新时代中国的周边外交政策展望（中英全文）

前言

中国与周边国家山水相连，人文相通，利益相融，命运与共。双方逾千年的友好交往历史就是一部生动的文明交流互鉴史，充分展示了“贯四时而不衰，历夷险而益固”的友好情谊。

周边是中国安身立命之所，发展繁荣之基。作为亚洲大家庭一员和负责任大国，中国高度重视周边外交，始终将周边置于外交全局首要位置，始终致力于促进地区和平稳定与发展繁荣。

《新时代中国的周边外交政策展望》基于对亚洲当前形势和未来趋势的评估及看法，全面阐述中国周边外交的实践成果、政策理念和目标，宣示中国将坚持走和平发展道路，以自身发展促进周边发展，同地区国家共同推进现代化进程，共同构建周边命运共同体，携手绘就和平安宁、繁荣美丽、友好共生的新时代亚洲愿景。

一

亚洲面临新的机遇和挑战

中共中央总书记、国家主席习近平在中国共产党二十大报告中指出，世界之变、时代之变、历史之变正以前所未有的方式展开，世界又一次站在历史的十字路口。亚洲置身世界百年未有之大变局，站在迈向发展振兴的新起点，面临前所未有的机遇和挑战。

亚洲地广物丰，人口众多，文化多元，发展多样，过去几十年总体保持稳定，地区国家之间政治互信不断增强，合作交流日益深化。正是得益于此，亚洲仅用40年左右的时间实现了经济总量占世界比重的翻倍，实现了从低收入到中等收入的飞跃，形成合作发展和快速崛起势头。近年来，亚洲作为拉动世界经济复苏和增长的重要引擎，对世界经济增长贡献率超过50%。亚洲是全球最富活力和潜力的地区，将持续成为全球发展繁荣的热土。

同时，全球治理失序，冷战思维回潮，单边主义、保护主义、霸权主义横行，能源、粮食、金融、产供链、气候变化等多重风险对亚洲影响日益突出。亚洲也面临经济发展不平衡、安全和治理问题突出等挑战。一些国家加紧构建地区军事同盟，朝鲜半岛问题复杂难解，阿富汗重建挑战重重，恐怖主义、自然灾害等非传统安全威胁犹存。

围绕亚洲的前途，出现了两种截然不同的主张和走向。一种是坚持开放的区域主义，维护真正的多边主义。坚持发展优先，致力互利合作，坚持开放包容，推进融合发展，实现和合共生。另一种是重拾冷战思维，再搞封闭式集团，推行价值观划线，将经济问题政治化，将地区安全阵营化，鼓动分裂、制造对抗。

凡益之道，与时偕行。亚洲的正确抉择应该是开放而不是封闭，是团结而不是分裂，是合作而不是对抗，是公道而不是霸道，是共生而不是零和，这不仅关乎地区各国的未来前景，也将从根本上长远影响亚洲乃至世界的前途命运。构建人类命运共同体是共创繁荣美好的亚洲和世界的必由之路。

二

中国同周边国家关系发展不断取得重大成果

过去半个多世纪，亚洲走出积贫积弱、动荡战乱，成功走向和平稳定、发展繁荣，这主要得益于地区国家坚持独立自主、联合自强，坚持相互尊重、包容互鉴，坚持互惠互利、合作共赢。在此过程中，中国同亚洲国家共同倡导和平共处五项原则，弘扬团结、友谊、合作的万隆精神，不断推动睦邻友好和互利合作向前发展。2012年中国共产党第十八次全国代表大会召开以来，中国同周边国家关系加快提质升级，取得丰硕成果。

政治互信不断增强。截至本文件发布之日，中国已同周边28国①和东盟建立形式多样、内涵丰富的伙伴关系、合作关系或战略互惠关系。中国同巴基斯坦、老挝、柬埔寨、缅甸、印度尼西亚、哈萨克斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、泰国、蒙古国、土库曼斯坦、马来西亚、吉尔吉斯斯坦等国达成构建命运共同体共识，同湄公河五国②确定共建澜湄国家命运共同体，同中亚五国③宣布打造中国－中亚命运共同体。中国与12个陆地邻国④通过谈判解决了历史遗留的边界问题，同周边9个国家⑤签署了睦邻友好合作条约。中国签署并批准《中亚无核武器区条约》议定书，尊重蒙古国的无核武器地位，率先加入《东南亚友好合作条约》，对随时签署《东南亚无核武器区条约》议定书作好了充分准备。

