A Preliminary Understanding of Xi Jinping Thought for International Strategy

By Li Haijun and Zhang Zhan, Hebei University of Economics and Business

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A Preliminary Understanding of Xi Jinping Thought for International Strategy

By Li Haijun and Zhang Zhan, Hebei University of Economics and Business

Xi Jinping thought for international strategy is an important part of Xi Jinping thought for governing the country, including a concept of era themes, the international pattern, China's self positioning, and international standing, and aspects of diplomatic goals, foreign policy and strategy. The lofty goal of Xi Jinping thought for international strategy is to realize peaceful development and win-win cooperation between China and the rest of the world. Around this goal, Xi Jinping proposes to build a community of shared destiny for mankind, and the Belt and Road Initiative strategy, adhere to the peripheral diplomacy concept of amity, sincerity, benefits and inclusiveness, build a new-type major- countries relations, establish a new security concept, and adhere to the positive outlook on rights and interests and outlook on scientific development, and make a strategic blueprint for the world development, build new-type international relations, and cultivate common values.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, from the proposal of the Chinese dream to the speech delivered at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, President Xi Jinping makes the strategic conception of the national governance and international governance clear and complete, formulates China’s international strategy in the new period. This thought includes the concepts on era theme, the international pattern, and China's self positioning as well as international standing, diplomatic goals, foreign policy and strategy. To study and understand Xi Jinping Thought for international strategy is of great theoretical and practical significance.

I. The concept on the era themes and the international pattern

Understanding the development mega-trend of the world and keeping up with the trend of the times is an extremely important and new subject. To develop, China must conform to the trend of world development. What is today’s trend of the world, there is only one answer, that is peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcome.(1)Xi Jinping repeatedly stresses that peace and development as themes of the times hane not changed, will not change either, Peace and development is still the common pursuit of all countries in the world. Peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcome as the trend of the times are to be strengthened.

This concept on the era themes is rooted in Xi Jinping’s analysis and command of the overall characteristics of international community. He believes that with deepening development of world multi-polarization and economic globalization, as well as continuous push of cultural diversification and social informationization, today's humankind has more favorable conditions to step toward peace and development than any time before, and cooperation and win-win outcome is the realistic approach to achieve this goal.(2)He points out that the current world is a changing world, the international system and the international order are undergoing in-depth adjustments, the international balance of power has witnessed profound changes, a number of development centers has gradually formed in the regions and world. Emerging market countries and a large number of developing countries have attained rapid development and their international influence continuously enhanced, which is the most revolutionary change in the international balance of power since the modern times. For the past hundreds of years, major powers through the form of war, colonialism and spheres of influence capture interests and hegemony, but gradually move in the direction of coordinating their relations and interests with the institutional rules. With the collapse of the old colonial system and disappearance of blocs confrontation during the Cold War, any country or group of countries can no longer dominate the world affairs alone. We need to fully recognize the complexity of the evolving development of the international pattern, but also still to see the momentum of pushing world multi-polarization forward will not change. Xi Jinping stresses that the process of economic globalization will not change, and this process increasingly makes various countries form a community of shared interests, interconnection and interdependence of various countries is unprecedentedly deepened, thus, creating a situation for all countries to rise together or fall together. Meanwhile, the development issue is still outstanding, the world economy enters an in-depth adjustment period, the overall recovery is still arduous and tortuous, and in the international financial field more risks are in existence, protectionism in various forms is growing, all countries face many difficulties in adjusting their economic structures, global governance mechanisms need to be further improved.(3)

Another important feature and clear development trend of the international community is cultural diversity. Xi Jinping points out that the Sunshine is composed of seven colors, and the world is also colorful.(4)Different cultures gorgeously compete for peoples’ attraction, and decorate the Mother Earth. Culture is the bloodline of a nation, is the collective memory of a nation and a ethnic group. Currently, every country tries to maintain its own cultural characteristics, and safeguard its own cultural sovereignty and cultural security. The coexistence of multiple development path and development mode is an important manifestation of cultural diversity. Cultural competition among European model, Washington consensus, Beijing consensus, ASEAN model flares up for mutual learning.

