Beijing, 4 Apr (Xinhua) -- Why is the "tide of spring" surging in the diplomacy of major countries
Xinhua News Agency reporters Zhang Yuan, Liu Jian, and Chang Tiantong
In mid-spring, the grass is new. On Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, people have often seen such a scene recently: on the Chinese lights on both sides of the street, the national flags of many countries are hung in turn, and the five-star red flag is displayed in the wind, and for a period of time, there are several national flags hanging at the same time.
After the conclusion of the National People's Congress and the National People's Political Consultative Conference, leaders of Spain, Malaysia, Singapore, France, the European Union and other countries and international organizations visited China. China, which has embarked on a new journey, has ushered in another diplomatic boom in this hope-sowing spring, writing a new chapter in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Close exchanges to meet global challenges
Beijing has once again become the world's remarkable "meeting room".
In less than a week, President Xi Jinping met with Spanish Prime Minister Alexis Sanchez, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President von der Leyen. This once again proves that "China's diplomacy has pressed the 'accelerator button' and sounded the 'rallying call.'"
According to Hadir Saeed, professor of international relations at the Arab Institute of Egypt, countries are currently facing a series of common challenges such as weak post-epidemic economic recovery and the escalating crisis in Ukraine, and many countries hope to work with China to deal with these problems and seek inspiration from China's governance experience through cooperation.
An opinion piece published in Spain's El País newspaper wrote that international relations today "are going through one of the most turbulent and dangerous moments in decades." Spain's upcoming EU presidency is a positive thing to engage in dialogue with China at the highest level to address tensions in the world.
After the victory of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, leaders of Vietnam, Pakistan, Tanzania, Germany, Cuba, Mongolia and Laos visited China intensively. These leaders' visits to China have their own priorities and concerns, but they all send a clear signal: they are willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with China, open up cooperation space for future global and regional development, and find solutions to current global challenges and dilemmas.
Since September last year, President Xi Jinping has also made many foreign visits: attending the Samarkand Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, attending the G9 Bali Summit in Indonesia, attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting in Bangkok and visiting Thailand, attending the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and paying a state visit to Saudi Arabia. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Russia, and the two heads of state conducted long-term and in-depth strategic communication on relevant major issues.
The compact diplomatic schedule and rich diplomatic achievements show the new atmosphere, new actions and new responsibilities of major country diplomacy, and inject more stability into the chaotic and intertwined international situation.
"China's diplomatic boom shows that the country's influence on the international stage is growing." Radio France News said in a report that in addition to Asian and European countries, many political leaders from African and Latin American countries have also expressed their willingness to visit China.
Seek cooperation and explore development opportunities
During this visit to China, a huge delegation of enterprises accompanying Macron attracted media attention. More than 60 senior executives from Airbus, EDF, Alstom and many other French companies came to China to seek new cooperation opportunities.
When meeting with President Xi Jinping, "cooperation" and "development" were frequent words among foreign leaders. "Spain is willing to maintain frank communication and dialogue with China, continuously enhance mutual trust, and deepen bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation", "Malaysia is willing to strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation with China and the construction of 'two countries, two parks', learn from China's experience in poverty reduction, and strengthen cooperation in agricultural modernization and other fields", "I believe that China's economy will continue to develop, and Singapore and other neighboring countries are looking forward to further deepening economic cooperation with China"...
Since the beginning of this year, with the steady turn of epidemic prevention and control, China's economy has shown a trend of stabilization and recovery, and many international institutions have raised their economic growth forecasts for 2023. IMF Managing Director Georgieva, who came to China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Meeting 2023, said that China's economic development momentum is good, and its contribution to world economic growth this year is expected to exceed one-third, which will provide important opportunities for other countries.
Hadil Said said that the current global growth rate is declining, world trade is still sluggish, and the problem of economic recovery is plaguing many countries. China is one of the few major economies that has maintained positive growth and is of great significance to driving global economic development.
Self-confidence and inclusiveness, win-win sharing. Recently, the 2023 Annual Conference of the China Development Forum and the 2023 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia have been held one after another. The themes of the two annual meetings, "Economic Recovery: Opportunities and Cooperation" and "Uncertain World: Unity and Cooperation to Meet Challenges, Openness and Inclusiveness for Development", all reflect the common aspirations of the international community for peace, cooperation and development, and also express China's sincerity and determination to work with other countries to create new opportunities for development.
