Committing to National Rejuvenation and Embracing Humanity’s Future on a New Journey in Major-Country Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics

I

The year 2022 was an important year for bridging the past and the future, as it witnessed crises and challenges as well as the emergence of opportunity and hope.

On the world stage, the situation was evolving in more profound and complex ways.

As once-in-a-century changes unfolded in depth and breadth with unprecedented intensity, the defining features of a transforming period of turbulence and change became more apparent. With the Ukraine crisis intertwining with the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple crises emerged in food and energy security. Hegemonic, domineering and bullying behavior caused grave harm, and the world was at greater risk of division into opposing blocs, fragmentation, and disorder. As various instabilities, uncertainties, and unforeseen factors accumulated, humanity was confronted with challenges aplenty. In the meantime, with peace, development, cooperation, and win-win remaining the unstoppable historical trends, the call of the international community for peace and development grew louder, its expectations of fairness and justice stronger, and its pursuit of cooperation and mutual benefit more vigorous than ever.

At home, we took firm and confident strides to advance the cause of the Party and the country.

Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the whole Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups rose to the challenges and forged ahead against all odds. We addressed both domestic and international imperatives, made coordinated progress in COVID-19 response and economic and social development, and continued to secure new and great success for our cause. At its 20th National Congress, the CPC mapped out a grand blueprint for advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization. From a new starting point, China has advanced with full confidence toward the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects; and by firmly promoting high-quality development and high-standard opening, it will provide new opportunities for the rest of the world. Maintaining its own development momentum and stable, consistent, and constructive policies, China will offer much-needed confidence and strength to a world rocked by turmoil and change.

The First China-Arab States Summit took place, afternoon of December 9, 2022, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the summit entitled “Carrying Forward the Spirit of China-Arab Friendship and Jointly Building a China-Arab Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.” PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER XIE HUANCHI

II

The Communist Party of China seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation and dedicates itself to promoting human progress and world harmony. China’s diplomacy is conducted under the leadership of the CPC for the benefit of the people. With determination and confidence, we in the diplomatic service stood firm amid volatility and change, moved forward through high winds and choppy seas, and adopted a host of strategic measures and secured a series of landmark outcomes to make new contributions to national rejuvenation and human progress.

We acted with the future of humanity in mind to chart a path toward peace and development for the world.

Under the planning and direction of General Secretary Xi Jinping, we carried out head-of-state diplomacy which was full of highlights. In February, China hosted the Olympic Winter Games, where 31 heads of state, government, and international organizations joined us in the celebration, generating confidence and hope for a world troubled by COVID-19. The theme of the Games—“Together for a Shared Future”—reverberated around the world, getting the year off to a successful start for China’s diplomacy.

At the Boao Forum for Asia in April, General Secretary Xi Jinping unveiled the Global Security Initiative as a Chinese proposal for tackling the root causes of international conflict and achieving durable peace and security for the world. At the BRICS Summit in June, General Secretary Xi chaired the very first High-Level Dialogue on Global Development and announced 32 major measures China would take to implement the Global Development Initiative, thus opening a new chapter for global development cooperation. By taking on the two major issues of peace and development, these two initiatives have offered a Chinese solution to fundamentally address the global governance deficit.

The months between September and December represented a season of important international visits by General Secretary Xi, the first of its kind since the outbreak of COVID-19. These included the Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, the G20 Summit in Bali, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok, as well as the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh. Altogether, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended five multilateral summits and met with leaders of more than 40 countries, creating three peaks in head-of-state diplomacy, and marking an excellent start in foreign affairs work for the new CPC central leadership.

We remained committed to opening-up and cooperation and created opportunities for global economic recovery.

Despite growing risks in the world economy and a surge in protectionism, China has opened its door even wider and never stopped working to deepen external cooperation. We are embracing the world with even greater openness.

From the World Economic Forum in Davos to the China International Import Expo (CIIE), General Secretary Xi Jinping made a most compelling call for promoting economic globalization and announced new steps to expand higher-standard opening-up. The fifth CIIE attracted enthusiastic participation, and new achievements were made at the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the China Import and Export Fair, and the China International Consumer Products Expo. “To invest in China is to invest in the future”— this is now the prevailing view around the world. The negative list for foreign investment is being further shortened; the Hainan Free Trade Port is off to a good start; the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is advancing at a faster pace; and a new structure of all-round opening-up through links running eastward and westward across land and sea is taking shape.

