While Xi Jinping is likely enjoying his break by the beach, since the beginning of August, every weekday, there has been a lengthy article on the theory page thematically drawing on the volumes of the Governance of China series.
In today’s paper, there’s a long essay by Wang Yi, discussing Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Wang centers the piece around the two volumes of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Diplomacy. The piece offers a useful broad perspective on China’s rise and diplomacy since 2012; it provides handy data on Xi’s travels and global initiatives; it also underscores the emphasis on centralisation and Xi’s leadership over foreign policy; and finally, there is a critical emphasis on the need to continue to struggle.
The key takeaway for me is that it calls for China to be far more engaged with the world rather than have an isolationist perspective. In fact, there’s quite a direct rebuke of the America First logic. Wang writes: “Seen from the standpoint of ‘one’s own country first’, the world is narrow and crowded, and there is fierce competition at every turn. Seen from the standpoint of a shared destiny, the world is vast and expansive, and there are opportunities for cooperation everywhere.” He later explicitly calls for China to “actively respond to the legitimate concerns and shared expectations of the peoples of all countries, provide more public goods for resolving global problems and challenges, and make greater contributions to world development and the progress of civilization.” Of course, the nature of this engagement and positioning of these “public goods” is mediated through the prism of how the Party defines China’s interests. This is where the paragraph on struggle is important to grasp.
But before I get to the article, let me point to two other bits from the paper today.
First, the World News/International page has several critical reports about Japan. These include the comments from China’s Ministry of National Defense in late July saying that “Japan’s nuclear ambition is a red line that should never be crossed.” It also covers this question:
“Journalist: Japan’s Ministry of Defense said that four vessels from China and Russia transited waters southwest of Okinotori. During the transit, one Chinese naval vessel of the four conducted live-fire drills within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). What’s your comment on this?
Jiang Bin: The China-Russia joint maritime patrol was conducted on the high seas, not within the waters Tokyo unilaterally claims as its EEZ. It is well established that Okinotori, with no more than ten square meters of land, can barely stay above water thanks to artificial reinforcement, and cannot sustain human habitation. Under the UNCLOS, such a feature cannot be characterized as an “island” at all. Ignoring this legal reality, Tokyo illegitimately treats the feature as an island and claims jurisdiction over an EEZ and continental shelf based on a groundless assertion. The joint operations of China and Russia are fully in accordance with international law and practice. Tokyo is in no position to make such unfounded remarks. Stirring up unwarranted media hype will only be self-defeating and produce the opposite of the desired effect.”
And it attacks Japan for its “lack of sincerity and investment” in dealing with abandoned chemical weapons in China. Similar comment on the ACW issue from the Foreign Ministry is covered; there’s a report on Japan’s 22nd round of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water discharge, reports on the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture and commentary on the Takaichi government’s welfare policies and spending being extremely weak while defense expenditure is continuously expanding.
Second, there’s a report from the same MND press conference informing that:
“This year, many high school graduates actively applied for military academies. Nearly 192,000 students in 31 provinces, municipalities, or autonomous regions made the application, among which 17,500 applicants were admitted by 22 military academies. The average score of these admitted students ranks within the top 6% in their respective provinces, and both the number of admissions and overall scores have reached a record high. Military academies are the cradles for cultivating a new type of high-caliber and professional military talent, the training grounds where students build resilience and moral character, and the stages where you can live your youth to the fullest and realize your dreams. Applying to a military academy means aligning your personal aspirations with the dream of building a strong nation and military. To our new comrades-in-arms about to embark on your journey at military academies: a warm welcome and hearty congratulations! I hope you will carry forward the spirit of the predecessors, build up your capabilities, and shoulder the missions and responsibilities. You are expected to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces with high quality, and make contributions to accelerating the transformation of the PLA into a world-class military.”
Okay, now let’s get to Wang Yi’s article. He argues:
Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has kept the whole world in view and stood boldly at the forefront of the times, has kept pace with the times while upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, and, in the course of a magnificent diplomatic practice, has founded Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and led major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics to historic achievements and historic transformations. The first and second volumes of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Diplomacy, published not long ago, collect more than 130 of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s most important and fundamental works concerning external work. They constitute an important Marxist document that systematically reflects the scientific system and rich content of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and are also an authoritative textbook for deeply studying and implementing the Party’s innovative theory. We must deeply study the Selected Works, further and profoundly grasp the theoretical content, contemporary value, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, continuously deepen our understanding of the regularities of diplomacy as a major country with Chinese characteristics, and gather majestic strength for the great undertaking of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation. 党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持胸怀天下、勇立时代潮头，坚持与时俱进、守正创新，在波澜壮阔的外交实践中创立了习近平外交思想，领导中国特色大国外交取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。不久前出版的《习近平外交文选》（以下简称《文选》）第一卷、第二卷，收录习近平总书记关于对外工作最重要、最基本的著作130余篇，是一部系统反映习近平外交思想科学体系和丰富内涵的马克思主义重要文献，也是一部深入学习贯彻党的创新理论的权威教材。我们要深入学习《文选》，进一步深刻领会习近平外交思想的理论内涵、时代价值和实践要求，不断深化对中国特色大国外交的规律性认识，为强国建设、民族复兴伟业汇聚磅礴力量.