When attending the closing ceremony of the fifth meeting of the Sino-French Business Council with President Macron, President Xi Jinping said that China will accelerate the development of the domestic market, while vigorously promoting high-level opening up, steadily expanding the opening up of rules, regulations, management, standards and other institutions, and is willing to share the new opportunities brought by Chinese-style modernization with all countries in the world, including France.
During the meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, President Xi Jinping stressed that China's unswerving promotion of high-level opening up and Chinese-style modernization will bring new opportunities for the development of all countries in the world, including Malaysia.
Kenyan international affairs scholar Cavince Adehir said that one of the important reasons for the intensive visits of political dignitaries from various countries to China is that China has always been regarded as an important promoter and stabilizer of the world economy. Singapore's current affairs commentator Ong De Sang believes that China has created a harmonious development environment for the Asia-Pacific region and even the world with its own development, continuously promoted the process of economic globalization, and promoted the development of international trade, which is exactly what the world needs today.
Guard tranquility and look forward to solutions
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal and Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian stand side by side with their hands folded on April 4. Under the witness of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran signed a joint statement, and the two countries announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect, opening a new page in Shah-Iran relations.
The two major powers in the Middle East "met each other with a smile and a vendetta" in Beijing. This is a victory for dialogue and peace, providing great good news for the current turbulent world, and also letting the world see China's ability and courage to build peace.
At present, the world is not at peace, turmoil and change are intertwined, unity and division collide, and opportunities and challenges coexist. The international community is generally worried that the world will once again fall into division and confrontation, and even form a "new cold war". Against this historical background, China's choices and actions have become the focus of global attention.
The Ukraine crisis and global security issues were common topics for visiting dignitaries. President Xi Jinping expounded China's propositions and plans with firm and powerful words, allowing the world to once again feel China's historical responsibility as a responsible major country.
"The causes of the Ukraine crisis are complex, and delaying it is not good for all parties, and it is in the interests of all parties concerned and the whole world to cease fire and stop the war as soon as possible, and a political solution is the only correct way out." "China's position is consistent and clear, that is, to persuade peace and promote talks and political settlement" "There is no panacea for resolving the crisis, and all parties need to start from themselves and create conditions for peace talks to stop the war by accumulating mutual trust"... Seeking a solution to the Ukraine crisis, China has always been a builder of world peace.
"Resolutely oppose hegemony and bullying", "We should abandon the Cold War mentality and camp confrontation, and abandon extreme sanctions and pressure", "In accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, take into account the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seek political solutions, and build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework", "Adhere to true multilateralism and safeguard international fairness and justice"... It takes a clear stand against the actions of some countries that trample on and undermine the international order for the sake of hegemonic selfish interests, and China has always been the defender of the international order.
During talks with President Xi Jinping on the 6th, Macron said that France adheres to independent diplomacy, advocates Europe's strategic autonomy, opposes confrontation and separation, and opposes camp confrontation. France will not choose sides, but advocates unity and cooperation, and relations between major countries remain stable. The French side is willing to maintain frank and in-depth communication with China, enhance mutual trust, seek common ground while reserving differences, and open cooperation.
From the issuance of two important documents, the Concept Paper of the Global Security Initiative and China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, to the successful mediation of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, to the holding of high-level dialogues between the Communist Party of China and political parties around the world, and the proposal of global civilization, China's series of choices and actions have demonstrated that China firmly stands on the side of peace, dialogue and the right side of history, and has been recognized and highly praised by all parties.
Helmut Scholz, a German member of the European Parliament, said that he agreed with President Xi Jinping's series of propositions on global security, and that Europe and China need to work together to bring lasting peace to the people of Eurasia and contribute to the creation of a just and reasonable multilateralism world order.
If the world loves each other, it will rule, and if it is evil, it will be chaotic. In the face of profound changes in the world, times and history, China in the new era will unswervingly adhere to mutual respect, win-win cooperation, fairness and justice, openness and inclusiveness, unswervingly practice the common values of all mankind, and unite all progressive forces with a long-term vision, broad mind and solid actions in the great journey of building a community with a shared future for mankind, so as to make the hundred gardens of human civilization more vibrant and springy. (Xinhua News Agency)