China boosts development, mutual benefits
The nation will host four major international events this year, as Zhang Yunbi reports.
China is honoring its commitment to boost reciprocity and mutual benefits with the world as it offers a slew of original ideas and fresh action for the four major diplomatic events it will host this year, according to senior diplomats and experts.
The insiders, who are also political advisers attending the ongoing two sessions — the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference — made the comments as the world’s second-largest economy marks the 40th anniversary of the start of the reform and opening-up policy.
This year, China will host the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the China International Import Expo.
The gatherings will be spread across the year and will cover all four seasons, and the Government Work Report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang on Monday requested that all efforts be made to ensure they are successful.
Li Baodong, vice-foreign minister, said preparations for the events are progressing smoothly and the global community has responded warmly, with many countries consulting with and contacting Beijing.
“We take hosting these events very seriously, and they will be wonderful. We are full of confidence in this regard,” Li said.
New contributions will be made by the nation toward building a new kind of international relations as well as “the Community of Shared Future for Mankind”, he added, referring to one of President Xi Jinping’s signature concepts.
“I believe all four diplomatic events will achieve bumper harvests and great success.”
Li Ruiyu, ambassador to Italy, noted that this year marks not only the first opportunity for translating into reality the blueprint rolled out by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October, but also the fifth anniversary of the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.
“The transformation and upgrading of China’s economy has started a locomotive of growth opportunities for a number of countries, and China’s all-out opening-up signals the pathway to greater opportunities,” he said.
Improved ties
Many of China’s neighbors will be directly involved in, and will benefit from, the first two of the four events because the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia will be held in April, while the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held in Qingdao in East China’s Shandong province in June.
Founded in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia has become a highend platform for dialogue about key Asian issues among political and business leaders, and senior think tanks.
Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, a veteran diplomat in charge of Asian affairs, noted that this year’s forum “carries unprecedented significance”.
It will be the first major diplomatic event held in China since the 19th CPC National Congress, Kong said, adding that China will project a “new look” in diplomacy.
As China holds the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this year, the summit will be the first of its kind convened after India and Pakistan officially joined the regional organization last year.
“The SCO, founded by China and Russia and the Central Asian member countries in 2001, has become a role model for seeking greater security through cooperation,” said Ji Zhiye, president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.
The organization has built a system of mutual trust regarding regional security, and member states have jointly cracked down on separatists, extremists and terrorists, as well as championing regional peace and stability, Ji said.
Localities and road shows provide more drivers for growth What they say