Xi Jinping stresses that the correct judgment of the situation is the basic premise for developing guidelines, principles and policies. A comprehensive judgment is, the Western world centrality is being weakened, and multi-polar forces are developing more rapidly. Frequent financial and economic crises indicate that the Western development model run into difficulties, The leading position and ability of the U.S. superpower to dominate and control the world economy is in the eclipse. The United States is struggling to protect its dominant position, but has found it unable to do so. The international overall situation maintains the basic posture of peace, relaxation and stability,

China's development is still in an important period of strategic opportunity to make progress. Our greatest opportunity is to continuously build ourselves stronger, but also pay attention to various emerging risks and challenges, and learn to be good at turning risks into opportunities and pull through.

II. China's self-positioning and international standing

Correct understanding of the world development mega-trend and objective analysis of China national conditions and strength, and commanding the self -positioning are the foundation of developing and planning international strategy. Similarly, the successful implementation on international strategy is helpful to enhance and strengthen China's international standing.

In his speech at the College of Europe in Bruges on the visit to the EU Headquarters in April 2014, Xi Jinping's talks about what kind of country China is. He says that China is a country with a ancient civilization, and a country that had extremely grave sufferings. A unique cultural tradition, a unique historical destiny, and unique national conditions determine that China is bound to take the road of development suited to its own characteristics, which is the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We have taken such a path, and have been successful, but, we are still the largest developing country in the world. Currently, China is now comprehensively deepening the reform, China's profound changes will bring new opportunities for development of the world. Xi Jinping states that since the reform and opening up, China's economy total aggregate jumps to No. 2 in the world, which is not only great changes of the Chinese people's livelihood, but also a great progress of human civilization. Meanwhile, we are also keenly aware that China's per capita GDP is very low, ranking 80th in the world, China poverty reduction task is very heavy as well, development is still the top priority of China.

China is the first signatory to the Charter of the United Nations and China is one of the five Permanent Members of the United Nations. The establishment of the United Nations is one of the victorious fruits of the Second World War, and to maintain the authority of the United Nations is to maintain the victorious fruits of the World War II. The purpose of the UN Charter embodies the common values of mankind, and peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom are the common pursuit of peoples of all countries. Xi Jinping stresses that China is always a world peace builder, no matter how the international situation changes, China will never seek hegemony, never expand, never seek spheres of influence; China is always a contributor to global development, the Chinese dream is interconnected with the peoples’ dreams of all countries in the world; China is always a guardian for the international order, and continues to maintain the international order and international system with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as the core. China pushes "The Belt and Road" to be built jointly, establishes the Silk Road Fund, and sets up Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the purpose of which is to support common development of all countries together, rather than seek political spheres of influence, and even change the current international system. Many countries in the world especially the vast number of developing countries expect the international system to move in a more just and rational direction, but this is not to reinvent the wheel, and start all over again, but to keep up with the times, reform and improve.(5)

Xi Jinping in his speech at the College of Europe in Bruges on April 1, 2014 points out that a unique cultural tradition, a unique historical destiny, and unique national conditions determine China is bound to take the road of development suited to its own characteristics, which is the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On October 21st, 2015 Xi Jinping in his speech delivered in the Financial City of London, United Kingdom, further points out that China's choice of socialist road is the choice of history and the choice of people. Chinese socialism is a living body developing and changing in practice. Practice has proved that it's the right path, and has vitality.(6)Xi Jinping through friendly visits and amicable actions across the five continents ensures that countries around the world continuously identify and deepen their awareness that China attaches importance to its political system, development path and core interests.

III. Diplomatic Goals

Xi Jinping in his speech at Moscow State Institute of International Relations in March 2013 points out that in this world interconnection and interdependence among various countries are unprecedentedly deepened, and the humankind living on the same Mother Earth, living in the same time and space of history becomes a community of shared destiny. This is the first time that China delivers to the world its judgment on direction of human civilization. From a community of shared destiny between countries to a community of shared destiny for regions, to a community of shared destiny for mankind, President Xi Jinping deeply expounds China proposition again and again. The concept of a community of shared destiny accurately expresses the reality of the present world, and reflects China's profound wisdom in commanding the world development tide and the mankind destiny trend. In today's world, no country can be spared, and the world has formed a situation for all countries to rise together or fall together. The concept of a community of shared destiny reflects the Chinese Communists pursuit for the interests of mankind, and embodies the spirit of proletarian internationalism. It goes beyond the nation-state different interests, expresses China’s aspirations for win-win cooperation and peaceful development with other countries, presents a China's strategy on considering the future of mankind.

