Tackle by H.E. Wang Yi
State Councilor and Minister of International Affairs
On the Opening of Symposium on
The Worldwide State of affairs and China’s International Relations in 2019
Beijing, 13 December 2019
Members of the academia,
Pals,
Good morning! It provides me nice pleasure to hitch you once more on the flip of the yr.
This yr marks the 30th anniversary of this symposium on the worldwide scenario and China’s international relations. Over the previous three a long time, the symposium has witnessed the modifications within the worldwide panorama and the extraordinary journey of Chinese language diplomacy. Due to your energetic participation and powerful help, the symposium has loved rising affect each at dwelling and overseas. It has developed into an vital platform for discussions on worldwide developments and China’s diplomacy and a helpful supply of insights and options for China’s international coverage. For this, I want to specific my honest due to all of the specialists and students current at the moment.
For China, 2019 is a yr of nationwide celebration and of constructing on previous achievements to forge into the longer term. We warmly celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Folks’s Republic of China. Trying again on the momentous journey China has traversed prior to now seven a long time, we perceive higher than ever how New China has come an extended method to what it’s at the moment. This has made us much more decided to comply with the trail of socialism with Chinese language traits and extra assured about reaching the 2 centenary targets and the rejuvenation of the Chinese language nation.
We efficiently held the fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Get together of China (CPC). The Plenum made a full exposition of the core tenets, achievements, and noteworthy benefits of the socialist system with Chinese language traits and China’s governance system. It put ahead for the primary time the overarching aim of upholding and bettering the socialist system with Chinese language traits and modernizing China’s system and capability for governance, thus laying a stronger institutional basis for realizing nationwide rejuvenation. A steady, safe and affluent China is standing tall and proud within the east of the world, poised to make new contributions to the reason for peace and growth of humankind.
For the world, 2019 is a yr of turbulence and mounting challenges. Multilateralism and unilateralism are locked in a bitter contest, protectionism and populism have been on the rise, and the world is seeing a rampage of energy politics and bullying. Large energy rivalry has intensified, international governance is confronted with extra difficulties, and international development stays sluggish. From Asia to the Center East, from Europe to Latin America, flashpoints hold flaring up, nations are plunged into turmoil, and conventional and non-traditional safety threats have gotten extra intertwined. All these are posing extreme challenges to international governance.
That stated, we should additionally see that peace and growth stay the prevailing development of our occasions. Globalization and multipolarization are shifting ahead regardless of twists and turns. And a brand new spherical of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is gathering momentum. Whether or not nations make the appropriate alternative between cooperation and confrontation, multilateralism and unilateralism, openness and isolation will largely form the way forward for human society.
In 2019, dealing with the advanced worldwide scenario, China has cast forward with its international relations below the management of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping on the core. We comprehensively summed up the profitable expertise and high quality traditions of the previous 70 years, and reaffirmed our authentic aspirations to deliver happiness to the Chinese language folks and contribute to progress for humanity. Charting the course ahead and overcoming difficulties and challenges, we achieved new advances and new outcomes in China’s international relations in wide-ranging areas. Such progress has not solely bolstered China’s growth but additionally made vital contributions to world peace and progress.
Over the previous yr, China has vigorously developed its relations with different main nations, injecting optimistic power into total international stability.
This yr marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Throughout President Xi Jinping’s historic go to to Russia, the 2 Presidents reached vital settlement on additional deepening the excellent strategic partnership of coordination, and signed a joint assertion on strengthening international strategic stability. Clean progress has been made in synergizing the Belt and Highway Initiative and the Eurasian Financial Union and in implementing main strategic initiatives in areas of power, aviation, area and connectivity. Early this month, the 2 Presidents witnessed by way of video hyperlink the launch of the east-route pure gasoline pipeline between the 2 nations. Below the watch of the 2 Presidents, the China-Russia relationship is getting into a brand new period of mutual help, deep convergence, steady innovation and mutual profit, enjoying a extra essential function in sustaining world peace and stability.
This yr additionally marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the US. Over the previous 40 years, China and the US have turn into deeply inter-connected by means of shared financial pursuits, and thriving exchanges in all areas. Internationally, there’s ever larger want for the 2 nations to collectively deal with international challenges. On the identical time, there exist some deep-seated points between the 2 sides that have to be tackled head-on. These points have offered rising challenges to the way forward for China-US relations. Appearing within the curiosity of the 2 peoples and as a accountable member of the worldwide group, China has continued to pursue constructive dialogue with the US this yr. We now have additionally taken agency actions to counter US bullying and uphold the ideas enshrined within the three China-US joint communiqués. At their assembly in Osaka, the 2 Presidents expressed a clear-cut dedication to advance China-US relations primarily based on coordination, cooperation and stability.
