By Amin Kef Sesay
Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H. E. Hu Zhangliang in the fourth episode of his erudite presentation on the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), elaborated on the impact of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy on the development of China and the world.
Ambassador Hu stated that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core, has launched a series of major theoretical and practical innovations in China’s diplomatic work, and has thus formed the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy.
This Thought has given clear answers to what kind of world and what type of international relations China should promote, what kind of foreign policy best serves China, and how China is to conduct diplomacy in the new era.
Ambassador Hu averred that Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy has ten core principles, which spell out the historical mission and the overall objectives of China’s diplomatic work in the new era and set out the policies and principles that must be upheld. The key points of these principles are: strengthening the Party’s leadership over China’s foreign affairs; pursuing major-country diplomacy with distinctive Chinese features; building a global community with a shared future to safeguard world peace and promote common development; pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution to benefit all; pursuing peaceful development on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation; steering the reform of the global governance system under the principle of fairness and justice; upholding China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests as its core and non-negotiable position.
Ambassador Hu furthered that, being an integral component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy has been the guidelines of China’s major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. This important thought encapsulates the latest achievement of Marxism on the diplomatic front in the 21st century. It applies the Marxist stand, viewpoint and method in a scientific manner, and seeks to combine theory with practice. It carries forward and elevates the fine tradition of the Chinese culture by proposing building a community with a shared future for mankind. This proposal epitomizes long-cherished Chinese vision of promoting “common good” and “universal peace”.
This thought enriches the diplomatic theories of New China by putting forward the important principles of “amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness” toward the neighboring region, and “sincerity, real results, amity and good faith” toward Africa and other developing countries etc.. It improves on and transcends traditional theories of international relations by opposing notions such as “might makes right” and “zero-sum game”, and calling for a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation.
A very recent manifestation of this important thought, Ambassador Hu said, is the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. That Initiative calls on the international community to accelerate implementation of the 2030 SDGs for more robust, greener and more balanced global development, and foster a global community of development with a shared future. It embraces the people-centered core concept and takes development as the master key to addressing all problems.
It calls on enhancing practical cooperation and responding to the dynamics and urgent needs of global development. It identifies poverty alleviation, food security, fighting against COVID-19 and provision of vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, and connectivity as priority areas of global development. It also advocates the spirit of open and inclusive partnership, forming synergy with other initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative, Agenda 2063 of the African Union, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. It will build consensus and pool together the strengths of multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the UN, the G20 and BRICS as well as various sub-regional and regional platforms.
Ambassador Hu pointed that all members of the Chinese diplomatic service have followed the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and have made historic achievements. They have been actively building a global network of partnerships to advance China’s diplomatic agenda in a comprehensive, multilevel, multifaceted way and making friends across the world. They have been proactively advancing the Belt and Road cooperation, making it the world’s biggest platform for mutually beneficial international cooperation.
They have been spearheading the reform of the global governance system, upholding true multilateralism, and making globalization more inclusive and balanced and the international order fairer and more equitable.They have been making every effort to support international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, and promoting the building of a global community of health for all.
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China will remain committed to the path of peaceful development, continue to advance cooperation for win-win results, stand firm in upholding the existing international system, and get ready to shoulder more international responsibilities. By doing this, China will strive to create a better external environment for its national rejuvenation and make new and greater contributions to world peace and human progress, Ambassador Hu concluded.
