Nation's diplomacy weathers tough year

Nonstop action

The virus has significantly reshaped the world of diplomacy. Instead of face-to-face contact, China and its like-minded partners quickly shifted to other means of communication, such as videoconferencing.

Numerous high-level online meetings were held to avoid disrupting the work of organizations such as the G20, the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

As a result, China successfully advanced its diplomacy agenda through video links to cover issues such as jointly fighting the pandemic, retaining cooperative frameworks, supporting multilateralism, coordinating policies and boosting economic recovery.

Online events attended by President Xi underscored the wide spectrum of China's renewed diplomatic efforts. These events included the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 in March, while in May, he addressed the opening ceremony of the 73rd World Health Assembly.

He also hosted the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 in June and addressed the opening ceremony of the virtual 2020 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting in July.

From September to last month, in what was widely hailed as a major push toward multilateralism, Xi attended via video links a series of high-level meetings with groupings such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the G20. He also attended and addressed the Climate Ambition Summit this month.

Fresh proposals were made by Xi at these events, including China's commitment to the COVAX global vaccine plan, building a community of health for all, debt reduction for underdeveloped countries, advancing reform of the global financial system, bolstering the digital economy and promoting the China-led global data security initiative.

Le, the vice-foreign minister, said that throughout this year China has shown the "great sense of duty" that a major country should bear. In this respect, it did not put itself first or benefit at the expense of others, while taking the lead in offering global public good and epitomizing the empowering of global governance.

Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the nation's adherence to the UN Charter and its support for multilateralism are "unswerving", despite tremendous changes in the international situation and unprecedented challenges and risks.

He said Xi's comments and proposals sent clear signals on China's role as a responsible country that champions multilateralism and international justice, helping win greater recognition and respect for the country and further enriching understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy.