Daily Times

Over the past five years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited many parts of the world. From Asia to Europe, Africa to Oceania, and the Americas. And Xi’s diplomacy has been increasing Chinese influence and promoting bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation. Since President Xi took over, China has contributed 30 percent to the world’s economic growth. He has embarked upon extensive overseas visits, as well as invited several heads of states to China. Undoubtedly, China’s current foreign policy has been revolving around President Xi’s personality and vision. He has laid down several principles of foreign policy for China that have set a trajectory for the country’s economic growth and increased political stature around the world.

Shared developments for mankind and robust infrastructure developments are major foreign policy principles from Xi. He announced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. In the course of five years, the BRI has moved from concept to action and from vision to reality. It has become a global project with the potential to benefit almost two thirds of mankind.

Many multilateral and bilateral economic corridors are currently under progress. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) are two successful examples of Xi’s vision. Currently, the Belt and Road Forum is one of the biggest events in the international arena to attract dozens of heads of states and hundreds of officials delegated from more than 140 countries.

Reforming the global governance system without competing with the existing global financial players is another norm introduced by President Xi’s diplomacy. Over the years, he has emphasised for improvement in existing global governance institutions and offered Chinese expertise a chance to enhance the potential of those institutions. Many new financial institutions, particularly Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have been established in order to increase the pace of development projects.

President Xi has been convincing world leaders that Chinese desires from the world and contributions to the world are equally important

Since 2016, Chinese currency has been enjoying the status of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) in International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is a great success of Xi’s diplomacy. Xi’s emphasis on South-to-South regional cooperation has made him famous in developing countries. Strengthening the multilateral forums, particularly Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) remained one of his top priorities during last five years.

President Xi has been convincing world leaders that Chinese desires from the world and contributions to the world are equally important for the prosperity of mankind. People-to-people exchanges are one of the core principles of his diplomacy.

Chinese people can travel all around the world with ease due to Xi’s efforts. China has ‘mutual visa-free travel’ with 131 countries. Currently, Chinese ordinary passport holders can travel to 64 countries without a visa or by securing a visa on arrival. It doesn’t mean that President Xi is following a submissive and naïve foreign policy. In his address at the 95th CPC Founding Anniversary on July 1, 2016, he stated that, “Chinese people do not believe in evil, nor are we afraid of it, we do not make troubles nor are we afraid of it. No country should ever expect that China will compromise on its core interests and its sovereignty.”

Chinese citizens in conflict zones, such as Yemen, Nepal and South Sudan have been rescued. In early 2015, President Xi ordered Chinese warships to rescue more than 600 stranded Chinese citizens from Yemen. Moreover, citizens of 15 countries were also evacuated from Yemen during this mega operation.

After Xi’s commitment in 2015, at Peacekeeping Leaders’ Summit in New York, China increased its role in UN Peacekeeping Missions. According to the official website of the UN Peacekeeping Mission, China is currently contributing more than 10 percent to the peacekeeping budget.

Xi’s vision is increasingly being shared by world leaders and the public at large. Many countries have broken protocol to welcome him as a state guest. China, under his leadership, is leading, uniting, and inspiring the world. Xi’s inclusive diplomacy has increased China’s soft power manifold.

More than six million copies of his book on Governance of China have been sold in 21 languages in more than 150 countries. With his charismatic personality, clear and attractive vision for a prosperous world, inclusiveness and peaceful development, Xi has changed the course of Chinese diplomacy and transformed it into Xiplomacy.

The writer is a PhD Scholar and Researcher at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)

Published in Daily Times, June 29^th 2018.