For the Lofty Cause of Peace and Development of Mankind

Yang Jiechi



For the Lofty Cause of Peace and Development of Mankind

Yang Jiechi

In his keynote speech delivered at the rally marking the 95th anniversary of the Communist Party of China （CPC）， General Secretary Xi Jinping looked back at the journey traveled by the Party in its 95-year history， summed up the Party's historic contributions， and expounded on the Party's governing philosophy and principles. He called on all Party members to stay true to their mission and continue to forge ahead on eight fronts， thus charting the course for the Party's development going forward. The General Secretary stressed that to stay true to the mission and continue to forge ahead on the diplomatic front， China must remain committed to the path of peaceful development and the win-win strategy of opening-up， increase friendly exchanges with other countries， and work with people around the world for further progress in the lofty cause of peace and development of mankind. This important platform for action guiding China's diplomatic work in the new era has been worked out by the Party central leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping as its General Secretary， based on a correct reading of the evolving international landscape and China's development trend and driven by an aspiration to advance the common interests of the Chinese people and people of all other countries. It offers us important guidance as we seek to reaffirm the direction and open up a new vista for China's diplomatic work while advancing peace and development of mankind.

I

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that to make continuous and even greater contribution to mankind is a solemn pledge made by the CPC and the Chinese people. The CPC and the Chinese people， who have been through trials and tribulations， deeply appreciate the value of peace and development and regard it as their sacred duty to promote peace and development in the world. After 28 years of heroic struggle， the CPC， with the Chinese people rallying behind it， triumphed over Japanese imperialists， toppled the reactionary Nationalist regime， completed the New Democratic Revolution， and founded the People's Republic. The founding of New China in 1949 marked a great transformation from a millennia-old feudal autocracy to a people's democracy. It also boosted the force for world peace， democracy and development， significantly changed the international political architecture， and ushered the world into a new historical era.

After the People's Republic was founded， the CPC adopted an independent foreign policy of peace. China advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence， carried out friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries and started a historic process leading to a new type of international relations. China actively sought peaceful resolution of international conflicts and disputes. It supported the liberation of the oppressed nations and resolutely opposed imperialism， hegemonism， colonialism and racism. It stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow developing countries to safeguard the rights and interests of the developing world and uphold international justice. This foreign policy of peace won China broad support and friendship in the world and went a long way toward easing and stabilizing the international situation.

In the late 1970s， China launched its great program of reform and opening-up. Comrade Deng Xiaoping identified peace and developmentas the two defining issues of the world. With the focus of the Party and the state shifting to economic development， to serve the domestic economic agenda was taken as the central task of China's diplomatic endeavor. Vigorous efforts were made to promote all-dimensional，multi-tiered and wide-ranging interactions and cooperation with the outside world. China's relations with developed countries expanded in all respects； its friendship with neighboring countries kept deepening； and its traditional friendship with other developing countries was consolidated. Actively engaged in multilateral diplomacy， China played an important and constructive role in international affairs. Since the turn of the century，China has issued two white papers on peaceful development， declaring to the world its commitment to peaceful development and to upholding world peace and promoting development and prosperity for all countries while pursuing its own peaceful development. This foreign policy of peacehas not only created an enabling external environment for China's reform，opening-up and modernization drive at home but also contributed to the cause of peace and development for mankind.

The 11th G20 Summit， themed "Towards an Innovative， Invigorated， Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy，" was held in Hangzhou， China on Sept. 4-5， 2016.

II

After the 18th CPC National Congress， inspired by the two centenary goals （namely， to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the centenary of the CPC in 2021， and to turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous， strong， democratic， culturally advanced and harmonious by the centenary of the People's Republic of China in 2049）， the Party central leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping as its General Secretary put forward the Chinese dream about the great national rejuvenation. The concept of peaceful development was further enriched and developed， and creative diplomatic thinking and practice for peaceful development explored. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Chinese dream， a dream about peace， development and winwin cooperation， has much in common with the dreams that the people of other countries cherish. With a diplomatic agenda aimed at upholding world peace and advancing common development， China has worked to promote world peace， facilitate global development and maintain international order. It has sought to expand converging interests with other countries， shape a new type of international relations underpinned by win-win cooperation， and forge a community of shared future， thus making unique contribution to lasting peace and common prosperity of the world.

