Amid a global trade war outbreak, the first central work conference on surrounding areas was held in Beijing on the 8th and 9th, attended by all members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech, stating that China’s relations with neighboring countries have entered an important phase of “deep linkage between surrounding patterns and global changes.” He emphasized the need to build a “community with a shared future for neighboring countries,” deepen mutual development integration, strengthen supply chain cooperation, and jointly maintain regional stability to address various risks and challenges.
The Malaysian government announced on the 9th that Xi Jinping will visit Malaysia for three days starting next Tuesday. It is reported that he will also visit Cambodia and Vietnam, two other Southeast Asian countries.
● Focus on Building a 'Community with a Shared Future for Neighboring Countries'
In October 2013, China held a “Symposium on Peripheral Diplomacy,” which has now been upgraded to a “Central Conference on Peripheral Work.” The meeting comes at a time when the U.S. Trump administration is imposing tariffs on several countries globally, including 49% and 46% heavy tariffs on Cambodia and Vietnam respectively, with the U.S. clearly intending to block Chinese products from being rerouted through Southeast Asia to the U.S.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Xi Jinping in his speech “clarified the objectives, tasks, and strategic measures for peripheral work in the future,” stressing the need to focus on building a “community with a shared future for neighboring countries” and striving to create a new situation in peripheral work. The meeting noted that China’s vast territory and long borders are a crucial foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key area for national security, the primary canvas for exercising diplomatic strategies, and pivotal for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It is essential to examine surrounding areas with a global perspective and enhance the sense of responsibility and mission for peripheral work.
The meeting affirmed that since the 18th National Congress, China has proposed the peripheral diplomatic principle of “amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness,” led by head-of-state diplomacy to deepen comprehensive cooperation, strengthen exchanges in various fields, and jointly maintain peace and stability with neighboring countries. Currently, China’s relations with neighboring countries are at their best in modern times, entering an important phase of deep linkage between surrounding patterns and world changes.
● First Foreign Visit This Year Focuses on Southeast Asia
The meeting emphasized that building a community with a shared future for neighboring countries requires consolidating strategic mutual trust and supporting regional countries to steadily pursue their development paths, appropriately managing conflicts and differences; deepening development integration, constructing high-level connectivity networks, strengthening supply chain cooperation; jointly maintaining regional stability, conducting security and law enforcement cooperation; expanding outreach and exchanges, facilitating personnel exchanges.
Analysts pointed out that the “world changes” mentioned in the meeting include the recent global trade war initiated by the U.S. The U.S. intends to use high tariffs to force Vietnam, Cambodia, and others to tighten control over the transshipment of goods from China. How China coordinates industrial cooperation with Southeast Asian neighboring countries in response to U.S. tariff pressure is worthy of attention.
Xi Jinping will visit Southeast Asia in the middle of this month, with the Malaysian government announcing on the 9th that Xi will visit Malaysia from the 15th for three days. Xi will also visit Vietnam and Cambodia, which will be his first foreign visit this year, demonstrating the importance placed on neighboring countries like Southeast Asia.