Beijing, 31 December 2021 (TDI): In an interview on 30 December, Wang Yi, the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister stated that 2021 will go down in history as a momentous year for both the world as well as China.
Wang Yi stated that across the globe, the evolution of unusual changes picked up pace due to the pandemic. Events like the U.S. Capitol riot, the resurgence of the Cold War mentality, vaccine nationalism, the Kabul Moment, and many other perturbations marked the year. The world has entered an era of transition and turbulence at a quicker pace.
He reiterated that the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its epicenter in China has achieved the formation of a relatively thriving society in every sense. In addition, China has celebrated CPC’s centenary, and proudly ventured on a new journey toward the second centenary objective.
“Wherever you go, your home country is always your strong backing.” — This is the enduring mission and commitment of China’s diplomacy.
China derived strength from the 100 years of CPC’s accomplishments on the diplomatic front, forged ahead through challenges and competitions with grit and courage, along with writing a new chapter of major-country diplomacy with distinct Chinese attributes.
Head-of-state Diplomacy
The Chinese Foreign Minister further highlighted that head-of-state diplomacy has played the guiding role on China’s diplomatic front. The President of China, Xi Jinping had 79 telephonic conversations with heads of international organizations and foreign countries.
Moreover, he attended 40 major diplomatic events via video link. Xi Jinping has stepped up strategic communication with foreign leaders to promote cooperation and create accord across the globe, hence drawing up the splendid blueprint and creating potent synergy for constructing a community with a shared future for mankind.
Head-of-state diplomacy has efficaciously boosted across-the-board stability of the relations among major countries, enhanced the mutually beneficial cooperation with developing countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, and deepened the friendship between China and its neighbors.
Likewise, it has allowed China to make a more solid and comprehensive international collaboration network.
Anti-COVID Diplomacy
Foreign Minister Wang Yi further enunciated that the anti-COVID diplomacy has vouched for China’s strong sense of international responsibility. China has always been amongst the first to foster global collaboration against the pandemic, always stood at the fore for the fair allocation of vaccines, and has continually advocated that the number-one attribute of vaccines should be that they are global public goods.
China is amongst the first to commit to producing COVID vaccines as a “global public good,” to start joint production with other developing countries, and to support waiving “intellectual property rights” on vaccine development and research.
Additionally, China is also amongst the first to perform global “origins-tracing cooperation” with the World Health Organization (WHO), to call for combating not only the coronavirus but also the political virus and to forsake stigmatization and politicization.
China has helped keep the international COVID response in the right direction with real actions and firm commitments along with vigorously promoting the building of an inclusive global.
Development-oriented Diplomacy
During the interview, Wang Yi underscored that China’s development-oriented diplomacy has contributed a lot to the global cause. President Xi Jinping announced a string of new measures on many occasions including the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Boao Forum for Asia, the China International Import Expo, and the China International Fair for Trade in Services.
For instance, greater institutional opening-up, to open wider to the world, a shorter negative list, and a more business-friendly environment. This has made contributions and furnished prospects for global economic recovery.
President Xi Jinping put forth the Global Development Initiative (GDI), in response to the grave challenges of COVID-19 to other developing countries, with a view to inculcating global synergy on revving the enactment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so that no individual or country will be left behind.
He further pointed out that so far the GDI has received support and positive response from the UN system and almost 100 countries.
Aside from that, China has defended justice in multilateral diplomacy by holding high the banner of multilateralism, championing the common values of humanity, and upholding the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law.
China’s Role in International Governance System
China has taken an active part in molding the international governance system on the environment, health climate, and digital development. It has elucidated on the establishment of a community of life for man and nature, as well as a community of all life on Earth, “offering China’s solutions and vitality to the reform of the global governance system.”
Lastly, the Chinese Foreign Minister stated that China has lived up to its earnest commitment to diplomacy for the people. It has worked actively to support the building of a new development paradigm, as well as to facilitate the opening of “green lanes” for the shipment of emergency supplies and “fast tracks” for necessary personnel exchanges, to avert the spread of the virus from abroad and ensure the progress in epidemic control at home.
China’s People-centric Approach
Furthermore, China has adhered to a people-centric approach, successfully rescued dozens of Chinese hostages, and built a system on the protection of the interests of people overseas as well as on risk alert and prevention. This has been achieved by timely carrying out of the Spring Sprout program by immunizing millions of Chinese compatriots living in 180-plus countries.