China News Agency, Beijing, November 20th, title: Six days that have influenced the world, Xi Jinping's trip to Southeast Asia has these highlights and new ideas
Author Xie Yanbing Li Jingze
From November 14th to 19th, Chinese President Xi Jinping went to Bali, Indonesia to attend the 17th G20 Leaders’ Summit, and went to Bangkok, Thailand to attend the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Informal Meeting. Conference and visit to Thailand.
This trip to Southeast Asia is the first foreign visit of a Chinese top leader after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
Standing at the historical juncture of the profound evolution of the international situation, facing the proposition of the times where mankind is going, Xi Jinping attended two major international conferences, G20 and APEC, intensively met with leaders of many countries, and had in-depth interactions between China, Indonesia, and China and Thailand.
What important information did this visit convey to the outside world?
What kind of impact will the interaction between China and the rest of the world have on the region and the world at a critical moment?
China News Agency's "China Focus Face to Face" invited Zhang Tengjun, deputy director of the Asia-Pacific Institute of the China Institute of International Studies, to give an interpretation.
China News Agency "China Focus Face to Face" interviewed Zhang Tengjun, deputy director of the Asia-Pacific Institute of the China Institute of International Studies.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tian Yuhao
China-U.S. Presidents' Meeting Leads the Right Course for Bilateral Relations
China News Agency reporter: The world is facing multiple crises, and China's role is getting more and more attention. What do you think of the timing and worldwide impact of Xi Jinping's visit?
Zhang Tengjun:
This visit has created many "firsts": this is the first large-scale offline gathering in many countries since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia three years ago, and it is also the first visit of President Xi Jinping after the successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
I think the special significance of these "firsts" is reflected in two levels:
First, the situation has changed in a century, and the challenges are unprecedented.
At present, the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still delayed, the geopolitical situation continues to be tense, the global economy is in a downturn, and food and energy crises are becoming prominent.
Global governance is fragmented and fragmented, tending to fail and stall.
Under the intertwined events, how to lead the world out of the predicament has become a major issue before all countries.
The second is that major countries lead and China takes responsibility.
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held, sending a steady, positive and firm signal to the world.
The international community is paying close attention to how China's role and role will be highlighted after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
All countries expect that the Chinese leader's foreign visit will inject strong impetus into global governance and provide China's proposal and voice.
In addition, since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the trend of "governing the east and chaotic west" has become more prominent, and China's influence has continued to rise. The international community generally hopes that China can bring new contributions beyond the traditional governance model.
Therefore, China's "weight" in the two international conferences is getting heavier and heavier.
China News Agency reporter: Xi Jinping's first public event after arriving in Bali was the meeting between the Chinese and US leaders in Bali, which lasted more than three hours and attracted global attention. What does the in-depth and candid exchange of views between the heads of state of China and the United States mean to the world?
Zhang Tengjun:
One is to direct the rudder and stabilize confidence.
Observing the history of exchanges between China and the United States, a valuable experience is that when the relationship between the two countries encounters a major crisis or a critical moment, it is often resolved by the strategic foresight and wisdom of the leaders.
Clarifying misunderstandings and enhancing mutual trust through continuous strategic communication can lead the correct course for the long-term development of bilateral relations.
The second is pragmatic cooperation, step by step.
During this meeting, the two heads of state reached consensus on a series of important issues, agreeing that "the diplomatic teams of both sides maintain strategic communication" and the financial and financial teams "carry out dialogue and coordination".
The two sides reached an agreement on conducting dialogue and cooperation on public health, agriculture and food security between the two countries.
Starting from a small place, these practical cooperation will help to better accumulate energy and lay a foundation for the relationship between the two countries to return to the right track.
Third, there is a long way to go to get out of the predicament.
At present, Sino-US relations are facing severe challenges. The root cause is that the US has seriously misjudged China's perception of China, and there have been serious deviations in its outlook on China, interests, and competition.
At present, what is important is whether the two countries can conduct more in-depth communication on the problems existing in the current relationship and the risks and challenges in the future after the meeting between the heads of state.
The U.S. side needs to make a clearer statement, correct its misperceptions and wrong words and deeds about China, and return to the track of a rational understanding of Sino-U.S. relations as soon as possible.
On the afternoon of November 14 local time, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with US President Joe Biden in Bali, Indonesia.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yan Yan
Two Important Multilateral International Conferences Inject Stabilizers into Development
China News Agency reporter: Xi Jinping attended the G20 Bali Summit, and in his speech he put forward China's solutions to problems such as the lack of global governance and the food, energy and financial crises. How do you comment on China's proposition? What is the significance of the consensus reached at the summit for the global joint response to risks and challenges?
Zhang Tengjun:
Under the serious lack of global governance, President Xi Jinping mentioned this time that "all countries should establish a sense of a community with a shared future for mankind." benefit” and “more resilient” global development.
These initiatives and propositions hit the crux of current global governance.
At the same time, development issues have become increasingly prominent under multiple crises, and we should pay more attention to how developing countries can get out of the predicament under the current global governance mechanism.