This yr has additionally witnessed shut interactions between China and Europe. Europe was the vacation spot of each President Xi Jinping’s first and final abroad go to this yr. Premier Li Keqiang attended the China-EU Summit and the China-CEEC Heads of Authorities Summit. The membership of China-CEEC cooperation was enlarged for the primary time. China and the EU concluded negotiations on an settlement on geographical indications as scheduled and signed the agreements on civil aviation cooperation easily. Leaders of Germany, France and Italy visited China respectively. China and the EU additionally reached in depth consensus on main points from strengthening international governance, upholding multilateralism to safeguarding free commerce. This has despatched a transparent message of China and Europe enhancing strategic cooperation and collectively addressing international challenges.
Over the previous yr, China has comprehensively strengthened its ties with neighboring nations, bringing larger stability to the area.
President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi efficiently held their second summit in Chennai. The 2 leaders had lengthy and in-depth discussions on problems with strategic significance. They agreed to reinforce sensible cooperation throughout the board and promote exchanges and mutual studying between the 2 civilizations. The summit set the tone for the regular and sound development of China-India relations and opened new prospects for mutually useful cooperation between the 2 nations.
Common Secretary Xi Jinping paid a historic go to to the Democratic Folks’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the event of the 70th anniversary of China-DPRK diplomatic relations. The go to has given a brand new enhance to the standard friendship between the 2 nations.
China and Japan reached a ten-point consensus on bettering and rising the bilateral relations. Leaders of the 2 nations agreed to work for a China-Japan relationship in keeping with the wants of the brand new period, bringing the connection again on observe for brand new progress.
The China-ASEAN FTA Upgrading Protocol has totally entered into drive. The primary studying of the Code of Conduct (COC) within the South China Sea has been accomplished forward of schedule, and COC consultations are making strong progress. All this has ushered China-ASEAN relations into a brand new stage of all-round growth.
President Xi Jinping visited Central Asia and attended the SCO summit and CICA summit, taking China’s relations with Central Asian nations and the event of the SCO to a brand new degree.
China additionally performed a pivotal function in bringing about vital progress in regional cooperation within the Asia-Pacific. Not way back, the 15 collaborating nations of the Regional Complete Financial Partnership (RCEP) concluded all of the text-based negotiations, and a timeline has been drawn up for its formal signing. A regional free commerce space boasting the most important inhabitants, most various membership and best potential is within the making.
Later this month, China will host the eighth China-Japan-ROK (CJK) leaders’ assembly. As we mark the 20th anniversary of CJK cooperation, the assembly is ready to inject new impetus into cooperation and growth in East Asia.
Over the previous yr, China has constantly advocated win-win cooperation, energizing the constructing of an open world financial system.
China efficiently hosted the second Belt and Highway Discussion board for Worldwide Cooperation, which was attended by 40 nationwide leaders and heads of worldwide organizations, and almost 6,000 representatives from 150 nations and 92 worldwide organizations. The discussion board produced 283 vital outcomes.
This yr, China has signed paperwork on Belt and Highway cooperation with 16 nations and worldwide organizations, bringing the overall variety of such cooperation paperwork to 199. Flagship initiatives reminiscent of China-Pakistan Financial Hall, China-Laos Railway, Jakarta-Bandung Excessive-Pace Railway and China-Europe Railway Categorical have created substantial growth alternatives for the collaborating nations, and introduced the Belt and Highway cooperation into a brand new part of high-quality growth.
The second China Worldwide Import Expo attracted a formidable gathering of 181 nations, areas and worldwide organizations, greater than three,800 exhibitors and over 500,000 patrons from dwelling and overseas. Enterprise offers value greater than US$71 billion have been concluded, up by 23% from final yr.
In his keynote speech on the opening ceremony of the Expo, President Xi Jinping identified that financial globalization is an irreversible development of the occasions. He known as for the constructing of an open world financial system that includes cooperation, innovation and mutual profit, and introduced the main opening-up initiatives China would absorb 5 areas. His speech drew a heat response throughout the viewers.
China has deepened South-South cooperation with fellow growing nations. The Coordinators’ Assembly on the Implementation of the Comply with-up Actions of the FOCAC Beijing Summit was efficiently held in Beijing. Greater than half of the 880 plus cooperation initiatives and the financing help have been delivered below the framework of the eight main initiatives on China-Africa cooperation. The follow-up actions of the FOCAC Summit, which have been in full swing, have been held to excessive requirements and produced early and inspiring outcomes to the good thing about our peoples.