Deeply grasp the theoretical substance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and comprehensively grasp the fundamental guidance for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Thought is the forerunner to action, and theory is the guide of practice. The Selected Works systematically reflect the basic trajectory and glorious imprints of the establishment and development of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and fully demonstrate the rigorous internal logic and major guiding significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. 深刻领会习近平外交思想的理论内涵，全面把握中国特色大国外交的根本遵循思想是行动的先导，理论是实践的指南。《文选》系统反映了习近平外交思想创立发展的基本脉络和光辉印记，充分彰显了习近平外交思想的严密内在逻辑和重大指导意义.
Opening up a new road for major-country diplomacy in the course of national rejuvenation. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the relationship between China and the world has undergone historic changes. The Selected Works collect General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on the mission and purpose, strategic layout, principal tasks, and distinctive demeanor of China’s diplomacy in the new era, comprehensively raising our Party’s understanding of the underlying laws of Chinese diplomacy. General Secretary Xi Jinping has accurately grasped the new historical orientation of our country’s development, and explicitly proposed that we comprehensively advance major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, so as to create a more favourable international environment and provide firmer strategic support for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. He has explicitly proposed promoting the building of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation; proposed fostering an amicable secure and prosperous peripheral environment, while upholding the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, to build a community with a shared future with peripheral countries; and, in accordance with the correct view of justice and interests and the principle of sincerity, practical results, friendship and good faith, strengthening solidarity and cooperation with developing countries. He has explicitly proposed opening up a new realm for the theory and practice of Chinese diplomacy, shaping a new pattern in China’s relations with the world, propelling major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics into a new stage in which it can be more proactive, responding to the international community’s broad expectations of China, and making greater contributions to the cause of peace and development for humanity. 在民族复兴进程中开辟大国外交新路。中国特色社会主义进入新时代，中国与世界关系发生历史性变化。《文选》收录了习近平总书记关于新时代中国外交使命宗旨、战略布局、主要任务以及独特风范等重要论述，全面提升了我们党对中国外交的规律性认识。习近平总书记准确把握我国发展新的历史方位，明确提出要全面推进中国特色大国外交，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业营造更有利国际环境、提供更坚实战略支撑。明确提出要推动构建相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系，秉持睦邻安邻富邻、亲诚惠容、命运与共理念方针构建周边命运共同体，按照正确义利观和真实亲诚理念同发展中国家加强团结合作。明确提出要开辟中国外交理论与实践新境界，塑造中国与世界关系新格局，推动中国特色大国外交进入一个可以更有作为的新阶段，回应国际社会对中国的广泛期待，为人类和平与发展事业作出更大贡献.
Guiding the direction of mankind amid the great changes unseen in a century. Faced with a profound transformation unseen in a century that is accelerating in its evolution, and an international situation in which transformation and turbulence are intertwined, General Secretary Xi Jinping has advocated promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. He has emphasized that more than 190 countries around the world are all aboard a single great ship whose destiny is shared, and should join hands to respond to global challenges. He has provided a Chinese answer to the question of our times: ‘What kind of world should be built, and how should this world be built?’ He has promoted a historic leap in 21st-century international relations, from ‘seeking common ground while reserving differences’ to ‘sharing the same globe and helping one another’. The articles collected in the Selected Works expound the scientific connotations and theoretical system of building a community with a shared future for mankind, reflecting the fact that our Party’s understanding of the relationship between China and the world has reached a new height.
Over the past more than 10 years, the building of a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from an idea and proposition into a scientific system, and from a beautiful vision into rich practice. It has won the support of more than 100 countries and international organizations and the endorsement of nearly 80 percent of international public opinion, becoming a glorious banner leading the times forward. Political leaders of many countries have said that this major concept reflects the aspirations of the international community and brings peace, development, and hope to the world. The building of a community with a shared future for mankind has been written into the Party Constitution and the Constitution, becoming a lofty goal pursued by major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and fully embodying our Party’s historic responsibility to guide the direction amid the profound changes unseen in a century and to add stability and empower a turbulent world. 在世界百年变局中指引人类前进方向。面对加速演变的百年变局和变乱交织的国际形势，习近平总书记倡议推动构建人类命运共同体，强调全球190多个国家乘坐在一条命运与共的大船上，应该携手应对全球性挑战，对“建设一个什么样的世界、如何建设这个世界”这一时代之问给出了中国答案，推动21世纪国际关系从求同存异向同球共济历史性跨越。《文选》收录的文章阐释了构建人类命运共同体的科学内涵和理论体系，反映出我们党对中国与世界关系的认识达到新的高度。10多年来，构建人类命运共同体从理念主张发展为科学体系，从美好愿景转化为丰富实践，得到100多个国家和国际组织支持、近八成国际民意认同，成为引领时代前进的光辉旗帜。多国政要表示，这一重大理念反映国际社会心声，为世界带来和平、发展和希望。构建人类命运共同体已经写入党章和宪法，成为新时代中国特色大国外交追求的崇高目标，充分体现了我们党为百年变局引领方向、为动荡世界增稳赋能的历史担当.
