ChINA’S DIpLOMACy IN TRANSITION

By+An+Gang

Chinas diplomacy in 2013 was eye-catching due to the leadership change in the country and the reinvigoration of reform. The spirit of reform and a world vision， which Chinas new leadership inherits from their predecessors， are the soul of Chinese diplomacy today.

Todays world

The current situation is quite different from when Chinas reform and opening up started in the late 1970s. Chinas national strength has grown exponentially since then. As a result， the country faces a huge responsibility in using its strength to play its role in the world. Knowing the importance of adopting the right strategy and properly using its power， the new leadership stressed that China will stick to its path of peaceful development.

Maintaining continuity is a key tenet of Chinas diplomacy. The key goals of Chinese diplomacy—maintaining peace as well as promoting development and cooperation—have not changed since the leadership transition， only become clearer and steadier with the passage of time.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his team came to power at a time when the domestic and international situation was relatively complicated. They committed themselves to deepening reform in China， further opening up the domestic economy and deepening its integration with the world economy. They are aware that it will be very difficult to advance reform when internal contradictions and international conflicts exist. They believe that for China to concentrate on its own development， there must be a peaceful international environment.

There are still hidden risks for China. Major economies have conducted structural adjustments and are preparing to stop quantitative easing in the post-crisis era， which will increase competition and fluctuations in the world economy. As Barack Obamas administration insists on implementing its new strategy in Asia， Chinas relationships with the United States， Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） have become more complicated. China faces heightened strategic pressure in its neigh- borhood， amid ongoing disputes over territory and maritime boundaries. The situation in hotspots like the Korean Peninsula， Syria and the nuclear issue of Iran has been tense， which directly impacts Chinas strategic interests， border stability and energy security.

To deal with the complex situation， President Xi has vowed to strengthen toplevel design and always have national interests in mind.