Source: Xinhua News Agency
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 1st:Title: 2019: China's Foreign Policy – A Global Perspective
Reporter: Yan Liang, Xinhua News Agency
"A new year begins, marking a fresh start. As time progresses into 2019, China embarks on a new chapter of distinctive international engagement. The world watches with anticipation, eager to see what new initiatives, solutions, and opportunities China will present in this new year."
In light of the unprecedented global changes and complex international landscape, the world seeks to benefit from China's expanded openness and looks forward to deepening friendly cooperation with China. We hope that China's expertise will contribute to resolving international and regional challenges, and we anticipate that China will make new contributions to strengthening global governance.
Shared Opportunities and Open Access
Looking back at 2018, cooperation and mutual benefit were a defining characteristic of China's foreign policy. The "Belt and Road" international cooperation initiative progressed significantly, with numerous notable achievements. To date, China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative has exceeded $6 trillion, and investments in these countries have exceeded $80 billion, creating over 240,000 jobs locally.
Looking ahead to 2019, a key theme in Chinese foreign policy is "openness." Guided by the principles of cooperation and mutual benefit, China will work with countries around the world to expand shared interests through openness and achieve shared opportunities through cooperation.
As a key diplomatic event in China for 2019 – the Second "Belt and Road" International Cooperation High-Level Forum – it will mark a significant milestone in the next phase of building the "Belt and Road" initiative.China will diligently advance all preparatory work, actively solicit feedback from relevant countries, and focus on project implementation, policy alignment, and mechanism development, further consolidating consensus, clarifying direction, expanding outcomes, and promoting the high-quality, high-standard, and high-level development of the "Belt and Road" initiative. Building upon the grand and expansive "Brushstrokes," we will create a precise and refined "Ink Painting," achieving greater success.
The inaugural China International Import Expo has recently concluded, with numerous foreign enterprises already signing contracts to participate in the second Expo, which will be held in 2019. The vast market potential and development opportunities in China are generating significant global interest.As stated by Laurie Pierce, Assistant Vice-Chancellor of the University of New South Wales, Australia, a strong and confident China will bring more opportunities to the world.
"Open China" fosters connectivity globally. The China International Import Expo and the "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Forum, both significant events, exemplify China's efforts to build an open world economy. According to Pang Yu, a senior researcher at Pang Yu Think Tank, China's advocacy for openness aligns with global expectations and carries significant contemporary relevance, allowing the world to benefit from China's open development.
Strengthen friendly cooperation
Looking ahead to 2019, this year will mark a period of comprehensive and deepened cooperation with countries around the world, solidifying China's commitment to mutually beneficial partnerships and the construction of a shared future.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Sino-Russian relations and the 40th anniversary of Sino-US relations.
In 2018, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia achieved significant advancements at a high level across all sectors. At this historic milestone marking the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, the partnership continued to prioritize strategic guidance from the leaders, deepened practical cooperation in various fields, and elevated the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia to new heights, reflecting the shared expectations of the people of both countries and contributing significantly to maintaining international fairness, justice, and global peace and stability.
Over the past 40 years, the China-U.S. relationship has navigated numerous challenges, yet has maintained a generally stable trajectory. At this critical juncture in the China-U.S. relationship, the choices made by both countries will have significant implications for their respective economies and societies, as well as for the overall development and prosperity of both nations and the world. History has repeatedly demonstrated that cooperation is the optimal path for both China and the United States. In December of last year, leaders from both countries met in Argentina, achieving significant consensus. Both sides agreed to promote a China-U.S. relationship characterized by coordination, cooperation, and stability, and reached a fundamental agreement on trade and economic issues.
"As we enter a new year, China looks forward to working with the United States to reflect on the 40 years of bilateral relations, strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, military, law enforcement, drug control, local affairs, and culture, and maintain communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, while respecting each other's vital interests. This will promote a stable and cooperative relationship between the two countries, benefiting the people of both China and the United States."
Professor Wu Xinbo, Director of the Fudan University American Research Center, stated that, from a bilateral perspective, there is significant room for Sino-US economic cooperation, and the economic relationship between the two countries is unlikely to decouple. From a regional perspective, the economic development and stability of the Asia-Pacific region depend on the coordination between the US and China. From a global perspective, the US and China can cooperate on many global governance issues, such as climate change and cybersecurity.
In the new year, China will continue to uphold multilateralism in cooperation with European countries, working together to improve global governance and maintain international rules and order. China will continue to strengthen mutual trust and expand practical cooperation with neighboring countries, deepening mutual interests. China will adhere to a correct and pragmatic approach, and a genuine and sincere philosophy, implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-Pakistan and China-Iran Forums, and accelerating the construction of a common destiny between China and developing countries.
Upholding Global Peace
Entering 2019, the world faces new historical challenges, and the choices made by various countries will undoubtedly influence future development trajectories. It is undeniable that China will continue to play the role of a "stabilizing force," offering Chinese solutions to address international hotspots and challenges, and contributing to regional security and global peace.
Regarding the Korean Peninsula issue, China encourages and supports continued dialogue and positive outcomes between North Korea and the United States. China will fully implement its international obligations as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions, while promoting dialogue and cooperation between North Korea and the United States, as well as other relevant parties, along the "dual-track" approach, with the aim of achieving complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishing a permanent peace mechanism.
In addressing the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action regarding Iran's nuclear issue, the situation in Myanmar's Shan State, and the conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria, and Palestine, China is committed to working with all parties to persistently strive for solutions, in response to the international community's earnest expectations.
Professor Su Changhe, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, believes that current global hegemony and power politics persist, while protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise. Traditional and non-traditional security issues are complexly intertwined. The international community hopes that China will continue to play a positive role in maintaining regional and global stability and peace, drawing upon Eastern wisdom and Chinese solutions.
Enhance global governance
Looking back at 2018, the global balance of power underwent rapid transformation, with unilateralism and protectionism increasingly prevalent, posing challenges to the existing international system. As a major power, China's role and influence will be closely watched worldwide.
Looking ahead to 2019, China will continue to uphold the principle of collaborative governance, shared development, and mutual benefit, firmly support multilateralism based on rules, and steadfastly maintain the international system centered on the United Nations. China will also support the United Nations system in playing a key role in global governance processes.
In recent years, China has steadily advanced the "Belt and Road" initiative, establishing institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank of the BRICS countries, the Silk Road Fund, the South-South Cooperation Fund, and the China-UN Peace and Development Fund. These initiatives have enriched the global governance system and strengthened the capacity of Southern countries in global governance.
"Greater capability necessitates greater responsibility. In contributing to the strengthening of global governance, China is willing to make positive contributions commensurate with its capabilities, which is also the expectation of the international community towards China." – Liang Ya Bin. "As China's comprehensive national strength continues to grow, China is committed to contributing its wisdom and strength to maintaining world peace and promoting common development, and to providing international public goods.
China will consistently be a proactive contributor to global governance reform. In 2019, China will support necessary reforms and improvements to the World Trade Organization, based on the maintenance of core values and fundamental principles, and will support all countries in jointly advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. China will also support the early and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
**Global Recognition and Contribution:** China's contributions are highly valued internationally. China consistently provides positive energy and new impetus to global governance. As noted by Dr. Martin Jacques, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, "China is playing an increasingly active role in organizations such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, and is a key force in driving reform."
Looking ahead, a confident and open China will embrace the world with a broader perspective and a more expansive outlook, uniting diverse forces to build a shared future for humanity, and making new, significant contributions to human prosperity and progress.