On September 7, 2013, President Xi Jinping in his speech at Nazarbayev University on the visit to Kahzastan for the first time proposes the strategic initiative to jointly construct the Silk Road Economic Belt; on October 3, 2013, President Xi Jinping in his speech at Indonesian Congress proposes the conception of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. This constitutes The Belt and Road development strategy heatedly discussed by the international community. On March 28, 2015, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued the "Vision and Action on Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The Belt and Road strategy is composed of following key points: the cooperation direction, cooperation priority, cooperation mechanism, cooperation goals. There are three cooperation directions for the Silk Road Economic Belt, namely from China through Central Asia and Russia to Europe (Baltic Sea), from China through Central Asia and West Asia to the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea; and from China to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Indian ocean. There are two cooperation directions for 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, i.e. from China's coastal ports via the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean and further to Europe, from China's coastal ports via the South China Sea to the South Pacific.

The Belt and Road Initiative is committed to policy intercommunication, facilities interoperability, trade smoothness, financing facilitation, and people inter-linkage for all countries along the routes. Cooperation mechanisms include strengthening bilateral cooperation, carrying out multi-level and multi-channel communication and pushing comprehensive development of bilateral relations; strengthening the role of multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the CICA summit, ensuring more countries and regions to participate in the Belt and Road construction; giving constructive play to platforms such as regional and sub-regional international forums, exhibitions, etc. The purpose of cooperation is to promote docking and coupling of development strategy of countries along the routes, to tap the potential of regional markets, to promote investment and consumption, to create demand and employment, and to increase cultural exchanges and mutual learning culturally, so as to assure peoples all over the world to meet and understand each other, to mutually trust and respect each other, and to jointly enjoy harmony, peace and prosperity.

3. International cultural objective: exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations

Xi Jinping attaches importance to pushing construction of a harmonious world through strengthening world cultural exchanges. Xi Jinping views that cultural exchanges and mutual learning are important impetus to promote the progress of human civilization and development of world peace.(7)

Xi Jinping in his Keynote speech at the 2013 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia and his speech at the UNESCO headquarters on March 27, 2014 twice quotes "a single flower in blossom does not make a Spring, many flowers in blossom is the arrival of Spring" to describe our home on earth. If there is only one flower in the world, he says, and no matter how beautiful it is, it is monotonous. Human civilization is colorfully diversified, different civilizations have their own merits, and also shortcomings, but equal in value. Recognizing equality of civilizations is the premise of exchanges and mutual understanding between them; regarding diversities of cultures, the exchange and mutual learning is more valuable; human civilization is inclusive, and has impetus for exchange and mutual learning because of inclusiveness. As long as there is adherence to the spirit of inclusiveness, there is no clash of civilizations, but realization of harmonious civilizations.(8)

Xi Jinping stresses that among different civilizations, different countries and peoples cultivate the ideas of peace, build barriers to safeguard peace in their thinking. He says, civilization can be spread, and so can peace and development.(9)He sows the seeds of peace concept everywhere through his diplomatic activities and expects the peace seeds to take roots and sprouts in the hearts of peoples of the world.

IV. Foreign policy, strategy and philosophy

China's foreign policy is to safeguard world peace and promote common development. Xi Jinping believes that to achieve common development will have to attain win-win outcome bilaterally, win-win outcome multilaterally and win-win outcome commonly. Xi Jinping in his speech at Moscow State Institute of International Relations mentions establishment of new-type international relationship with cooperation and win-win outcomes as the core for the first time. In the era of interwoven changes between "breaking" and "establishing" world patterns, and then the history bestows a sacred mission on both China and Russia -- both world major countries, the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the largest neighbors to each other – and request the two countries to play a large role in promoting establishment of new-type international relations with win-win cooperation. In 2013, China and Russia signed the Agreement on Deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination and in 2014 signed a Joint Statement on Deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination and Promoting Win-win Cooperation. These show the world the urgent desire and firm determination of the two countries to build new-type international relations.