Providing international public goods in responding to global challenges. Under the banner of a community with a shared future for mankind, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward, in a pioneering manner, the four major global initiatives. The articles contained in the Selected Works elaborate in detail on the historical background and core essentials of the four major global initiatives, presenting a systematic solution for resolving the common problems facing human society. In the face of a widening North-South gap and a lagging development agenda, the Global Development Initiative calls for placing development at a prominent position on the international agenda, actively fostering new drivers of global development, building a global community of development, and promoting stronger, greener, and healthier global development. In the face of frequent international conflicts and intractable security dilemmas, the Global Security Initiative calls for practicing a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, resolving differences and disputes between states by peaceful means, and promoting the building of a more balanced, effective, and sustainable security architecture. In the face of the clamour of the ‘clash of civilizations’ theory and the ‘confrontation of systems’ theory, the Global Civilization Initiative calls for upholding a vision of civilization featuring equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, promoting the common values of all humanity, and building a garden of world civilizations where all flourish together in their beauty. In the face of the backlash of the law of the jungle and an intensifying governance deficit, the Global Governance Initiative calls for sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and an action orientation, promoting the building of a more just and equitable system of global governance. The four major global initiatives complement and reinforce one another and do not conflict with one another, forming an organic whole in which development promotes prosperity, security safeguards stability, civilization increases mutual trust, and governance pursues fairness and justice, thereby injecting precious stability and positive energy into today’s world of intertwined changes and turmoil. 在应对全球挑战中提供国际公共产品。在人类命运共同体旗帜下，习近平总书记开创性提出四大全球倡议。《文选》所载文章详细阐述了四大全球倡议的时代背景和核心要义，为解决人类社会面临的共同问题展示了系统性方案。面对南北鸿沟拉大、发展议程滞后，全球发展倡议主张把发展置于国际议程重要位置，积极培育全球发展新动能，构建全球发展共同体，推动实现更加强劲、绿色、健康的全球发展。面对国际冲突频发、安全困境难解，全球安全倡议主张践行共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，以和平方式化解国家间分歧争端，推动构建更加均衡、有效、可持续的安全架构。面对“文明冲突论”、“制度对抗论”甚嚣尘上，全球文明倡议主张秉持平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，弘扬全人类共同价值，建设美美与共的世界文明百花园。面对丛林法则逆流、治理赤字加剧，全球治理倡议主张主权平等、国际法治、多边主义、以人为本、行动导向，推动构建更加公正合理的全球治理体系。四大全球倡议相辅相成、并行不悖，形成以发展促繁荣、以安全保稳定、以文明增互信、以治理求公正的有机整体，为变乱交织的当今世界注入宝贵的稳定性和正能量.
Writing a new chapter in human political civilization amid the surging currents of international thought. The Selected Works comprehensively review the achievements of China’s diplomatic theoretical innovation since the new era, deepening, from a wholly new perspective, our understanding of the laws governing the development of human society. General Secretary Xi Jinping has integrated the basic principles of Marxism with the realities of China’s diplomacy and carried out the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s fine traditional culture. The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind that he has advanced manifests the broad-mindedness of ‘the world is shared by all’ (天下为公); the new type of international relations carries the beautiful vision of ‘harmony among all nations’ (协和万邦); and the global partnership network embodies the inclusive spirit of ‘harmony without uniformity’ (和而不同). The guiding principles of self-confidence and self-reliance, openness and inclusiveness, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation inherit and carry forward the fine diplomatic traditions of New China. Transcending conflict and confrontation with peaceful development, replacing absolute security with common security, discarding zero-sum games in favour of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, preventing the clash of civilizations through exchanges and mutual learning, caring for our planetary home through green development, transcending ideological prejudice with the common values of all humanity, and breaking down the old ‘center-periphery’ system through an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization…all of this has opened up a new realm in the theory of international relations and composed a new chapter in human political civilization. 在国际思潮激荡中书写人类政治文明新篇。《文选》全面梳理新时代以来中国外交理论创新成果，以全新视野深化了对人类社会发展规律的认识。习近平总书记将马克思主义基本原理同中国外交实际相结合，对中华优秀传统文化进行创造性转化和创新性发展，提出的人类命运共同体理念彰显了“天下为公”的博大胸怀，新型国际关系承载着“协和万邦”的美好愿景，全球伙伴关系体现了“和而不同”的包容精神。自信自立、开放包容、公道正义、合作共赢的方针原则，继承和弘扬了新中国外交优良传统。以和平发展超越冲突对抗，以共同安全取代绝对安全，以互利共赢摒弃零和博弈，以交流互鉴防止文明冲突，以绿色发展呵护地球家园，以全人类共同价值超越意识形态偏见，以平等有序的世界多极化和普惠包容的经济全球化破除“中心—外围”旧体系，开辟了国际关系理论的新境界，谱写了人类政治文明的新篇章.
