Serving the country and contributing to the world: China's diplomacy in a time of unprecedented global changes and a once-in-a-century pandemic

Address by H.E. Wang Yi State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs At the Symposium on the International Situation and China's Foreign Relations in 2020

2020/12/11

Beijing, 11 December 2020

Experts and Friends,

Good morning! It gives me great pleasure to join you again at the turn of the year to take stock of the international developments and China's foreign relations. Let me first take this opportunity to thank you for your support to China's diplomatic work. As always, I look forward to your insights and suggestions.

The year 2020 is a watershed in human history. The sudden onslaught of COVID-19 has triggered a global crisis, putting a halt to cross-border travels and shifting global growth into reverse gear. Anachronistic practices of unilateralism and protectionism have been on the increase, driven by resurgent power politics and Cold-War mentality. Human development is confronted with unprecedented risks and challenges in an increasingly fluid and changing world.

At the same time, the evolution of the international order is speeding up. A new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is gathering momentum. Humankind as a whole has gained a more profound appreciation of the need for health and safety, peace and development, win-win cooperation and for embracing a shared future. The world will never go back to where it was; humanity is pondering on and exploring the future. All countries must make the consequential choice between solidarity and division, between openness and isolation, and between cooperation and confrontation.

The year 2020 is a milestone in China's national development. Facing the devastating impact of COVID-19 and an increasingly complex international environment, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the entire nation has rallied together behind a common purpose. China was among the first to contain the virus, to carry out international cooperation against COVID-19, to reopen the economy safely, and to restore economic growth. 

The country is on course to fulfill the historic mission of ending extreme poverty within the set time frame, secure decisive achievements in finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society, and realize the first centenary goal. 

The successful Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee set out a great vision for China's development in the coming five years and beyond. It marked the beginning of a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country, provided strong impetus to overcome challenges on the way forward, and charted the course toward the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

The year 2020 is a groundbreaking one for China's external relations. With a global vision and strong sense of responsibility as leader of a major country, President Xi Jinping has engaged in intensive head of state diplomacy. He held 84 meetings and phone calls with foreign leaders and heads of international organizations, and attended 22 important diplomatic events, including "cloud diplomacy" through the innovative virtual platform. This has helped build global consensus on COVID-19 and point the way forward for China's foreign policy. 

Guided by the President's diplomatic engagements and focusing on joint response to COVID-19, we in the diplomatic service have forged ahead to meet the challenges head on. We have taken proactive steps to stay ahead of the changing circumstances, in an effort to serve the country and contribute to the world. We have fought the novel coronavirus and the "political virus" at the same time and made new contributions to safeguarding national interests and global stability. Our efforts and achievements are reflected in the following eight areas:

First, we have carried out robust international cooperation against COVID-19.

Over the past year, we in the diplomatic service have actively contributed to the fight against COVID-19 both in China and globally, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind with concrete actions as a major, responsible country.

Domestically, we have fully engaged in COVID-19 containment. In the early days of the epidemic, we helped secure lifesaving medical supplies globally to address the pressing need back home. 

With infections rising globally, we worked with fellow Chinese home and abroad to build a strong line of defense at our borders and preserve the hard-won gains in containing COVID-19 at home. 

As the economy gradually reopened, we took innovative approaches to establish "fast tracks" and "green lanes" for the flows of people and goods, which has helped to keep industrial and supply chains stable and open and bolster domestic economic recovery and social development.

Internationally, we have actively promoted anti-COVID-19 cooperation. Since the very beginning, China has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community in an open, transparent, science-based and responsible manner. Being the first to report cases to the world, China has since then publicized key information including the genome sequencing at the first opportunity, firmly supported the leading role of WHO, and provided funding to WHO and the UN COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

We have organized over 100 expert video meetings to share experience with other countries without reservation. Through opening an online Knowledge Center for China's Experiences in Response to COVID-19 which is accessible to all countries, we have published eight versions of diagnosis and therapeutic solutions and seven versions of prevention and control protocols. 

We have launched the largest global humanitarian campaign since the founding of New China. We have provided assistance to over 150 countries and nine international organizations and sent 36 medical teams to 34 countries in need. 

Leveraging our strength as the largest manufacturer of medical supplies, we have provided countries around the world with over 200 billion masks, 2 billion protective suits and 800 million testing kits. 

We have also actively advanced collaboration on the R&D of drugs and vaccines, promoted joint prevention and control with other countries and called for the enhancement of global public health governance, with a view to jointly building a global community of health for all.

Second, we have further expanded opening-up and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Over the past year, the global economy has faced the deepest recession since World War II precipitated by the pandemic. As the world's second largest economy, China has deepened reform and opening-up across the board and actively pursued mutually beneficial cooperation to provide impetus and confidence for the global recovery.

