The past year has been very important to China’s diplomacy. President Xi Jinping has had a busy diplomatic agenda over the 12 months and led the country to make breakthroughs in its foreign affairs.
Chinese wisdom of the ‘Belt and Road’
President Xi made five overseas trips in 2016, notably visiting key points in the Belt and Road initiative, the infrastructure network intended to reinvigorate the ancient trade routes that once linked East and West. He stressed that this initiative has achieved positive results when delivering a speech at the Legislative Chamber of the Supreme Assembly of Uzbekistan in June. More than 40 countries and international organizations have signed agreements on the Belt and Road.
"The Silk Road is a great treasure that we inherit from history."
Xi Jinping
Trust-based friend circle
President Xi quoted a Chinese proverb to elaborate on China-Bangladesh relations in a signed article published in leading Bangladeshi newspapers The Daily Star and Prothom Alo on the occasion of his state visit to the country in October. “Mutual trust” has always weighed heavily in his diplomatic philosophy. As China’s former senior diplomat Fu Ying said at the 13th annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in October, the international community needs “a more inclusive world order based on mutual trust.”
"Only friendships built on sincerity can last long."
Xi Jinping
Development for all
President Xi reiterated China’s adherence to its reform and opening-up policy at the opening ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing on January 16. The AIIB is in operation with 57 countries actively taking part in it as of December 2016, injecting momentum to regional development. Amid doubts that China may not continue providing favorable policies for foreign companies, Xi’s words provided reassurance that the country will continue to contribute to global development and pursue an opening-up strategy driven by mutual benefit.
"China’s opening up will never shut and China welcomes all countries to ride on its development."
Xi Jinping
Peace as premise
Xi made this remark at the opening ceremony of the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Beijing on April 28, showing China’s commitment to peace and development. In 2016, it brought the South China Sea issue back to the path of dialogue and negotiation, and managed to strengthen relations with major countries such as the United States and Russia. In the complicated and changing international context, China maintained the big picture of stability and contributed to world peace in 2016.
"He who cherishes virtue prospers and he who favors might perishes. The law of the jungle goes against the trend of the times and belligerence cannot lead to peace."
Xi Jinping
(Story by Wang Xuejing; video editor Fu Lei)
