Xi calls for building community with shared future with neighboring countries

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping has called for building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and striving to open new ground for China's neighborhood work.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a central conference on work related to neighboring countries, which was held in Beijing from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, and Vice President Han Zheng also attended the conference.

In his speech, Xi systematically summarized the achievements and experience of China's neighborhood work in the new era, scientifically analyzed the current situation, and outlined the goals, tasks, ideas and measures for the next phase of neighborhood work.

While presiding over the meeting, Premier Li Qiang stressed the need to thoroughly implement the spirit of Xi's important speech and to earnestly carry out the various tasks in work related to neighboring countries.

The conference highlighted that China's vast territory and long borders make its neighborhood a vital foundation for national development and prosperity, a key front for safeguarding national security, a priority area in the country's overall diplomacy, and a crucial link in building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The conference called for viewing neighboring regions through a global perspective and strengthening the sense of responsibility and mission in advancing China's neighborhood work.

It was noted at the conference that after the 18th CPC National Congress, China put forward the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in its neighborhood diplomacy, advocating for the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries.

Guided by head-of-state diplomacy, China has worked with neighboring countries to deepen all-around cooperation, strengthen exchanges in various fields, and maintain peace and stability, thereby securing historic achievements and transformation in neighborhood work, according to the meeting.

China's relations with its neighboring countries are currently at their best in modern times, and are also entering a critical phase where regional dynamics and global transformations are deeply intertwined, the conference noted, calling for taking into account both the domestic and international situations and coordinating the two major priorities of development and security.

To build a better future with its neighbors, China will remain committed to fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood. It will uphold the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, use high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main platform, and pursue the Asian security model that features sharing weal and woe, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and prioritizing dialogue and consultation, according to the conference.

It was emphasized at the meeting that to build a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, China will work with its neighbors to consolidate strategic mutual trust, support regional countries in pursuing development paths suited to their respective conditions, and properly manage differences.

China will also deepen development integration with its neighbors, build a high-level connectivity network, strengthen cooperation in industrial and supply chains, advance security and law enforcement cooperation, and expand people-to-people exchanges, according to the conference.