In the second section, Wang talks about the contemporary value of Xi’s thought on diplomacy and its achievements. He says:
The Selected Works are both a theoretical work and an essence of practice, vividly recording the great practice of General Secretary Xi Jinping personally taking the helm and steering, and planning and advancing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Since the beginning of the New Era, China’s diplomacy has broken through the waves and moved forward with courage and resolve, accomplishing a series of major and important undertakings and achieving a series of major breakthroughs, bringing confidence and hope to a world of drifting dark clouds and rampant disorder. The strategic autonomy and initiative of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics have increased significantly, while our country’s international influence, appeal and power to shape the international environment have continued to grow. 《文选》既是理论著作，也是实践精华，生动记录了习近平总书记亲自领航掌舵、谋划推进中国特色大国外交的伟大实践。新时代以来，中国外交劈波斩浪、勇毅前行，办成一系列大事要事，取得一系列重大突破，给乱云飞渡、乱象丛生的世界带来信心和希望，中国特色大国外交的战略自主性和主动性显著增强，我国的国际影响力、感召力、塑造力持续提升.
The centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee has been comprehensively strengthened. The Party’s leadership is the fundamental reason major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has achieved historic successes, and we must strengthen the Party’s centralized and unified leadership over external work. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has exercised overall command of external work as a whole, successively convening the Symposium on Peripheral Diplomacy Work, three Central Conferences on Foreign Affairs Work, and the Central Conference on Work Related to Peripheral Countries, further reinforcing the Party’s top-level design and strategic planning for external work. It has upgraded the Central Leading Group for Foreign Affairs into the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, formulated and implemented the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Foreign Relations, and introduced the Regulations of the Communist Party of China on the Leadership of Foreign Affairs Work; it has continually deepened the reform of the systems and mechanisms for external work, the reform of the systems and mechanisms for foreign aid, and the building of foreign-related rule of law, so that the pattern of grand coordination in external work has been further consolidated. 党中央集中统一领导全面加强。党的领导是中国特色大国外交取得历史性成就的根本所在，必须加强党对对外工作的集中统一领导。以习近平同志为核心的党中央总揽对外工作全局，先后召开周边外交工作座谈会、3次中央外事工作会议、中央周边工作会议，进一步强化了党对对外工作的顶层设计和战略谋划。将中央外事工作领导小组升格为中央外事工作委员会，制定实施《中华人民共和国对外关系法》，出台《中国共产党领导外事工作条例》，不断深化对外工作体制机制改革、援外体制机制改革和涉外法治建设，对外工作大协同格局更加巩固.
The all-round diplomatic layout has been deepened and expanded. Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made 57 overseas visits, setting foot in 72 countries across all five continents, and received hundreds of foreign political leaders visiting China. Through splendid and diverse head-of-state diplomacy, he has provided strategic guidance for the overall conduct of foreign affairs. China has pioneered the establishment of global partnerships characterized by dialogue rather than confrontation and partnership rather than alliance. The total number of countries with which China has established diplomatic relations has increased from 172 to 183, while the number of partnerships established with countries and regional organizations around the world has increased from 41 to 153. China has promoted the formation of a major-country relations framework featuring peaceful coexistence, overall stability and balanced development. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has become more mature and resilient; China and the United States have established a new positioning of building a relationship of constructive strategic stability; and the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership has made steady progress while maintaining stability. The building of a community with a shared future with peripheral countries and the construction of the ‘Five Great Homes’ have continued to deepen. China has achieved full coverage of bilateral and multilateral efforts to build communities with a shared future in the Indochina Peninsula and Central Asia. The upgrade protocol for Version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was formally signed, promoting the improvement and upgrading of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. China has united and led the Global South in pursuing unity and self-strengthening, working together with Africa to advance the ‘Six Modernizations’ and implement the ‘Ten Partnership Actions’; building the ‘Five Major Projects’ with Latin American countries; establishing the ‘Five Major Cooperation Frameworks’ with Arab countries; creating the ‘Seven Cooperation Platforms’ with Pacific island countries; and continuously consolidating traditional friendship with the broad community of developing countries, with the level of cooperation rising steadily. 全方位外交布局深化拓展。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记57次出访，足迹遍及五大洲72个国家，接待数百位国际政要访华，以精彩纷呈的元首外交为对外工作全局提供战略引领。开创性构建对话而不对抗、结伴而不结盟的全球伙伴关系，我国建交国总数从172个增加到183个，同世界各国和地区组织建立伙伴关系的数量从41对增加到153对。推动形成和平共处、总体稳定、均衡发展的大国关系格局，中俄新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系更加成熟坚韧，中美确定建设性战略稳定关系新定位，中欧全面战略伙伴关系稳中有进。周边命运共同体和“五大家园”建设不断深入，中南半岛和中亚地区实现双多边构建命运共同体全覆盖，中国—东盟自贸区3.0版升级议定书正式签署，推动《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》提质升级。团结引领全球南方联合自强，同非洲携手推进“六个现代化”、实施“十大伙伴行动”，同拉美国家建设“五大工程”，同阿拉伯国家构建“五大合作格局”，同太平洋岛国打造“七个合作平台”，同广大发展中国家传统友谊不断巩固，合作水平日益提升.
