Signed article: Innovations in China's diplomatic theory and practice under new conditions

BEIJING - The flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Qiushi (Seeking Truth), on Friday carried an article on China's diplomacy written by State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

The following is the full text of the English version of the article, which was provided by the Foreign Ministry:

Innovations in China' s Diplomatic Theory and Practice Under New Conditions

By Yang Jiechi

Since the successful conclusion of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last year and the end of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) earlier this year, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary has, in light of new conditions and new tasks, focused on China's long-term and strategic agenda with a keen appreciation of the evolving global environment and trends of development at home. Bearing in mind both the domestic and international interests of the country and maintaining the continuity and consistency of its major diplomatic policies, it has promoted innovations in diplomatic theory and practice by keeping up with the trend of the times and pushing ahead with a pioneering spirit. With a good beginning made and an overall plan adopted, the Party Central Committee has put forth many important strategic ideas on China's external affairs as well as diplomatic policies and principles, and taken a number of major diplomatic initiatives which have not only created external conditions favorable for facilitating the work of the Party and the state across the board, but also enriched and developed the system of diplomatic theory with Chinese characteristics.

I. The new diplomatic initiatives as taken are strategic, overarching and innovative in nature.

Given close international attention on major policy direction of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary after the 18th Party Congress, Comrade Xi Jinping made his diplomatic debut by meeting the representatives of foreign experts working in China. Later, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a collective study session on unswervingly following the path of peaceful development. On both occasions, Comrade Xi Jinping made important remarks on China' s opening-up strategy and foreign policy, sending out a clear message that China' s new collective central leadership is committed to reform and opening-up, the path of peaceful development and the strategy of win-win cooperation with the outside world while resolutely upholding China's core national interests.

Since the end of the annual NPC and CPPCC sessions this year, Comrade Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders have paid visits to major countries, neighboring countries, emerging market economies and developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America, and hosted visits by dozens of foreign leaders. These activities of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy both at home and abroad have enabled Chinese leaders to meet more than one hundred foreign heads of state and leaders, which has effectively enhanced China's friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with other countries.

Actively promoting relations with the major countries. Comrade Xi Jinping made Russia the first leg of his first overseas visit as China's President, which strengthened bilateral cooperation in the economy, trade, energy and strategic security and consolidated the basis of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. Comrade Xi Jinping held meetings with US President Barack Obama at the Annenberg Estate in Los Angeles, during which the two sides agreed to work together to build a new model of major-country relationship based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, thus charting the course and drawing the blueprint for growing China-US relations in the future. China and the United States also successfully held their fifth round of Strategic and Economic Dialogues, making good progress in implementing the agreement of the two presidents and advancing the building of a new model of major-country relationship. With other Chinese Party and state leaders visiting European countries, China has played host to French President Francois Hollande and other European leaders, and worked steadily to open up new areas of mutually-beneficial and pragmatic cooperation between China and Europe.

Energetically working to stabilize and advance the friendly and good-neighborly relations in the surrounding areas. China's relations with its neighbors are, on the whole, moving towards a more favorable direction. While attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2013 and the state events held on its sidelines, Comrade Xi Jinping expounded on the new ideas in China's domestic and foreign policies, which promoted China's strategic trust with the relevant countries and elevated its relations with the neighboring countries. We have received visits by state leaders from neighboring countries, such as President Truong Tan Sang of Viet Nam, President Park Geun-hye of the ROK and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, strengthened bilateral ties with neighboring countries in areas including Southeast Asia and Central Asia, and consolidated our good-neighborly friendship and cooperation with them. With respect to such issues as Diaoyu Island and South China Sea, we have acted firmly to uphold our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests while working hard to appropriately handle and resolve the disputes with the neighboring countries through dialogue and negotiation. On the Korean nuclear issue, while firmly committed to the goal of denuclearization on the Peninsula, we have actively reached out to relevant countries to move the situation on the Peninsula towards relaxation.

Vigorously working to strengthen friendship and cooperation with developing countries. Comrade Xi Jinping's successful visits to Africa and Latin America have fully reflected the great importance we attach to developing countries. By visiting Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of the Congo, Comrade Xi Jinping set a precedent for a Chinese head of state to visit Africa during his first overseas trip. What is more, he met with over a dozen African leaders at a breakfast meeting, with fruitful results achieved in renewing friendship, enhancing mutual trust, advancing cooperation and identifying opportunities for common development. By visiting Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico and holding bilateral talks with leaders of eight Caribbean countries, Comrade Xi Jinping has enhanced China's political trust and result-oriented cooperation with them and brought China's overall cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean to a new high.

Deeply engaging in and shaping processes of multilateral diplomacy. When meeting leaders of international organizations, Comrade Xi Jinping stressed China's commitment to the advocacy and practice of multilateralism and the great value it places on the important role of the United Nations and other international organizations. China will honor its due international obligations and work in close cooperation with relevant international organizations in maintaining world peace and security, promoting human development and progress and addressing global issues and challenges. Fresh progress has been made in China's relations with major international organizations. Attending the Fifth BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Durban, South Africa, Comrade Xi Jinping worked for closer communication and coordination with other major developing countries on global economic and political matters of great consequence and brought about progress in building BRICS mechanisms. The Summit issued the eThekwini Declaration and Action Plan, decided to establish a development bank and a contingent reserve arrangement among BRICS countries, thus providing a strong impetus to the establishment of a new international political and economic order that is fairer and more equitable.

The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary has made innovative headway on the basis of past achievements. A sound and momentous beginning has thus been achieved in our diplomatic work. With the layout being more comprehensive and more balanced, China's diplomacy under new circumstances displays such features as rich ideas, clear priorities, firm positions, flexible approaches and distinctive styles. This has not only aroused greater interest of all parties to further grow relations with China, which paves the way for sound diplomatic work in the latter half of the year and even the next five to ten years, but also boosted the morale of the Party, the army and the people, thus greatly galvanizing the enthusiasm of our Party and our people of all ethnic groups to work for the realization of the "two centenary goals" as set by the 18th Party Congress.