China’s relations with Latin American and the Caribbean nations and Arab nations proceed to make regular and strong progress, with deeper and better-structured cooperation in all fields.
Over the previous yr, China has firmly defended equity and justice within the worldwide enviornment, serving as a pillar for multilateralism and larger democracy in worldwide relations.
Within the face of unilateralist and hegemonic strikes, China has firmly stood on the appropriate aspect of historical past and on the aspect of the widespread pursuits of the overwhelming majority of nations. From the G20 Summit to the BRICS Summit, from the Convention on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations to the China-France Seminar on International Governance, from the Boao Discussion board for Asia to the leaders’ conferences on East Asian cooperation, China has taken a constant and unwavering stand, particularly, firmly upholding the UN-centered worldwide system, safeguarding the worldwide order underpinned by the worldwide regulation, and selling the multilateral buying and selling regime centered on the WTO.
President Xi Jinping’s name for in depth session, joint contribution and shared advantages in international governance and for constructing a group with a shared future for mankind has been embraced and supported by increasingly more nations.
China is deeply engaged in worldwide cooperation in such areas as local weather change, combating and stopping terrorism and cyber-security. China has honored its worldwide duties and duties, and made vital contributions to international efforts towards international challenges. Throughout this yr’s G20 Summit, China held a gathering on local weather change along with France and the UN. China and France additionally signed the Beijing Name for Biodiversity Conservation and Local weather Change.
Within the election for the FAO Director-Common, the Chinese language candidate received by a large margin. And for the primary time, Chinese language nationals have been appointed Particular Envoy of the UN Secretary-Common and UN Resident Coordinator. All this speaks to the growing function performed by China in UN affairs.
Over the previous yr, China has stepped as much as its duty as a significant nation, enjoying a constructive function within the political settlement of regional flashpoints.
On the difficulty of the Korean Peninsula, China has at all times been dedicated to safeguarding peace and stability of the Peninsula and resolving the difficulty by means of dialogue and session. China has been working to advertise synchronized progress within the institution of a everlasting peace mechanism and full denuclearization of the Peninsula. On this course of, China maintains that the issues of all events, the DPRK’s official issues over its safety and growth particularly, needs to be correctly addressed.
On the query of the Center East, China is dedicated to upholding the effectiveness and authority of the Joint Complete Plan of Motion (JCPOA), and resolving variations by means of dialogue and session. China has advocated the political settlement of the Palestinian and Syrian points and different regional hotspots. China held the primary Center East Safety Discussion board, and its proposals on Center East safety have been welcomed by nations within the area. As a part of its shuttle diplomacy on Afghanistan, China facilitated the intra-Afghan dialogue, the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral dialogues and the China-Russia-US session, and hosted the primary China-Russia-US-Pakistan four-party assembly in intensified efforts to expedite peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
China known as on its two neighbors, India and Pakistan, to deescalate battle, resume dialogue and handle variations. China promoted peace talks between Myanmar and Bangladesh, and urged them to correctly resolve current points by means of dialogue and session.
Over the previous yr, we have now firmly defended our core nationwide pursuits, contributing our due share to China’s growth, stability and nationwide reunification.
We now have firmly applied the coverage of “one nation, two techniques”, and supported the Hong Kong SAR authorities in curbing violence and restoring order. We now have fought resolutely towards exterior forces interfering in Hong Kong and in China’s inside affairs, and pushed again the darkish hand instigating a “shade revolution” in Hong Kong. We now have given a strong response to the slanderous assaults by anti-China forces over Xingjiang. In 2019, as much as 1,000 diplomats, journalists and students have been invited to go to Xinjiang and see the scenario there by means of their very own eyes. Going through provocations by some Western nations on the UN Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of the Common Meeting, China refuted and prevailed over groundless accusations with clear information, and its simply place has received overwhelming help from the worldwide group. Final yr, China established or resumed diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso and El Salvador. This yr, China established relations with the Solomon Islands, and resumed relations with Kiribati. Because the variety of nations having diplomatic ties with China elevated to 180, the one-China consensus is extra broadly embraced than ever earlier than within the worldwide group.
Members of the academia and pals,
In 2019, the state of China-US relations has undoubtedly been the main focus of consideration each in China’s diplomacy and in world affairs. I want to take this chance to additional elaborate on China’s place. This relationship, which is at its fortieth yr this yr, has encountered complexities by no means seen prior to now 4 a long time.