We made swift and steady progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, securing numerous successful outcomes. The China-Europe Railway Express completed a record number of services, demonstrating strong resilience. A large number of signature projects also made important progress: the first high-speed railway in ASEAN made its trial run; the first expressway in Cambodia was completed and opened; the China-Laos railway, which had already been put into operation, performed excellently; and the Budapest-Belgrade railway and the Pelješac Bridge in Croatia have effectively improved local transportation. Consisting of 150 countries and 32 international organizations, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) now represents a new height in international economic cooperation and serves as a new engine that will drive development for all countries involved.

We rejected bloc confrontation and served as the stabilizing force for major-country relations.

In the face of myriad challenges, major countries must lead by example in making the world a better place. Last year, China and Russia maintained high-quality development in their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. General Secretary Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing during the Olympic Winter Games and held an important meeting in Samarkand, providing strategic guidance for China-Russia relations to move ahead under new historical conditions. Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries were deepened in various fields and public support for the relations was further consolidated. The China-Russia relationship is based on non-alliance and non-confrontation, and it is not targeted at any third party. It is not subject to the disruption or attempt by any third party to sow discord. No matter how the international environment changes, China and Russia will maintain the strategic resolve and continue to move forward their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.

Over the past year, we have tirelessly explored the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other. In 2022, the two presidents held talks on three separate occasions. In particular, General Secretary Xi Jinping accepted the invitation from President Joe Biden to hold a face-to-face meeting in Bali, during which they conducted candid, in-depth, constructive, and strategic discussions on major issues concerning China-US relations and world peace and development. General Secretary Xi pointed out that the China-US relationship should not be a zero-sum game where one’s gain and rise means the loss and decline of the other, and he stressed that the world must avoid a repeat of the Cold War in the 21st century. The two sides should form a correct perception of each other’s domestic and foreign policies and strategic intentions. China-US interactions should be defined by dialogue and win-win cooperation, not confrontation or zero-sum competition. General Secretary Xi drew a red line and underscored our principles in China-US relations. He emphasized that the history of China-US relations shows that both sides stand to benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation. The two sides should find the right way to get along with each other on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and put their relations back on the right track of healthy and stable development.

Last year, China-Europe relations achieved steady progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President of the European Council Charles Michel in China. He also held face-to-face meetings with the leaders of France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and other countries. China and Europe are two major forces upholding world peace and two big markets for common development. Their relationship bears on stability of the world and prosperity of the Eurasian continent. China has all along regarded the European Union as a comprehensive strategic partner and supported its strategic autonomy. China hopes that Europe will remain stable and prosperous, and upholds the view that their relationship is not targeted at, subservient to or subject to any third party. It has been proven that a China-Europe relationship with an upward momentum and a commitment to mutual benefits conforms to the common interests of China, Europe, and the international community as a whole.

We sounded the call for solidarity and cooperation to enhance synergy for building our neighborhood.

In the face of the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy pursued by the United States and a few other countries as well as their various attempts to create small exclusive circles, China stood firmly opposed to the Cold War mentality and all attempts to stoke division and confrontation. China supported its neighbors in firmly keeping the future in their own hands and working together to resist counter-currents that undermine regional peace and stability.

The China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership got off to a strong start and demonstrated a robust momentum. The two sides continued to promote the development of a common home featuring peace, security, prosperity, beauty and amity. General Secretary Xi Jinping reached important consensus with leaders of Indonesia and Thailand on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future and a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable China-Thailand community with a shared future respectively. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement has been fully implemented, and good progress has been made in the development of BRI projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail and the China-Malaysia and China-Indonesia “twin industrial parks.”

We made vigorous efforts to promote the development of China-ASEAN demonstration zones for international industrial capacity cooperation, formulated the Action Plan for Implementing the China-ASEAN Partnership on Digital Economy Cooperation (2021-2025), and worked for the early launch of a new round of upgrade of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. We have worked with ASEAN member states to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and actively advanced consultations of a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and paid state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. On these occasions, General Secretary Xi put forward major initiatives and proposals on strengthening solidarity among SCO members and advancing SCO’s development in the future. At China’s initiative, the heads of SCO member states issued four major declarations on energy security, food security, climate response, and supply chain security and stability. More and more countries are applying to join the SCO family, which reflects the strong support for the Shanghai Spirit and the great promise held by the organization.

