Neighborhood diplomacy not an expediency: China Daily editorial

The international symposium on China's neighborhood diplomacy Beijing hosted on Tuesday, marking the 10th anniversary of its neighborhood diplomacy principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, shows the great importance China attaches to nurturing good relations with its neighbors.

With political figures and diplomats from neighboring countries, heads of some international and regional organizations, diplomats and some well-known experts attending the symposium in person or via video link, the event became a platform for in-depth exchange of views on issues such as good neighborliness, sincerity, mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness.

Neighborhood diplomacy has always been high on China's agenda as evidenced by the win-win economic and trade cooperation between China and its neighbors, which has brought tremendous tangible benefits to the people on all sides over the decades.

In 2022, China's goods trade with neighboring countries exceeded $2.17 trillion, up 78 percent from 2012. Also, China took the lead in ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, boosting regional economic integration. This shows that neighborhood diplomacy is not an expediency for China to counter the United States' China-containment strategy. It is part of its overall diplomacy.

Importantly, relations between China and its neighbors are based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and noninterference in each other's internal affairs, and not targeted against any third party.

As for the differences between them, including maritime disputes, China and its neighbors both are committed to resolving them through negotiations and dialogues.

With their concerted efforts, the Asia-Pacific has become not only a driver of global growth but also a model of good neighborly relations. So, only a country that puts its own interests above those of others and believes in zero-sum games, as the US does, would consider China's good relations with neighbors as a thorn in its side, and seek to exploit their divergences to create trouble in the region.

Therefore, the regional countries should be wary of the hidden motives of countries such as the US, because accepting their conditions would mean falling victim to their military bullying, economic sanctions and diplomatic coaxing, which could force them to suffer more. They should therefore uphold their strategic autonomy, and avoid being embroiled in major country confrontations.

As it stressed at the symposium, Beijing will promote amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, so that the modernization of China brings more benefits to its neighbors.

A key message the symposium sent out to the world is that China will continue to work with regional partners to jointly advance Asia's modernization process, and make sure the country's high-quality development and a peaceful and stable neighborhood environment reinforce and complement China and the other countries in the region.