Editor's note: Gao Lei, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Center for Xi Jinping Thoughts on Opening-up, Research Institute of Globalization and China's Modernization, University of International Business and Economics. Xia Lu, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the National Academy for Development and Strategy, the Academy of Xi Jinping Thoughts on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China. The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a message sent to the international symposium to commemorate the 10th anniversary of China's neighborhood diplomacy on October 24, highlighting that China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, and will work with other countries to build an Asian homeland of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty and friendly coexistence. It has been ten years since the neighborhood diplomacy has been upgraded to one of the two key pillars of China's foreign relations, with the other major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. 

Why is neighborhood diplomacy important?

Ten years ago, on October 24-25, 2013, the CPC Central Committee held a high-level conference on neighborhood diplomacy, revealing the significance of neighborhood diplomacy in China's foreign relations. President Xi's keynote speech at this conference laid down the reasons why neighborhood diplomacy matters to China. Stability and prosperity are the main goals among others.

From the perspectives of historical development, geopolitical situation, natural environment, and mutual relations, China's neighboring areas are of great strategic significance, for China has as many as 20 neighboring countries, of which 14 are by land and six by sea, making China's peripheral areas more complicated and complexed than most countries. Therefore, promoting neighborhood diplomacy is one of the indispensable conditions for realizing the goal of Chinese modernization and the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It aims to foster a favorable surrounding environment for China's reform and development. It is by no means a one-way policy. Not only will it benefit China alone, but the final realization of neighborhood diplomacy will also benefit more neighboring countries and achieve common development.

What are the new attributes of China's neighborhood diplomacy?

Historically, many great powers encountered issues in dealing with neighboring countries as they sought to rise, either peacefully or violently. Among them, some regard neighboring countries as their own "backyards," others regard neighboring countries as spheres of influence and strategic buffer zones, and still others regard them as their immediate economic colonies. All these notorious options have proved that they could not form a good model of relations with neighboring countries.

In contrast, China's neighborhood diplomacy will not and cannot follow this old path. In his message to the symposium, President Xi pointed out that the basic policy of China's neighborhood diplomacy is to pursue friendship and partnership with its neighbors and to build an amicable, secure, and prosperous neighborhood.

Therefore, China's neighborhood diplomacy will not follow the old patterns of dependency, interference, creating spheres of influence, zero-sum, and divide and rule, but will embark on a new path of peaceful coexistence, harmonious coexistence, and common development between major powers and neighboring countries.

Where will the principal be leading China and neighboring countries?

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, China's foreign relations with neighboring countries have displayed a new orientation. Firstly, the characteristics of political communication have become more obvious, and through the regular, formal, informal, bilateral, and multilateral meeting mechanisms, it ensures frequent exchanges and regular interaction between leaders of China and neighboring countries.

Secondly, the role of making long-term strategic plans has become more prominent. China has formulated a five-year or ten-year plan for the development of bilateral relations with more and more neighboring countries, striving to ensure the continuity and stability of cooperation through the connecting of development plans in both parties.

Thirdly, exchanges and cooperation have reached a wider range of fields, covering exchanges among political parties, administrative cooperation between government departments, law enforcement, security cooperation, inter-local cooperation, industrial and commercial forums, governance exchanges, people-to-people exchanges, and other aspects.

Fourthly, the level of connectivity has gradually improved, especially since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed ten years ago, which greatly increased the mobility of people, finance, goods, and intelligence between China and neighboring countries, and displayed the indispensability of Asia in international relations.

Fifthly, there are more innovations in diplomatic practice. Over the years, in the practice of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, diplomatic policy planning, connectivity, local cooperation, and security cooperation have all started from the neighborhood, then reaching out to farther away places.

Although it has been ten years since the principles of neighborhood diplomacy were proposed, there is still a lot of work waiting to be done. Admittedly, one of the key characteristics of China's peripheral areas is instability, with changeable socio-political ecology, different stages of development, different customs and humanities, and deep involvement of countries outside this region, which determines that there will inevitably be some interference factors in China's relations with neighboring countries. As a Chinese saying goes, a good neighbor is better than a distant brother. It helps explain the very core idea of the principle of neighborhood diplomacy, which is cooperation rather than fierce competition.

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