China has accelerated reform and opening-up endeavors across the board. The Foreign Investment Law and its implementation regulations came into effect. The items on the national negative list for foreign investment have been further cut to 33, and down to 30 for the pilot free trade zones. A master plan has been drawn up for the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Measures for further reform and opening-up in Shenzhen and Pudong have been rolled out. And more pilot programs have been conducted for creative promotion of trade in services. With these steps, China has opened its door even wider to the world.

We have set out to foster a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. Our purpose is to vigorously expand domestic demand and form deeper and broader connections between domestic and international circulations. This will provide greater market opportunities for the world and broader space for international cooperation. This will also open up new dimensions in China's win-win strategy of opening-up and speed up the process toward a new, higher-standard open economy in China.

Despite the challenges, China's mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries has continued to move forward. In the first three quarters this year, China's economy resumed positive growth, with an uptick in total trade in goods and notable increase in paid-in foreign investment. China is expected to become the first major economy to register positive growth this year. This is a hard-won achievement that will provide an important underpinning for global recovery.

The Belt and Road cooperation has shown strong resilience and vitality under COVID-19. In the first eight months this year, China's trade with Belt and Road partners reached RMB5.86 trillion yuan, and Chinese companies made 30 percent more non-financial direct investment in Belt and Road partner countries year-on-year. As of early November, the China-Europe Railway Express had completed more than 10,000 services and transported at least 50 percent more freight than last year. The Express has been compared to a steel camel fleet that vigorously supported joint COVID responses by countries along its routes. The High-level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation yielded productive outcomes. Participants agreed to work toward a Health Silk Road, adding another building block toward high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We have successfully held the third China International Import Expo attended by over 3,600 companies from more than 150 countries and regions. By holding the Expo, China has shared with the world the benefits and opportunities generated by its economic recovery and opening-up, and shown itself to be a market for the world, shared by all and accessible to all.

Third, we have provided strong support for global stability.

Over the past year, China has made active efforts to develop its relations with other major countries and foster a framework of major-country relations featuring overall stability and well-balanced development.

President Xi Jinping has had four phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin this year, providing guidance for the continued growth of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. The two countries provided each other with anti-epidemic supplies and medical assistance, and jointly promoted international cooperation against COVID-19. Practical cooperation between the two sides has continued to deepen. Steady progress was made in several major projects. The Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation was officially launched. The two sides have worked in concert to defend the victorious outcomes of World War II and uphold international fairness and justice and firmly supported each other against foreign interference and stigmatization, acting as important players in safeguarding global strategic stability.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and the EU. Chinese and EU leaders have agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation, deepen strategic mutual trust, firmly uphold multilateralism, and jointly meet global challenges. In the first three quarters, China became EU's largest trading partner for the first time. The two sides signed the agreement on geographical indications, a demonstration of their shared commitment to intellectual property protection. The two sides decided to establish two new high-level dialogue mechanisms, one on environment and climate and the other on digital cooperation, and build partnerships for green and digital cooperation. Closer partnership between the two sides in these areas will add new dimensions to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Negotiations toward a China-EU investment treaty has entered the final phase, with both sides working to conclude the negotiations by the end of this year.

This year has witnessed the most challenging situation facing China-US relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties over four decades ago. As the world needed solidarity and cooperation the most, the United States headed down the path of unilateralism, which has become the most disruptive factor in the international system. Out of their self-interests and political bias, some people in the United States have sought to smear and suppress China, impose unjustified sanctions, and even stoke ideological confrontation in an attempt to plunge the world into a new Cold War.

These unpopular moves should stop now. Otherwise, they will damage US credibility, jeopardize world peace and stability, and will ultimately be rejected by people of the world and by history. The China-US relationship is showing a complexity that goes far beyond the bilateral scope; it has in fact become a matter of going for multilateralism or unilateralism, progress or retrogression, and justice or hegemony. What China defends is not only its own legitimate rights and interests, but also the common and long-term interests of all countries. What China safeguards is not only the political foundation underpinning China-US interactions, but also the basic norms governing international relations applicable to all countries. What China advocates is not only its own legitimate propositions, but also fairness and justice of the world.

Fourth, we have made solid progress in building a community with a shared future with neighbors.

Over the past year, following the neighborhood diplomacy guideline that advocates amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, China has proactively conducted cooperation with neighboring countries in COVID response and many other areas. Such cooperation has contributed to broader converging interests and closer people-to-people ties, making solid strides in building a community with a shared future.