Fulfilling responsibilities and making due contributions to maintaining peace and security. As the major country with the best peace and security record, China actively advocates a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, contributing its wisdom and strength to safeguarding world peace. Unswervingly committed to advancing the cause of international peace, China has become the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the Security Council; China’s ‘Blue Helmets’ have proven themselves worthy as a key force representing UN peacekeeping operations. The Global Security Initiative, upholding the concept of indivisible security and taking seriously the legitimate security concerns of all countries, has won the appreciation and support of more than 130 countries and international organizations, and its core principles have been written into more than 160 bilateral and multilateral documents. China has firmly safeguarded global strategic stability, having promoted the issuance by the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states of a joint statement on preventing nuclear war and avoiding arms races, and upholding the international nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regime. China has explored a path with Chinese characteristics for resolving hotspot issues: it initiated the establishment of the ‘Group of Friends for Peace’ on the Ukraine crisis, promoted a ceasefire in the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, played a constructive role in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, and has continued to promote the political settlement of issues such as the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, thereby becoming an anchor of peace and stability in a turbulent and changing world. 维护和平与安全担当尽责。作为和平安全纪录最好的大国，中国积极倡导共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，为维护世界和平贡献智慧和力量。矢志不渝促进国际和平事业，成为联合国维和行动第二大出资国、安理会常任理事国第一大出兵国，中国“蓝盔”不愧是代表联合国维和行动的关键力量。全球安全倡议秉持安全不可分割理念、重视各国合理安全关切，得到130多个国家和国际组织赞赏支持，核心理念写入160多份双多边文件。坚定维护全球战略稳定，推动五核国领导人共同发表关于防止核战争与避免军备竞赛的联合声明，维护国际核裁军和核不扩散体系。探索中国特色热点问题解决之道，发起成立乌克兰危机“和平之友”小组，推动柬泰边境争端停火，在美以伊冲突中发挥建设性作用，持续推动朝鲜半岛、缅甸、阿富汗等问题政治解决，成为动荡变革世界中的和平稳定锚。
Serving as a mainstay in promoting openness and cooperation. China adheres to open development and advocates universal benefit and inclusiveness, injecting confidence and momentum into global economic growth. It has continued to expand high-standard opening up, building platforms for openness and cooperation such as the China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade in Services, implemented unilateral visa-free entry for 50 countries and comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 29 countries, and shared development opportunities with countries around the world. It firmly upholds the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, is building a globally oriented network of high-standard free trade areas, and has become a major trading partner of more than 160 countries and regions. Joining hands with over three-quarters of the world’s countries to pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China has seen China-Europe Railway Express services surpass 130,000 trips, the ‘six corridors, six routes, and multiple countries and ports’ framework has basically taken shape, and the world-benefiting ‘belt of development’ and ‘road of happiness’ has continually widened. Actively promoting common development, the Global Development Initiative has to date mobilized more than $23 billion in funding and carried out more than 1,800 cooperation projects; China has announced eight actions in support of global development, implemented a zero-tariff policy toward Africa and the least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations, and helped the Global South advance together toward modernization. 促进开放合作砥柱中流。中国坚持开放发展，倡导普惠包容，为全球经济增长注入信心和动力。持续扩大高水平对外开放，打造进博会、服贸会等开放合作平台，对50个国家实施单方面免签、同29个国家全面互免签证，同世界各国共享发展机遇。坚定维护以世贸组织为核心的多边贸易体制，构建面向全球的高标准自由贸易区网络，成为160多个国家和地区的主要贸易伙伴。携手全球超过四分之三的国家高质量共建“一带一路”，中欧班列开行突破13万列，“六廊六路多国多港”架构基本形成，惠及世界的“发展带”、“幸福路”不断拓宽。积极推动共同发展，全球发展倡议迄已动员230多亿美元资金、开展1800多个合作项目，宣布支持全球发展八项行动，实施对非洲和最不发达建交国零关税政策，助力全球南方共同迈向现代化.