The declaration adopted at the summit has two important meanings: first, it stabilizes confidence, indicating that countries are still willing to meet challenges through solidarity and cooperation.
In the past few years, the lack of cooperation between major powers has led to the emergence of global crises.
Countries hope to further reaffirm the spirit and principles of countries to jointly address global challenges through solidarity and cooperation on important occasions of multilateral summits.
The second is to clarify the direction. The declaration issued proposals on specific issues such as vaccines, food, and energy, and provided new solutions for how the world will get out of the crisis in the future.
China News Agency reporter: How do you view the practical pertinence of Xi Jinping's proposals at the APEC meeting? What is the special significance of Xi Jinping telling the world opportunities of Chinese-style modernization to the leaders of the Asia-Pacific business community?
Zhang Tengjun:
President Xi Jinping mentioned six specific initiatives in his written speech at the APEC Business Leaders Summit, including: building a solid foundation for peaceful development, adhering to the people-centered development concept, creating a higher level of openness, realizing Higher-level interconnection, creating a stable and smooth industrial chain supply chain, and promoting economic optimization and upgrading.
These initiatives capture the most pressing issues of concern to countries today.
In the future, the economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region needs to accelerate the construction of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area on the basis of the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement", build a stable and smooth production and supply chain system, and at the same time promote the realization of inclusive and sustainable development.
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are at different development stages and face different problems. How to achieve balanced and inclusive development is particularly important.
It is necessary to give full play to the role of developed economies in the region, and at the same time pay attention to the actual needs of developing economies in the region, and provide more financial and technical support to achieve common development of the entire region.
President Xi Jinping also explained in depth the basic characteristics and essential requirements of Chinese-style modernization.
I believe that for the world, the most important significance of Chinese-style modernization lies in China's adherence to the path of peaceful development, its adherence to common development with other countries, and its adherence to opening up.
This sends a positive and stable signal to the international community that China's development can benefit the world.
Chinese-style modernization will help inject stabilizers and new energy into the current global economic development situation.
China News Agency "China Focus Face to Face" interviewed Zhang Tengjun, deputy director of the Asia-Pacific Institute of the China Institute of International Studies.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tian Yuhao
Intensive bilateral meetings in a short period of time are rare
Reporter from China News Agency: The multilateral stage is set up, and the bilateral stage is played. On the sidelines of two important multilateral meetings, a series of bilateral meetings took center stage. Xi Jinping held bilateral meetings with French President, Argentine President, Senegalese President, South Korean President, Japanese Prime Minister, Dutch Prime Minister and many other heads of state or government. What is the strategic significance of Xi Jinping's non-stop meetings with old and new friends and communication on bilateral, regional and global issues?
Zhang Tengjun:
It is rare to have such intensive bilateral meetings in such a short period of time.
Leaders of all countries hope to have face-to-face talks with the Chinese head of state, which reflects the importance they attach to China's role and role in developing relations with China.
The series of bilateral meetings during President Xi Jinping's trip fully demonstrated China's emphasis on developing a balanced global development partnership, and expressed its willingness to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation.
From the perspective of developed countries, the meeting between President Xi Jinping and French President Macron is very representative.
Both sides emphasized the importance of upholding independent diplomacy.
This firm stance sends a signal: All countries should decide their own positions according to the rights and wrongs of international affairs, and should decide their own foreign policies based on their own interests and the well-being of the people of the world, instead of blindly following other countries and engaging in camp confrontation.
From the perspective of developing countries, the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Argentine President Fernandez is of great significance.
Fernandez said that he will always support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It's very approachable and friendly.
The meeting reflects the mutual respect and support between China and Arab states on their respective core areas and sensitive issues, and is a vivid reflection of the long-term development of sincere, friendly and sincere relations between China and developing countries.
In a series of bilateral meetings, whether with developed countries or developing countries, China has upheld the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, achieved outstanding results, and reached many consensuses, which are of great significance for solving regional and global issues.
China News Agency reporter: During this visit, Xi Jinping held talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The two leaders jointly witnessed the trial operation of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway. What are the special considerations for China and Indonesia to choose the opportunity of the G20 summit to showcase the achievements of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail construction cooperation? What is the significance of promoting the joint construction of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future?
Zhang Tengjun:
The two leaders jointly witnessed the trial operation of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail, which is indeed a highlight of the meeting between the two heads of state. This is an elaborate and ingenious arrangement by the two governments.
The first particularity lies in the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail itself.
It is a milestone achievement and an outstanding manifestation of the construction of a community of shared future between China and Indonesia, which can significantly promote the development of regional economic integration in Indonesia.
The second particularity lies in the demonstration effect of China-Indonesia cooperation.
The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail is not only the first high-speed rail in the history of Indonesia, but also the first high-speed rail in Southeast Asia. It is also the first time that China's high-speed rail has a full system, all elements, and a full industrial chain launched overseas.
This fully demonstrates the iconic landing of China's infrastructure construction in Southeast Asia.