The US has arbitrarily acted to limit exchanges and maintain China down within the fields of financial system, commerce, science, expertise and people-to-people exchanges. It intentionally smeared China on Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet and human rights, which concern China’s core pursuits and its territorial sovereignty and nationwide dignity. The US has additionally used numerous worldwide events to discredit China’s social system, growth path and mutually useful cooperation with different nations, and slander China with trumped-up costs. Such flagrant strikes are pushing the boundaries of regular worldwide trade. They’ve severely undercut the muse of the hard-won mutual belief between China and the US and dented the credibility of the US itself on this planet. They haven’t solely uncovered the malicious motives of the anti-China forces to the Chinese language folks, however are additionally being challenged and resisted by increasingly more nations.
Misguided actions are grounded in mis-perceptions. The above US strikes originate from its incorrect notion of China. Some insist that China will search hegemony when it grows stronger identical to conventional powers, and can in the end problem and unseat the US. Some, out of ideological prejudice, discover it arduous to return to phrases with the success of socialism with Chinese language traits. They refuse to confess that there are different paths to modernization aside from the Western mannequin. Some blame China for issues within the US, making an attempt to get China to take drugs for the sickness of the US. Some even search to advance their private political pursuits by being robust on China.
Whereas its notion of China has gone astray, the US can also be exhibiting a skewed view of the world. As a substitute of residing as much as its due worldwide duties and obligations, probably the most highly effective nation on this planet has opted for unilateralism and protectionism. In just a little over two years, it has withdrawn from an extended checklist of agreements and organizations, particularly, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Settlement (TPP), the Paris Settlement, the United Nations Instructional, Scientific and Cultural Group (UNESCO), the International Compact for Secure, Orderly and Common Migration (GCM), the JCPOA, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Non-compulsory Protocol to the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations In regards to the Obligatory Settlement of Disputes, and the Intermediate-Vary Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Such blatant acts of turning again the wheels of historical past and strolling away from worldwide commitments have triggered many difficulties and disruptions for the worldwide group, making the US a troublemaker in at the moment’s world.
The sound and regular growth of the relations between the highest two economies on this planet serves the pursuits of the 2 peoples and meets the widespread aspirations of the world. What the previous 4 a long time have taught us, most significantly, is that each nations stand to achieve from cooperation and lose from confrontation. This helpful lesson nonetheless holds true at the moment and can stay so sooner or later, however modifications in China, the US or the world. Managing variations and staying centered on cooperation won’t solely profit each nations but additionally be a blessing for the entire world.
On the a part of China, what we search is our official proper to develop ourselves. We by no means had any intention to problem or substitute the US. What we advocate is equity and justice on this planet. We are going to by no means go down the crushed observe of looking for hegemony with power. What we pursue is widespread progress of humankind, by no means the egocentric pursuits of China itself.
We at all times consider that cooperation is the perfect and the one viable possibility for China and the US. We urge the US to get cool-headed as quickly as doable, and put its China view and world view in correct perspective. We urge the US to work with us for a relationship of no-conflict, no-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. Our aim is to collectively discover a manner of peaceable co-existence and mutual profit between two nice nations on this planet with completely different social techniques, growth paths, histories and civilizations.
Members of the academia and pals,
The yr 2020 can be a key milestone in the midst of China’s nationwide rejuvenation. We are going to full the 13th 5 Yr Plan, get rid of absolute poverty, and understand a reasonably affluent society in all respects. We are going to obtain the primary centenary aim, and on that foundation, begin a brand new journey towards the second centenary aim of constructing China into a terrific fashionable socialist nation in an all-round manner.
We all know full nicely that the journey towards rejuvenation can be accompanied by extra struggles with new historic options and would require assembly new challenges of the occasions. No matter harmful shoals or raging waves could lie forward, China’s diplomacy will courageous the wind and waves and steer a gentle course with a robust resolve.
We are going to rally much more carefully across the Get together Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and totally examine and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese language Traits for a New Period and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. We are going to strengthen consciousness of the necessity to keep political integrity, assume in big-picture phrases, comply with the management core and hold in alignment, and strengthen confidence within the path, concept, system and tradition of socialism with Chinese language traits. We are going to uphold Common Secretary Xi Jinping’s core place in each the Get together Central Committee and the Get together as an entire, and uphold the Get together Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified management. Staying true to our authentic aspirations, we are going to bravely undertake our mission to interrupt new floor for major-country diplomacy with Chinese language traits within the new period.
Subsequent yr, we are going to give attention to the next six main duties:
First, doing our utmost to serve the home growth agenda. Considering each the home and worldwide scenario, we are going to leverage all diplomatic sources at hand to facilitate main growth methods at dwelling, foster an enabling worldwide and regional surroundings and supply extra favorable situations for the well timed attainment of our first centenary aim, i.e. the conclusion of a reasonably affluent society in all respects. We are going to proceed to host promotion occasions for Chinese language provinces to supply them with broader platforms for mutually useful cooperation with different nations and inject extra dynamism into home socio-economic growth. We are going to enhance the community of all-dimensional consular service and improve the system for the safety of Chinese language nationals and pursuits abroad to make sure the security and legit rights and pursuits of our fellow countrymen overseas.
