Keywords in China’s 2015 Diplomatic Policies

By+staff+reporter+ZHANG+HONG

THE keywords for Chinas diplomacy in 2015 will be ‘one focus and ‘two main themes，” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference focusing on Chinese diplomatic policies and external relations on March 8， 2015 in Beijing. He went on to affirm that the country will continue this year to forge ahead and expand all-round diplomacy by expanding its common interests with other countries while steadfastly safeguarding national interests.

The Belt and Road Initiatives –Not Another Marshall Plan

Wang explained that the “one focus”refers to all-out efforts towards progress in the Belt and Road Initiatives. China will enhance policy communications with other countries， expand convergences of shared interests， and explore all possible areas of win-win cooperation. Promoting infrastructural connectivity and building overland economic corridors and pillars of maritime cooperation will be priorities in this respect. The country is also keen to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation， and to accelerate FTA negotiations. Wang believes that the initiative will win still more support and deliver even more “early har- vests，” so catalyzing the revitalization of the Eurasian continent as a whole.

Peace and development are the “two main themes.” Wang stated that China will join with the international community in commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the worlds anti-fascist war， “To draw lessons from history， look to the future， and make China a strong force to safeguard peace.” Wang also observed that the 70th anniversary this year of the founding of the United Nations will be a good opportunity for China to take an active part in the UNs development summit and in international cooperation on climate change. “We will play a constructive role in helping to secure a post-2015 development agenda and a new international regime for addressing climate change that are in the interests of developing countries，” Wang said.

The foreign minister refuted suggestions that the Belt and Road Initiatives are comparable to the Marshall Plan， since they are “both much older and much younger than the Marshall Plan.”The initiatives are older because they embody the spirit of the ancient Silk Roads， which have a history of more than 2，000 years. They are younger because they are born in the age of globalization. As a product of inclusive cooperation， rather than a geopolitical tool， the initiatives must not be viewed through the lens of the outdated Cold War mentality. “In advancing the initiatives，”Wang stressed， “China will act according to the principle of wide consultation， joint contribution and shared benefits.”Equal-footed consultation will be carried out and the independent choices of other countries respected. China will be sensitive to the comfort level of other parties， ensure transparency and openness， align the initiatives with the development strategies of other parties， and create synergy with existing regional cooperation mechanisms. “The vision of the initiatives is common development， and the goal is win-win progress through cooperation.” Wang also used a musical metaphor to intimate that the initiatives are not Chinas solo， but a symphony performed by all relevant countries.endprint

Zhang Yunling， director of the International Studies Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Science （CASS）， has described the “Belt and Road” Initiatives as “one nations proposal that benefits all.” He added， “It shows that China will break the traditional pattern where a major power inevitably seeks hegemony and expansion.”

During his visit to Mongolia in August 2014， Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the country aboard Chinas train of development. Xi made the same remarks when he met the Prime Minister of Tajikistan， adding that China welcomes more countries aboard this train in efforts to realize mutual benefit and win-win results.

“Chinas sincerity will convince the surrounding countries that common prosperity is what the initiatives pursue，”research fellow at the Institute of American Studies of CASS Zhao Mei said.

Wu Enyuan， head of the Institute of Russian， Eastern European， Central Asian Studies of CASS， remarked on the projects prospects in Russia： “The ‘Belt and Road Initiatives will reshape and revive the Trans-Siberian Railway and generate more cooperation opportunities between China and Russia in the field of technologies.” Wu also emphasized that China should take on more responsibilities， since “the initiator is always expected to develop practical programs.”

A New Type of Relations with Surrounding Countries

When speaking of the importance of relations with surrounding countries， Zhang Yunling stated： “Building newtype relations with them is an opportunity for China to gain strength. Dealing with neighboring countries tests Chinas patience， wisdom and capability.”

