Common destiny needs stability

Strategic focus of China's foreign policy is consolidating friendly cooperation and security with neighboring countries

As China seeks a more balanced diplomatic approach after decades of enhanced exchanges with Western powers, it should pay more attention to its Asian neighbors.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the focus of the nation's foreign strategy was to lean to the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. Later on, with the worsening of relations with the Soviet Union, Beijing adjusted its strategic focus to strengthen unity and cooperation with Third World countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

After the launch of reform and opening-up, China began engaging with the West, first with the United States, and actively participating in the globalization process, on the basis of enhancing cooperation with developing countries, to create a favorable international environment for the country's modernization drive. Keeping a low profile strategically and concentrating on economic construction were the mainstays of China's diplomacy.

In recent years, however, China's economic rise has brought the country not only confidence and global influence, but also suspicions about its strategic intentions from neighboring countries that have territorial disputes with China. Moreover, the US' rebalancing strategy in the Asia-Pacific has added to the strategic pressure China faces.

In the face of the complex and profound domestic and international changes that have taken place in recent years, how to provide strategic and institutional backup for China's growing influence and create a favorable international and regional environment for China's peaceful development have become pressing problems, which require China to make adjustments to its diplomatic strategy making neighboring regions the focus.

If China can take the initiative and undertake sound diplomatic work in neighboring regions and consolidate its friendly cooperation with neighboring countries, Beijing will not have to fear any mounting pressure from the US or any other country.

At a conference held in October on diplomacy, President Xi Jinping said that the neighboring region has major strategic significance and dealing with neighboring countries should have a three-dimensional, multi-element perspective, beyond time and space.

A three-dimensional perspective means strengthening top-level design and strategic planning and promoting the deepening of both official and people-to-people friendly exchanges, so as to build a three-dimensional diplomatic network that consolidates the strategic and social foundation of relations between China and neighboring countries.