After the new Japanese government was formed, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reached a new, important common understanding on steadily improving and growing China-Japan relations. The two countries will support each other in hosting the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, and earnestly build a China-Japan relationship that meets the call of the new era. 

China values peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation with its important neighbor India. The two countries have kept strategic communication. China has resolutely and appropriately handled the boundary disputes, in an effort to steer China-India relations in the right direction. 

China and the ROK have worked effectively together in various areas, including COVID response and economic reopening, taking the strategic cooperative partnership to a new height.

President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Myanmar on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations. The two sides reached important consensus on building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, heralding a new chapter in the millennial "pauk-phaw" ties.

China has facilitated substantial progress in Asia-Pacific cooperation. At the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, charting the direction for cooperation in the region. Premier Li Keqiang attended the leaders' meetings for East Asian cooperation, and witnessed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which launched the process of setting up the world's most promising FTA covering the largest population and biggest economic aggregate. China also announced that it will favorably consider joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), giving a strong boost to the confidence of countries concerned in building the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.

China and ASEAN have made the historic breakthrough of becoming each other's largest trading partners. The two sides have proposed the establishment of the China-ASEAN Liaison Mechanism for Public Health Emergencies and a medical supplies reserve endeavoring to make China-ASEAN relations a fine example of the most successful and dynamic regional cooperation. 

China, Japan and the ROK have strengthened cooperation in revitalizing regional economic activities and steadily advanced the trilateral free trade negotiations, elevating regional economic cooperation to a higher level.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has deepened cooperation in containing COVID-19, safeguarding regional security and promoting economic growth. China and the five Central Asian countries have launched the "Central Asia Plus China" (C5+1) foreign ministers' meetings as a new framework for strengthening China-Central Asia relations.

China has been actively exploring approaches with Chinese features to resolving hotspot issues. While firmly upholding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an important accomplishment of multilateral diplomacy, we have joined the international community in opposing US moves inconsistent with Security Council resolutions on the Iranian nuclear issue. China has put forward a constructive proposal of building a new platform for multilateral dialogue for the Gulf region.

China has continued to advocate the phased and synchronized approach to achieve the two goals of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishment of a peace mechanism, with the ultimate aim of realizing enduring peace and security in the peninsula. 

China has facilitated consensus-building on Afghanistan's national reconciliation and among regional players on the Afghan issue, and supported advancing the intra-Afghan talks. 

China has mediated between Bangladesh and Myanmar in addressing their disagreements, and assisted in maintaining overall stability in northern Myanmar.

Fifth, we have protected and expanded the shared interests of the developing world.

Over the past year, pursuing the greater good above its own interests, China has worked closely with other developing countries in fighting the virus, bolstering economic recovery and embracing a shared future. Such solidarity and cooperation have stood the test of the trying time and demonstrated new vitality.

President Xi Jinping and African leaders held a successful Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, carrying forward and enhancing the fine tradition of mutual assistance. The two sides have accelerated the implementation of the eight major initiatives announced at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, prioritizing programs in the health sector. 

The ninth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was convened, during which all sides agreed to build a community with a shared future for China and Arab states, opening up even brighter prospects of Sino-Arab relations.

China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries held a Special Video Conference of Foreign Ministers on COVID-19, and a China-LAC Special Loan for Combating COVID-19 was launched. Such joint efforts have demonstrated the solidarity and friendship between China and LAC countries. 

China has sent medical expert teams to developing countries in need to help them beat the virus and tide over the difficulties. China has pledged to make vaccines a global public good once they are developed and deployed, as a contribution to vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. 

China has taken an active part in formulating the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) and implemented all debt service suspension requests that are DSSI eligible, ranking the first among G20 members in terms of deferral amount.

China has promoted earnest implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the international community, and co-hosted with the United Nations the High-level Video Conference on Poverty Eradication and South-South Cooperation. We have deepened international cooperation in such areas as agriculture, education, women and children, and climate change. These efforts fully attest to our conviction in supporting the solidarity and progress of developing countries and upholding the shared interests of the developing world.

Sixth, we have actively participated in the reform of global governance system.

The past year has witnessed headwinds and setbacks in global governance. Against such a background, President Xi expounded China's perspectives on global governance in a comprehensive and systematic way while attending major multilateral meetings and put forward China's proposals on actively tackling global challenges.

Together with the rest of the international community, we firmly upheld the international order underpinned by international law, the international system with the UN as the core, and the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the cornerstone. Following the trend of history, we continued to support UN's due role in regional and international affairs, stand for greater democracy in international relations, and advocate making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. China engaged in the international cooperation on climate change in a responsible manner. We announced that we will strive to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, demonstrating our readiness to contribute to global ecological preservation.

