Prospect of the international situation： Looking at the changes in the world, China grasps the diplomatic ＂time＂ and ＂situation＂
BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Reporter Chen Caixia Meng Xiangjun) In the past year, major events such as the postponement of the Ukrainian crisis and the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict have come and gone, which have deeply affected the international order. Facing the changing world, in the new year, how will China practice the diplomacy of a big country with characteristics, and contribute to maintaining global peace and stability and promoting the improvement of global governance?
Recently, Su Hao, director of the Center for Strategic and Peace Studies of the Foreign Affairs University and vice president of the Institute of Global Governance and Development of China Renmin University, and Guo Xiangang, former vice president and researcher of the China Institute of International Studies, said in an interview with Zhongxin.com that challenges and opportunities coexist in international relations in 2024, and China should maintain sufficient strategic self-confidence and clear-headed, and contribute more China wisdom to global governance.
Explore the correct way for China and the United States to get along.
On November 15, 2023, the first heads of state of China and the United States met in San Francisco, and the two sides agreed to maintain regular contact. At the same time, the diplomatic security teams of the two countries continued to carry out strategic communication, follow up the major issues discussed, and implement the consensus reached. Subsequently, the Chinese and American military executives spoke for the first time after more than a year.
In 2024, the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States will be celebrated. As one of the most important bilateral relations in the world, "Sino-US relations face both opportunities and challenges". Guo Xiangang said that the United States will hold a general election in 2024, and the situation is complicated, the domestic inflationary pressure continues, and Trump is riddled with lawsuits … All kinds of potential problems may affect its China policy. Although the specific measures taken by the Democratic Party or the Republican Party may be different after their election, "the purpose of suppressing China will not change".
Guo Xiangang said that China and the United States are essentially "co-opetition relations". The two sides have both competition and confrontation between big countries and cooperation that must be carried out. The two sides should take opposite efforts and actions to establish more stable, positive and healthy bilateral relations.
"In the coming year, in dealing with its relations with the United States, China should not only safeguard its own interests, but also seek areas where it can cooperate with the United States, such as hot issues such as climate control and joint fight against drugs. In addition, China and the United States should take measures to control differences so that Sino-US relations will not get out of control and operate on a normal track, "he stressed.
Su Hao also believes that Sino-US relations will be the top priority of China’s diplomacy in 2024. The United States needs to change the condescending communication methods in the past. China and the United States need mutual tolerance and cooperation, and they need land and sea cooperation. "We must also make necessary preparations and do everything possible to safeguard national interests."
"One Belt, One Road" promotes multilateral development
In recent years, China’s diplomacy has continued to exert its strength, not only actively participating in international organizations and multilateral cooperation, but also promoting regional cooperation and development, hoping to contribute "China wisdom" to global governance through constructive dialogue.
"In 2024, China’s diplomacy will continue to promote the construction of new international relations within the framework of the community of human destiny." Su Hao compared China’s diplomacy to a "building", one of which is to develop bilateral relations and the other is to develop regional cooperation.
He analyzed that under the framework of the "Belt and Road Initiative", in order to play a role in China’s diplomacy as a big country in 2024, we must first promote regional cooperation based on China’s geographical position in East Asia.
First, China will continue to promote the "10+3" East Asian regional integration cooperation between ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea.
Su Hao believes that China, as one of the most influential countries in East Asia, has been promoting cooperation among countries and hopes to establish an "East Asian Economic Community", which is also the consensus reached by East Asia, ASEAN countries and China, Japan and South Korea. Despite all the difficulties, the United States has made a high-profile intervention and tried to tear East Asia apart. China should stick to the framework of "10+3" East Asian cooperation. Su Hao predicted that in 2024, the three countries of China, Japan and South Korea may once again meet for a summit meeting to further promote cooperation.
Second, the Belt and Road Initiative actively promotes regional cooperation.
Su Hao pointed out that China has made many achievements in the regionalization strategy, from the BRICS countries, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the G20 summit to the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. These regionalization organizations and initiatives, which mainly cover southern countries, have worked well.
He explained that in the past ten years, China-Europe trains have connected East Asia, Central Asia and Europe. Around the construction of six economic corridors on land and major strategic passages and fulcrums at sea, China has strengthened coordination and cooperation with countries in Eurasia, especially in the economic field.
China’s first home diplomatic activity in 2023 was the China-Central Asia Summit. In the coming year, China will continue to actively promote coordination and cooperation with Central Asian countries in cooperation frameworks such as BRICS and G20.
Third, continue to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Russia in the new era.
Su Hao mentioned that the development of relations between China and other big countries will also be crucial in 2024. As a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, especially under the pressure of the United States and western countries, China and Russia are strategically dependent on each other, and it is expected to form a deeper strategic cooperative partnership in the coming year.
"From this point of view, on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and some security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, the coordination between China and China can better help cope with the diplomatic challenges to some extent," Su Hao said.
Contribute new programs to global governance.
At present, the intensification of international geopolitical changes, the situation in Russia and Ukraine and the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict have put forward new requirements for China to participate in global governance. Su Hao said that in the future, China should shoulder its responsibilities and play its role within its capacity.
Guo Xiangang believes that in 2023, judging from the handling of regional affairs such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has made great achievements in diplomacy. "In the coming year, on the basis of strengthening bilateral coordination, China is putting forward more directional initiatives and goals to carry out better cooperation with more countries and regions."
Su Hao also said that in 2024, if we want to find a good solution to the current international hot issues, we need more countries with strategic autonomy to help promote it. With the active promotion of China, European countries, developing countries in Africa and Latin America can actively promote peace talks and deepen friendly cooperation among countries in the south of the world.
"The three major initiatives put forward by China in 2023 are the global development initiative, the global security initiative and the global civilization initiative. These initiatives have greatly promoted global governance and will help build a community of destiny based on the new form of human civilization in the future, "concluded Su Hao. (End)
Source: China News Network
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