互利共赢合作深化。中国是周边18国⑥的最大贸易伙伴，2022年中国与周边国家进出口商品总额突破2.17万亿美元，较2012年增长78%。中国同东盟双向投资额累计超过3800亿美元。中国率先批准《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》并推动协定生效实施，为促进区域经济一体化赋能增效。

“一带一路”惠利周边。中国秉持共商共建共享原则，坚持开放、绿色、廉洁理念，努力实现高标准、可持续、惠民生目标，同周边24国⑦签署共建“一带一路”合作文件，同东盟、欧亚经济联盟等合作规划对接。倡导建立亚洲基础设施投资银行，设立丝路基金，为基础设施项目建设提供资金支持。在各方共同努力下，“六廊六路多国多港”的互联互通架构基本形成，“一带一路”合作硕果累累，有力促进当地经济发展、民生改善，为地区经济复苏注入强劲动力。

区域合作走深走实。中国与周边国家共同创立的上海合作组织已发展成为世界上幅员最广、人口最多的综合性区域合作组织。中国与中亚五国建立中国－中亚机制，成为推进六国深度合作的重要平台。澜湄合作是次区域互利合作的成功实践，澜湄流域经济发展带正在形成。中国坚持开放包容的精神，积极参与以东盟为中心的东亚合作机制、中日韩合作、亚太经合组织等多边合作，促进了地区融合发展和人民福祉。

有效管控热点问题。中国为推动政治解决地区热点问题积极贡献中国智慧，提出并践行中国特色热点问题解决之道。在朝鲜半岛问题上，着眼维护半岛和平稳定并实现长治久安，创造性提出“双暂停”倡议和“双轨并进”思路，坚持政治解决方向，积极劝和促谈。在阿富汗问题上，搭建阿富汗邻国协调合作机制，重启中阿巴三方外长对话，提出帮助阿富汗重建发展的《屯溪倡议》，汇聚各方合力。在缅甸问题上，促推各方弥合分歧，恢复国家社会稳定，尽快启动政治对话。

有力应对风险挑战。中国与周边国家同舟共济，携手应对恐怖主义、分裂主义、地区金融危机等挑战。新冠疫情发生以来，中国与周边国家同心抗疫，共克时艰，生动诠释了命运共同体精神，为全球团结抗疫发挥引领作用。

亚洲取得今天的进步和成就是中国和周边国家共同努力的结果，值得倍加珍惜。中国的发展离不开和平稳定的周边环境，中国同周边的发展相互促进、相得益彰。中国的发展将给亚洲各国带来重大机遇和长期利好，将为亚洲的和平与发展作出更大贡献。

三

新时代的中国周边外交理念主张

习近平总书记在中国共产党二十大报告中强调，“中国始终坚持维护世界和平、促进共同发展的外交政策宗旨，致力于推动构建人类命运共同体”。中国将在习近平外交思想指引下，保持周边外交政策延续性和稳定性，继续奉行与邻为善、以邻为伴方针，践行亲诚惠容理念。坚持亲仁善邻、讲信修睦；坚持以诚相待、守望相助；坚持互惠互利、合作共赢；坚持包容互鉴、求同存异。努力使中国同周边政治关系更加友好、经济纽带更加牢固、安全合作更加深化、人文联系更加紧密，深入推进周边命运共同体建设。

中国将推动构建新型国际关系，同地区国家共同深化平等、开放、合作的伙伴关系。中国坚定维护自身主权、安全和发展利益，尊重各国主权和领土完整，尊重各国人民自主选择的发展道路和社会制度，不干涉他国内政。坚持大小国家一律平等，促进“全球南方”团结与合作，维护发展中国家共同利益，增强新兴市场国家和发展中国家在全球事务中的代表性和发言权。促进大国协调和良性互动，推动构建和平共处、总体稳定、均衡发展的大国关系格局。中美应在相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢基础上，在亚太实现良性互动，为地区稳定发展提供正能量。

中国将坚持平等互利、合作共赢原则，同地区国家共同推进现代化进程。中国式现代化为广大发展中国家探索现代化道路提供了全新选择。中国将在坚定维护地区和平与发展中谋求自身发展，不断以中国新发展为周边提供新机遇，同周边国家共走开放发展、合作发展、共赢发展之路。

