China keeps expanding global network of partnerships

By Ren Huanyu, People’s Daily

“Despite our geographical distance, we have become like-minded partners, thanks to our common pursuit of peace and development and shared aspiration for a better life for our people.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks at the welcoming banquet of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation are still resonating.

In the first half of 2019, the Chinese President took 5 overseas trips and left his footprints on 8 Asian and European countries. Besides, he also received a total of over 60 meetings with foreign heads of state, government principals and leaders of international organizations at home.

Xi’s sincere exchanges with foreign leaders marked new achievements made by China as it is continuously expanding the network of global partnerships. Such efforts will be recorded by history.

With improved diplomatic agenda and expanded space for strategic planning, China’s diplomacy is seeing a larger international influence.

At present, the world is experiencing fiercer international competition and friction, rising geo-political practices, as well as damages to the international mutual trust and cooperation. All of these are posing challenges to the globe. As a result, the world needs to work hand in hand more than ever before to overcome the difficulties.

Proposing to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi is leading the trend of time to promote partnership, the spirit of win-win cooperation and common development, and his practice has been well received by the international society.

The vision of the Chinese leader and the sense of responsibility of China are injecting more stability and positive energy to the changing world.

China has revitalized traditional friendships and consolidated the foundation for the global network of partnerships. From Rome, Monaco to Paris, and from Moscow, Bishkek to Dushanbe, President Xi and his foreign counterparts reviewed their traditional friendly exchanges and ushered in new chapters of comprehensive cooperation, pushing bilateral relationships onto new levels.

Italy became the first G7 member to participate in the Belt and Road construction; China and Monaco agreed to constantly enrich the connotation of bilateral cultural exchanges; China and France inked agreements on the third round of the BRI-related demonstration projects in third-party markets.

Besides, China and Russia upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era; China further deepened its comprehensive strategic partnerships with Kyrghyzstan and Kazakhstan, and ushered in a new chapter of its ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal members of the international community. China has always treated every country equally and sincerely, putting the rich connotation of partnership into practice and setting an example of friendship and cooperation between different countries.

China has advanced interconnected development through practical cooperation, and enhanced the impetus for global partnership network. Faced with the rising trend of anti-globalization, President Xi is firmly upholding multilateralism and actively guiding international cooperation.

The second Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation has yielded fruitful results, and over 100 bilateral and multilateral documents have been signed by relevant countries and international organizations. The joint construction of the Belt and Road is turning from “painting broad strokes” to “refining the details”, starting a new phase of high-quality development.

China advocates common development and builds cooperation frameworks at all levels. It promotes practical cooperation that is results-oriented, and is actively establishing a global partnership for interconnectivity to achieve common prosperity.

Now more and more countries are joining the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and become partners of China. Those who share the same ideal and follow the same path can be partners. Those who seek common ground while shelving differences can also be partners.

At the G20 Osaka Summit, Xi has given profound expounding on the differences of interests and opinions faced by countries in their respective development phases. The important thing is to always promote our partnership and treat each other with respect and trust, and in that spirit, engage in consultation as equals, manage differences while seeking common ground, and build greater consensus, he remarked.

By announcing a series of major opening up measures and concrete actions, China is continuously expanding the common interests with each country and improving the quality of its global partnerships, injecting new vitality and energy into the high-quality development of the world economy.

China is embarking on a new path of state-to-state relations where dialogue and partnership prevail over confrontation and alliance, which further highlights the value of the global partnership network.

The country steadfastly upholds rules-based multilateralism and the UN-centered international system, and promotes a global governance system of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It is also safeguarding international justice and promoting the building of a new type of international relations.

The world is currently facing deficits of governance, trust, peace and development. At a China-France global governance forum, President Xi advised to put mutual respect and mutual trust in the first place, make use of dialogue and consultation, seek common ground while shelving and narrowing differences, increase strategic trust, and reduce mutual suspicion.

At the 19th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, Xi also proposed to improve the organization’s network of partnerships, encourage broader participation in cooperation by observer states and dialogue partners, strengthen exchanges with the UN and other international and regional organizations, play a more active role in international and regional affairs, and jointly contribute to durable peace and common prosperity of the world.

“Mutual respect and trust is required in developing state-to-state relations,” Xi stressed when addressing the fifth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. His remarks pointed a clear direction for building an Asia where countries enjoy mutual respect and trust.

China is not only an initiator, but also a practitioner of building a global partnership of shared future. Chinese schemes, centered with the spirit of partnership, are playing a vital role in safeguarding the peace and stability of the world.

The destiny of every country in the world is interconnected. China’s practice to expand the network of global partnerships is a distinguished feature of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

China, by building a comprehensive, diverse, and multi-dimensional network of global partnerships, has proved that different social systems and development modes can be inclusive and cooperate with each other, and that different cultures can communicate with each other. As a result, countries can achieve win-win outcomes and common prosperity.

“But either in good times or bad, either on a smooth road or a thorny path, we will uphold the spirit of partnership, keep in mind what brought us together, and march forward without hesitation,” Xi remarked at the welcoming banquet of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

What he said signaled that China is willing to join hands with its partners to sow the seeds of cooperation and reap the fruits of common development, so as to make the world a better place when building a community of shared destiny for mankind.