Second, firmly safeguarding our nationwide pursuits. We are going to follow our ideas and see to it that our backside strains are by no means violated. We are going to work to successfully defuse dangers and challenges posed by the exterior surroundings, and construct sturdy safeguards for China’s sovereignty, safety and growth pursuits. With a steely will and extra strong measures, we are going to resolutely defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity, steadfastly uphold our system of socialism with Chinese language traits, guard towards and forestall any try by exterior forces to meddle in China’s inside affairs. On the premise of equality and mutual respect, we’re able to work out the issues and variations with the US by means of dialogue and session. However we are going to by no means settle for unilateral sanctions or any acts of bullying. We urge the US aspect to deliver its China coverage again heading in the right direction as quickly as doable and actually respect China’s official and lawful rights and pursuits.
Third, constantly deepening partnerships. We are going to comply with the strategic steering of the 2 Presidents of China and Russia, and advance the China-Russia complete strategic partnership of coordination for a brand new period on all fronts. We are going to improve and improve China-Europe relations by increasing cooperation with Central and Jap European nations into broader fields and taking China-EU relations to the next degree. We are going to deepen strategic belief and converging pursuits with all our neighbors, higher put into apply our neighborhood diplomacy guideline that advocates amity, sincerity, mutual profit and inclusiveness, and work for a group with a shared future with our neighboring nations. We are going to comply with by means of on the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Discussion board on China-Africa Cooperation, and use the third ministerial assembly of the China-CELAC Discussion board and the ninth ministerial convention of the China-Arab States Cooperation Discussion board as a possibility to cement our unity and friendship with fellow growing nations.
Fourth, resolutely upholding multilateralism. Because the United Nations celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding subsequent yr, we are going to name on all nations to reaffirm the needs and ideas of the UN Constitution and help the UN’s central function in worldwide and multilateral affairs. We are going to provoke larger worldwide consensus for constructing a group with a shared future for mankind, and help the institution-building of platforms such because the Shanghai Cooperation Group, BRICS and G20 to develop a extra equitable and efficient international governance system. We are going to velocity up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Growth and take an energetic half in worldwide local weather cooperation, providing China’s proposals and contributions to the decision of world challenges.
Fifth, actively increasing worldwide cooperation. We are going to earnestly implement the outcomes of the second BRF. Following the precept of session, contribution and advantages for all, the philosophy of open, inexperienced and clear cooperation, and a high-standard, people-centered and sustainable strategy, we are going to work for brand new progress in high-quality Belt and Highway cooperation. As we play host to the second UN International Sustainable Transport Convention, we are going to grasp the chance to advertise a worldwide partnership on connectivity, and spearhead worldwide cooperation on growth. We are going to work for the early signing and entry into drive of the RCEP, velocity up negotiations on a China-Japan-ROK FTA, and construct a high-standard free commerce community open to the world. We are going to carry ahead the precept of pursuing the larger good and shared pursuits, deepen South-South cooperation, and help fellow growing nations in constructing capability for self-generated growth and in exploring modernization paths tailor-made to their nationwide situations.
Sixth, vigorously modernizing the system and capability for conducting diplomacy. We are going to totally examine and act on the choices of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, significantly the excellent plan on modernizing China’s system and capability for governance. We are going to hold engaged on the theories, establishments, capability and authorized framework supporting our major-country diplomacy with Chinese language traits, and modernize the system and capability for conducting China’s diplomacy and foreign-related work. We’re prepared for extra expertise sharing with different nations on growth and governance. We are going to current to the world China’s “manner of governance” and clarify how one can “decipher our system” as we inform the success story of the Get together, the success story of socialism with Chinese language traits, and the success story of a united and hard-working folks.
Because the world goes by means of profound modifications and China enters a brand new period, the interaction of the 2 offers the historic backdrop for beginning a brand new journey of our major-country diplomacy with Chinese language traits. Greater than at another time, we want insights on guiding human progress, options to dangers and challenges, and knowledge to pool worldwide consensus. I encourage you to capitalize in your tutorial experience and contribute extra constructing blocks to the theoretical framework of China’s international coverage within the new period, extra good concepts on resolving robust diplomatic points, and extra actions to boost China’s voice within the worldwide group. We welcome your efforts and contributions to our major-country diplomacy and the constructing of a group with a shared future for mankind.
Thanks.