中国将坚持共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，同地区国家共同维护地区和平稳定。摒弃冷战思维，反对单边主义，不搞集团政治和阵营对抗。坚持重视各国合理安全关切，秉持安全不可分割原则，构建均衡、有效、可持续的安全架构，同地区国家走出一条对话而不对抗、结伴而不结盟、共赢而非零和的新型安全之路。

中国将坚定维护以联合国为核心的国际体系、以国际法为基础的国际秩序、以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为基础的国际关系基本准则。坚持开放的区域主义，践行真正的多边主义，同周边国家共同构建以和平、合作、包容、融合为核心的亚洲价值观，促进亚洲团结和发展振兴。倡导不同文明包容共存、交流互鉴，和而不同、多元共生，倡导相互尊重、协商一致的亚洲方式，践行和衷共济、守望相助的亚洲传统。坚定支持东盟在区域架构中的中心地位，不断增进同包括东盟在内的周边国家利益交融和民心相通。

中国将坚定不移推进祖国统一大业，坚决反对任何形式的“台独”分裂活动，坚决维护国家主权和领土完整。我们赞赏亚洲各国坚持和恪守一个中国原则。维护一个中国原则的态度越鲜明，遏制分裂势力的措施越有力，台海和平稳定就越有可能，地区和平繁荣就越有保障。

讲信修睦、亲仁善邻是中华文明一贯的处世之道。中国过去是、现在是、将来也永远是地区国家的好邻居、好朋友、好伙伴，将始终做维护和平稳定、促进发展繁荣的中流砥柱。

四

新时代“亚洲世纪”新愿景

今天的亚洲，和平稳定是大势所趋，发展繁荣是民心所向。中国同地区国家身处同一个大陆、同一片海洋，我们生于斯、长于斯，同地区国家一荣俱荣，一损俱损，谁也离不开谁。我们愿同地区各国齐心协力，携手同进，共建和平安宁、繁荣美丽、友好共生的亚洲大家园。

共建和平安宁家园。和平、和睦、和谐是亚洲国家为人类社会贡献的重大文明成果。我们主张坚持和平共处理念，守住和平稳定底线，重视各国合理安全关切，携手应对破坏和平的威胁。中国愿同周边邻国长期友好，求同存异，聚同化异，坚持以和平方式解决国家间的分歧和争端，共同维护地区持久和平。无论发展到什么程度，中国永远不称霸，永远不搞扩张。中国将继续同东盟国家全面有效落实《南海各方行为宣言》，积极推进并完成“南海行为准则”磋商，同南海当事国通过对话协商妥处海上矛盾分歧，加强海上合作，深化互信安全，推动共同开发，致力于将南海建设成为和平之海、友谊之海、合作之海。

中国愿同地区国家一道，统筹治理地区安全事务。加强经济金融安全合作，深化宏观经济政策协调，增强区域金融稳定。推进反恐、去极端化、打击跨国犯罪等领域合作，加强核设施、网络、外空、极地等领域安全合作。提升区域公共卫生安全治理能力，增强生物安全、危险传染病防治、医疗物资、疫苗药物技术等领域合作。加强粮食能源安全合作，确保产供链安全稳定。

共建繁荣美丽家园。中国将继续坚定奉行开放发展、互利共赢战略，提高贸易和投资自由化便利化水平，深化区域经济一体化，推动亚洲形成更加开放的大市场。中国将进一步扩大同地区国家贸易规模，增加自周边国家进口，提升通关便利化水平。继续推进加入《全面与进步跨太平洋伙伴关系协定》和《数字经济伙伴关系协定》，愿同更多地区国家商签高标准自贸协定，完善区域自贸网络，打造共同大市场。推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展，优先推进同邻国铁路、公路等联通走廊项目，加快国际陆海贸易新通道建设。我们要加紧推进中国东盟自贸区3.0版建设，实施好《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》并适时扩大成员、推动升级。维护产业链供应链稳定畅通，保持合作开放与包容。大力发展数字经济，在人工智能、生物医药、现代能源等领域加强交流合作，使科技创新成果更好造福周边各国人民。

