AN OUTLOOK OF CHINA’S DIPLOMACY

Agenda for 2015

This year， the key focus of Chinas diplomacy will be making all-round progress in building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. China will further enhance policy communication with other countries， expand the convergence of shared interests， and explore effective avenues of win-win cooperation. The emphasis will be on promoting infrastructural connectivity， as China seeks to build overland economic corridors and pillars of maritime cooperation. China will also promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation， and speed up relevant free trade agreement negotiations. China is confident that the One Belt and One Road initiatives will win even more support and deliver even more “early harvests，” so as to catalyze the revitalization of the Eurasian continent as a whole.

In 2015， China will accomplish many goals under the two themes of peace and development. The country will work with the international community to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the worlds antiFascist war and the founding of the UN. China will play a constructive role in the UNs development summit and international cooperation on climate change as well as help to secure a post-2015 development agenda.

Conflict Resolution

Last year， China shouldered its share of international responsibility by taking an active part in the mediation of a series of hot-spot issues. In the meantime， the country has been searching for a uniquely Chinese approach to conflict resolution by drawing wisdom and inspiration from its traditional culture.

Perhaps a bit of traditional Chinese medicine may offer a prescription for the ills of modern society. When approaching a hot-spot issue， first， the involved parties need to adopt an objective and impartial attitude， understand the origins of the conflict， and establish the basic facts. They should not just listen to one side of the story and write out the wrong prescription.

Second， a multi-pronged approach needs to be adopted. Rather than willfully resorting to the use of force or sanctions， efforts should be made to seek a political settlement and try to put forward a comprehensive and balanced package of solutions that addresses the concerns of all involved.

Third， both the symptoms and the root causes need to be addressed. It is important to understand the heart of the problem before proposing a remedy.

In short， China will continue to follow a non-interventionist approach and respect the sovereign equality of countries. In that context， China will continue to play its role in helping to appropriately resolve all varieties of hot-spot and protracted issues.

Sino-U.S. Relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States this fall at the invitation of his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama. China expects that the two presidents will have another productive discussion and inject new momentum into the efforts to build a new model of major-country relations between China and the United States.

Building a new model of relations is in ac- cordance with the common interests of both countries and the trend of the times. As long as the two sides show sincerity， emphasize the bottom line of “no conflict and no confrontation，” and cement the foundation of “mutual respect，” then China and the United States can explore the immense potential for “win-win cooperation.”

At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic leaders meeting in Beijing last November， President Xi called for shaping the future through an Asia-Pacific partnership. Many countries responded enthusiastically to his initiative. China and the United States interact most frequently in the Asia-Pacific and their interests intersect the most in this region. In Chinas view， the building of a new model of major-country relations should begin with the Asia-Pacific region.

As for the issue of cyber-security， since both China and the United States are major users of the Internet， they have common interests in upholding it. China hopes cyberspace will become a new frontier of bilateral cooperation rather than a new source of friction.

Cooperation With Russia

The China-Russia relationship is not dictated by international vicissitudes and does not target any third party. Thanks to the strong strategic trust the two sides have established， the relationship between China and Russia has become more mature and stable.

This year， Sino-Russian practical cooperation is expected to deliver a series of new results. For example， both countries will work hard to lift two-way trade to $100 billion. They will also sign an agreement to work on the Silk Road Economic Belt and begin relevant cooperation.

China and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. They will continue to carry out strategic coordination and cooperation to maintain international peace and security. This year， both countries will hold a series of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the worlds anti-Fascist war. China and Russia will support each other and jointly uphold international peace and the outcome of World War II.

Reform of World Order

China has always been a constructive force in building the international order. If the international order and system built around the UN can be compared to a big boat， then 70 years ago， China was intimately involved in designing and building that boat， and China was the first country to put its signature on the UN Charter. Today China is in this boat together with more than 190 other countries. So of course， China doesnt want to upset that boat. Rather， China wants to work with the other passengers to ensure that this boat will sail forward steadily and in the right direction.

The international situation and landscape has changed dramatically in the past 70 years. China supports the reform of the international order and system. Such reform is not about overturning the current system or starting all over again； rather， it is about seeking new ideas to improve it. The general direction is to promote democracy in international relations and the rule of law in global governance. In particular， it is very important to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries， which are in the majority， so that the world can become a more equal， harmonious and safe place.

The Korean Peninsula

The situation on the Korean Peninsula is basically stable， and China has played a constructive role in bringing that about. It is in the common interests of all relevant parties to maintain peace and stability in the area and achieve the denuclearization of the Peninsula. At the moment， the situation there has entered a delicate period. China calls on the relevant countries to exercise calm and restraint， and say and do things that will have a positive effect， so as to continue to foster the atmosphere and conditions for resuming the six-party talks.

Sino-Japanese Ties

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. China will hold a series of commemorative activities， including a military parade. The goal is to remember history， commemorate the martyrs， cherish peace and look to the future.

The history issue has been haunting the China-Japan relationship， and China cannot but ask why this has been the case. Those in power in Japan should first ask themselves what they have done on this score. Of course， the people of the world will reach their own conclusion. Seventy years ago， Japan lost the war； 70 years afterward， Japan must not lose its conscience. Will it continue to carry the baggage of history， or will it make a clean break with past aggression？ Ultimately， the choice is Japans.

South China Sea Disputes

China is carrying out the necessary construction of its own islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The construction does not target or affect anyone.

China will continue to uphold freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. It will continue to peacefully resolve the disputes through direct dialogue and consultation. And China will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability. Chinas policy toward the neighborhood is guided by the principle of sincerity， amity， mutual benefit and inclusiveness. It aims to bring harmony， stability and prosperity to the neighborhood. This policy has not changed and will not change.

China-India Border Talks

The China-India boundary question is a legacy of history. Both countries have worked on it for many years and made some progress in the boundary negotiation. At the moment， the boundary negotiation is in the process of building up small positive developments.

Instability in Myanmar

What happens there is Myanmars internal affair， and China hopes it can be resolved peacefully. At the same time， stability must be maintained in the China-Myanmar border region as well as in north Myanmar， because this serves the common interests of the two countries and their peoples.

China will continue to have communication and cooperation with the Myanmar side to jointly ensure tranquility in the border area and the safety of people from both countries.

Iranian Nuclear Issue

The possible ramifications of the Iranian nuclear negotiation will go far beyond the negotiation itself. The negotiation has reached a critical point. The relevant parties， especially the main protagonists， should make a political decision as soon as possible.

China is prepared to work with other relevant parties to finish the marathon negotiation on the Iranian nuclear issue at an early date.

Fighting Terrorism

To uproot terrorism， efforts must be made to remove its breeding ground. To deny any haven to the specter of terrorism， it is of vital importance to promote economic and social development， appropriately handle regional conflicts， and advocate equal-footed dialogue between different civilizations， religions and ethnic groups. n