PROCESS OF CHINA’S DIPLOMACY IN FORTY YEARS OF REFORM AND OPENING-UP AND INSPIRATIONS

GAO FEI

Professor and Assistant-President, China Foreign Affairs University

Reform and opening-up is the most salient feature of the times for contemporary China which,as a great change and opening-up unprecedented in human history, has immensely stimulated inherent potentials of an ancient China. As a result, the country is successful in moving from the margin of the international system toward the center of world arena. It has realized a great historical turn-about and leap-forward from a highly centralized planned economy to a vigorous and thriving socialist market economy,moving from a closed-up or semi closed-up structure to an all-round open one. In the process of such a turn-about,China’s diplomacy has upheld the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests and made historical contributions to the success of China’s reform and opening-up.

COURSE OF EVENTS OF CHINA’S DIPLOMACY SINCE ADOPTION OF REFORM AND OPENING-UP POLICY

Since the country adopted the policy of reform and opening-up to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the development China’s diplomacy underwent three stages.

The first stage marked by “independence” and “non-alignment” is between the late 1970s, especially the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the late 1980s. As the focus of national energy shifted, Mr.Deng Xiaoping made important readjustments on strategy and tactics of China’s foreign policy, putting in place an“independent foreign policy of peace”.In 1987, the Report to the 13th CPC National Congress made it clear that “peace and development are the dominant theme of the times”. With the change in cognition of the times, the objective of China’s foreign policy changed from“supporting the world revolution” to“creating a favorable international environment for domestic development”.

As opening-up to the outside world became a cardinal national policy for socialist modernization drive, the model of China’s foreign strategy changed from one of bloc confrontation to that of independence and non-alignment, national interest becoming the point of departure in handling international relations, transcending differences in social system and ideology to establish and develop friendly ties with all countries, promoting peace and stability and working towards a new international political and economic order that was more equitable and reasonable. Under this guideline, China and the United States established diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979. In the spirit of “ending the past and opening up the future”, China and the Soviet Union normalized their bilateral relations by May 1989. China entered into agreements with the United Kingdom and Portugal respectively on the issues of Hong Kong and Macau, advancing the great cause of its national reunification.

The second stage featuring “keeping a low profile and making a difference”falls between the late 1980s and the late 1990s. Between the late 1980s and the early 1990s, China’s diplomacy withstood dramatic turbulence and trial of a seachange in Eastern Europe, disintegration of the Soviet Union and collapse of the bipolar pattern. Based on the assessment that peace and development remained the theme of the times, China took an active part in economic globalization,worked towards a multipolar world and stood for coordination, dialogue, non-confrontation and common maintenance of world peace, stability and development.

Under difficult and complex circumstances, China went by the guideline of keeping a low profile, properly handled crises and emergencies and preserved the conditions of national stability and development. According to the principle of respecting the independent choice made by other peoples, the country smoothly transitioned China-Soviet relationship to China-Russia relationship, built and developed friendly ties with former Soviet republics and East European countries. It overcame adverse effects of the Asian Financial Crisis. Hong Kong and Macau smoothly returned to the sovereignty of the country. Meanwhile, China continuously improved and consolidated its friendly and good-neighborly relations with the neighboring countries.

The third stage of “peace and development” and “win-win cooperation” is between the late 1990s and the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. At the turn of the century, economic globalization ran deep, technological revolution accelerated and interdependence between countries was on the rise. Looking at the globe, the world was still away from tranquility: world peace and development were in face of quite a few difficult issues and challenges as hegemony and power politics still existed, terrorism spread and economic development remained unbalanced. Looking at China, its comprehensive national strength increased significantly, its international status being on the rise. China was more closely integrated with the rest of the world.

Facing the new situation and new issues, China put forward the proposition of firmly sticking to the road of peaceful development, being mindful of both its domestic and international interests and working for a peaceful and stable international environment, a good neighborly and friendly neighborhood environment,a cooperation environment based on equality and mutual benefit, a security environment based mutual trust and coordination and an objective and benign international opinion environment. China persevered with an opening strategy featuring mutual benefit and win-win situation to seek peace through cooperation,promote development with cooperation and resolve disputes by cooperation.

In the area of security, China thoroughly resolved border issues left over by history with Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan and Vietnam through consultations and negotiations going by the principle of mutual understanding, mutual accommodation, equity and reasonability.In the area of economic development,China acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2001, put forward the “go global”strategy and made its economy further participate in international cooperation. In cultural area, China vigorously conducted cultural diplomacy and deepened mutual understanding and trust with all peoples of the world.

REFORM AND OPENING-UP HELPS CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT ENTER INTO A NEW ERA

Through nearly forty years of reform and opening-up, Chinese economy has made achievements that attract the world’s attention. The country has grown into the second largest economy,the largest industrial producer, the largest trader for goods and the holder of the largest foreign exchange reserves.Not only have such development results and historical progress radically changed the long poverty-stricken and backward outlook of the country and realized a great leap forward of the country from standing up and getting rich to growing strong, they have also put China’s relations with the rest of the world on a new historical starting point.