General Secretary Xi Jinping co-chaired a summit with the heads of five Central Asian countries to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, opening a new chapter in jointly building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

China and Japan reached a five-point consensus on stabilizing and developing bilateral relations, setting a clear direction for bilateral ties to overcome disturbances and embrace healthy development. China and India kept up communication and dialogue, managed frictions in border areas, and stayed committed to improving and developing bilateral ties. China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, injecting fresh vitality into the relationship.

Fireworks light up the sky with the words “One Family” in English and Chinese during the closing ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympic Games at the Bird’s Nest, Beijing, February 20, 2022. Though momentous change on a scale unseen in a century accelerated around the world and humanity faced various challenges, the Olympic family traveled from far and wide to join the celebrations in China. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER SONG YANHUA

We followed the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, and contributed our part to boosting the strengths of developing countries through unity.

China has always stood firm on the side of developing countries, working to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, promote common development, and safeguard common interests. We deepened and substantiated South-South cooperation and implemented G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) in all respects, suspending the largest amount of debt service payment among all G20 members. We also put forward the Action Plan on Digital Innovation and Cooperation to narrow the North-South digital divide. We called on developed economies to mitigate the negative spillovers from their monetary policy adjustment and keep their debts at sustainable levels.

China-Africa cooperation was continuously expanded and deepened, covering fields such as health, trade and investment, digital economy, green development, capacity building, and peace and security. We proposed the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa and took the lead in supporting the inclusion of the African Union in the G20. 

China-Arab all-round cooperation moved to a higher level. General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and China-GCC Summit and paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia, which marked the highest-level and largest-scale diplomatic engagement between China and the Arab world since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. All this has ushered in a new era of comprehensive and in-depth development of relations between China and Arab states, the GCC, and Saudi Arabia, laid out a roadmap for building a China-Arab community with a shared future, and set a broader stage for the China-GCC strategic partnership.

The strategic consensus between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries was further deepened. China and Argentina celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. China and Cuba launched a joint endeavor to build a community with a shared future. China also worked with other countries in the region to increase experience sharing on governance, better synergize development strategies, and expand practical cooperation.

China deepened its comprehensive strategic partnership with Pacific island countries, and enhanced engagements with each and every Pacific island country that has diplomatic ties with China. Six cooperation platforms, including an emergency supplies reserve, were built between China and Pacific island countries.

We maintained a global vision and took on our responsibilities as a major country to improve global governance.

In the face of myriad global challenges, China has actively participated in and steered the process of reforming the global governance system. Last year, fruitful results were achieved in the “China Year” of BRICS. As BRICS chair, China hosted more than 160 BRICS events in various areas and held more than 30 BRICS Plus activities, which produced 37 important practical outcomes, helping to increase the influence of BRICS cooperation globally. Under the theme of “Forging High-Quality Partnership for a New Era of Global Development,” the leaders of BRICS countries reached extensive consensus on cooperation. BRICS has started the process of expanding its membership, with more like-minded partners expected to join the BRICS family.

Last year, a host of major multilateral events were held in Asia, marking the “Asian moment” for global governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the 17th G20 Summit and the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and delivered important remarks. He charted the direction of global governance, outlined the blueprint for Asia-Pacific cooperation, and demonstrated China’s sound thinking, confidence, and sense of responsibility as a major country. With keen appreciation of the overwhelming trends, General Secretary Xi analyzed the major challenges facing humanity and encouraged all parties to replace division with unity, confrontation with cooperation, and exclusion with inclusion. He called for the building of a global partnership for economic recovery and a cooperative partnership for commodities. The list of items for practical cooperation drawn up at the G20 Summit includes 15 cooperation projects and proposals put forward by China, which fully reflects China’s support for and input in multilateralism.

We pushed back against the intimidation and bullying of hegemonic power and built strong lines of defense for safeguarding China’s national interests and dignity.

The Taiwan question is the core of China’s core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-US relations, and a red line that must never be crossed in China-US relations. In response to US House Speaker’s provocative visit to Taiwan against China’s stern warnings, we took firm and resolute countermeasures, fully demonstrating our iron will in safeguarding sovereignty and national security. Over 170 countries and international organizations have expressed strong support for the one-China principle. Governments, political parties, and senior officials from more than 100 countries and many international organizations have publicly stated their support for China’s efforts to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity. The overwhelming majority of countries in the world stand with China on the right side of history and the side of fairness and justice, and the global consensus on one-China has grown ever stronger.

