Following the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy to Advance Diplomatic Work in the New Era (Excerpt)
Yang Jiechi
Recently, the Central Conference on Diplomatic Work was successfully convened. This is a historic conference held during a critical period of major worldwide development, transformation, and adjustment, and at a time when socialism with Chinese characteristics is entering a new era. The most important outcome of this conference is that it established the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, which has a significant and far-reaching influence on our efforts to comprehensively implement the principles and arrangements of the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017 and further advance diplomatic work in the new era.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, facing a volatile international environment, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core has led China's diplomatic work in overcoming difficulties and forging ahead while advancing the great cause of Chinese socialism in the new era. During this historical process, we have endured great risks and trials, won many tough battles, and accomplished epic feats. We are blazing a new path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and are creating a favorable international environment for realizing the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. We have made persistent efforts to balance domestic and international considerations, maintain strategic confidence and resolve, facilitate innovations in diplomatic theories and practice, enhance strategic planning and global vision, safeguard China's core and key interests, engage in mutually beneficial cooperation, balance the greater good and shared interests, adhere to worst-case scenario thinking, and improve risk awareness. Displaying great innovation, we have promoted major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, setting historic achievements and accumulating valuable experience.
Over the past five-plus years, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to China's diplomatic initiatives. He has devised strategic plans and implemented them personally, making 30 overseas trips and visiting 61 countries, covering all important regions, countries, and international organizations. Within his sweeping and high-momentum diplomatic practice, Xi has firmly grasped major domestic and global development trends and thought deeply about the future of humanity, setting forth a series of new ideas, propositions, and proposals rich with China's unique characteristics and contemporary spirit, to guide the development and progress of humanity. Thus, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, namely Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, has been formed. Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is based on an overall framework and core principle of "persistent efforts in ten aspects"; it defines the historic mission and overall goals of China's diplomatic work in the new era and provides a series of guidelines and principles that must be upheld. It also provides deep insight into the essential requirements, inherent laws, and advancement of China's major-country diplomacy in the new era.
First, persistent efforts should be made to strengthen the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC in its diplomatic work in maintaining the authority of the CPC Central Committee.
This is the fundamental guarantee for the success of China's diplomacy as the country's success hinges on the CPC. Maintaining the initiative in a complex international environment requires us to uphold the leadership of the Central Committee over China's diplomacy, safeguard the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core, and ensure that policies and decisions are strictly carried out in a unified manner. The CPC's centralized, unified leadership and overall coordination on diplomatic work should be solidified, while all forces should be mobilized to jointly participate in and promote China's diplomacy. This will create a situation in which the CPC has complete authority over and coordinates every aspect of diplomatic initiatives.
Second, persistent efforts should be made to promote China's major-country diplomacy, which is tasked with realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
This is the historic mission bestowed upon China's diplomatic work in the new era. The success of diplomatic efforts in the new era will provide multi-dimensional, total-coverage, and high-quality services for comprehensively deepening reform and opening up, as well as create a favorable external environment and gain more understanding and support in order to realize the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. We should firmly implement people-centered diplomatic principles, further integrate the development of China and the world, and strive to realize the common desire for a better life of the people in both China and the rest of the world.
Third, persistent efforts should be made to build a community with a shared future for humanity, with the aim of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
This is the overall objective of China's diplomacy in the new era. Building a community with a shared future for humanity requires that all countries work together to create an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity. At the same time, we must promote a new model of international relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice, and mutually beneficial cooperation, and together follow a new path of interaction between nations. Building a community with a shared future for humanity is our goal and direction, while establishing a new model of international relations is the precondition and the path. We must conduct China's diplomacy in such a way so as to guide the advancement of humankind, and open a path for the common development of China and the whole world.
Fourth, persistent efforts should be made to uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics as the fundamental means by which we will strengthen our strategic confidence.
This is the basic requirement that our diplomatic work must meet in the new era. Confidence in our path, theories, system, and culture is the source of our strength and the foundation of our belief, embodying the will of the state, our national spirit, and China's international image in the new era. The constant development of China's socialist path, theories, system, and culture is China's contribution of wisdom and method to solving the problems facing humanity. We will always champion Chinese socialism to strengthen our strategic confidence, thus enriching China's diplomatic work with root and soul, and paving an even brighter path for China's major-country diplomacy.
