Diplomacy pays dividends as countries benefit

"Openness brings progress, while self-seclusion leaves one behind. China will not close its door to the world, we will only become more and more open," Xi said in the report of the Party's 19th National Congress.

Foreign direct investment made by global companies on the Chinese mainland rose by 9.8 percent year-on-year to 803.62 billion yuan ($122 billion) in the first 11 months, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

China's open stance was reiterated at the Central Economic Work Conference held from Dec 18-20 at which economic work was mapped out for the next year.

The country will increase imports and cut import tariffs on some products, expand free trade zone pilots, guide and support outbound investment, and push for a shorter negative list for foreign investment, according to a statement released after the meeting.

Building a community of a shared future

On Dec 1, Xi called on political parties worldwide to make joint efforts to build a community of a shared future for mankind as the CPC held the first high-level dialogue with world political parties in Beijing.

Xi's speech, lasting about half an hour, drew applause nearly 20 times from the around 600 delegates. The concept of building a community of a shared future for mankind has been translated into real actions, Xi said.

Even since he first expounded the overarching idea to the world in 2013 in a speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Xi's proposition has charted a clear and viable course forward.

"Our world is full of hope and challenges. ... No country can address alone the many challenges facing mankind; no country can afford to retreat into self-isolation," Xi said in his report to the CPC's 19th National Congress.

In Xi's view, a community with a shared future for mankind should feature mutual respect, diversity and dialogue based on equality and peaceful co-existence among different civilizations, and the world order should be decided not by one country or a few, but by broad international consensus.

In February, the 55th UN Commission for Social Development approved a resolution that called for more support for economic and social development in Africa by embracing the spirit of building "a human community with shared destiny".