We have also actively participated in the international rule-making in emerging areas. By releasing the Global Initiative on Data Security, we aim to address international concerns over cybersecurity. We will join other countries to foster an international cyberspace featuring peace, security, openness and cooperation.

Seventh, we have firmly safeguarded our national interests and dignity.

Over the past year, by staying committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, we have firmly safeguarded the path and system chosen by the Chinese people and upheld our country's sovereignty, security and development interests. 

We have taken a clear-cut position against any politicization or stigmatization of COVID-19 and held back the global spread of the "political virus". We have pushed back against slanders and smears against China's system and path and resolutely defended the security of political authority and system of the Party and the country. We have forcefully defeated the attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs by external forces through issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, and upheld sovereign independence and territorial integrity of our country. With justice on our side, we have denounced various types of disinformation and laid bare the attempts of scapegoating and blame-shifting in a bid to present and put on record an objective and truthful historical narrative. We have taken firm countermeasures against unilateral sanctions and the so-called long-arm jurisdiction in the name of national security and safeguarded our national dignity and the legitimate rights and interests of our companies and citizens.

Eighth, we have wholeheartedly served our people through diplomatic work.

Over the past year, we have stayed committed to the people-centered principle in our work and showed every concern for the safety and well-being of every fellow countryman and woman abroad affected by the epidemic. We swiftly mobilized and carried out consular protection across the world in a bid to convey the care and solicitude of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to all the Chinese nationals living, working or studying overseas.

We urged the governments of host countries to attach importance to addressing the difficulties encountered by overseas Chinese citizens, offered prompt support to the treatment of those infected, and set up online telemedicine platforms for that purpose. Our diplomats abroad said this to their fellow countrymen, "The embassy will always be here with you. We will get through this together".

By overcoming all kinds of difficulties, we managed to deliver more than 1.2 million health kits to overseas Chinese students, sent emergency medical supplies to overseas Chinese in 100-plus countries, and arranged over 350 special flights to bring home stranded Chinese nationals. In November, when military conflicts broke out in Ethiopia, we successfully evacuated to safe areas all the 630 Chinese nationals there within 17 days. Since the beginning of 2020, our consular protection hotline 12308 has operated 24/7. It has handled three times the calls compared with the same period last year, with more than 10 calls per minute in peak times. The bond of love linking overseas Chinese with their motherland has now extended to every corner of the world.

Experts and Friends,

The year 2021 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China and the launch of our 14th Five-Year Plan. China will embark on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country and realizing its second centenary goal.

As the CPC reaches a centennial milestone full of youthful vigor, we in the foreign service have important missions on our shoulders. No matter how the international situation evolves, China's diplomacy will continue to advance under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. We will stay true to our original aspirations to bring happiness to the Chinese people and contribute to human progress. We will hold high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation, stick to the path of peaceful development, and pursue friendship and cooperation with other countries in all sincerity. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, we will resolutely forge ahead to explore new opportunities and break new grounds amid crises and changes, pursue all-round progress in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, foster a new type of international relations, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

First, we will make our best efforts to serve China's development strategies. China remains a developing country. Our primary task is to accelerate development and rejuvenation, and our ultimate goal is to deliver a better life to our people. We will foster a keen awareness of the features of China's new development stage, promote the new development philosophy, and create a favorable external environment for fostering a new development paradigm and implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan. We will actively support the work for both normalized epidemic control and economic and social development. Efforts will be made to open more "fast tracks" for travel and "green lanes" for shipments of cargo, establish joint pandemic response mechanisms with more countries, and expedite cooperation on economic reopening. We will enhance coordination between the foreign service and other departments handling foreign affairs, support Chinese provinces in leveraging their respective resources and strengths, and actively serve China's overall foreign policy interests. We will host a new round of events to present Chinese provinces and economically important regions that have emerged stronger from the test of COVID-19, and help build bridges with the world for the opening and development of our country and its different localities.

Second, we will strive to facilitate global economic recovery. China will continue to open its door wider to the world, fully tap into the strength of its enormous market and the potential of domestic demand, and make significant contributions to global recovery with its own economic development. We will oppose and resist all forms of protectionism, promote stable and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains, and work with all countries to build an open world economy. We will vigorously advance high quality Belt and Road cooperation, accelerate the development of the Health Silk Road, the digital Silk Road and a green Silk Road, and bring benefits to more countries and peoples.

Third, we will advocate a new type of international relations. We will deepen China-Russia comprehensive strategic coordination, enhance bilateral strategic coordination in all areas and at all levels, and jointly build pillars for world peace and security as well as global strategic stability. We will enhance strategic trust between China and Europe, build consensus on safeguarding multilateralism, upholding free trade and tackling climate change, and expand practical cooperation on digital economy, green development and other emerging sectors.

