China: rising budget and heading south for Chinese diplomacy

China, which has never known "soft power", seeks to change its image through diplomacy and propaganda.

AP - Jack Taylor

Text by: Stéphane Lagarde Follow

3 mins

In Beijing, the parliament meeting this week is due to confirm the nominations from the 20th CPC Congress last fall.

It also comes to give the main orientations of Chinese policy, including foreign policy with an increasing diplomatic budget.

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From our correspondent in Beijing,

Chinese diplomacy should see its budget multiplied by five this year.

She could also put a little water in her baijiu – the traditional sorghum alcohol –, since after the “

” diplomats, the time would indeed be for appeasement, at least in the speeches.

If the defense of the Chinese way, in particular vis-à-vis the Russian ally, remains a principle recalled at each intervention, Beijing intends to revive the engine of the second economy in the world seized by the Covid years.  

End of the fighting wolves? 

A vast charm offensive has been launched vis-à-vis Western investors.

In a few months, we have gone from the spirit of Anchorage in 2021 where Chinese leaders had

after years of trade war under the Trump administration to that of

where Xi Jinping and Joe Biden have promised to to see each other again.

, the new Chinese foreign minister who served as Chinese ambassador to Washington, intends to stabilize the relationship with the United States.

It may be the end of “sharp power” and the beginning of “smart power”, but it is above all a work on communication.

"

", said

in 2021. China, which has never known "soft power" (soft power ), seeks to change its image through diplomacy and propaganda.

Despite

or weather balloons, the American department has for its part affirmed that it wants to send more missions to China.

But it is especially to the countries of the South that China is addressed, and the first trip of the new Minister of Foreign Affairs in January was reserved for Africa.

► 

Dropper Invitations  

“

”

said Wang Yiwei, professor in the diplomacy department of the People's University in Beijing (see box).

With the “Global South” initiative, Chinese diplomacy has headed south like Russian diplomacy.

In addition to scholarships awarded to

, which could resume after the reopening of the country, participation in international

and conferences, funding of

, for the fourth consecutive year, the Chinese government is organizing training for media journalists from the countries of the South, so as to "

"

And this with 100% support: plane, accommodation in a diplomatic residence in the center of Beijing, allowances, meals, around sixty of them are invited to attend the plenary sessions of the two Chinese assemblies meeting in Beijing, including, for Africa, journalists from Congo, Namibia, Senegal and Zambia.

For the first time, however, 90% of journalists from Western media offices in Beijing remained on the floor for the opening of parliament on Sunday.

Invitations are distributed in dribs and drabs.

And the accreditations issued on Friday were collected from the buses on Saturday by Chinese diplomats accompanying the foreign press, on the grounds that they risked being lost. 

Wang Yiwei, professor in the diplomacy department of Remin University in Beijing

RFI: The budget for Chinese diplomacy should increase by 12% this year.

What will this new funding be used for? 

Professor Wang Yiwei:

With the increase in GDP, China has developed its investments.

Today, there are 151 countries along the Belt and Road Project

's interests are all over the world.

Our army must increase its budget like our diplomacy in order to provide the best possible service.

More diplomats are needed and they need to be better protected, as many end up in war zones.

For example, China was one of the last countries to evacuate Ukraine.

Because we didn't know there would be a war.

The evacuation of Chinese from abroad is becoming more and more complicated, so he is strengthening the resources of our embassies. 

With the “Global South” initiative, China has headed south and is turning its back on the West like Russia?   

No, the report of the 20th National Congress emphasizes that development is the first priority of the government in power and therefore we must continue to actively cooperate with developed countries.

Cooperation in terms of capital, technology, experience, management and markets, as was the case in the past with the policy of reform and opening up in China.

At the same time, we must strengthen our cooperation with the member countries of the Chinese “

” initiative – the new Chinese silk roads, Ed.

But more than the South, it is the relationship between China and developing countries that matters.

China as a major developing country always positions itself in favor of developing countries.

It is part of our identity.

Media journalists from Southern countries are once again invited to cover the sessions of the Chinese Parliament meeting in Beijing.

Does China hope to restore its image by funding media in developing countries?   

Confucius Institutes in developing countries attract many learners.

But major media and local news agencies benefit from Western investments.

We can only support and finance small media in developing countries, and sometimes little-known journalists. 

With priority given to reviving the economy, is this the end of the “wolves warriors”?  

First of all, be aware that the term

can be perceived as discriminatory.

We prefer to use the image of the panda and the lion.

literally

.

International relations are full of wolf and China must defend itself.

But we also need to be introspective.

Some Chinese diplomats have misunderstood the idea of ​​being proactive and ready to fight, and perhaps this has contributed to degrading China's image.

We must learn from our experience and adapt to the lessons of history, hoping that China will become more accessible, friendly and respectable. 

How is the relationship between China and the United States? 

American politicians regularly criticize China.

But you have to be constructive and seek common ground to see new cooperation emerge.

This year should be a time for cooperation.

We have seen the beginning of Chinese modernization in the 20th National Congress, the State Council is being restructured.

In the United States, the midterm elections are over and Washington holds the presidency of Apec this year.

President Xi Jinping will therefore certainly be in San Francisco in November for the APEC summit.

And we'll see what happens after the US elections next year.

We are therefore prepared to ease the tension with the United States, which is also a common expectation of the business communities of the two countries, including the rest of the world.

 Interview by Stéphane Lagarde and Louise May, from the Beijing office

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