Developing good-neighborly and friendly relations with surrounding countries has been a consistent policy of the Chinese government. In 1954， China put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence aimed at developing friendly relations with peripheral countries. In 2007， the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China（CPC） underlined the equal significance of relations with big countries and with peripheral areas. Since the 18th CPC National Congress， held in 2012， China has vowed to build a community of shared destiny with surrounding countries. In his address to the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in November 2014， President Xi raised， for the first time ever， the issue of surrounding countries ahead of that of relationships with other major countries. Whats more， the new generation of the central leadership of China attaches great importance to peripheral areas， and has undertaken high-level visits to all neighboring countries.endprint

“Chinas relations with the surrounding areas are an essential element of its development，” Fang Li， deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee， said. In his opinion， resolving disagreements and contradictions through building economic links， so forming a common stake， will contribute to the common development of China and its peripheral areas.

“Relationships on the periphery have always reflected Chinas self-develop-ment. A prosperous China often has a peaceful and stable peripheral environment， while a poor nation usually has unsatisfactory peripheral relationships，”Zhang Yunling remarked. “No single country is willing to confront China. Building a new community of shared destiny is not intended to restore the old order. It is rather to construct a new type of international relations.”

Wu Enyuan， on the other hand， believes that China should fulfill its responsibilities in the international community according to its abilities. “It is important to maintain good relations with surrounding countries and boost their development to realize win-win cooperation. But at the same time， we must follow the law of the market. China is still a developing country， and a large number of its residents live below the poverty line. Therefore， solving our own problems is the priority.”

Sino-U.S. Relations in Steady Progress

Sino-U.S. relations experienced twists and turns last year. Even so， expert on American studies Zhao Mei believes that bilateral relations are progressing steadily. “Both sides have realized one anothers importance. It is impossible to neglect the necessity of bilateral cooperation. Neither side can deal with terrorism or environmental issues without the other. The two powers are advised to sit together and jointly settle humankinds common problems，” Zhao commented.

Zhang Yunling holds a positive view on Sino-U.S. cooperation： “There are good numbers of cooperative mechanisms in the economic field between the two sides. Never has an existing great power built such close economic ties with an emerging power，” Zhang said.“At present， economy is our main focus. But to advance bilateral relations to a comprehensive scope means enhancing security cooperation to guarantee the safety of the peripheral areas.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted at the press conference Chinas call to build a new model of majorcountry relations with the U.S. “Countries may have different cultures， faiths or systems， but at the very least， we can all accept the idea of win-win cooperation，” he said.endprint

Wang Yi said frankly at the press conference that the undertaking to build a new model of major-country relations is a pioneering effort， and will not be plain sailing. “It is a logical development because it is in line with the common interests of both China and the U.S. and the trend of the times.” Wang Yi suggested that the two countries， “…should not magnify problems through a microscope. Instead， they should use a telescope to look to the future and make sure we move forward in the right direc- tion.” He went on to say that as long as the two sides show sincerity， buttress the bottom line of no-conflict and noconfrontation， and cement the foundation of mutual respect， “we can explore the immense possibility of win-win cooperation between China and the United States.”

President Xi Jinpings upcoming state visit to the U.S.， scheduled for autumn this year， will be a highlight in bilateral relations. According to Chen Jian， former UN under-secretary-general， it will infuse new momentum towards the new model of major-country relations between the two countries.

A Responsible Power

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. China will hold a military parade to commemorate the victory， and extend invitations to leaders of all the relevant countries. China and Russia， the two allied nations during the war， will also jointly hold a series of celebratory activities. Russian studies expert Wu Enyuan pointed out that China and Russia have solved all residual historical problems. Their two-way trade volume is expected to rise to US $100 billion this year， and the two sides will sign an agreement to work on the Silk Road Economic Belt.

At another press conference held in March， Chen Jining， newly appointed minister of environmental protection， urged developed countries to take the lead in emission reduction and shoulder their responsibilities under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change （UNFCCC） by doing more to support developing countries， in terms of finance， technology and capacity building.

“Being a responsible power entails two facets – promoting the worlds development and maintaining world peace，” Fang Li said. “In this sense， China is indeed fulfilling its responsibilities.” He shared Wu Enyuans opinion， emphasizing that China should first develop itself and then get its say on the global platform. The country should give full play to its existing resources while adding greater potential momentum and new vitality to the countrys development.endprint