Two sessions outcomes bring China-EU benefits

Stronger governance, all-around opening-up and higher-quality development create a fresh landscape for win-win cooperation.

In early spring, the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference never fail to be a focus of global attention.

This year’s sessions were of particular significance, as this year kicks off efforts to implement the decisions of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. As a member of the CPPCC National Committee, I was honored to see firsthand what happened throughout the sessions and how they gave a strong boost to China’s development in the new era. As the Chinese ambassador to the European Union, I’m pleased to see that the sessions will bring new opportunities to China-EU relations and new tangible benefits to billions of Chinese and European citizens.

The modernization of national governance in China will provide stronger institutional support to China-EU cooperation. The decisions made at this year’s legislative session, such as the constitutional amendment, further reform of the national supervisory system and the institutional reform of the State Council, are of crucial importance to law-based governance and modernization of China’s governance system and capability. These decisions will keep China’s development on the right track, strengthen and improve government functions, and help establish a clean and efficient system of governance with clearly defined duties and obligations and administration in line with law. With sound institutions in place, there will be a more stable and rules-based environment for China-EU cooperation.

A new landscape in China’s all-around opening-up will create broad prospects for China-EU cooperation. A host of new measures were introduced at the NPC session with an aim to enhance international cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, promote a steady growth in foreign investment and a more balanced development of foreign trade, and advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. A new landscape in China’s all-around opening-up is taking shape. In the coming years, China will foster a world-class business environment, completely open up the general manufacturing sector and expand access to sectors such as telecommunications, medical services and new energy vehicles. China will also ease or lift restrictions on the share of foreign-owned equity in companies in sectors including banking and securities, and lower import tariffs on automobiles, some everyday consumer goods, and so on. China will not pursue protectionism like certain countries. Rather, in the course of promoting opening-up at higher standards, China will pursue win-win cooperation with its partners, including Europe.

Higher-quality development of China’s economy will inject strong impetus into China-EU cooperation. The sessions set out specific targets for China’s development this year, including an economic growth target of around 6.5 percent. The key message is that we will put more emphasis on the quality of economic development. We will do more in advancing supply-side structural reform, implementing the innovation-driven development strategy, boosting domestic demand by increasing consumption, strengthening the social safety net, and revitalizing the rural areas. These efforts will enhance the quality of China’s economic development and, at the same time, create opportunities for China-EU cooperation in areas such as upgrading the manufacturing sector, provision of better services, agricultural modernization, urbanization and the digital economy.

Spring is the best time to plan for the whole year. This spring will see China setting off on a new journey and herald a promising future for China-EU relations. We stand ready to join forces with our European friends to seize the opportunities to advance the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership through the promotion of peace, growth, reform and intercultural exchanges, and deliver the benefits of China-EU cooperation to more people.

Relentless efforts to lift China-Japan ties

Both sides should deepen understanding and political mutual trust, and involve more young people in friendly exchanges to improve relations.

China and Japan are neighbors across the sea, and there is a tradition of friendship between our people that not only promotes our respective development and prosperity, but also makes contributions to the development of East Asian civilization. Since the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan in 1972, despite twists and turns, relations have been moving forward toward the general direction of peace, friendship, and cooperation. Exchanges and cooperation in various fields have yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries and contributing to the peace, stability and development of Asia and the world at large. In previous years, due to well-known reasons, China-Japan relations were in a severe situation. In 2014, the two sides, focusing on the long-term and overall situation, reached a four-point principled agreement on handling and improving bilateral relations and pushing them into amelioration.

2017 was pivotal to China-Japan relations. On the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties, various sectors of the two countries explored the pivot of China-Japan relations and committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation in various fields. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at multilateral conferences. They unanimously expressed that the countries’ relationship will maintain momentum toward improvement and development, and conveyed positive attitudes of peace, friendship and cooperation to various social sectors. Pragmatic cooperation has been promoted in an all-around manner. The total trade volume between China and Japan reached $300 billion in 2017, and two-way visits exceeded 10 million for the first time.

It is gratifying that China-Japan relations have gradually embarked on the course of steady growth, and we must carefully maintain that. It is hoped that Japan will act in the same spirit and work side by side with China, honor the four key China-Japan political documents and the four-point principled agreement, act in accordance with the rules, focus on enhancing mutual political trust and constructively manage the differences. With extensive and in-depth pragmatic exchanges and cooperation, China and Japan can jointly promote the relations between the two countries to achieve steady progress.

2018 kicks off efforts to implement major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era and marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. It is also the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Bilateral relations face an important opportunity for further improvement and development. In recent days, Japan has shown a clearer and more positive attitude toward China, which is welcomed by Chinese side.

Both sides should keep in mind the original aspirations and review the spirit of the treaty. Forty years ago, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship fully inherited the spirit of the China-Japan Joint Statement, established the guiding principles for the development of relations between the two countries, and for the first time legally confirmed the general direction of peace and friendship for China and Japan. As the saying goes, if you never forget why you started, you can accomplish your mission. Forty years on, at another crucial juncture in history, we should inherit and carry forward the firm belief of the older generations of the two countries to live in peace and friendship forever. We must enshrine the spirit of the treaty, safeguard the hard-won development results of China-Japan relations and take practical actions to constantly inject positive energy into the improvement of relations.