Committed to peaceful development， China has actively participated in and pushed forward the transformation of the international order and the global governance process. It has successfully hosted commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War， sending a strong message of defending the victorious outcome of theSecond World War and upholding world peace， a message that resonates deeply with our times. A champion for common， comprehensive，cooperative and sustainable security， China has contributed a lot to the pursuit of peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue， the Korean nuclear issue， Afghanistan， Syria， South Sudan and other hotspot issues. China has hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing， at which the process toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific （FTAAP） was kicked off. China has cemented and enhanced G20's role as the premier platform for global economic governance， and initiated and helped materialize the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank （AIIB） and the New Development Bank of BRICS. China has been involved in the formulation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations and facilitated summit diplomacy on climate change and the Paris Climate Conference. China has taken part in UN peacekeeping operations，supported international counter-terrorism cooperation， and actively responded to such global challenges as major diseases and natural disasters. China has taken solid steps to translate the Belt and Road Initiative（BRI） into reality for better connectivity and common development of countries in the region. It has released the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road，and followed the principles of broad consultation， joint contribution and shared benefit in seeking synergy between the initiative and the national development strategies of countries along the routes. These efforts have led to important progress: the initiative has got over 100 countries and international organizations on board； China has signed agreements with more than 30 countries along the routes for cooperation on the BRI， and carried out production capacity cooperation with over 20 countries； and a group of high-profile projects have been launched. The incrementaldevelopment of the Belt and Road has proved faster and more productive than expected. It has injected fresh vitality to the regional development of Asia， Europe and Africa， and lent new impetus to the global economic recovery. It has produced a positive and far-reaching global impact， which is here to stay.

We have worked for balanced development of our relations with all major powers to provide a stable foundation and strategic underpinning for peace and development of the world. Continuous progress has been made in building the new model of major-country relations with the United States. The two presidents have held multiple successful meetings，which have helped to expand consensus， manage differences， advance cooperation and chart the course for the steady and healthy development of China-US relations. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has grown from strength to strength. The two countries have made breakthroughs in joint strategic projects and enjoyed close coordination and cooperation on major international and regional issues. China and the European Union have agreed to build partnerships for peace， growth， reform and inter-civilization dialogue and deepened cooperation across the board.

We have deepened friendship and cooperation with neighboring countries to secure a peaceful and stable environment for ourselves and the neighborhood. We have acted on the principles of amity， sincerity，mutual benefit and inclusiveness， strengthened relations with Southeast Asian countries and promoted peace and stability in Northeast Asia. At the same time， we have properly handled issues relating to the South China Sea and the East China Sea and taken firm steps to uphold China's territorial sovereignty and legitimate maritime rights and interests. We have consolidated the good momentum in our relations with Central Asian countries and enhanced friendship and cooperation with South Asian countries. We have championed the spirit of being open and inclusive， seeking common ground and shelving differences in regional cooperation， and worked to ensure that the various regional mechanismscomplement and reinforce one another.

We have entrenched unity and cooperation with fellow developing countries to expand the forces for peace and development in the world. There has been better coordination and cooperation among major developing countries and further progress in developing the BRICS mechanism. We have articulated the guiding principles for deepening ties with Africa， namely sincerity， real results， affinity and good faith，and announced ten major cooperation initiatives， thus opening up a new vista for China-Africa relations. We have proclaimed a comprehensive cooperative partnership of equality， mutual benefit and common development with Latin America and the Caribbean and established the China-CELAC Forum， thus taking China's cooperation with the region to a new level. We have proposed to build the Belt and Road together with Arab countries and established a 1+2+3 cooperation framework， thus moving our cooperation with the Arab world into a new phase.

We have actively pursued ties with political parties in other countries to exchange experience on governance and ideas concerning peace and development. Our exchanges and cooperation with political parties and organizations in other countries and regions follow the principles of independence， complete equality， mutual respect and noninterference in each other's internal affairs， and aim to reinforce friendship and cooperation with the countries concerned. With a commitment to peaceful development of all nations， the CPC has conducted various forms of dialogue with political parties in Asia， Europe and the Arab world to increase their understanding of China and the CPC. Such efforts have created a new situation where ties with foreign political parties，communication with the general public in other countries and exchanges conducted by Chinese non-government entities all contribute to our overall diplomacy.