The 19th CPC National Congress of 2017 made it clear that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. In the new era, China’s foreign policy actively promotes the construction of a community with shared future for mankind and endeavors to build a new type of international relations. “We have made all-round efforts in the pursuit of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, thus advancing China’s diplomatic agenda in a comprehensive, multilevel and multifaceted way and creating a favorable external environment for China’s development.”

First of all, China actively constructs a framework of major country relationship featuring overall stability and balanced development. In May 2012,then Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping visited the United States, during which he proposed to shape the cooperative partnership between the two countries into a new model of major country relations for the 21st century. According to the connotations of such a major country relationship namely “no conflict or confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation”, it is emphasized to accommodate others’ interests while pursuing one’s own interests and promote common development while striving for one’s own development, to manage differences and continue to deepen the pattern of mutual penetration of interests, which has served to keep the development of China-US relations on the right track. China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership for coordination has kept operating on a high level, both sides having built a high level of political and strategic trust, established sound mechanisms for high-level exchanges and all-round cooperation, aligned development strategies of one another and made bilateral cooperation a powerful engine for regional cooperation. In the process of China-EU cooperation, both sides are committed to forging a four-prong partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization between them, the “16 plus one cooperation” between China and East and Central European countries as represented by China Railway Express having run on an upgraded and accelerated fast track.

Secondly, according to the policy of building friendship and partnership in the neighborhood, China deepens its relations with neighboring countries.Practicing the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness,the country is committed to full and effective implementation of the 2016-2020 Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. China-ASEAN cooperation for mutual benefit has made fresh progress. With enhanced cooperation in infrastructure construction, China has expanded its “circle of friends” in South Asia. Besides, China has established strategic partnerships with all of the Central Asian countries, all of which have become responders and builders of the Belt and Road initiative. With the accession of India and Pakistan, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) has become the world’s largest organization for regional cooperation both in area and in population, cooperation between China and other member countries of the SCO having also been brought to a new high.

The proposal of the concept of inclusive development is actually a ref l ection and correction of the insuff i cient and diff i cult development of modernity. It symbolizes the importance attached to the concept of people-centered development and begins to push forward the transformation from capital-centered development to people-centered development. Guided by the concept of inclusive development, Xiamen special economic zone has adopted a series of genuine practices such as reform and opening up, economic construction, environmental protection and cultural heritage protection, and has achieved fruitful results. The picture shows Xiamen Yanwu Bridge and Gulangyu island.

Third, China works for improving and upgrading its cooperation with developing countries, upholding a right approach to justice and interests.According to the four-point principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith for China’s relations with Africa, the country has provided US$60 billion in support of 10 major China-Africa cooperation projects, China-Africa relations having been upgraded from “new-type strategic partnership”to “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership”. China-Africa cooperation has reached a new high. With Latin American countries, China has established the China-CELAC Forum and built a Five-in-One new pattern of China-Latin America relations in a multifaceted way. China has built strategic cooperative partnerships with Arab countries for all-round cooperation and common development, ushering China-Arab cooperation into a new stage.

Fourth, going by the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, China extends the platform for global governance. With increasing comprehensive national strength, it is moving toward the center of world arena, the world expecting China to play a still greater role in global governance. By successfully hosting a number of important international conferences such as the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the G20 Hangzhou summit, the BRICS Xiamen Summit and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia,China has offered Chinese solutions to tough issues facing the world and forcefully let out its voice, furthering its influence, appeal and shaping capacity in the international system.

In the new era, China’s diplomacy has successfully forged a multitier global network of partnerships. By the end of 2017, 175 countries had established diplomatic ties with China. The CPC maintains regular contacts with over 400 political parties and political organizations in more than 160 countries. The National People’s Congress is active in conducting exchanges with its counterparts in foreign countries.The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference makes friends and friendly contacts extensively in various countries the world over. The influence of military diplomacy of the country is also on the increase, peace keeping and naval escort missions becoming a new call card of China as a responsible major country. On local government level, 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under central jurisdiction and 478 provincial cities have entered into 2470 pairs of sister city (province/state) relations with 513 provinces/states and 1607 cities in 135 countries across the five continents.

