is critical.
The isolation of Russia by the United States and the West is not conducive to the stability of the entire international system, nor is it conducive to the geographical environment of China and India.
But at the same time, "South Asian countries are still the development depression of China's neighboring diplomacy." Hu Shisheng said that high-level interaction, interconnection, personnel exchanges, and economic and trade exchanges are obviously less than those in other neighboring regions.
Therefore, this visit is actually a complement to neighboring diplomacy.
While China is strengthening its "long board" (such as strategic cooperation with Russia, economic and trade integration with ASEAN, etc.), it is also important to make up for its shortcomings.
warm and cold
Throughout the four-stop visit, India is undoubtedly the highlight, which is an effective recovery of high-level interaction between the two sides since the conflict in the Galwan Valley.
Wang Yi will have two main activities in New Delhi: meeting with Indian National Security Adviser Doval and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar.
During the talks, Wang Yi put forward three ideas for developing China-India relations: looking at bilateral relations from a long-term perspective, looking at each other's development with a win-win mindset, and participating in multilateral processes with a cooperative attitude.
Wang Yi also pointed out that China does not pursue the so-called "unipolar Asia"; the two sides should adhere to the strategic judgment of the leaders of the two countries that "China and India do not pose a threat to each other, but each other is an opportunity for development".
Foreign media paid special attention to the Indian side's remarks.
Jaishankar said that the talks between the two lasted about three hours, and they discussed a wide range of substantive issues in a frank and open manner.
Doval said he is willing to visit China after the border dispute is resolved.
Most of the public opinion believes that under the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, China and India have sought to improve their relations and made a sound of reconciliation.
constructive intervention
Besides India, Afghanistan is another hot spot of Wang Yi's visit.
This is his first visit to Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in August last year, and it is also in preparation for the upcoming multilateral conference on Afghanistan in China.
From March 30th to 31st, Wang Yi will host the 3rd Afghan Neighboring Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tunxi, Anhui Province. Foreign ministers or representatives of Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will attend the meeting. .
Afterwards, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will host the "Afghanistan Neighbors + Afghanistan" Foreign Ministers' Dialogue and invite the Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Interim Government Mottaki to attend.
It is reported that countries will jointly discuss how to help Afghanistan solve the humanitarian crisis and economic instability and other issues.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the foreign ministers' meeting is another important effort made by China for the peaceful development and long-term stability of Afghanistan, and it is of great significance.
In August last year, the United States withdrew its troops in an embarrassment after 20 years of launching the Afghan war, leaving behind a devastated body.
In contrast, China has long used multiple platforms to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the Afghan issue.
China's previous expectations for Afghanistan have become a kind of consensus in the international community: build a more open and inclusive political structure; implement a moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy; Draw the line; pursue a peaceful foreign policy.
What are the expectations of the outside world for this multi-foreign ministers' meeting?
How will China play a constructive role?
Hu Shisheng believes that this foreign ministers' meeting may have several key points for discussion.
First, how to deal with emerging security issues.
Since the Taliban came to power last year, although the domestic security situation in Afghanistan has improved, there have been spillover effects, and the security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated accordingly.
Foreign investment, construction and personnel safety in Pakistan are threatened.
Stability in Afghanistan is important for the entire surrounding region.
Second, how to deal with the issue of political attitude towards the Taliban regime, that is, the issue of legitimacy.
To achieve sustainable development in Afghanistan, it is impossible to bypass the Taliban regime.
If Afghanistan does not develop, it will inevitably lead to violent terrorist organizations recruiting troops, expanding their influence, and suffering neighboring countries.
Therefore, whether neighboring countries can give the Taliban appropriate support through a coordinated position when they still have spare capacity to deal with security issues, or even help them enhance their governance capabilities, is also based on the long-term development of the region.
Third, how to negotiate to deal with the destructive (non-constructive) intervention of the United States.
The United States has been operating in Afghanistan for 20 years, and still has a strong destructive capability, and various proxies and international organizations are still under its control.
U.S. sanctions have made it difficult for many countries and companies to step in.
Whether neighboring countries can form a voice and finally persuade the United States to give up sanctions also needs to be coordinated through meetings.
Hu Shisheng said that China has already been constructively involved in the reconstruction process of Afghanistan, but it still needs to maintain a clear understanding of the "destructive role" of the United States in the future and take corresponding precautions.