Leading global governance through proactive action. In the face of the severe shocks to the international order, the Global Governance Initiative contributes China’s strength to redressing various governance deficits. No sooner had the initiative been put forward than it swiftly won the support and response of nearly 160 countries and international organizations, with more than 60 countries eagerly joining the ‘Group of Friends for Global Governance’. China firmly supports the United Nations in playing its central role, having established the China-UN Peace and Development Fund and put forward reform ideas in nine areas for strengthening and improving global governance, which have been welcomed by the UN and all parties. It has promoted the historic expansion of BRICS and the continued development and growth of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, built new platforms such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund, and the New Development Bank, and supported the African Union’s accession to the G20, thereby enhancing the representation and voice of Global South countries. China has announced its Nationally Determined Contribution target for 2035, promoted the conclusion and implementation of the Paris Agreement on addressing climate change, and established the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, rallying hearts and pooling strength to care for our planetary home. It has proposed the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and successfully resolved the first international maritime dispute, filling a gap in the institutional mechanisms of the field of international mediation. It has put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative and initiated the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, with 38 countries becoming founding members, so as to jointly build a more just and equitable system of global AI governance and to steer artificial intelligence toward being a force for good, universally beneficial and inclusive, and benefiting humanity. 引领全球治理积极作为。面对国际秩序遭受严重冲击，全球治理倡议为弥补各种治理赤字贡献中国力量。倡议一经提出，迅速得到近160个国家和国际组织支持响应，60多个国家踊跃加入“全球治理之友小组”。坚定支持联合国发挥核心作用，设立中国—联合国和平与发展基金，提出加强和完善全球治理九方面改革思路，得到联合国和各方欢迎。推动金砖国家实现历史性扩员、上海合作组织持续发展壮大，打造亚投行、丝路基金、新开发银行等新平台，支持非盟加入二十国集团，提升全球南方国家代表性和发言权。宣布2035年国家自主贡献目标，推动达成并落实应对气候变化《巴黎协定》，建立昆明生物多样性基金，为呵护地球家园凝心聚力。倡议成立国际调解院，并圆满解决首宗国际海事争议，填补了国际调解领域机制的空白。提出《全球人工智能治理倡议》，发起成立世界人工智能合作组织、38个国家成为创始成员国，携手构建更加公正合理的全球人工智能治理体系，推动人工智能向上向善、普惠包容、造福人类.
Firmly and forcefully safeguarding the national interest. With the firm will to fear no hegemony and a tenacious struggle grounded in reason and strength, China has defended its national sovereignty, security, and development interests. It has resolutely opposed maximum-pressure tactics and external interference, continually enhanced its capacity to counter sanctions, counter interference, and counter ‘long-arm jurisdiction’, and effectively safeguarded development rights and space. It has resolutely combated the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’; it has established or restored diplomatic relations with 11 countries; and the international configuration of adhering to the one-China principle and supporting China’s realization of national reunification has continued to be consolidated and expanded. China has forcefully deterred external forces from interfering in Hong Kong affairs and has repeatedly foiled attacks and smears launched against our country by exploiting issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, the pandemic, and human rights. Practicing diplomacy for the people with dedication and heart, China has organized and carried out more than 20 overseas evacuation operations for its citizens, properly handled more than 600,000 consular protection cases, answered over five million calls to the 12308 consular protection hotline, joined with peripheral countries to crack down on cross-border online gambling and telecom fraud, cleared out the telecom-fraud compounds entrenched along the borders, and launched an international coalition against telecom and cyber fraud, doing everything possible to safeguard the lives and property of Chinese citizens abroad and the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. 捍卫国家利益坚决有力。以不畏强权的坚定意志、有理有力的顽强斗争，捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益。坚决反对极限施压和外部干涉，不断提升反制裁、反干预、反“长臂管辖”能力，有效维护我国发展权利和空间。坚决打击“台独”分裂行径，与11个国家建交复交，国际社会坚持一个中国原则、支持中国实现国家统一的格局不断巩固拓展。有力阻遏外部势力干涉香港事务，连续挫败利用台湾、涉疆、涉港、涉藏、涉疫、人权等问题对我国发起的攻击抹黑。用心用情践行外交为民，组织实施20多次海外公民撤离行动，妥善处置领保案件60多万起，接听12308领保热线逾500万通，同周边国家联合打击网赌电诈，清剿盘踞边境的电诈园区，发起国际打击电信网络诈骗联盟，全力保障海外中国公民生命财产安全和企业正当合法权益.
