“Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is an integral part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which should be firmly upheld as a basic guideline in the practice of diplomacy,” said Li Fan, deputy director-general of the Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Li was invited to deliver a keynote speech on a conference entitled “Striving to Chart a New Course for China’s Major-country Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era Based on Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy,” which was held at the International Conference Hall in Shenzhen University (SZU) on March 20.
Dr. Li said: “Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, we insist on Chinese modernization, which designates the peaceful and harmonious development with Chinese characteristics and seek common benefits in multilateral cooperation with the international community in the world diplomatic stage.” She added that the Chinese path to modernization has great value to display China’s major-country diplomacy in the new era.
When it comes to opening a new chapter for China’s major-country diplomacy, Li used the development of Sino-U.S. ties as examples, quoting Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s words that “It is the common benefits between China and the U.S. that determine the relations of the two countries, rather than their different ideologies.”
Dr. Li used “Six Comprehensives” to summarize the achievements China has obtained on diplomacy and illustrated the significance of China’s diplomatic work in the past decade. Li said the head-of-state diplomacy plays a leading role in promoting diplomatic ties with the international community, serving as a bond to connect China with the rest of the world.
When talking about China’s improvement on its services in terms of 19 overseas evacuation operations that China carried out over the past decades, Dr. Li showed a video clip from a feature film entitled “Home Coming,” which is adapted from a real event of the evacuation of overseas Chinese from a foreign country at war.
Dr. Li’s informative lecture kept the students and teachers up to date with China’s latest diplomatic policies by illustrating Xi Jinping’s previous important foreign affair activities, statements and recent proposition on certain international hotspot issues, wherein China’s diplomatic activities in the new era are based.
Prof. Dai Yonghong, dean of the College of International Studies (CIS) and Institute of Regional and International Communication (IRIC), thanks Li for her talk. “With the diplomatic stories vividly told from the perspective of a front-line diplomat, we have learned both theoretical and practical knowledge regarding China’s diplomacy,” he said.