Building on 75 years of achievements and opening up a new chapter in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. For the past 75 years, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has united and led the Chinese nation in successfully finding the Chinese path to modernization, and in creating the two major miracles of fast economic development and long-term social stability. China has seen a substantial rise in its composite national strength, becoming a pivotal player in the global economic landscape while achieving a historic leap towards a moderately prosperous society in all respects for its people. China has successfully accomplished the daunting task of eliminating absolute poverty, contributing to over 70% of poverty reduced globally. Infrastructure construction has expanded rapidly, with significant advancements in transportation. Remarkable progress have been made in scientific and technological development, and high-tech innovation has yielded fruitful results. Cultural undertakings have also flourished, with the country’s soft power substantially enhanced. A range of green-development initiatives has been successfully implemented, promoting harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. China’s contribution to global economic growth has exceeded 30% for multiple years in a row. These onstitute not only China’s major achievements, but also great contributions to the world.

Over the past 75 years, China has unswervingly pursued peaceful development and made important contributions to world peace and development. Committed to its foreign policy goal of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, China has actively advanced world multipolarity and democracy in international relations, unequivocally opposed hegemonism and power politics, and worked to make the international order more just and equitable. Our external environment has been historically improved, our core interests strongly safeguarded, our cooperation with other countries greatly expanded and our international status and influence remarkably enhanced.

In the new era, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, Chinaís diplomacy has upheld fundamental principles while breaking new ground and forged ahead. We have created a favorable environment for building a great modern socialist country and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and made new contribution to maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

In pursuit of building a community with a shared future for mankind and lending new impetus to the building of a brighter future for humanity. Faced with intertwined traditional and non-traditional security issues and sluggish world economic recovery, China has given its answer—building a community with a shared future for mankind. Since the vision put forth by President Xi Jinping in 2013, building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system, from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, and from a promising vision to substantive actions. It has been included in resolutions of the U.N. General Assembly for 7 consecutive years. Extending to various regions and covering various areas, it has served as a glorious banner leading the progress of the times.

Staying committed to dialogue and cooperation and setting an example of healthy interactions between major countries. Relations among major countries bear on the stability of the world. China has continued to deepen its comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era with Russia, with a view to boosting our respective development and revitalization, and promoting world multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations. China-US relations have weathered winds and rains but mainstream public opinion has not changed. The meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden last November shaped the San Francisco vision and stabilized the bilateral relationship, which met the shared expectations of the world. China and Europe have been deepening dialogue and cooperation and reached consensus on jointly safeguarding multilateralism.

Being dedicated to building a new type of international relations and consolidating and expanding the global network of partnerships. President Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Solidarity brings strength, and confidence is more precious than gold.” China stands firmly against small circles that seek geopolitical purposes and small blocs that undermine stability. Over the 75 years, the number of the countries which has established diplomatic relations with China has grown to 183. China has acted on the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and proven a reliable partner in jointly building the Asian home. China-ASEAN cooperation has made solid progress. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has continued to grow. China has also pursued progress for all and stayed a steadfast member of the Global South. We have been working for the historic expansion of the BRICS mechanism. The FOCAC Beijing Summit was successfully held this year and China-African cooperation is getting new fruits year by year. China has established collective cooperation mechanism with all developing countries having diplomatic ties with China. We are making every efforts to give a strong boost to the representation and voice of developing countries.

Working to promote multilateralism and being a strong supporter for global governance. From the first day of the establishment of the PRC, China firmly upholds the UN-centered international system and the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China holds that global governance is the way to surmount global challenges and put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). Over 80 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI. The GSI has garnered support from over 100 countries and international and regional organizations, and is written into a host of bilateral and multilateral documents. The GCI has turned from vision to practice and the increased communication, mutual learning and appreciation between the Chinese and other civilizations have added new splendor to world civilizations.

Focusing on open development and serving as a powerful engine of global recovery. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has produced fruitful outcomes and become the most popular global public goods and the largest platform for international cooperation. Over 150 countries and more than 40 international organizations jointly ushered in another golden decade of Belt and Road cooperation. The China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the China International Supply Chain Expo were held in succession. It has become an established consensus of the global business community that “the next China is still China.” This year, China rolled out a series of major steps to expand high-standard opening up and promote high-quality development, including streamlining visa procedures and granting unilateral visa exemption to citizens of a number of foreign countries, which are set to bring more benefits to investors and partners from across the world. It has been proven that openness brings progress and cooperation creates a bigger pie.

Remaining devoted to justice and fairness and acting as a critical force for world peace. Over the past 75 years, China, as a responsible major country, has always upheld justice and stood up for fairness. We have resolutely opposed hegemonism and power politics and pushed back against a handful of countries’ attempt to dominate international affairs. At the same time, China has been actively exploring and applying a Chinese approach to addressing hotspot issues, and played a constructive role in upholding international peace and security. We have been working hard for the cessation of hostilities and for peace talks in the Ukraine crisis, made unremitting efforts for the de-escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and played a constructive role in addressing regional issues such as Afghanistan and Myanmar. Defending justice in defiance of hegemonic power is certainly also about safeguarding China’s sovereignty, national dignity and territorial integrity. In the face of external interference and provocation, we fought back resolutely and forcefully. In response to various acts of unjustified suppression, we took legitimate and reasonable countermeasures. The international community’s commitment to the one-China principle has been further cemented and the 1.4 billion Chinese people’s resolution to advance national reunification remains rock-solid.

The CPC held successfully in July the Third Plenary Session of its 20th Central Committee, laying out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This will profoundly further transform China. Standing at this new start point, China is going all out to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursue national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. This will create new opportunities for world peace and development. China will work hand in hand with countries around the world to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and create a more peaceful and better tomorrow.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. Macao has been an important node city of the Maritime Silk Road since ancient times. During the past 25 years, with its special geographic location and the great advantage of “One Country, Two Systems”, as well as its close links with the Portuguese-speaking countries in language, regulations, laws and culture, Macao has played an irreplaceable role in China’s diplomatic undertaking and made impressive achievements in its external relations. Going forward, Macao will be able to derive more opportunities from the country’s new development strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hengqin In-depth Cooperation Zone, and continue to strengthen its role as a world center of tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries and an exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as its mainstream and co-existence of different cultures. I believe that with our joint efforts, China’s major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will continue to pursue progress in the new era and bring about a brighter future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for the whole world!

*Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macau Special Administrative Region