Our diplomatic actions since the 18th CPC National Congress demonstrate that China has shown greater determination and taken firmer steps in its clear pursuit of peaceful development. China's peacefuldevelopment has gained greater acceptance among our people， made a bigger contribution to world peace and development and won wider recognition in the international community. Today， China's diplomacy is of a more distinct vision， approach and style.

III

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that China's commitment to peaceful development is not an expedient choice or mere rhetoric； it is our firm conclusion based on an objective assessment of the past， the present and the future and a reflection of China's confidence and conscious effort. Since the 18th Party Congress， the CPC Central Committee headed by General Secretary Xi Jinping has made innovations in diplomatic thinking and theory， gained a deeper understanding of the underlying rationale for peaceful development， enriched and expanded the theoretical dimension of peaceful development and strengthened conscious and confident efforts toward this end， thus providing forceful ideas and theories for opening up a new horizon in China's diplomacy.

We have committed ourselves to building a community of shared future for all mankind as the noble goal of peaceful development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that mankind is now living in a global village and the world is becoming a more and more inseparable community sharing the same future. Recognizing this， all nations must act responsibly， pull together and coordinate their actions. From the podium of the United Nations， General Secretary Xi Jinping set forth the general vision and main pathway of building a community of shared future for mankind. He stressed that China will always be a builder of world peace and stick to the path of peaceful development. No matter how the international situation may evolve or how strong China may become，China will never seek hegemony， expansion or sphere of influence.

We have committed to win-win cooperation as the core of peaceful development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that we muststay committed to win-win cooperation and push for the building of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation. The idea of win-win cooperation should be embedded in all dimensions of political， economic， security and cultural cooperation with the outside world. It is important to champion a new vision of win-win outcomes for all and reject the obsolete notion of zerosum game or winner taking all. Since today's mankind have never been in a better position to strive for peace and development， we believe nations should work together to turn pressures and crises into drivers and opportunities. In this way， there will be no more confrontation and monopoly， but cooperation and winwin results.

We have pursued opening-up as an important path to peaceful development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that openness brings progress while seclusion leads to backwardness. This has been well borne out by the experience of China and the whole world. China will continue to follow its open-door policy， and through major international cooperation projects such as the BRI， open to the world in a more comprehensive， profound and diversified way. Having benefited from the international community in its development， China stands ready to contribute to international development through its own development. China welcomes the participation of other parties in its opening-up and supports the common development for all countries and has no intention to stage a one-man show or seek sphere of influence. The hope of China is to build a garden for all， not a backyard of its own.

We have worked for global governance as a prerequisite for peaceful development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that international affairs， more than ever， should be handled by all countries through consultation， and the majority of countries agree on the need tobuild international institutions， abide by international rules and uphold international justice. The choice of a good international order and global governance system should be made by the people of all countries through consultation， not dictated by one country or a handful of people. China has taken an active part in building the current international system， and is ready to contribute its wisdom to the improvement of global governance. We will work with the people of all countries to move the international order and the global governance system toward greater justice and equity.

We have safeguarded our core national interests as the bottom line in the pursuit of peaceful development. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out， China neither covets other countries' interests and rights nor becomes jealous of their development. But we will never give up our legitimate rights and interests. The Chinese people do not believe and will not give in to fallacies. We do not make trouble， but we are not afraid of trouble. No country should expect us to barter away our core interests or swallow any bitter fruit that undermines our sovereignty， security and development interests. As China pursues peaceful development， other countries should do the same. This is the only way for all countries to achieve common development and live together in peace.