Looking back on the magnificent course of China’s diplomacy in the new era as displayed in the Selected Works, we come to understand ever more profoundly that the fundamental reason major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has kept advancing from one victory to another amid the profound changes unseen in a century lies in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s navigation and helmsmanship as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, and in the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. This is our greatest source of confidence in overcoming difficulties, defeating risks, and meeting challenges on the road ahead. 回顾《文选》展现的新时代中国外交恢弘历程，我们更加深刻认识到，中国特色大国外交之所以在百年变局中不断从胜利走向胜利，根本在于习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心领航掌舵，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想特别是习近平外交思想科学指引，这是我们前进道路上克难关、战风险、迎挑战的最大底气.
In the final section, Wang looks forward, talking about the “practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy” and the “unique strengths of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics”. He writes:
The Selected Works are imbued throughout with the standpoint, viewpoints, and methods of Marxism. They profoundly reveal the unique strengths of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and embody a high degree of unity between historical mission and the trends of the times, the national spirit and international morality, and Chinese character and a global outlook, providing a powerful ideological weapon for China’s diplomacy to overcome difficulties and advance with determination amid the changing international situation.《文选》全文贯穿马克思主义立场观点方法，深刻揭示了中国特色大国外交的独特优势，体现了历史使命与时代潮流、民族精神与国际道义、中国气派与世界情怀的高度统一，为中国外交在国际风云变幻中攻坚克难、砥砺前行提供了强大思想武器.
Maintain a firm grip on the political direction. Major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics is diplomacy led by the Communist Party of China and possessing a distinct socialist political character. We must unswervingly strengthen the Party’s leadership, uphold the principle that the paramount authority over diplomacy rests with the Party Central Committee, and ensure that we remain in a high degree of alignment with the Party Central Committee in political stance, political direction, political principles, and political path. We must strengthen arming ourselves with the Party’s innovative theory, keep pace in studying the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches, instructions, and directives on diplomatic work, gain a profound understanding of where the highest interests of the Party and the country lie, and and conscientiously implement the Central Committee’s principles and policies concerning foreign affairs work. We must further strengthen the systems and mechanisms through which the Party leads foreign affairs work, and continually consolidate and expand the pattern of grand coordination in foreign affairs work in which the Party exercises overall command and coordinates all sides. 把准政治方向。中国特色大国外交是中国共产党领导、具有鲜明社会主义政治属性的外交。要毫不动摇加强党的领导，坚持外交大权在党中央，确保在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上同党中央保持高度一致。加强党的创新理论武装，跟进学习习近平总书记关于外交工作的重要讲话和重要指示批示精神，深刻领会党和国家最高利益之所在，认真贯彻执行党中央对外方针政策。进一步强化党领导对外工作的体制机制，不断巩固拓展党总揽全局、协调各方的对外工作大协同格局.
Stand firmly on the people’s stance. China’s diplomacy is a diplomacy that is rooted in the people, keeps the people at heart, and benefits the people; the people-centered nature is the fundamental attribute of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. We must adhere to the concept of diplomacy for the people, place the safeguarding of the interests of the country and the people in the foremost position, actively serve high-quality development and high-standard opening up at home, firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of our country’s overseas citizens and legal persons, and ensure that the people feel a greater sense of gain, happiness, and security. We must persist in listening to the voice of the people, respect the principal position and pioneering spirit of the people, seek their needs and their counsel, and conduct a diplomacy with which the people are satisfied. We must persist in promoting friendship among peoples, carrying out people-to-people diplomacy across multiple fields, channels, and levels, using friendship as a bridge and engaging heart to heart, so that the trickling streams of friendship among peoples converge into a mighty force for promoting world peace and development. 站稳人民立场。中国外交是植根人民、胸怀人民、造福人民的外交，人民性是中国特色大国外交的根本属性。要坚持外交为民理念，把维护国家和人民利益放在首要位置，积极服务国内高质量发展和高水平对外开放，坚定维护我国海外公民和法人合法权益，让人民群众有更多获得感、幸福感、安全感。坚持倾听人民声音，尊重人民群众的主体地位和首创精神，问需于民、问计于民，办好人民满意的外交。坚持促进人民友谊，多领域、多渠道、多层次开展民间外交，以友为桥、以心相交，让人民友好的涓涓细流汇聚起促进世界和平与发展的强大力量.
