China’s diplomacy more cogent in 2017

This year 2017 saw China playing a more effective role in global governance, as it continued making efforts to maintain peace and strengthen communication among countries. At a time when regional conflicts, slow economic development and erratic diplomacy have aggravated global uncertainties, China remains committed to promoting cooperation for the betterment of the world.

China has gone to great lengths to help maintain regional peace and cooperation. Sticking to the principle of peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit, it has strengthened its ties with Russia, the European Union and the United States. For instance, during US President Donald Trump’s state visit to China in November, the two countries “shelved” their disputes and agreed to deepen win-win cooperation in more areas of mutual benefit. On regional issues, China promoted multilateral talks to help resolve the Korean Peninsula, Syria, Afghanistan

The Sino-Vietnamese war is an unfortunate historical fact for both sides, and Feng’s film plays it down. Feng also desists from using the term “enemy” in the film. The war was triggered by various historical and political factors both in China and abroad. And it does not make sense to raise that unfortunate past now that both sides want to improve their relations and boost regional economic growth. They have already achieved progress on these two fronts.

But the territorial dispute between China and Vietnam over some islands in the South China Sea in recent years has refreshed the memory of the 1979 war on both sides. Moreover, Vietnam should welcome the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and participate in the Trans-Asia Railway project, which connects Kunming in Southwest China’s and Middle East issues.

Since China is committed to helping build a community of shared future in its neighborhood, soon after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, paid state visits to Vietnam and Laos to promote regional development. Such diplomatic efforts have helped China to improve its ties with the other neighbors, too, including the Republic of Korea, Japan and India.

Besides, as a responsible power, China has strove to advance communication and development, in order to promote globalization and improve global governance. And its Belt and Road Initiative is the highlight of its contributions to the world.

Since Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, China has signed, as part of the initiative, cooperation agreements with 80 countries and organizations, carried out industrial cooperation Yunnan province to the Eurasian continent in the north and Southeast Asia in the south.

Striking the right balance between the betterment of humankind and the strategic methods of economic and political cooperation is the key to convincing Vietnam about participating in China-proposed projects and improving bilateral ties. More importantly, the dispute over the South China Sea islands has to be handled cautiously to improve China-Vietnam relations.

Cooperation, not hatred, must set bilateral agenda

This year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting that was held in Da Nang, Vietnam, in November to boost regional economic growth facilitated the exchange of visits between the leaders of China and Vietnam within one year. The first such exchange of visits since 2015 highlight the importance of China-Vietnam relations, which have seen steady growth despite the occasional hiccups.

The Belt and Road Initiative will not only help meet Vietnam’s demand for industrial modernization, but also help improve the relationship between the neighbors. Vietnam that boasts a long coastline will especially benefit from the 21st Century Maritime with more than 30 countries, and helped build 75 economic and trade cooperation zones in 24 countries. Chinese companies’ investments in the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have passed $50 billion and created about 180,000 jobs.

Representatives from 130 countries, including 29 heads of state or government, and scores of international organizations took part in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in May, where more than 270 projects aimed at strengthening the international cooperation network were final- Silk Road, which together with the Silk Road Economic Belt forms the Belt and Road Initiative.

China and Vietnam, both governed by communist parties, share a long history of friendly exchanges. Besides, China has been Vietnam’s biggest trading partner for 13 years, and the huge investments by Chinese enterprises in Vietnam have boosted Vietnam’s infrastructure projects and economic growth. So the two sides should let their cooperation set the course of their future relationship, instead of allowing the 1979 war to spread mutual hatred among their peoples.

Film will help viewers admire war heroes

Youth chronicles the destinies of some young members of an art troupe in the Chinese military and their patriotism against the backdrop from 1970s to early 2000s, including the China-Vietnam war. By focusing on the youths’ humanity, life, love and freedom, and their struggle to make ends meet after leaving the ized.

China has shared its development experiences with the rest of the world and offered “Chinese solutions” to global problems to help the international community boost global economic growth. Also, the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation is directly connected with the development of the world.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Xi called for innovative patterns of development, open cooperation and fairer global governance. And in Geneva, he put forward the concept of a community of shared future for humankind, drawing worldwide praise.

In September, the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen, East China’s Fujian province, not only lifted the level of economic, security, cultural and communication cooperation, but also proposed a “BRICS-Plus” mode of communication between developing countries and emerging markets to enhance cooperation among military, takes a course different from many other Chinese films.

Director Feng Xiaogang and writer Yan Geling both served in the military when they were young, and both say their experiences, as shown in the movie, will make viewers understand and admire the heroes of the 1979 war. Asian, Middle East, African and Latin American countries. As such, the BRICS Summit has become a new platform for South-South cooperation.

And from Nov 30 to Dec 3, Beijing hosted the first CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, a historic event where the CPC and political parties from across the world shared their experiences. Addressing the opening session of the meeting, Xi said the CPC will work to improve the life and livelihood of the Chinese people and realize the Chinese Dream, as well as building a community of shared future for humankind.

It is thus clear China has been shouldering more responsibilities in global governance. And while its development initiatives are yielding fruits, its efforts to maintain regional and global peace have helped safeguard its sovereignty and national interests.

The year 2017 saw China playing a more effective role in global governance ...

The author is Jean Monnet chair professor at Renmin University of China.

Yang Jinsong, a film critic