China’s Foreign Policy Promotes a Shared and Prosperous Future for All

In his recent interactive session with the press, State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the important foreign policy position of China especially after the fourth session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC). With recent victory against poverty and once in a century pandemic, and having realized a modestly developed society, China is all set, confident and ready to take the global stage as a responsible state to contribute towards the development of the world through innovation and togetherness.

In a glimmer times, China rallied global support and engagement through intensive head of states engagement through cloud diplomacy. China continues fighting and contributing towards global fight against pandemic. China is a responsible member of the UN System and encourage equality in the system. Over the years especially, for the past eight years, since President Xi Jinping took office, China has moved steadily ahead in its domestic development projections and foreign policy engagements with the partner’s friends at the regional and global scale. As a responsible member of the international community, China is playing its constructive and meaningful part in global peace, security and development.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, in the darkest times of the world, when everyone fearing the collapse of the world, President Xi took the bold step in building support and consensus through “head of state diplomacy” and video conference diplomacy. This was an innovative and bold step in the times of COVID-19 to advance the foreign relations to conduct these important head of the state level meetings and engagement. This was the need of the hour that a leader with a vision could take. President Xi connected through around 80 phone calls with global leaders to share solidarity in the face of adversity along with talking to the heads of international organization to chalk out future course of action against the virus.

In the face of the pandemic, China through its scientific, technology and diplomatic efforts, worked with other countries to defeat the COVID-19. The World has witnessed how China has launched one of the history’s largest emergency humanitarian action against the virus. China’s global and domestic diplomatic successes are possible as a result of the vibrant, visionary and committed leadership by the Communist Party of China (CPC). This is also an iconic year since CPC is celebrating its centenary birthday and 100 years of achievements and contributions towards China’s global people center diplomatic vision. CPC while believing on people’s power and their satisfaction as a core value of national rejuvenation also built the diplomatic ties as well.

China is a strong proponent of the multilateralism and believes in a stronger, inclusive and just global political system. In his press conference, Foreign Minister Wang highlighted the vision of China for the United Nations which should not look like a club of rich countries rather in the UN each country should enjoy equality and no country should act as a hegemon in international affairs. China, as the permanent member of the UNSC, has remained propagating justice, fair play and objectivity in the work of the UN where the developing countries have more say and opportunities to reflect their aspiration in contributing global development process. China is an active member of the UN with around four UN development agencies are headed by the Chinese nationals. Along with this, China is also the second largest contributor of the UN regular budget.

With the strong believe in multilateralism, China is not in favor of “selective multilateralism” rather China is supporting a multilateralism which is inclusive with characteristics of togetherness, commitment to the international law, consultation and cooperation instead of conflict and equality instead of hegemonic designs. On the base of this people centric, multilateral approach with inherent ambition of creating a shared future of prosperity for humanity, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious grand global project of China wherein multi-stakeholders are working together to advance high quality Belt and Road cooperation. COVID-19 has changed the world but the BRI has proved the importance of multilateral cooperation. The BRI is a concept of togetherness and through creation of favorable business and trading environment, policy of opening-up at all levels, China is working with the countries to accelerate building an open world economy. China’s presence in the World Trade Organization for the past more than two decades has remained instrumental in making the global economy supportive towards the less developed economies.

As China has a strong multilateral foreign policy approach, it is pertinent to see Chinese partnerships with the regional forums including ASEAN, EU and others. On ASEAN, for instance, the Chinese Foreign Minister highlighted that the as China and ASEAN will be celebrating 30 years of the establishment of the bilateral dialogue relations, China is ready to develop further cementing of the ties. China’s new development paradigm is also aligned with the overall ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, hence both sides can continue building support and long-term partnerships.

In case of China’s relations with the EU, it is based on equality and openness. Foreign Minister Wang has highlighted that China has no intentions in creating divisions between old time allies EU and the US. Being a strong advocate of multilateralism, China is equally eager to see the effective multilateralism in European region resulting in cooperation and collaboration amongst states.

China’s relations with Russia have remained stronger and valued as both states have been viewing each other as strategic partner over all these years based on the experience of the history and as a result of the challenges of the global international system. Foreign Minister Wang expressed that both states stood shoulder to shoulder with each other to combat not only the virus but also the political virus.

On China’s relations with US, Foreign Minister Wang has highlighted and rightly pointed out about the differences and disagreements due to difference in the social, political and economic systems. It is important that these differences should be managed through better communications to avoid miscalculation, conflict and confrontation. There is a hope in Beijing that the new administration will work without creating any restrictions on the bilateral cooperation and refrain from creating new or artificial rifts. Any confrontation will not augur well for the global peace and security.

At the regional level, China’s relationship with its neighbor India has recently been soured however Foreign Minister Wang reiterated China’s position on resolving the border dispute with India on firm position through dialogue and consultation to safeguard the sovereign interest of the country. Both countries have also established hotlines in order to continue the conversation going for reducing any friction in the future as confrontation is not the solution but China believes in peaceful negotiations and resolution of the conflict. China has always tried to resolve its border disputes with neighbors having the concept of good neighborhood position in its foreign policy. As a result of the China’s wisdom, now there is a favorable trend of de-escalation of tension in the Himalayan frontier.

Regarding Japan, Foreign Minister Wang said that both countries should not distract their commitment for regional peace and stability with one single incident in order to make it mature and stable.

One of the outstanding characteristics of Chinese foreign policy is how the country take a very special care to the countries in the global south. For instance, with Arab states, China works in solidarity and pursue a common progress especially preparation is ongoing on China-Arab States Summit.

For Africa, China is supporting the region through its recent vaccine diplomacy and helping the countries to bring economies on track. This is what the Chinese objectives and focus of foreign relations has remained. In a positive manner, China is promoting to build a shared and prosperous future for all while adhering to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of the country.