A Xinjiang-related draft decision tabled by the United States and other Western countries was rejected at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council. At the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, we firmly fought off moves to stir up trouble under the pretext of human rights and presented to the world the achievements China has made in advancing human rights in Xinjiang. Over 100 countries expressed overwhelming support for China’s legitimate propositions.

We also exposed the fallacy of the “democracy vs. authoritarianism” narrative, making clear that its real intention is to stoke confrontation between countries and division of the international community, and interfere in other countries’ internal affairs in the name of democracy. We explained to the world how and why the whole-process people’s democracy works in China, upheld the true democratic spirit, and promoted the right perception of democracy in a bid to distinguish truth from falsehood and right from wrong. There is a growing call in the world to reject monopoly on the definition of democracy and division of the world along ideological lines.

We acted on our commitment to serving the people through diplomacy and poured care, passion, and energy into protecting the interests of Chinese nationals.

Ever since the drastic turn of events in Ukraine, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have been highly concerned about the safety and security of Chinese nationals in Ukraine. General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally taken up the matter on several occasions and required all-out efforts to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately activated its consular emergency response mechanism and carried out emergency evacuations, ensuring the safe transfer of over 5,200 Chinese citizens amid the ongoing fighting. We also properly responded to a series of emergencies around the world, issued timely safety alerts, evacuated Chinese citizens from high-risk areas, and spared no effort in rescuing Chinese hostages.

An integrated consular information system was launched, facilitating online processing of visa applications, notarization, authentication, and overseas registration through China’s consular affairs application. Our consular protection hotline 12308 handled more than 500,000 calls throughout the year. Visa waiver agreements between China and Nicaragua, the Commonwealth of Dominica, and other countries came into effect, further enhancing the value of the Chinese passport. We worked to make more diplomatic resources available locally, and organized visits to localities, state-owned enterprises and central SOEs for foreign envoys in China, thus expanding the channels of cooperation between China and the world.

III

China’s remarkable achievements in diplomacy over the past year are a microcosm for the tireless endeavor and cultivation that have defined the first decade of the new era. Since the CPC’s 18th National Congress in 2012, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we have blazed a new path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Our efforts in diplomacy in the new era have reaped pioneering and historic achievements across the board.

The past decade has been ten years of forging ahead and achieving historic breakthroughs in China’s diplomacy.

The number of countries that have diplomatic relations with China has increased from 172 to 181, and China’s partnerships have jumped from 41 to 113. China is now a major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions. Both the reach and efficacy of China’s diplomatic engagement have been substantially enhanced. We have established or resumed diplomatic relations with nine of the so-called “diplomatic allies” of the Taiwan authorities, helped Hong Kong achieve a historic transition from chaos to governance and then to greater prosperity, and firmly and properly handled territorial sovereignty and maritime rights disputes. We have strongly pushed back against external interference and maximum pressure, achieving victory in many tough battles and accomplishing many important tasks.

The past decade has been ten years of making worldwide contributions with a global vision in our foreign policy.

The Belt and Road Initiative has been welcomed by the international community both as a public good and as a practical cooperation platform. The Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative have led to a broad international consensus about the need to collectively promote common development and shared security.

China’s vaccines have played a first-tier role in global cooperation against COVID-19. From upholding international fairness and justice to improving global governance, from promoting common development to resolving hotspot issues, China has played a constructive role that has been indispensable on the world stage in the new era, and its international influence, appeal, and power to shape have risen markedly.

The past decade has been ten years of proactive planning in diplomacy to steadily strengthen China’s strategically advantageous position.

Exhibiting greater historical initiative, we have taken a clear-cut stand on major issues of principle and actively worked to address risks and challenges. We have united with all forces that can be united with, and mobilized all positive factors that can be mobilized. We have carried out strategic planning more proactively and augmented our diplomatic toolkit steadily. As a result, our ability to conduct major-country diplomacy has been continuously enhanced.

The past decade has been ten years of developing distinctive styles and assuming broader visions in diplomacy through self-confidence and self-reliance.

Carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture and outstanding diplomatic traditions of New China, we have advanced with the times and imbued diplomacy in the new era with a distinctive Chinese quality, style, and vision. The foundation and very soul of Chinese diplomacy lie in the leadership of the CPC, and its source of strength is rooted in the Chinese people, whom we place above all else. For us in China’s diplomatic service, independence is our fine tradition, a global vision embodies our original aspiration, fairness and justice are our unwavering goals, and our courage to carry on our fight reflects our fine character.