中国愿同地区国家一道，坚持绿色发展理念，加快形成绿色发展方式，以创新为驱动，大力推进经济、能源、产业结构转型升级，努力平衡减排和发展的关系，构建经济与环境协同共进的亚洲家园。坚持共同但有区别的责任原则，加强应对气候变化合作。中国愿在实现碳达峰碳中和的进程中，同周边国家互学互鉴、互利共赢，加强绿色金融和绿色投资合作，为地区低碳可持续发展提供支撑。构建蓝色经济伙伴关系，促进海洋可持续发展。

共建友好共生家园。我们主张相互尊重、平等相待，推动不同文明交流对话、包容互鉴。从绵延数千年的亚洲历史文明中汲取养分，凝聚对亚洲价值、亚洲方式、亚洲传统的集体认同，拓展地区人文交流合作，夯实睦邻友好民意基础。采取更多便利人员往来举措。加强职业教育、高等教育、学历互认等合作，面向周边国家增加中国政府奖学金、各类高校和专业奖学金名额，为留学生往来提供便利条件。继续推进文化、艺术、青年、旅游、地方、媒体、智库、民间团体等领域交流，加强亚洲文体产业合作。

中国愿同地区国家一道，依托联通、发展、安全和人文四大支柱，聚焦政治、经贸、科技、安全、人文、全球性挑战六大领域，构建理念有共鸣、发展共规划、成果共分享、安全共维护、责任共担当的周边命运共同体。共同打造高质量共建“一带一路”示范区，深化基础设施“硬联通”和规则标准“软联通”。共同打造全球发展倡议先行区，建设更加平等均衡普惠的发展伙伴关系。共同打造全球安全倡议实验区，走共建共享共赢的亚洲安全之路。共同打造全球文明倡议首善区，持续扩大人文交流，促进文明交流互鉴、和合共生。

中国将积极参与东亚合作、中国－中亚机制、上海合作组织、金砖国家合作机制、亚太经合组织、亚洲相互协作与信任措施会议等多边机制和组织，加强同太平洋岛国论坛、环印度洋联盟等区域性组织对话合作，共同促进亚洲－太平洋－印度洋地区的联通、稳定与发展。

结束语

亚洲前景可期、振兴当时。习近平主席指出，亚洲好世界才能更好。我们要把亚洲发展好、建设好，展现亚洲的韧性、智慧、力量，打造世界的和平稳定锚、增长动力源、合作新高地。

同一个亚洲，同一个命运。我们同处一个充满挑战、也充满希望的时代。前所未有的机遇和挑战更需要各国开展前所未有的团结与协作。只有各国行天下之大道，和睦相处、合作共赢，繁荣才能持久、安全才有保障。

中国正在全面建设社会主义现代化国家，努力实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦，愿一如既往支持和帮助地区各国人民追求幸福美好生活，携手实现持久和平、共同发展的亚洲梦，共同构建周边命运共同体！

①同中国建立伙伴关系、合作关系或战略互惠关系的28国为阿富汗、巴基斯坦、朝鲜、东帝汶、俄罗斯、菲律宾、哈萨克斯坦、韩国、吉尔吉斯斯坦、柬埔寨、老挝、马尔代夫、马来西亚、蒙古国、孟加拉国、缅甸、尼泊尔、日本、斯里兰卡、塔吉克斯坦、泰国、土库曼斯坦、文莱、乌兹别克斯坦、新加坡、印度、印度尼西亚、越南。

②湄公河五国分别为柬埔寨、老挝、缅甸、泰国、越南。

③中亚五国分别为哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、土库曼斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦。

④与中国通过谈判解决历史遗留边界问题的12个陆地邻国是朝鲜、俄罗斯、蒙古国、哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、阿富汗、巴基斯坦、尼泊尔、缅甸、老挝、越南。

⑤同中国签署睦邻友好合作条约的9国分别为阿富汗、巴基斯坦、朝鲜、俄罗斯、哈萨克斯坦、蒙古国、塔吉克斯坦、土库曼斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦。

⑥中国是最大贸易伙伴的周边18国为巴基斯坦、朝鲜、俄罗斯、菲律宾、韩国、吉尔吉斯斯坦、柬埔寨、马来西亚、蒙古国、孟加拉国、缅甸、日本、泰国、土库曼斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、新加坡、印度尼西亚、越南。