To establish new-type international relationship with cooperation and win-win outcomes as the core has a built-in meaning to jointly safeguard the international order and the international system with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter as the core, and that China is a builder, participant and contributor to the current international system. To build global partnerships at the international and regional levels, we need to pioneer a new way of state relations featuring dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance. Major countries should get along well without conflict, without confrontation, with mutual respect, and with cooperation and win-win outcome. Big and small countries should be on equal-footing in their relations, practice the correct concept of righteousness and benefits with proper coordination between the two and more emphasis on righteousness than benefits.(10)This is a new- type international relations that should have the following requirements: various countries and peoples all of the world share dignity, achievements of development and common security, fundamentally abandon the power politics and neo-colonialism, and put the common development and cooperative security in place.

In the era of globalization, establishment of new-type major- countries relations between China and the United Sates is the only choice to solve the historical problem that emerging powers often come into conflict with defending powers. Regarding key principles to build new-type major-countries relations, President Xi Jinping makes the most refined summary with three phrases: The first phrases is "no conflict, no confrontation"; the second is "mutual respect", and the third is "win-win cooperation". For the new-type Sino-U.S. relations to go down smoothly, according to the consensus reached by both sides during President Xi’s visit to the United States, there are two crucial points:

First is to take care of each other's rational concerns and core interests, and respect their traditional influence and realistic interests; two is to expand the bilateral pragmatic cooperation to control differences in a constructive way.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Peripheral Diplomatic Work Forum held in October 2013 in Beijing that China's basic principles of peripheral diplomacy is to stick to friendship and partnership with neighbors, uphold the concept of harmonizing, securing and enriching neighbors, and highlight the concept of amity, sincerity, benefits, and inclusiveness. Amity means adhering to harmony and friendship, and giving mutual help and protection. Sincerity means treating the surrounding countries sincerely and whole-heatedly, and making more friends and partners. Benefits mean carrying out cooperation with neighboring countries in the spirit of mutual benefits and weaving a closer network of common interests, upgrading the integrated interests of the two sides to a higher level. Inclusiveness means promoting inclusive thinking, and promoting regional cooperation with a more open-mindedness and a more positive attitude. The four-word motto of amity, sincerity, benefits, and inclusiveness is an important concept raised by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core focusing on new development of relations between China and neighboring countries, also a summary of China's 60 years of neighborly and friendly policy, and radiating the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture.

Xi Jinping in his key-note speech at the CICA Fourth Summit held in Shanghai on May 22, 2014 touched on the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable new security concept, which attracts attention from all sides. Later on, Xi Jinping on many occasions, especially at the general debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly focused on this idea.

Common security is to respect and assure every national security. Security should be universal. It won’t do if only one country enjoys security while others not, or only some countries enjoy security while others not, or even seek the so-called absolute security at the sacrifice of security of other countries. Security should be equal. Various countries have rights to equally participate in regional security affairs and have the responsibility for maintaining regional security. No country should seek to monopolize regional security affairs, and infringe upon other countries legitimate rights.

Comprehensive security is to co-ordinate maintenance of security in traditional and non -traditional areas. Security issues are extremely complex, including both territorial sovereignty disputes, military invasion as well as ethnic and religious contradictions, the challenges posed by terrorism, transnational crimes, environmental safety, cyber network security, energy resources safety and major natural disasters, etc. rise significantly, traditional security threats and non-traditional security threats interweave with each other.

Cooperative security is to promote security of countries and regions through dialogue and cooperation. Through candid and in-depth dialogue to communicate, enhance strategic mutual trust, reduce mutual suspicion and seek common ground while dispelling differences, and coexist peacefully together. To focus on the common security interests of all countries, to actively cultivate awareness for cooperation to respond to security challenges beginning with low-sensitive areas, to continuously expand the scope of cooperation and innovation of cooperation modes, to seek peace through cooperation and promote security through cooperation. To adhere to peaceful settlement of disputes and to oppose the use of force or the threat of force, to oppose selfishly stirring up a trouble and intensifying a contradiction, oppose shifting a trouble onto others and benefiting self at the expense of others.

Sustainable security is to give equal emphasis on development and security so as to achieve lasting security. Development is the basis of security while security is the condition for development. A barren land can hardly grow a big tree of peace while development fruits can hardly be born in the groaning of war. For most countries, development is the greatest security, but also the "key" to solve the regional security problems.

Adherence to the correct concept of righteousness, fairness and interests is the important theoretical innovation of Xi Jinping's international strategy, and has become a guiding principle for the Chinese diplomatic practice.