The past decade has been ten years of upholding fundamental principles and exploring new ground to make continuous breakthroughs in our diplomatic thinking and conception.

The establishment and development of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy has opened a new frontier in Chinese diplomatic theory and a new chapter in international political advancement. China adheres to the path of peaceful development, rejecting the old idea that a powerful country is destined for hegemony. Advocating a new type of international relations, China has explored a new path for state-to-state relations based on mutual respect, fairness and justice, and mutual benefit. We have promoted the common values of humanity as a means of overcoming the ideological bias inherent in the “universal values” of the West. We are committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind—a vision that responds to the common aspirations of people around the world for peace, development, and cooperation and has become a great banner pointing the way forward for our times and humanity.

Over the first decade of the new era, Chinese diplomacy has moved forward amid a changing global landscape. We have maintained composure and confidence in major-country interactions, scored a succession of hard-won achievements, and defused a host of serious risks and challenges. At the fundamental level, we owe these achievements to the direction and leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, who has made correct strategic judgments and decisions at each critical juncture, and to the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, which has enabled us to correctly steer relations between China and the outside world according to the trends of human development and the evolving global landscape.

IV

The year 2023 is the first year for fully implementing the guiding principles of the CPC’s 20th National Congress. In diplomacy, we will adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, earnestly study, publicize, and apply the guiding principles from the CPC’s 20th National Congress, and rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. We will acquire a deeper understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We will strengthen consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership; stay confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and uphold Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. In doing so, we will write a new chapter in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. 

We will wholeheartedly serve head-of-state diplomacy and the central tasks.

We will provide meticulous services for head-of-state diplomacy to open up new prospects for the cause of the Party and the country on the new journey of the new era. Making sure our work conforms to the central tasks of the Party and the country, we will fully apply the new development philosophy and strive to create more favorable external conditions for achieving high-quality development. We will proactively identify, respond to, and steer changes and do our best to prevent and defuse major external risks and challenges.

We will expand global partnerships characterized by equality, openness, and cooperation.

We will work for major-country relations that feature peaceful coexistence, overall stability, and balanced development. We will deepen strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Russia, and consolidate China’s comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination with Russia. We will implement the common understandings reached by the presidents of China and the US, explore the establishment of guiding principles for China-US relations, and work to put the relationship on the right track. We will intensify high-level exchange and strategic communication between China and Europe to promote the steady and sustainable development of their relations. We will stay committed to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendship and partnership in our neighborhood to deepen friendship, mutual trust, and convergence of interests with our neighbors. We will adhere to the ideas of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests in order to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries and safeguard and expand the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

We will continue working for an open world economy.

Adhering to the right course of economic globalization, we will promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation to spur the recovery and development of the world economy. We will advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to make the BRI a “belt of development” for the benefit of the world and a “road to happiness” for all peoples. Based on China’s major achievements in COVID-19 response, we will further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries, help keep industrial chains and supply chains stable and smooth, and foster fresh impetus for global development.

We will resolutely safeguard China’s interests and national dignity.

We will take a firm stand against all forms of hegemony and power politics, and decisively push back against external interference in China’s internal affairs. We will resolutely uphold China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, and fight any attempt to hinder or even interrupt China’s national rejuvenation. With these steps, we will firmly maintain the strategic initiative in both development and security.

We will actively participate in the reform and development of the global governance system.

We will hold high the banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind and vigorously advocate the common values of humanity. Through developing a new type of international relations and implementing the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, we will firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and seek to build stronger consensus and facilitate greater action for the cause of global development and security.

We will strive to strengthen our international communication capacity and make our voice heard loud and clear.

We will articulate and communicate the guiding principles of the CPC’s 20th National Congress to the world, tell the stories of the CPC and of the Chinese people in an engaging way, and present a China that is credible, appealing, and respectable. We will introduce the main features and inherent elements of Chinese modernization, increase experience sharing on state governance, and steadily increase the world’s understanding and recognition of China’s path.

We will follow the tide of history and stay on the right course. On the new journey ahead, we in the diplomatic service will adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as well as Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy as our guide. We will remain confident and build strength, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, maintain a global vision, and forge ahead with enterprise. We will continue to create new achievements in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and work to shape a more enabling and favorable external environment for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 1, 2023)