China’s diplomacy aimed at global peace, prosperity

Ma Zhaoxu (first right), vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Shen Beili, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, (middle) attend a press conference on "Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, Forge Ahead and Strive to Break New Ground for Major-Country Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics" organized by the press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, China, Oct 20, 2022. (CHEN JIANLI / XINHUA)

BEIJING – The goal and purpose of China's diplomacy is to maintain world peace, promote common development and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said on Thursday.

Ma made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing on the sidelines of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, dismissing views that the widening differences between China and the West would endanger the international order.

He slammed those who cling to Cold War mentality and zero-sum game mindset and are obsessed with forming small circles, drawing lines according to the differences of ideologies, and stoking bloc confrontation, saying hegemony and bullying are the biggest threats to the world order.

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A divided world serves no one's interests and would only lead the world into a dead end, the vice-foreign minister said, stressing that building a community of a shared future for mankind is the future and destiny of the whole humanity.

It is under the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy that we have blazed a new path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Ma Zhaoxu, Vice-Foreign Minister, China

China has championed building an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys the lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity, he said.

China also said that countries should carry forward the common values of humanity, respect diversity of civilizations and jointly tackle global challenges, he added.

China has promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind with concrete actions, said Ma.

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He listed a series of China-proposed important initiatives, saying the Belt and Road Initiative has become a widely welcomed international public good, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative have instilled new impetus into upholding world peace and bolstering shared development.

China would firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at the core, the international order based on the international law as well as the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, said Ma, adding the country would also promote a more fair and equitable global governance.

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China would seek its development by resolutely upholding world peace and development and in turn better maintain world peace and development with its growth, he said.

China's diplomacy wins global friends

China has stepped up efforts to develop its diplomatic service over the past decade with a comprehensive, multilevel and multifaceted agenda being established, said Ma.

Over the past 10 years, the number of countries having established diplomatic relations with China has increased from 172 to 181. And 149 countries and 32 international organizations have been attracted to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

According to him, China has firmly safeguarded its national sovereignty, security and development interests in faced of external containment, suppression and unwarranted interference.

Journalists raise hands to ask questions via video link during a press conference on "Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, Forge Ahead and Strive to Break New Ground for Major-Country Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics" in Beijing, China, Oct 20, 2022. (YIN GANG / XINHUA)

The country has forcefully defended the one-China principle and consecutively thwarted anti-China moves to attack and smear China, he said.

China has also engaged in global governance with unprecedented width, in-depth and intensity over the past decade, thus becoming the mainstay in upholding multilateralism.

"It is under the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy that we have blazed a new path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics," Ma said, describing the Party's leadership as the root and soul of China's diplomacy.

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