Adherence to the correct concept of righteousness, fairness and interests is to give equal emphasis on rights and obligations with consideration to both. Since modern times, "the interests is supreme", "there are only permanent interests, no permanent friends", etc. are regarded as the unchangeable law of international relations. But under conditions of the current era , this rule does not work well. Xi Jinping stresses, in international cooperation, we should attach importance to interests, but more to righteousness. Only both are given equal consideration, can they be achievable, only there is a balance between the two, can there be win-win outcome. That is countries in pursuit of national interests should take into account the legitimate concerns of other countries, and promote the common development of all countries in pursuit of national development, thus, establishing a more equitable and balanced new-type global partnership for development, and building a better home on the Mother Earth.

Adherence to the correct concept of righteousness and interests is to promote international justice, establish the international morality and shape a national image responsibility. Xi Jinping points out that peaceful development is the world's major righteousness, and win-win cooperation is the world's best interests, and development of both simultaneously is not harmful but mutually complementary. He stresses that China must have its own characteristics of major country diplomacy, speak out from the sense of justice, and establish the image of a responsible major country, hold high the banner of peace and development, and achieve the highest interests of mankind. Meantime, warn an individual country of not disturbing the overall regional order for selfish interests. Adherence to the correct concept of righteousness and interests is to unify China’s peaceful development road with safeguarding the national core interests. To base national development on the national strength, to unswervingly follow the chosen path and peaceful development road, meanwhile never give up the national legitimate rights and interests, and never sacrifice the national core interests either.

Xi Jinping still views peace and development as the main themes of the times, and the top priority, development is sustenance in subsistence and hope as well as symbolizes dignity and rights.(11)Take development as the core interests of developing countries including China and as the cornerstone of security, China declares on many occasions to spare no effort to safeguard sovereignty, security and development.

At the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Xi Jinping calls on all countries in the world to work together to create a fair, open, comprehensive, and innovative road of development. Fair development is to make opportunities for development more equal and share the fruits of development. Open development is to require all countries to open their doors for construction, and jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system. Comprehensive development is to achieve economic, social and environmental coordinated development. Innovative development is to ensure the full release of development potential, and nurture new core competitiveness.

Xi Jinping puts forward specific development measures: Firstly is to enhance developing capacity for all countries, while the international community should provide developing countries with specific support and help. Secondly is to improve international developing environment, and maintain peaceful environment and strengthen institutional building. Thirdly is to optimize the development partnerships, and make the main channel the North-South cooperation and deepen the South-South cooperation and trilateral cooperation. Fourthly is to improve development coordination mechanisms, and strengthen policy communication among various countries, while regional organizations and the United Nations should play a multilateral platform role in coordination, integration, and leadership.

In short, Xi Jinping thought for international strategy provides a guide to action for correctly handling and developing international relations, provides a guiding idea for scientific solution and elimination of international disputes, provides a theoretical guidance and action guide for realization of the Chinese dream, and the latest development of the CPC international strategic thinking in the new period.

(Excerpts of an article from www.zazhi.com.cn)

Endnotes:

1. 8.9.10, Xi Jinping: Speeches at the Third Session of the Nuclear Security Summit, during visits to four European countries, to the headquarters of UNESCO and to the headquarters of EU, People's Publishing House, 2014, pp.34, 10,12, 12.

2.Xi Jinping's speech at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, http://www.gov.cn/ldhd/2013-03/24/content _2360829.htm

3.Xi Jinping: "Xi Jinping Talks about National Governance", Foreign languages Press, 2014, p. 329.

4.Xi Jinping: Speeches at the Third Session of the Nuclear Security Summit, during visits to four European countries, to the headquarters of UNESCO and to the headquarters of EU, People's Publishing House, 2014, p.10.

5. Xi Jinping’s Message to the First Cyber World Conference, http://media.people.com.cn/n/2014/1119/C4060626054255.html

6.Xi Jinping: Speech at welcoming dinner on September 22, 2015 by the local government and the American Friendly Associations in Washington state .

7.Xi Jinping: an important speech in the city of London. http: / /news.gmw.cn/2015-10/23/content _17449258.htm

11.http: / /news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2015-09-26/doc-ifxieymu0879281.shtml