论文部分内容阅读
China’s intensive diplomatic activities with its neighbors in recent months have captured the attention of the outside world. In just over half a year since the inauguration of new leadership， the nation’s top leaders have had positive interactions with heads of state from almost all surrounding countries through reciprocal visits and dialogues. Observers remarked that the spate of exchanges was unprecedented.
A work conference focusing on China’s neighborhood diplomacy was held in late October. The large scale and rare high profile of the conference， which gathered represen- tatives from many walks of China including the economic circle， local governments and even individuals， indicate the great importance China’s Central Government attaches to diplomacy in the region.
Qu Xing， president of China Institute of International Studies （CIIS）， said that some sensitive issues involving China in recent years have aroused international concern. Thus， it is necessary to present an explicit explanation of China’s foreign policy to its neighboring countries.
“As a top-level meeting coordinating China’s diplomatic work with its neighbors， the conference worked to create a blueprint for future endeavors，” said Qu.
Observers believe the recent moves regarding China’s neighborhood diplomacy reflect a shift in its foreign policy. The moves are also illustrative of the new mindset of China’s leadership.
Complex changes
It may be a cliché when a person comments on a situation by saying that， “It’s complicated，” but the phrase can certainly be applied to China’s relationships with surrounding countries.
No major power—including the United States and Russia—faces a more complicated neighboring environment than China. Sharing land borders with 14 countries and six maritime neighbors， China likely has the most neighbors in the world. As each neighbor has different cultural practices， political systems as well as economic development stages， great diplomatic wisdom is needed for the Chinese Government to develop amicable relations with them all.
“primarily， neighboring relations are of distinct significance for China due to factors such as geography， the environment and intertwined relationships，” said Jin Canrong， Associate Dean of the School of International Studies at Beijing-based Renmin University.“Consolidated relations in the region are essential for China’s national revival， as it is impossible to develop without a stable and sound environment.” Fostering a good-neighborly policy is the consistent principle of China’s diplomacy； however， the recent intensification of China’s diplomatic exchanges with neighboring countries shows that the region is undergoing profound changes.
professor Ren Xiao from the Institute of International Studies at Shanghai-based Fudan University claimed that these changes require China to readjust its policies to keep pace with the times.
China should understand the concerns and desires of its neighboring countries as the domestic and regional environment evolves， said Ren.
China’s current neighboring policy is generally believed to have formed at the beginning of the 21st century when its international status was not that prominent in the world. However， after a decade of rapid economic expansion， the comprehensive strength of China has been enhanced. Especially since the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008， the international political and economic order is being reshaped gradually with the center of world power shifting from the West to the Asia-Pacific. In 2010， Washington announced its “pivot to Asia” strategy around the same time that China surpassed Japan to become the world’s second largest economy. A more prominent China is different from the past in the eyes of its neighbors—words and actions can be easily exaggerated or interpreted as a “threat，” which observers said is one of the “growing pains” of China.
In addition， along with the deepening of contacts between China and its neighbors， conflicts of interest between them are also on the rise. At the diplomatic work conference， Chinese president Xi Jinping also noted that there had been lots of changes in relations between China and its neighbors.
“Our economic and trade links are closer， with unprecedented interactive exchanges. The situation requires us to keep pace with the times and be more active in blueprinting diplomatic strategy and undertaking diplomatic work，” said president Xi.
professor Ren said that China， which is larger than any of its neighboring countries except Russia and rising at a rapid rate， is understandably being met with mixed feelings on the part of its neighbors—such as apprehension and mistrust.
Therefore， more positive diplomatic activities between China and its neighbors are needed to address those sentiments. Enhancing neighborhood diplomacy by integrating China’s interests with those of its neighbors will greatly diminish the images of“China threat，” he added. president Qu of the CIIS claimed one positive side of the changing domestic and regional situation is that more neighbors are seeking to develop active bilateral ties with China.
