China and the world (IV)

This is the fourth and last in the series of posts I am making from the interview that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Councilor of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, granted, earlier this year, for the English channel of the state group “China Global Television Network”/CGTN, in which he made an assessment of China's foreign policy over 2020 and its projection for this year and the future.

As I mentioned before, I decided to transcribe and translate the interview, only, without any interference or personal consideration, since I consider it important to know the official view that the Chinese Chancellery has of the role it understands to be that of China, and your own, in international relations.

And just like in previous posts, I have included the interview link for those interested in watching it.:

A MORE ASSERTIVE DIPLOMACY

“Chinese diplomacy bears its due responsibilities and plays a constructive role in resolving disputes, safeguarding national interests, defending national dignity and facilitating international cooperation. Under the firm leadership of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and with the full support of the Chinese people, we have been working hard to meet these responsibilities in a clear and assertive way. China's diplomacy has its roots in the 5.000 years of Chinese civilization and pursues the proud tradition of independence and self-improvement since the founding of the People's Republic of China. We follow the path of peaceful development and an independent foreign policy of peace. We uphold international law and the basic norms of international relations and exchanges between States.

We uphold equity, justice and other shared values ​​of humanism in the treatment of international relations. Chinese diplomacy has acquired, own style and optics. We offer hospitality to our friends and cooperation to our partners. But we have to stand our ground when dealing with the not so friendly. We gladly accept well-meaning criticism and follow up on suggestions that help us., but we have to react to the smears and attacks. E, more important, we have to speak up for justice when faced with power politics and moral harassment. This is the responsibility of Chinese diplomacy and the national character of the Chinese people..

Covid-19 dealt a heavy blow to the world economy and presented challenges for cooperation in the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI). in order to achieve the “green transition”, BRI cooperation has shown strong resilience. In his important videoconference message at the “Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation” , which took place last June, President Xi Jinping proposed turning the BRI into a model of cooperation, health, recovery and growth. This reflects the shared aspiration with the international community and maps the route to high-level cooperation in the BRI.

this year of 2020 witnessed the support that BRI partners offered to each other, forging a bond of solidarity to control the coronavirus and pursue common development. The “China-Europe Rail Express” completed more than 10 thousand trips, carrying more cargo in the first ten months of 2020 that throughout the year 2019. Praised as a “fleet of steel camels” (“steel camel fleet”), it has helped countries respond to Covid-19. The aerial Silk Road helped to transport more than 1.700 tons of supplies, inaugurating a continuous air rescue line.

In the first three quarters of 2020, non-financial direct investments in countries along the Silk Road reached 13 billions of dollars, an annual increase of approx. 30%. Most BRI projects continued, without interruptions or dropouts, and numerous new projects were started as scheduled. This has brought a lot of heat to this harsh winter for the world economy and contributed to the efforts of partner countries in the fight against coronavirus., stabilizing the economy and protecting livelihoods. The facts that prove the great vitality of the BRI abound. The pandemic has not shaken the commitment of participating countries. On the contrary, highlighted cooperation in the BRI to leverage global development in the post-covid era.

China is developing a new development paradigm, with the domestic scenario as a pillar and the reinforcement of the national and international scenarios, mutually. These efforts will not only leverage the high-quality development of the Chinese economy, but will also provide greater impetus for new opportunities and more effective avenues for cooperation in the “Belt and Road”. China will work with all parties to deepen synergies in the BRI and develop strategies with other countries, keeping in mind your Covid response needs 19 and economic recovery. We believe that strengthening the reopening of the economy and focusing on the potential of the new engines of growth, like health care, the digital economy and “green” development, we will be able to achieve a higher quality of cooperation in “Belt and Road” .

2021 marks the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and it is also the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. China will enter a new stage of development. The year of 2021 will have historical significance for China's national rejuvenation. We will start a new journey in building a modern socialist country. This centenary is only the first chapter of the great cause of the Party. We will continue to move forward with our great power diplomacy, with Chinese characteristics, safeguarding China's sovereignty, our security and our interests, and we will focus on the following six areas: We will do our best efforts to meet China's development strategies, while ensuring effective control of Covid-19; we will promote better integration between domestic and international markets and greater complementarity between domestic and global resources. We will strive to create a more favorable external environment, promoting a new development paradigm through the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. We will continue to build a new type of international relationship guided by President Xi Jinping's personal engagement with diplomacy. We will strive for the continued progress of China's relations with the great powers. We will cement solidarity and friendship with our neighbors and other developing countries, and we will deepen our openness and international and regional cooperation. We will promote high-level cooperation in “Belt and Road” and harness the strength of China's huge market and domestic demand potential., we will spur global recovery through our own development and share “China’s development dividends” with the world. We will proactively engage in reforming the global governance system.

The year of 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the real China's seat at the UN and the 20th anniversary of its accession to the WTO. We will continue to practice multilateralism, we will host a successful UN conference on biodiversity, we will tackle global challenges in partnership with others (countries) and we will promote a more equitable and healthy global governance system. We will actively facilitate mutual understanding between countries, We will improve communication to the world of the important results of the Chinese Communist Party's governance and the extraordinary journey towards the Chinese dream (“China Dream”), and China's commitment to peaceful development.

We urge all countries to overcome their differences and seek common development, embrace the exchange, mutual knowledge and harmony between civilizations. We will continue to seek to strengthen a community with a future shared by all humanity.. In this context, we will strive for a global community of health for all and a shared future for the Asia-Pacific community. We will support the values, shared by all humanity, of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, and we will work with all countries to create an open community and an inclusive world, clean and beautiful, with lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

Read the series of articles on Wong Yi and China

China and the world (I) – Covid-19

China and the world (II) – Relations with Russia and the United States

China and the world (III) – European Union, ASEAN, Africa, Middle East and Korean Peninsula

China and the world (IV) – Assertive Diplomacy

Fausto Godoy

Doctor of Public International Law in Paris. He entered the diplomatic career in 1976, served in Brussels embassies, Buenos Aires, New Delhi, Washington, Beijing, Tokyo, Islamabade (where he was Ambassador of Brazil, in 2004). He also completed transitional missions in Vietnam and Taiwan. Lived 15 years in Asia, where he guided his career, considering that the continent would be the most important of the century 21 - forecast that, now, sees closer and closer to reality.