A series of results show that China-Indonesia cooperation not only has bilateral significance, but also has a regional demonstration effect, which can bring more in-depth enlightenment to the development of the entire region, and can also bring stronger impetus to promoting the construction of a community with a shared future between China and neighboring regions.
Data map: Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail high-speed EMU.
Photo by Jiang Chao
China News Agency reporter: This visit to Thailand is Xi Jinping's first visit to Thailand as the head of state of China. What does this "first time" mean? This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Thailand comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. How will this visit lead the joint construction of a China-Thailand community of shared future and give new connotations to "China and Thailand as one family"?
Zhang Tengjun:
Since the beginning of this year, the high-level interactions between China and Thailand have been close.
In July, the foreign ministers of the two sides met and reached an agreement on the vision and goal of "jointly building a China-Thailand community with a shared future", which endows "China and Thailand as one family" with new connotations of the times.
The high-level exchanges between China and Thailand have created a good atmosphere for President Xi Jinping's visit to Thailand.
President Xi Jinping's visit to Thailand this time will help to further strengthen the traditional friendly relationship between China and Thailand, inject strong confidence and momentum into the development of the two countries and the region, and promote China-Thailand cooperation to the forefront of regional cooperation.
In recent years, the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Thailand has yielded fruitful results, and major cooperation projects such as the China-Thailand Railway have made solid progress.
This visit will help promote the early and comprehensive completion of the China-Laos-Thailand Railway, which runs from north to south and connects Europe and Asia, and promotes logistics, logistics to promote economy and trade, and economy and trade to promote industries, so as to promote all-round cooperation along the line and bring benefits to the people of the three countries. More tangible benefits.
It is more conducive to injecting new momentum into the construction of a regional community with a shared future, injecting more positive energy and stability into the world, and jointly sending out the strong voice of Asian countries' commitment to peaceful development.
Focus on hot issues and clarify China's proposition
China News Agency reporter: We have noticed that maintaining the stability and smoothness of the industrial chain and supply chain has become a frequent word during Xi Jinping's foreign visits, and China has proposed specific initiatives. What do you think of the significance of China's proposition for stabilizing the global production and supply chain? How do you view the harmfulness of some "decoupling" words and deeds in the world?
Zhang Tengjun:
President Xi Jinping specifically mentioned the global industrial chain and supply chain, which has several meanings:
First, the global production and supply chain system is under serious threat.
The root cause of this threat is that some countries and forces are engaged in "decoupling and breaking chains" in an attempt to seek their own interests by destabilizing the existing production and supply chains.
Second, from the perspective of the existing global governance mechanism, countries lack effective cooperation.
On multilateral occasions, it is even more necessary to jointly discuss how to stabilize the global production and supply chain as soon as possible.
Third, as an indispensable part of the global production and supply chain system and a responsible major country, China also needs to speak out.
President Xi Jinping mentioned that it is necessary to "create a convenient, efficient and safe Asia-Pacific industrial chain supply chain".
These initiatives themselves highlight China's unique role.
Some "decoupling" words and deeds in the world have undermined the basis for cooperation among countries, leading to the emergence of two worlds, two systems, and "two parallel markets", forcing some countries to choose between China and other markets. Harming one's own interests will inevitably harm the long-term and healthy development of the entire global production and supply chain system.
In this regard, President Xi Jinping emphasized that the world is one and countries should cooperate with each other instead of seeking "decoupling".
This is very realistic and pertinent. All parties must resolutely oppose the politicization, instrumentalization, and weaponization of food and energy issues, the removal of unilateral sanctions, and the removal of restrictions on related scientific and technological cooperation.
China News Agency: The Ukrainian crisis has become an unavoidable topic at two major international conferences. During this visit, Xi Jinping expounded his views on the Ukraine crisis and made clear China's proposition. What do you think is the significance of China's position in bridging differences, forging consensus, and promoting the easing and cooling of the situation?
Zhang Tengjun:
First, further clarify our position on the Ukraine crisis.
China has always advocated ceasefire, cessation of war and peace talks.
President Xi Jinping also mentioned that he "supports and looks forward to the resumption of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and hopes that the United States, NATO, and the European Union will conduct comprehensive dialogue with Russia."
Secondly, it further clarifies the historical and realistic enlightenment of the Ukrainian crisis.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that in the face of such a global and complex crisis as the Ukraine crisis, there are several points worthy of serious consideration: first, there are no winners in conflicts and wars; second, there is no simple solution to complex problems; third, confrontation between major powers must be avoided.
These three items have a very historical and strategic height, which inspires us to view the Ukrainian crisis from a more comprehensive perspective.
For example, some countries "anti-Russia and support Ukraine" on the Ukraine crisis, blaming Russia for all the responsibility, but in fact the Ukraine crisis itself has a very complicated historical and cultural background and real interest entanglements.
Finally, it further puts forward China's views on how to solve the Ukraine crisis.
China has always advocated that the international community should create conditions to ease and cool down the situation in Ukraine. The key lies in following the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, adhering to a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, and jointly opposing the Cold War mentality and confrontation between camps.
Only this kind of security concept can provide a complete solution to the Ukraine crisis.
(Finish)