⑦同中国签署共建“一带一路”合作文件的周边24国分别为阿富汗、东帝汶、俄罗斯、菲律宾、韩国、哈萨克斯坦、老挝、柬埔寨、吉尔吉斯斯坦、蒙古国、马来西亚、缅甸、文莱、巴基斯坦、斯里兰卡、孟加拉国、尼泊尔、马尔代夫、新加坡、塔吉克斯坦、泰国、乌兹别克斯坦、印度尼西亚、越南。

Outlook on China’s Foreign Policy on Its Neighborhood In the New Era

Preface

China and its neighboring countries enjoy geographical proximity, cultural affinity and integrated interests with a shared future. The millennium-old friendly exchanges between the two sides are a vivid history of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Such friendly bonds are best captured by the Chinese saying: “true friendship weathers the changing seasons without fading away and is made even stronger by hardships.”

The neighborhood is where China survives and thrives and the foundation of its development and prosperity. As a member of the Asian family and a responsible major country, China attaches great importance to neighborhood diplomacy, always prioritizes the neighborhood on its diplomatic agenda, and remains committed to promoting regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Outlook on China’s Foreign Policy on Its Neighborhood in the New Era, based on the assessment and overview of the current situation and future trends in Asia, comprehensively outlines the achievements, policies, visions and objectives of China’s neighborhood diplomacy, and declares China’s commitment to the path of peaceful development, to promoting development of the neighborhood through its own development, to working with regional countries to advance modernization, to jointly building a community with a shared future among neighboring countries and to realizing the vision of a peaceful, secure, prosperous, beautiful, amicable and harmonious Asia in the new era.

I. Asia Faces New Opportunities and Challenges

In the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President, pointed out that changes of our world, our times, and of historical significance are unfolding in ways like never before. The world has once again reached a crossroads in history. Asia, amidst the changes unseen in a century, stands at a new starting point towards development and revitalization and faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges.

Asia, with its vast land and abundant resources, is home to a large population with diverse cultures and development. It has remained generally stable in the past few decades. Regional countries have enjoyed growing political mutual trust and ever deepening cooperation and exchanges. As a result, Asia has doubled its share of the world economy, made the leap from a region of low income to one of middle income, and formed a momentum of cooperation, development and rapid rise in a short span of 40 years. In recent years, Asia, as an important engine driving global economic recovery and growth, has contributed more than 50 percent to global growth. Asia is the most dynamic region with the biggest development potential in the world and will remain a promising land for global development and prosperity.

Meanwhile, global governance is in dysfunction; Cold War mentality is resurfacing; unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism run rampant; multiple risks in such fields as energy, food, finance, industrial and supply chains and climate change are having greater impact on Asia. Asia also faces challenges such as uneven economic growth, and pronounced security and governance issues. Some countries have intensified efforts to build regional military alliances; the Korean Peninsula issue remains complicated and intractable; Afghanistan faces numerous challenges in its reconstruction; terrorism, natural disasters and other non-traditional security threats persist.

There are two opposite propositions and trends concerning the future of Asia. One advocates open regionalism, true multilateralism, a development-first approach, mutually beneficial cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, integrated development, and pursuit of common development in harmony. The other represents a relapse into the Cold War mentality and exclusive clubs, and attempts to draw lines based on values, politicize economic issues, divide the region into different security blocs, and stoke division and confrontation.

Good principles keep abreast of the times. The right choice for Asia should be openness, solidarity, cooperation, justice and harmony rather than isolation, division, confrontation, hegemony and zero-sum approach. This not only hinges on the future prospects of countries in the region, but will also have a fundamental and far-reaching bearing on the future of Asia and the world. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the sure path to a prosperous and better Asia and the world.

II. Significant Progress Made in China’s Relations with Its Neighbors

Over the past half century and more, Asia, once plagued by poverty, weakness, turbulence and wars, has progressed successfully toward peace, stability, development, and prosperity. This is mainly accredited to the commitment of regional countries to independence, unity for strength, mutual respect, inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. In this process, China and fellow Asian countries have jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, carried forward the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, and kept advancing good-neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, China’s relations with neighboring countries have been upgraded at a faster pace and produced fruitful results.