INSPIRATIONS FROM CHINA’S DIPLOMACY SINCE REFORM AND OPENING-UP

First of all, it is necessary to uphold the leadership of the CPC and bring into full play the advantage of China’s political system. The CPC leadership is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since reform and opening-up, China’s diplomacy has continuously produced fruitful results and created a new situation of major country diplomacy, none of which is achieved away from the leadership of the Party. Xi Jinping Thought of Major Country Diplomacy for the New Era makes it clear that it is necessary to promote the construction of a new model of international relations and that of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Report to the 19th CPC National Congress closely combined practice with theoretic innovation, put forward creatively a series of important propositions on China’s foreign relations, international order and global governance,and in an all-round way enriched and developed theoretic connotations and philosophical system of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics,bearing salient up-to-date, innovative and progressive characters and providing a guide of action for China’s diplomatic work in the new era. Under the new historical circumstances, only under the CPC leadership is it possible to coordinate both the domestic and international interests of the country,to coordinate development and security affairs and to coordinate the efforts of all parties at central, local, governmental and non-governmental levels so as to produce synergy and deal effective“combination blows” for safeguarding core national interests and serving the overall situation of China’s development. Only by doing so can China’s diplomacy advance on the right track,achieve one victory after another and continue to be successful. The above is the institutional guarantee and systemic advantage of China’s diplomacy,an advantage that should be held up unswervingly, applied constantly and brought into good play.

Secondly, the successful practice of China’s diplomacy cannot be separated from seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times and accurately grasping special features of the era. Only by having a correct recognition of special features of the era, an accurate command of the complex changing principal contradictions in international relations and a profound understanding of basic conditions of the country, can it be possible to produce proper diplomatic guideline and policy by bearing in mind underlying trend and major events, enhancing toplevel designing and strategic planning,establishing bottom line thinking and firmly holding the initiative.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward the proposition of building up major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in light of a profoundly changed international situation and an increasingly raising international status of the country. The Report to the 19th CPC National Congress announced that “socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered into a new era”. It made correct assessment of new national positioning and historical coordinates with China’s development and made clear the direction for future development of China’s foreign affairs. The times calls for it to build a new model of international relations,construct a community with a shared future for mankind and serve China’s great national renewal. More important,it is the mission target of China’s diplomacy in the new era.

Third, it is necessary to transcend ideology in handling state-to-state relations, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and endeavor to construct a community with a shared future for mankind. In the world, there are countries under different social systems and of different ideologies, which will exist for a long time to come. It is an objective fact. To transcend ideology in handling state-to-state relations is to uphold independence in China’s foreign policy, proceed from the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the people of the world in dealing with all international affairs and decide upon China’s positions and policy according to the inherent merits of the said affairs. It is to keep to the road of peaceful development, develop the country in peace and at the same time to safeguard world peace through development of the country. It is to construct a community with a shared future for mankind in order, building a world of lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity, a world being open, inclusive, clean and beautiful. The idea for a community with a shared future for mankind stands for transcending ideology, for linking China’s development with common interests of all peoples of the world and for all peoples of the world working together to meet common challenge and achieve common development and progress.

Fourth, it is necessary to emancipate the mind, blaze a new trail and innovate in sticking to the road of peaceful development and persevering with an open strategy featuring mutual benefit and win-win situation. As globalization speeds up, the international situation has undergone sustained, profound changes since the 1980s. Under the new situation,China’s diplomacy has advanced with the times and met challenges. Since the Cold War ended, the Western society has made all sorts of speculations on China’s relations with the outside world. Based on realist theories of balance of power and power shift, some scholars predict that China will necessarily adopt a policy of counterbalancing the United State,resulting in a necessary war between the two countries. Based on liberalism, others believe that with a market-oriented economy, it will be necessary for China to copy Western political model wholesale and eventually become a Westernlike country. From the angle of conceptual structure, constructivist scholars argue that it is difficult for China, whose identification is trained by ideology and traditional culture, to integrate into the community of Western democracies. In practice, China has rejected the model of cold war relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States but has not undergone radical identification change as expected by liberalism.Rather, it has been creative in taking a road of peaceful development suitable to its national conditions, persevering with a cardinal national policy of opening to the outside world and insisting on building the country behind an open door.

As President Xi Jinping remarks,“Openness brings progress, while selfseclusion leaves one behind. China will not close its door to the world; we will only become more and more open.”China will vigorously build up a pattern of opening to the outside world for common development, advance negotiations for agreement on constructing Asia-Pacific free trade area and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,and construct a network of free trade areas facing the globe rather than forging an exclusive, fragmented and small circle. It will not raise its competitiveness by devaluing the RMB, and even less wage a currency war or trade war on its own accord. China will pursue the Belt and Road Initiative as a priority, give equal emphasis to "bringing in" and “going global,” and follow the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration. It will adhere to peaceful development together with all countries of the world and achieve mutual benefit and win-win situation in open cooperation.

Since the adoption of the reform and opening-up policy, China’s diplomacy has created a favorable international environment for the country’s development. The new era brings new mission task for China’s diplomacy. By persisting with top-level designing, bottom line thinking, active planning and being energetic and aggressive, China’s diplomacy will surely make fresh and even greater contributions to serving the great renewal of the Chinese nation, constructing a community with a shared future for mankind and constructing a new model of international relations.