These important statements by General Secretary Xi Jinping have inspired a greater resolve among the Chinese people to pursue peaceful development. They have also bolstered the firm belief of world people in peaceful development of mankind. The diplomatic thinking and innovative theories reflected in these statements are an integral part of the Party's guiding principles and policies on governing the country since its 18th National Congress and have further enriched the theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

IV

As we go forward， economic globalization and world multi-polarization will continue to evolve. The trend of our times toward peace，development and win-win cooperation will gain greater momentum and the international situation will continue to undergo deep and profound changes. Meanwhile， reform and development at home remains an arduous task. We must continue to hold high the banner of peaceful development and forge ahead with a pioneering spirit to safeguard and promote world peace， stability and development to bring greater benefits to people in China and beyond.

We will implement the important outcomes of the G20 Hangzhou Summit and continuously improve global economic governance. The milestone G20 Leaders' Communique Hangzhou Summit and 28 outcome documents covering specific areas have made the Hangzhou Summit a great success. We will follow through on these outcomes to promote strong， sustainable， balanced and inclusive growth of the world economy. We will make full use of the G20 as a premier forum for international economic cooperation and transform it from a mechanism for crisismanagement to one for long-term governance， and expand its focus from short-term policy response to a combination of short， medium and longterm policy making.

We will go all out to deliver on the BRI and chart the course for external economic cooperation. We will develop a network for mutually beneficial cooperation， and create new models and diversified platforms for cooperation. We will make concerted efforts to build a green， healthy， innovative and peaceful silk road， enhance synergies with countries along the routes in national development strategies， complement each other's development advantages and coordinate key development zones. We will focus on major projects to ensure strong， orderly and effective advancement of the BRI. We will implement the free trade area strategy to promote regional economic integration and fend offpotential negative externalities.

We will enhance coordination and cooperation with major countries to nurture a stable framework of international relations. We will further substantiate our new model of major-country relationship with the United States， deepen bilateral cooperation， enhance communication and coordination on the international front， and effectively manage differences. We will deepen our comprehensive strategic coordination with Russia， provide each other with greater mutual support and assistance， and enhance coordination and collaboration on international and regional issues. We will strengthen cooperation with Europe and expand communication and exchanges between the two sides on global governance and in the emerging areas. We will leverage our special strength in serving as a bridge between the developing and developed countries and build an extensive network of cooperative partnerships.

We will continue to cultivate amicable relations with neighboring countries and encourage the fostering of a sound regional order. We will further deepen the good-neighborly relations， friendship and cooperation with them and advocate a security approach featuring common， comprehensive， cooperative and sustainable security. We remain committed to work for peaceful settlement of disputes. We will firmly uphold our nation's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. As holder of the presidency of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia （CICA） 2016-2018， we will endeavor to strengthen capacity building and institutional development of CICA. We will start planning for China's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization （SCO） in 2018 to actively participate in and guide the SCO development.

We will deepen friendly relations and cooperation with other developing countries and solidify the foundations for a network of partnerships with them. In October this year， Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the BRICS Summit in India. Next year， China will host the 9th BRICS Summit. As such， we will work to deepen mutual trust andwin-win cooperation among BRICS countries， maintain and increase the cohesiveness of this institution and jointly uphold the common interests of emerging market economies and developing countries. We will steadily push for reform of the UN Security Council with a view to increasing the representation and voice of developing countries.

We will effectively communicate our policies and engage in public diplomacy to raise China's influence in the international discourse. We will articulate the profound connotations of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation， and enunciate China's policy priorities on the domestic agenda， namely the overall approach to make economic， political， cultural， social and ecological progress simultaneously，the strategic goal to create a moderately prosperous society， deepen reform， strengthen the rule of law and vigorously enforce rules of party conduct in an all-round way， and the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan. We will actively put forth new ideas， proposals and plans aimed at resolving hotspot issues and fulfill China's role as a major responsible nation. We will enhance confidence in the direction of our development path， and the strength of our theory， political system and culture， promote China's fine traditional culture and cultivate greater understanding and support for our beliefs such as “peace is most precious，” “harmony without uniformity”and “universal harmony.”

As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out， today we are closer than ever to reaching the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation，and we are more confident and able than ever to make it come true. Our commitment to peaceful development has enabled China to embark on the road to success. We will continue to take this road. Let us rally even more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the General Secretary and make even greater contribution to realizing the Chinese Dream of national renewal and promoting the cause of peace and development of mankind.

Yang Jiechi is State Councilor of the People's Republic of China.