Political mutual trust has been growing. As of the date of this document’s release, China has established diverse and substantive partnerships, cooperative relations and strategic relations of mutual benefit with 28 neighboring countries①and ASEAN. China has reached common understandings with Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan on building a community with a shared future, and has agreed with the five Mekong countries② to build a community with a shared future among Lancang-Mekong countries, and announced with the five Central Asian countries③ the decision to build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. China has resolved historical boundary issues with 12 neighbors on land④ through negotiations and signed the treaties of good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation with nine neighboring countries⑤. China has signed and ratified the Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, respects Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status, became the first to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and is fully prepared to sign the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty at any time.

Mutual benefits keep deepening. China is the largest trading partner of 18 neighboring countries⑥. In 2022, China’s trade in goods with neighboring countries exceeded USD 2.17 trillion, up by 78 percent from 2012. The two-way investment between China and ASEAN has exceeded USD 380 billion in cumulative terms. China took the lead in ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and worked for its entry into force and implementation, enabling and enhancing regional economic integration.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has delivered benefits to the neighborhood. China upholds the principle of planning together, building together and benefiting together, stays committed to the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, strives to achieve high-standard, sustainable and people-centered cooperation. China has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with 24 neighboring countries⑦, and worked to synergize the BRI with cooperation plans of ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union. China has initiated the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund to provide financial support for infrastructure projects. Thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, a general connectivity framework consisting of six corridors, six connectivity routes and multiple countries and ports has been put in place. The fruitful Belt and Road cooperation has spurred economic growth and improved people’s lives in relevant countries and has injected strong impetus into economic recovery in the region.

Regional cooperation has grown in depth and substance. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), co-founded by China and neighboring countries, has become a comprehensive regional organization with the largest geographical coverage and population. The China-Central Asia mechanism established by China and the five Central Asian countries has emerged as an important platform for in-depth cooperation between the six countries. Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is a success story of mutually beneficial cooperation in the sub-region, and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Economic Development Belt is taking shape. In a spirit of openness and inclusiveness, China actively participates in multilateral cooperation, including the ASEAN-centered East Asia cooperation mechanism, China-Japan-ROK cooperation, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), contributing to the region’s integrated development and people’s well-being.

Hotspot issues have been effectively managed and controlled. China has contributed solutions to political settlement of regional hotspot issues, and proposed and put into action the Chinese approach to addressing hotspot issues. On the Korean Peninsula issue, for the sake of peace, stability, and lasting security on the Peninsula, China has put forward the innovative “suspension-for-suspension” proposal and the dual-track approach, stayed committed to political settlement and actively facilitated peace talks. On Afghanistan, China has established a mechanism for coordination and cooperation among Afghanistan’s neighbors, relaunched the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, and issued the Tunxi Initiative on helping Afghanistan with reconstruction and development, building synergy among various parties. On Myanmar, China has encouraged the parties to bridge differences, restore social stability in the country, and launch political dialogue as quickly as possible.

Risks and challenges have been addressed effectively. China and neighboring countries have worked together in tackling such challenges as terrorism, separatism and financial crisis in the region. Since COVID-19 broke out, China and neighboring countries have come together to overcome difficulties, which reflects the spirit of a community with a shared future and provided leadership for global solidarity against the pandemic.

The remarkable progress made in Asia is attributable to the joint efforts of China and neighboring countries, and need to be cherished. China’s development would not be possible without a peaceful and stable neighboring environment. The development of China and that of neighboring countries complement and reinforce each other. China’s development will bring major opportunities and long-term benefits to countries across Asia, and will make even greater contributions to peace and development in the region.

III. Concepts and Propositions of China’s Neighborhood Diplomacy in the New Era

In the Report to the 20th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping underscored that “China has always been committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and it is dedicated to promoting a community with a shared future for mankind”. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China will maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, adhere to the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighbors, and act on the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. China is committed to good neighborliness, good faith and amity; believes in sincerity and mutual assistance; pursues mutual benefit and win-win cooperation; advocates inclusiveness and mutual learning, and seeks common ground while shelving differences. China will endeavor to further the political relations, strengthen the economic bonds, deepen security cooperation and foster even closer cultural ties with neighboring countries, in a bid to further advance the building of a community with a shared future among neighboring countries.

