Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Symposium on Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy

Now we come to the second question: what does Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy mean to the world?

The year 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. In the past 40 years, China's GDP increased by 33.5 times, and its total export and import increased by 782 times. Reform and opening up have not only transformed China profoundly but also brought about historic changes to the relations between China and the world. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, "China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa."

Born against this backdrop, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy gives a global significance to the Chinese Dream. It emphasizes ever close ties between China and the world. It advocates the ideal of "one world, one family".

First, it draws a new blueprint for human progress.

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is based upon the belief that "it is our duty to work for the common good of all people in the world". That is the rational behind the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

What kind of a world do we want?

What should we do to build a world that we desire?

To these important questions of our times, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy gives the following answer:

Instead of minding one's own business and rocking the boat, the international community should come to each other's aid and row together.

Instead of taking a "beggar-thy-neighbour" approach, we should stand side by side in time of hardship.

Instead of playing a zero-sum game, we should engage in win-win cooperation.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind answers the call of the times, focuses on the shared future, upholds multilateralism and advocates international fairness and justice. This is a road to human progress.

Second, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy explores a new thinking on international relations.

In 12 of 16 cases in the past 500 years in which a rising power confronted the established power, the result was war. This has led some people to think that China would not be an exception.

But China strives to avoid the beaten track and blaze a new trail. In history, China never sought expansion. Today, China does not accept the law of the jungle, namely the weak falls prey to the strong and the winner takes all.

In order to bring to an end the old logic that "a strong country is bound to seek hegemony" and "an emerging big country and an established big country are bound to fall into the Thucydides Trap", Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy proposes to build a new type of international relations.

This is the new trail. This new type of international relations features mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation.

Third, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy provides a new guideline for global governance.

With rising instabilities and uncertainties in the world, mankind is faced with increasing and common challenges, and in need of a joint response. This is exactly why President Xi Jinping's speech at Davos back in the 2017 received enthusiastic response from all over the world.

In that speech, President Xi analysed the problems in the world economy, endorsed globalisation and multilateralism, and contributed China's solution on global governance.

The China believes that in global governance

countries in the world should seek common ground while narrowing differences;

take actions rather than just standing by;

and uphold the principle of shared growth through discussion and collaboration;

Only in this way will mankind take the future of in his own hands.

Now let's come to the third question: how to avoid misunderstanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy?

In recent years, there have been misunderstandings, even misjudgment, about China in some countries, especially Western countries. Some of the interpretations of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy are not comprehensive and lack accuracy.

In understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy comprehensively, I believe the following three points are crucial.

First, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is aimed at safeguarding and improving the international order rather than replacing the exiting system.

China is one of the founding members of the United Nations. It is a creator, beneficiary and firm defender of the international order established after the Second World War. As of today, China has taken part in almost all the major inter-governmental international organisations and signed more than 300 international conventions.

The current international system may not be perfect, but on the whole it is effective. China stands for reform and improvement, not "reinventing the wheel". We would like to see a more equitable and reasonable international system that meets the needs of the current international situation.

Second, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is aimed at common development, rather than interfering in the affairs of other countries.

China believes that "a country should never sacrifice the greater good for material interests". In our business cooperation with other countries, we follow the principle of win-win results. We do not interfere in other countries' political affairs through economic cooperation or by creating the so-called "debt trap".

Later this month, China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. As of today, China has signed 173 documents on BRI cooperation with 124 countries and 29 international organisations. We have never "forced" any country to cooperate with China. These documents were signed by the countries and organisations concerned based on their independent strategic judgment and in line with their own needs.

Last but not least, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is aimed at shouldering responsibility rather than "flexing muscles".

In the past 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China has never launched a single war or conflict.

We have been firm in safeguarding our national sovereignty, security and development interests. At the same time, we have provided public goods to the international community to the best of our capabilities.

China is the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget, and the largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the five permanent members.

China has also taken part in the settlement of almost all the hot-spot issues in the world, and has actively contributed China's wisdom and solutions.

As for what international responsibilities that China should shoulder, it is a matter of both the expectation of the international community and the capability and development stage of China.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Thoughts have always played a crucial part in leading the development of history, the achievements of civilisations and the progress of mankind.

In modern times, the UK is known for being a treasure house of thoughts. Its open and inclusive spirit has not only nurtured the Industrial Revolution but also fostered great writers and thinkers such as Shakespeare, Byron, Shelley, Locke, Russell and Bacon.