Hosting key events shows China’s world perspective

The international events scheduled to be held in China in 2018 will continue to serve as important platforms for China to advocate its major proposals such as building a community of shared future for mankind, analysts said.

China will host the Boao Forum for Asia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit, both to be attended mainly by neighboring countries.

Another significant event on China’s diplomatic agenda for 2018 will be hosting the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

In May, President Xi Jinping announced at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that the first China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai in 2018, which demonstrated China’s readiness to open its market and share its development opportunities with the rest of the world.

In 2018, China will also hold ministerial meetings under the China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Nations Forum and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said that hosting meetings has played an important role in China’s diplomacy in recent years along with the country’s hosting of a number of global events including the G20 Hangzhou Summit last year and the BRICS Xiamen Summit this year.

“Through hosting the global events, China could push its proposals for global solutions because we could master the agenda-setting process of those influential platforms,” he said.

For example, China hosted the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May, and the Belt and Road Initiative has become an international concept that is widely accepted by other countries, he said, adding that the initiative is developing across the board and has shown strong vigor and vitality.

At the forum, Xi set out the objective of building the Belt and Road into a road for peace, prosperity, openingup, innovation and exchanges among civilizations. Underpinned by real actions and concrete projects, the forum produced over 270 specific results under 76 broad categories across five key areas. A series of major projects were launched on the ground during the forum.

The BRICS Xiamen Summit held in September launched the new concept of “BRICS Plus”, which focuses more on the common development of developing countries and emerging markets, he added.

During the BRICS Xiamen Summit chaired by Xi, the BRICS countries decided to develop a closer, broader and more comprehensive strategic partnership, and upgrade BRICS cooperation with three pillars of economic, trade and financial cooperation, political and security cooperation, and people-to-people exchange.

Sun Zhuangzhi, secretarygeneral of the SCO Research Center affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China’s major proposals such as building the Belt and Road will be advocated at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit.

The summit will be attended by eight members for the first time after Pakistan and India formally became members this year.

Important documents proposed by Chinese leaders, such as the agreement to facilitate trade and investment, are expected to be signed at the summit, he said.

The selection of Qingdao as the host city reflects China’s advocacy of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said, adding that Qingdao has both land connections with Europe through railways and maritime connections with other countries.

The city plays an important role in building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, he said.

Noting that the country’s diplomacy has entered a new era, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a symposium held early this month that China will give more consideration to the overall interests of the world and humanity.

“As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, we also need to gain a new outlook, make new accomplishments and take new responsibilities in the conduct of China’s foreign policy,” he said.