China will foster a new type of international relations, and work with regional countries to deepen partnerships featuring equality, openness and cooperation. China firmly defends its sovereignty, security and development interests, respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, respects the development path and social system chosen independently by the people of each country, and does not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. China upholds equality between countries regardless of their size, promotes the unity and cooperation of the Global South, upholds the common interests of developing countries, and works to raise the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries in global affairs. China promotes coordination and sound interactions among major countries, and pursues major-country relationships that feature peaceful coexistence, overall stability and balanced development. China and the United States should, on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, engage in sound interactions in the Asia-Pacific and contribute positive energy to regional stability and development.

China will stay committed to the principle of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and work with regional countries to advance modernization. Chinese modernization provides a new choice for developing countries to explore their modernization pathways. China will seek to develop itself while safeguarding regional peace and development, keep creating new opportunities for neighboring countries with China’s new development, and follow a path of open, cooperative and win-win development together with neighboring countries.

China will stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work with regional countries to maintain regional peace and stability. China rejects the Cold War mentality, unilateralism, group politics and bloc confrontation. China attaches importance to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, upholds the principle of indivisible security, seeks to build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, and follows a new path to security that features dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win over zero-sum together with regional countries.

China will firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China upholds open regionalism, practices true multilateralism, and works with neighboring countries to foster Asian values centered on peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration and promote the unity, development and revitalization of Asia. China advocates inclusiveness, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations that pursue harmony without uniformity and live together in diversity, as well as the Asian Way of mutual respect and consensus building. China upholds Asia’s tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance. We firmly support ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, and constantly work with ASEAN countries and other neighboring countries to deepen converging interests and forge a strong bond among the peoples.

China will resolutely take forward the endeavor of national reunification, firmly oppose “Taiwan independence” separatist activities in any form, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. We appreciate Asian countries’ commitment to the one-China principle. The more unequivocal we are on upholding the one-China principle and the more forceful our measures are to forestall separation, the greater possibility there is to ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and uphold peace and prosperity in the region.

When China engages with the world, it all along values good faith and good neighborliness. China was, is, and will always be a good neighbor, good friend and good partner of regional countries, and will always be a major force underpinning peace, stability, development and prosperity.

IV. A New Vision for the “Asian Century” in the New Era

In today’s Asia, peace and stability reflect the overwhelming trend, and development and prosperity represent the aspiration of the people. China and regional countries share the same continent and the same ocean. Living and thriving here together, we share a common destiny and future. China will work with regional countries in solidarity to build a peaceful, secure, prosperous, beautiful, amicable and harmonious Asian home.

We need to jointly build a peaceful and secure home. The concept of peace, amity and harmony is Asian countries’ remarkable contribution to human civilization. It is important to uphold peaceful coexistence, defend the red line of peace and stability, attach importance to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and jointly respond to threats that undermine peace. China hopes to work with neighboring countries to cultivate long-term good-neighborliness and friendship, expand common ground while shelving and resolving differences, address differences and disputes between countries peacefully, and jointly safeguard enduring peace in the region. No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. China will continue to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and actively advance consultations and conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), and work with parties concerned in the South China Sea to properly address maritime disagreements and differences through dialogue. We need to strengthen maritime cooperation, deepen mutual trust and security, and promote joint development, in an effort to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

China will work with regional countries to manage regional security affairs with a coordinated approach. We need to enhance economic and financial security cooperation, deepen macro economic policy coordination, and bolster regional financial stability. It is important to advance cooperation in such fields as counterterrorism, deradicalization and fighting cross-border crimes, and enhance security cooperation on nuclear facilities, cyberspace, outer space and polar regions. We need to enhance the region’s capacity in public health security governance, and strengthen cooperation in biosecurity, prevention and treatment of dangerous communicable diseases, medical supplies, and vaccine and pharmaceutical technologies. Cooperation on food and energy security needs to be enhanced to ensure the safety and stability of production and supply chains.

We need to jointly build a prosperous and beautiful home. China will continue to firmly pursue the strategy of openness, development and mutual benefit, raise the level of trade and investment facilitation and liberalization, deepen regional economic integration, and build a more open Asian big market. China will further expand trade with regional countries, increase imports from neighboring countries, and improve customs clearance facilitation. China will continue to promote the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). China stands ready to negotiate high-standard free trade agreements with more regional countries, improve the regional free trade network, and build a common big market. To promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China will give priority to connectivity corridor projects of railways and highways with neighboring countries, and accelerate the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. We need to speed up development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement 3.0, effectively implement RCEP and work for its expansion and upgrading in due course. It is important to maintain the stable and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains to underpin open and inclusive cooperation. We need to vigorously develop the digital economy, strengthen exchange and cooperation in artificial intelligence, bio-medicine, modern energy and other fields, and translate scientific and technological innovation achievements into greater benefits to the people of regional countries.

