Xi seeks new outlook on foreign affairs

Xi Jinping emphasized that today's world is changing. It is a world in which new opportunities and new challenges keep emerging, a world in which the international system and international order are going through deep adjustment and a world in which the relative international forces are in profound shift in favor of peace and development.

"In observing the world, we should not allow our views to be blocked by intricate developments. Instead, we should observe the world through the prism of historical laws. All factors considered, we can see that China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for its development endeavor in which much can be accomplished. Our biggest opportunity lies in China's steady development and the growth in its strength. On the other hand, we should be mindful of various risks and challenges and skillfully defuse potential crises and turn them into opportunities for China's development."

Xi noted that China has entered a crucial stage of achieving the great renewal of the Chinese nation. China's relations with the rest of the world are going through profound changes; its interactions with the international community have become closer than ever before. China's dependence on the world and its involvement in international affairs are deepening, so are the world's dependence on China and its impact on China. "Therefore, in projecting and adopting plans for reform and development, we must give full consideration to both domestic and international markets, both domestic and foreign resources and both domestic and international rules, and use them in a coordinated way."

Xi stressed that China should develop a distinctive diplomatic approach befitting its role of a major country. "We should, on the basis of summing up our past practice and experience, enrich and further develop our diplomatic perceptions, and conduct diplomacy with a salient Chinese feature and a Chinese vision. We should uphold the CPC's leadership and socialism with distinctive Chinese features, and stick to our development path, social system, cultural tradition and values.

"We should continue to follow the independent foreign policy of peace, always base ourselves on our own strength in pursuing the development of the country and the nation, and follow our own path unswervingly. While we pursue peaceful development, we will never relinquish our legitimate rights and interests, or allow China's core interests to be undermined. We should promote democracy in international relations, and uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," Xi said.

"We are firm in our position that all countries, regardless of their size, strength and level of development, are equal members of the international community and that the destiny of the world should be decided by people of all countries. We should uphold international justice and, in particular, speak up for developing countries."

Xi Jinping underlined the importance of pursuing win-win cooperation and promoting a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation. "We should continue to follow the win-win strategy of opening-up and a win-win approach in every aspect of our external relations such as political, economic, security and cultural fields."

"We should uphold justice and pursue shared interests. This means we should act in good faith, value friendship, and champion and uphold justice. We should abide by the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, respect the independent choice of development path and social system by people of other countries, promote peaceful resolution of differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, and oppose the willful use or threat of force."

Xi pointed out that in conducting China's diplomacy in both current stage and in the time to come, "We should take an overall approach to national security, strengthen the confidence of the Chinese people in the path, theories and system of socialism with distinctive Chinese features, and ensure China's durable peace and stability."

"We should seek other countries' understanding of and support for the Chinese dream, which is about peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes. What we pursue is the wellbeing of both the Chinese people and the people of all other countries."

"We should firmly uphold China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and national unity, and properly handle territorial and island disputes," Xi said. "We should uphold China's development opportunities and space and work hard to form a network of high interdependence and mutual benefit through extensive and mutually beneficial business and technological cooperation. We should make more friends while abiding by the principle of non-alignment and build a global network of partnership."

"We should increase China's soft power, give a good Chinese narrative, and better communicate China's message to the world," Xi said.