Uphold fairness and justice. ‘Temporary strength depends on force, but lasting victory depends on truth’. From firmly supporting the national independence and liberation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America more than 70 years ago, to deepening and expanding an equal, open, and cooperative network of global partnerships since the new era, China has always adhered to the principle that all countries, large and small, are equal, has adhered to non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, has decided its own position on the basis of the rights and wrongs of the matter itself, and has always spoken out for justice on behalf of the broad range of developing countries in international affairs. Faced with countercurrents and headwinds amid the profound changes in the world, China will remain unwavering in upholding multilateralism and win-win cooperation, and opposing unilateralism and protectionism; uphold sovereign equality, fairness and justice, and oppose bullying the weak by the strong and the law of the jungle; uphold extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, oppose hegemony, high-handedness and bullying, and always be a defender of fairness and justice in international affairs. 主持公道正义。“一时强弱在于力，千秋胜负在于理。”从70多年前坚定支持亚非拉民族独立解放，到新时代以来深化拓展平等、开放、合作的全球伙伴关系，中国始终坚持大小国家一律平等，坚持不干涉别国内政，根据事情本身的是非曲直决定自己的立场，始终在国际事务中为广大发展中国家仗义执言。面对世界变局中的逆风逆流，中国将毫不动摇坚持多边主义、合作共赢，反对单边主义、保护主义；坚持主权平等、公道正义，反对恃强凌弱、丛林法则；坚持共商共建共享，反对霸权霸道霸凌，始终做国际公道正义的捍卫者.
Persist in being courageous and adept in struggle. The more we face tests involving high winds and rough seas, or even raging storms and huge waves, the more we must carry forward the spirit of struggle, improve our ability to struggle, and rely on tenacious struggle to open up new horizons for the development of our cause. On the road ahead, we must maintain strategic resolve, strengthen our confidence in ultimate victory, take a clear-cut stand on major questions of right and wrong, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests; we must strengthen our awareness of potential dangers, adhere to bottom-line thinking, scientifically anticipate changes, promptly identify risks, and improve our ability to respond effectively to challenges; we must master the art of struggle, yield not an inch on matters of principle while remaining flexible and agile on matters of strategy, unite every force that can be united, mobilize every positive factor, and firmly maintain the initiative in the struggle. 坚持敢斗善斗。越是面对风高浪急甚至惊涛骇浪的考验，越要发扬斗争精神、提高斗争本领，依靠顽强斗争打开事业发展新天地。前进道路上，必须保持战略定力，坚定必胜信心，在大是大非面前旗帜鲜明，坚定维护国家主权、安全、发展利益；必须强化忧患意识，坚持底线思维，科学预见变化，及时洞察风险，提高有效应对挑战的能力；必须讲求斗争艺术，原则问题上寸步不让，策略问题上灵活机动，团结一切可以团结的力量、调动一切积极因素，牢牢掌握斗争主动权.
Keep the whole world in mind. A great era calls for a broad vision, and a broad vision calls for a broad-mindedness. Seen from the standpoint of ‘one’s own country first’, the world is narrow and crowded, and there is fierce competition at every turn. Seen from the standpoint of a shared destiny, the world is vast and expansive, and there are opportunities for cooperation everywhere. We must correctly understand and handle our relationship with the outside world, further integrating China’s development with the world’s development and the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of the peoples of the world; forge ahead through the positive interaction between China and the world, accelerate development through the mutual benefit and win-win outcomes between China and all countries, provide new opportunities for global development through the new achievements of Chinese-style modernization, and provide new impetus for human progress through China’s actions as a responsible major country. We must actively respond to the legitimate concerns and shared expectations of the peoples of all countries, provide more public goods for resolving global problems and challenges, and make greater contributions to world development and the progress of civilization. 秉持胸怀天下。大时代需要大格局，大格局呼唤大胸怀。从“本国优先”的角度看，世界是狭小拥挤的，时时都是激烈竞争。从命运与共的角度看，世界是宽广博大的，处处都有合作机遇。要坚持正确认识和处理同外部世界的关系，把中国发展和世界发展进一步结合起来，把中国人民利益和世界人民共同利益进一步结合起来，在中国与世界的良性互动中开拓前进，在中国同各国的互利共赢中加快发展，以中国式现代化新成就为全球发展提供新机遇，以中国的负责任大国作为为人类进步提供新助力。积极回应各国人民合理关切和共同期待，为解决全球性问题挑战提供更多公共产品，为世界发展和文明进步作出更大贡献.
Thought points the way; solid work forges brilliance. We must take the study of the Selected Works as an opportunity to deeply grasp the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, to strengthen the four consciousnesses, enhance the four self-confidences, and achieve the two safeguards; study Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy in depth and put it faithfully into practice, and to firm up our confidence and carry the struggle forward without interruption, thereby continually opening up new prospects for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and striving tirelessly to advance the new journey of building a strong country and compose a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind! 思想指引方向，实干铸就辉煌。我们要以学习《文选》为契机，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，深学笃行习近平外交思想，坚定信心、接续奋斗，不断开创中国特色大国外交新局面，为奋进强国建设新征程、谱写构建人类命运共同体新篇章不懈努力!
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