Xi leads China's diplomacy to usher in new chapter in turbulent world

BEIJING -- In the opening weeks of 2026, President Xi Jinping's intensive bilateral and multilateral interactions spanning China's neighboring regions, Europe, North America and the Global South, have drawn widespread attention across the world.

At a time when humanity once again stands at a crossroads, China's diplomacy under Xi's leadership opens a magnificent new chapter, demonstrating China's commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity and promoting world peace and development.

CONSTRUCTING CLOSER GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

On New Year's Eve, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged New Year greetings. Xi took a comprehensive look back at 2025, a year marking a concrete step in the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, and expressed readiness to maintain close exchanges with Putin to jointly push for continuous new progress in bilateral ties in the new era.

On Jan 5, Xi held talks with President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung, the first foreign head of state visiting China in 2026.

Xi said he and President Lee have met twice and conducted reciprocal visits, reflecting the importance both sides attach to China-ROK relations. As both friends and neighbors, China and the ROK should increase exchanges and maintain frequent communication.

On the same day, Xi met with Taoiseach of Ireland Micheal Martin, whose visit to China marked the first by an Irish Taoiseach in 14 years. Xi summarized the valuable experience gained from the long-term stable development of bilateral ties, and said China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Ireland, deepen political mutual trust and expand pragmatic cooperation to benefit the peoples of both countries and add momentum to China-EU relations.

In addition, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will pay an official visit to China from Jan 25 to 28, which is expected to further deepen bilateral relations.

On Jan 16, Xi met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose visit to China marked the first by a Canadian prime minister in eight years. Xi put forward four proposals on bilateral relations, and called on both sides to steer their ties onto the track of sound, steady and sustainable development, and bring more benefits to both peoples.

China's new year diplomacy also highlighted its firm solidarity with the Global South. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of launching diplomatic relations between China and Africa, Xi sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made his first overseas trip of the year to Africa, continuing a diplomatic tradition that has been carried out for 36 consecutive years.

During a phone call with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Jan. 23, Xi noted that China is committed to always being a good friend and partner to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and to jointly advancing the building of the China-LAC community with a shared future.

These events have highlighted China's sincere willingness to unite with Global South countries to address global challenges and jointly advance modernization.

With intensive and proactive diplomatic engagements in less than a month, China is deepening and expanding global partnerships that feature equality, openness and cooperation.

STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC AND TRADE CONNECTIONS

Xi's new year diplomacy has strongly conveyed to the international community China's clear and consistent commitment to upholding openness, cooperation, and joint development amid a world beset by unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism.

During Lee's visit to China, Xi and Lee witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation documents between China and the ROK in fields including scientific and technological innovation, ecological environment, transportation, and economic and trade cooperation.

Martin said Ireland is committed to developing the strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in trade, investment, science and technology, biomedicine, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, education and other fields.

During Carney's visit, both sides issued a joint statement of the China-Canada leaders' meeting, and signed eight cooperation documents, including an economic and trade cooperation roadmap. The two sides also made specific arrangements to properly address trade issues related to electric vehicles (EVs), steel and aluminum products, rapeseed, and agricultural and aquatic products.

Ahead of Orpo's visit to China, the Finnish side noted that "China is an important export market for Finnish companies and the EU's second largest trading partner," and the visit is expected "to promote business opportunities for Finland in China."

As 2026 marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period, the momentum of various parties looking to embrace Chinese opportunities and pursue win-win cooperation clearly highlights the vast space for shared prosperity embedded in Chinese modernization.

China will open its doors still wider, and inject greater certainty and fresh momentum into the world through its high-quality development, so that countries will realize common development and shared prosperity, Xi said.

DEEPENING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE BONDS

Friendship, which comes from close contact between people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. Promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding stands as another highlight of China's head of state diplomacy at the beginning of 2026.

When exchanging New Year greetings with Putin, Xi announced that 2026-2027 will be designated as the China-Russia Years of Education.

During his talks with Lee, Xi called on both sides to increase personnel exchanges and promote interactions in areas such as youth, media, sports, think tanks and local governments.

In his meeting with Martin, Xi extended a warm welcome for more Irish youth to come to China for study and exchanges.

Responding to a letter from a US youth education exchange delegation comprised of teachers and students, Xi said he looks forward to more American youth joining the cause of China-US friendship, becoming a new generation of envoys of friendship between the two countries, and making greater contributions to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and promoting the development of bilateral relations.

Xi's diplomatic style has showcased to the world the distinct traits of China's foreign policy -- treating all nations as equals and upholding a long-term vision -- and embodied the grandeur of Chinese civilization that is inclusive and embraces the diversity of all cultures.

In today's context, the broad-mindedness to replace civilizational estrangement and clashes with exchanges and mutual learning is particularly precious.

ADVANCING MULTILATERALISM FOR SHARED FUTURE

"The world today is undergoing both changes and turbulence, and some regions are still engulfed in war. China always stands on the right side of history, and is ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development and build a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi said in his 2026 New Year message, reflecting deep concern for the evolving global landscape.

Facing the severe challenge of fragmented global governance, China adheres to practicing true multilateralism. While managing its own affairs well, the country strives for human progress, emerging as a driving force for peaceful development and a stabilizer in a turbulent world.

All countries should respect the development paths chosen by the peoples of other nations, and abide by international law as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Xi said, stressing that major countries should particularly take the lead in doing so.

Xi's point of view demonstrates the country's sense of responsibility for humanity's shared future.

Division, confrontation and zero-sum games have no future, and returning the world to the law of the jungle is unpopular. Instead, global solidarity and cooperation represents the only right path forward. Xi's statement, made to newly appointed ambassadors to China, has found broad resonance.

At this critical historical juncture, where human society yearns for stability, reliability and direction, President Xi has steered China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics to a steady start in 2026, injecting into the world vital hopes for stable progress, broad opportunities for cooperation and positive forces for win-win outcomes.