Fifth, persistent efforts should be made to pursue the Belt and Road Initiative in line with the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration.
This is the overarching design for China's opening-up and international cooperation and will remain so for a considerable period of time to come; it is also an important platform for implementing the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity. The notion of the Belt and Road Initiative originated in China, but the opportunities and benefits it may generate will spread throughout the world. The building of the Belt and Road will enhance policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, trade route expansion, capital flow, and the fostering of friendship between China and relevant countries. The Initiative will also ensure that the principle of shared growth through discussion and collaboration is translated into cooperation outcomes that benefit all. Carrying forward the "Silk Road Spirit," we should share development opportunities with other countries, and open up prospects for common development.
Sixth, persistent efforts should be made to follow a path of peaceful development based on mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation.
This is a basic principle that must be upheld in China's diplomatic initiatives on a long-term basis. China's commitment to an independent foreign policy of peace, a path of peaceful development, and a mutually beneficial strategy of opening-up is a strategic choice made in line with its national conditions and fundamental interests. Peace entails mutual respect, just as development entails mutually beneficial cooperation; China and other countries of the world should follow a path of peaceful development together. China will continue its role as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.
Seventh, persistent efforts should be made to develop global partnerships by improving our diplomatic layout.
This is an important quality of China's diplomacy in the new era. Promoting coordination and cooperation with other major countries will help us in our efforts to build a framework for major-country relations characterized by overall stability and balanced development. We will strengthen relations with our neighboring countries according to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendships and partnerships with our neighbors. Adhering to the principle of doing greater good while pursuing shared interests and the concept of sincerity, practical results, affinity, and good faith, China will work to strengthen unity and cooperation with other developing countries. On this basis, we will actively enhance multilateral diplomatic initiatives and constantly deepen and improve our diplomatic layout. Our aim is to create a comprehensive, diverse, and multi-dimensional network of global partnerships and build a worldwide circle of friends.
Eighth, persistent efforts should be made to reform the global governance system according to the principles of fairness and justice.
This is an important target of China's diplomacy in the new era. As the global governance system enters an important period of profound change, global governance has increasingly become a key issue at the forefront of China's diplomacy. The window of opportunity is open for us to shoulder responsibility and actively participate in the reform and development of the global governance system, advocate democracy and rule of law in international relations, support the United Nations to play an active role, and encourage other developing countries to increase their representation and voice in international affairs. By doing so, we will actively facilitate the establishment of a more balanced global governance system that reflects the wishes and interests of the majority of countries.
Ninth, persistent efforts should be made to safeguard our national sovereignty, security, and development interests, with our core national interests as the inviolable bottom line.
This is the starting point and ultimate goal of China's diplomacy. We must resolutely uphold the leadership of the CPC and the system of Chinese socialism, safeguard our national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, crack down on separatism in all its forms, work actively to guarantee economic and financial security, and effectively safeguard our overseas interests. If we are to protect our reform, development, and national rejuvenation initiatives, then it is vital to continue enriching and developing our means of safeguarding national interests, and effectively forestall and defuse various risks and challenges.
Tenth, persistent efforts should be made to create a unique brand of diplomacy for China by combining the fine traditions and contemporary features of our diplomatic work.
This is the symbol of China's diplomatic spirit. We Chinese are a peace-loving people with an indomitable spirit, who regard the world as a commonwealth shared by all. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, we have formed distinct diplomatic traditions that are characterized by independence, peaceful development, and mutually beneficial cooperation. On entering the new era, China has presented a pioneering and enterprising new diplomatic face that is in keeping with the times, and has formed an effective array of strategic thinking and tactical methods. Carrying forward our fine traditions while continuing to enrich and develop our diplomatic strategies is how we will broaden the horizons for China's major-country diplomacy.
Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is an important theoretical crystallization integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's major-country diplomacy, and a distillation of how the Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core thinks about national governance in the diplomatic field. It is the fundamental basis and guide for China's diplomatic efforts in the new era.