China-US relations have come to a new historical juncture. Bearing in mind the fundamental interests of both peoples and the common good of the whole world, the two sides need to review the experience of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties, reflect on the lessons from setbacks in bilateral relations in recent years, and rebuild a strategic framework for the sound and stable growth of the bilateral relations. The two countries need to make concerted efforts to achieve this goal. First, we need to reopen dialogue. Dialogue and communication are effective ways to get the right perception of each other's strategic intentions as well as domestic and foreign policies. China stands ready to open up dialogues on an equal footing with the United States at all levels and in all areas to promote sincere, in-depth and constructive exchanges. The two countries need to seek common ground while reserving differences, and prudently manage their differences. Second, we need to restart cooperation. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the anchor and booster of China-US relations. It is high time for the two sides to coordinate and cooperate on COVID-19 response to defeat the virus. At the same time, both countries are duty-bound to step up communication on global economy, climate change, counter-terrorism, cyberspace and other major issues, and provide more public goods for global peace, stability and economic recovery. Third, we need to rebuild trust. Mutual trust is the prerequisite for the healthy and stable growth of bilateral ties, and trust could only be based on objective and rational perceptions. The US side should put China in the right strategic perspective rather than viewing it as a threat, and see China's development in a positive and constructive way. China always believes that as long as both countries adopt an objective and rational attitude, and seek greater mutual understanding and broader convergence of interests, we will surely be able to find a path of peaceful coexistence in this world between countries of different social systems and cultural backgrounds.

Fourth, we will further deepen international and regional cooperation. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the SCO, we will carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, and consolidate and strengthen the positive momentum of stability and cooperation in the region. We will work for the early entry into force of the RCEP agreement, promote mutually beneficial China-Japan-ROK cooperation, and advance the building of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Economic Development Belt. We will take an active part in COVAX, deliver our commitment of sharing Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, once available, as a global public good, and work to build a global community of health for all. We will contribute our share to the poverty alleviation, debt reduction and disaster mitigation of developing countries, and actively support fellow developing countries in capacity building for self-generated development. 

Fifth, we will proactively engage in the reform of global governance. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat at the UN and the 20th anniversary of its accession to the WTO. We will continue to uphold multilateralism, follow the principles of openness and inclusiveness, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, and move forward with the times. We support bringing into full play the UN's central position and role in international affairs, and enhancing the effectiveness and authority of the WTO. We will actively participate in the reform of the global governance system, and work with all parties in formulating rules on global digital governance and making the global governance system more equitable, reasonable, inclusive and beneficial for all.

Sixth, we will promote mutual understanding between countries. China will enhance friendly interactions with the rest of the world. We call on all countries to overcome differences, seek common development, and facilitate the exchange, mutual learning and harmony among civilizations. As we celebrate the historic 100th birthday of the CPC, we will better communicate to the world the CPC's track record of governance, the Chinese people's extraordinary journey toward the Chinese dream and China's commitment to peaceful development. Through better communications, we hope the world will get a more objective view of the CPC and a more accurate understanding of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China will continue to enhance mutual understanding with the rest of the world, and increase mutual trust between the Chinese and the peoples around the world.

Seventh, we will make continued efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. President Xi Jinping has elaborated on the building of a community with a shared future for mankind on many occasions and further laid out the profound connotations of this vision. Actions to promote this community have been well underway. At the national level, China is forging bilateral communities with a shared future with more and more partners. At the regional level, China has reached agreement with the relevant parties on building communities with a shared future in its neighborhood and the Asia-Pacific, and with ASEAN, Africa, Arab states, and Latin American and Caribbean countries. At the global level, China's proposals for building communities with a shared future in the fields of cyberspace, nuclear security, ocean and health have been warmly received. The inception and promotion of the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind reflects the development trend of the times and the shared aspiration of people across the world, and is winning ever broader understanding and support. We call on all countries to rise above differences of ideology, social systems and development stages, jointly protect the planet Earth, our only homeland, uphold the values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom shared by all of us, and work together for an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. 

Experts and Friends,

Winter can never block the coming of spring, just as night can never prevent the break of dawn. Whatever adversaries may come in humanity's way, the wheels of history will always move forward, and nothing can stop the overwhelming trend of the times. China will, as always, stand on the right side of history and on the side of justice in international relations, and work with all countries to make the world a better place. In pursing its foreign relations, China will continue to shoulder its responsibilities for the country and for the world, and make new and bigger contributions to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Thank you!