He said that many neighbors have noted the benefits of cooperating with a rapidly rising China. Surrounding countries benefit from a burgeoning Chinese market while the latter gains more momentum from the common prosperity from its neighbors.
New mindset
Besides the intensive high-level exchange of visits between China and its neighbors， observ- ers noticed that Chinese top leaders also raised several strategic approaches to developing ties with its neighbors， drawing a blueprint for regional common prosperity.
president Xi and premier li Keqiang proposed to establish a Silk Road economic belt， a maritime Silk Road for the 21st century， as well as a Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor respectively during their trip to neighboring countries.
Qu said the proposals have covered operable and concrete cooperation on politics， the economy， finance and security. Moreover， the proposals could promote regional integration， trade and investment， generating a win-win result for all regional countries.
One of the highlights of the recent diplomatic work conference is the participation of representatives from financial institutions and big enterprises， which demonstrates the importance of economic and trade activities in China’s diplomacy. A striking example was seen during premier li’s recent Southeast Asia trip， during which he played the role of a spokesman for China’s high speed railway technology in Thailand. In late October， trade ministers from Southeast Asian countries took a test ride of China’s high speed railway from Shanghai to Beijing when they visited China.
president Xi proposed a three-dimensional， multi-element perspective when engaging with neighboring countries at the ApEC economic leaders’ meeting in October.
It serves as a guiding principle for China’s diplomacy with its neighbors for the next five to 10 years， said Qu.
Xi also called on all parties to seek common ground and converging interests， cherish friendship and righteousness， and said that China will offer more assistance to developing countries within China’s capacity. He emphasized that the basic tenet of diplomacy with neighbors is to treat them as partners， to make them feel safe and to help them grow.
Jin of the Renmin University remarked that China’s new leadership has actually been taking the approach of “friendship first， disputes later” when working with its neighbors. Therefore， it is very likely to gain a positive response from them. “China’s foreign policy has generally aimed to put major power relations on an equal footing with those of surrounding countries； however， in practice the diplomatic practices have tended to focus heavily on major powers while leaving policies related to China’s neighbors on the periphery. The recent diplomatic conference has sent a signal that China will truly attach equal importance to its neighborhood diplomacy and its diplomacy with major powers in the future，” said professor Jin.
Interactions Between China and Its Neighbors in 2013
March 22-24： Chinese president Xi Jinping visited Russia. The two countries signed a joint statement on deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
May 19-21： Chinese premier li Keqiang visited India， reaching cooperation agreement on trade， agriculture， and environmental protection. The two countries also proposed to build an economic corridor among China， India， Myanmar and Bangladesh.
May 22-23： Chinese premier li Keqiang visited pakistan， during which the two countries issued a joint statement to cement their strategic partnership.
June 27-30： South Korean president park Geun-hye visited China. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on bilateral economy and trade， deepen cultural ties and coordinate on regional affairs.
September 3-13： Chinese president Xi Jinping paid a visit to four Central Asian countries—Turkmenistan， Kazakhstan， Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan， and attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Bishkek， Kyrgyzstan. During his visit， Xi proposed to build a Silk Road economic belt together with the four countries.
October 2-8： Chinese president Xi Jinping visited Indonesia and Malaysia and also attended the 21st informal economic leaders’ meeting of ApEC in Bali. When delivering a speech at the House of Representatives of Indonesia， Xi called for strengthening maritime cooperation with ASEAN nations and building a 21st century maritime Silk Road together.
October 9-15： Chinese premier li Keqiang visited Brunei， Thailand and Viet Nam. During the visits， China issued joint statements with the three countries respectively to deepen bilateral ties and signed cooperation agreements on various aspects. In addition， during the visits， li also participated in a series of East Asia leaders’meetings.
October 22-23： Russian prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited China， and attended the China-Russia prime ministers’regular meeting.
October 22-24： Indian prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited China. The two sides signed a series of agreements on bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas.
October 22-26： Mongolian prime Minister Noroviin Altanhuyag visited China， during which the two countries signed a document outlining key areas of cooperation in the medium and long term.