China stands ready to work with regional countries to pursue green development and green growth model, drive economic growth with innovation, transform and upgrade economic, energy and industrial structures, and strike a fine balance between emission reduction and economic growth, in a bid to build an Asian home enjoying the concerted progress of economic growth and environmental progress. It is important to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and strengthen climate cooperation. In the process of achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, China stands ready to promote mutual learning and mutual benefit with neighboring countries, strengthen cooperation in green finance and green investment, and support low-carbon, sustainable development in the region. Efforts should be made to build a blue economic partnership and promote the sustainable development of the ocean.

We need to jointly build an amicable and harmonious home. We uphold mutual respect and equality in promoting exchanges, dialogue, inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations. It is important to extract nutrients from the millennia-long Asian civilization, to help forge the collective identity of the Asian value, way and tradition, expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in the region, and cement popular support for good-neighborliness. More measures need to be introduced to facilitate traveling. China will strengthen cooperation in vocational education, higher education and mutual recognition of educational certificates, provide more government scholarships and scholarships for various universities and majors for neighboring countries, and facilitate the traveling of international students. We will continue to promote exchanges in the fields of culture, arts, youth, tourism, localities, media, think tanks and non-governmental organizations, and strengthen cooperation on Asia’s cultural and sports industry.

China stands ready to work with neighboring countries to, relying on the four pillars of connectivity, development, security and people-to-people exchanges and focusing on the six cooperation areas of the political sector, economy and trade, science and technology, security, people-to-people exchanges and global challenges, work for a community with a shared future among neighboring countries that features shared concepts, plans, benefits, security and responsibilities. We need to jointly build a demonstration area of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen “physical connectivity” of infrastructure and “institutional connectivity” of rules and standards. We will work together to build Global Development Initiative pilot zone featuring more equitable, balanced and inclusive development partnership, Global Security Initiative pilot zone featuring an Asian pathway of security defined by planning together, building together and benefiting together, and Global Civilization Initiative pilot zone that boosts people-to-people exchanges and the mutual learning, harmonious coexistence of civilizations.

China will take an active part in East Asia cooperation, China-Central Asia mechanism, SCO, BRICS, APEC, Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and other multilateral mechanisms and organizations, and strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum, Indian Ocean Rim Association and other regional organizations, in a bid to jointly promote the connectivity, stability and development of Asia, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean regions.

Conclusion

Asia is poised for promising prospects and revitalization. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, when Asia fares well, the whole world benefits. In this spirit, we need to work for sound progress and development in Asia, demonstrate Asia’s resilience, wisdom and strength, and make Asia an anchor for world peace, a powerhouse for global growth and a new pacesetter for international cooperation.

One Asia, one future. We are all in an era full of both challenges and hope. Unprecedented opportunities and challenges require countries to work together in unprecedented solidarity and coordination. Only when all countries pursue the cause of common good, live in harmony and engage in win-win cooperation, will there be sustained prosperity and guaranteed security.

China is now building a modern socialist country in all respects and striving to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. In this process, China stands ready as always to support the efforts of people in the region to pursue a happy life, and work hand in hand with regional countries to realize the Asian dream of lasting peace and common development, and build a community with a shared future among neighboring countries.

①The 28 countries that have established partnerships, cooperative relations or strategic relations of mutual benefit with China are Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Timor-Leste, Russia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Japan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Brunei, Uzbekistan, Singapore, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam.

②The five Mekong countries are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.

③The five Central Asian countries are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

④The 12 land neighbors that have resolved the boundary issues with China through negotiations are: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos and Viet Nam.

⑤The nine neighboring countries that have signed treaties of good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation with China are Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

⑥The 18 neighboring countries whose largest trading partner is China are Pakistan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Indonesia and Viet Nam.

⑦The 24 neighboring countries that have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China are Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, Russia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Laos, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Viet Nam.