Both sides should improve their understanding and deepen political mutual trust. Mutual understanding determines foreign policy to a large extent and is an important factor influencing bilateral relations. For Japan, the key to being free from concerns is to come to terms with China’s development. China will always take the path of peaceful development, pursue a win-win strategy of opening-up, and strive to foster a new type of international relations and build a global community with a shared future. Japan should understand China’s rapid development and changes from a new perspective and truly view China’s development as an opportunity rather than a challenge.

Both sides should actively seize the opportunity and expand practical cooperation. China and Japan are still at different stages of development. It is obvious that the two economies are complementary and have great potential for cooperation. Japan will benefit from the important business opportunities brought by China’s development. China will also learn from Japan’s advanced industry technology and economic and social management experience. The two countries should strengthen bilateral cooperation in reciprocity and actively explore cooperation in the areas of emerging industries, energy conservation, environmental protection, high-technology, healthcare and elderly care, and continue to expand new space for economic cooperation.

We are pleased to see that last year Japan sent a high-level delegation to Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Prime Minister Abe publicly stated that Japan is willing to provide cooperation to the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. This creates a better environment and conditions for the two countries to cooperate under the initiative. The two countries can further follow up on idea exchanges, policy coordination, financial support, joint project cooperation in third countries, as well as actively explore paths for cooperation in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to create a new growth point for practical cooperation between the two parties. We can achieve a higher level of win-win cooperation and seek common development.

Both sides should strengthen exchanges and enhance friendly sentiments between the two peoples. The friendship between China and Japan is based on the people. People-to-people friendship is the traditional advantage of China-Japan relations. The two sides have formed multilevel, all-around and wide-ranging civil exchanges and cooperation. We must make good use of the opportunity of this year’s 40th anniversary, and make more efforts to improve the sentiments of the two peoples through more frequent and in-depth nongovernmental exchanges. We will actively support and participate in commemorative activities, promote friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in a wide range of areas, including economy, trade, culture, locality and the media, and gather greater consensus on improving relations from the people. Adolescents are the future of China-Japan relations. We should attract more young people to participate in friendly exchanges so that the course of China-Japan relations will be handed down.

Recalling the past, we deeply feel that achievements in the development of China-Japan relations have not come easily. In particular, in recent years, we have gone through an extraordinary course to usher in the improvement of the situation after overcoming serious difficulties. At present, during the spring, when the snow and ice melts and the flowers bloom, China-Japan relations are also showing positive improvement with strong momentum. The two sides are actively negotiating and promoting a series of important diplomatic agendas. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral exchanges at all levels and in various fields will continue to advance in depth so that relations will truly return to normal development. This will bring more benefits to the people of both countries and make positive contributions to the peaceful and stable development of the region.

Sessions spell boost for China-France relations

China’s opening-up has provided opportunities for French goods and services, while France has unique advantages in AI and digital network technology.

The annual two sessions are major events in China’s political life and are closely observed by the international community. This year’s sessions, the first since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, provided a fresh start for the country to march ahead toward rejuvenation.

The meetings saw Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era enshrined in the Constitution, the election of leaders for new national institutions, and the launch of a new round of institutional reforms and policies that will not only promote China’s economic and social development and facilitate the realization of the Chinese Dream, but also benefit other countries around the world and promote common development.

The successful experience from China’s development tells us that it is important to have a firm medium-to-long-term goal, and that we must have specific and clear requirements for each step toward that goal. The 19th National Congress formulated a road map to realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, a multistage plan spanning three time periods: to 2020, to 2035 and to 2049. This involves becoming a moderately prosperous society by 2020, achieving socialist modernization by 2035 and becoming a great modern socialist country by 2049. In accordance with this road map, the Government Work Report presented a series of quantitative indicators for this year’s work. Take steel overcapacity as an example. In order to change the mode of growth, China has cut more than 100 million metric tons of steel production capacity in recent years, and will cut a further 30 million tons this year. Although there are nearly 1 million employees who need to be resettled, the determination of the Chinese government will not change. In the words of President Xi Jinping, we must be consistent and persistent with our blueprint.

China’s national conditions are very complicated. There are no experiences to which we can refer to achieve modernization. Therefore China can only proceed through a process of reform and exploration. China has nearly 1.4 billion people. Any big achievement divided by 1.4 billion becomes very insignificant, and any individual problem multiplied by 1.4 billion becomes a big one. We are willing to learn from the successful experience of other countries in the process of development. However, it is not possible to completely replicate others’ experiences. Reform and exploration are the driving forces behind China’s development. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up policy. For four decades, China has gone through a magnificent development process, and reforms have entered deep-water areas. All the delicious meat has been eaten, and the rest are hard bones. At this critical juncture, we need a strong and stable core. The whole Party and people should unite in thought and action. The two sessions further strengthen China’s leadership, executive power and cohesion, and such vigorous reforms allow us to move forward without any burden on the way forward.

China unswervingly adheres to openness and cooperation, and sincerely hopes to share the opportunities brought about by its own development with the world. In the era of globalization, the links between countries have become increasingly close. Everyone is in the same boat, and we all rise and fall together. Especially for a country as large as China, achieving modernization must take the road of win-win cooperation. It is for this reason that we propose to build a community with shared future for mankind and launch the Belt and Road Initiative. We advocate openness, inclusiveness and common prosperity. So far, Chinese enterprises have invested more than $50 billion in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, creating $1.1 billion in tax revenue and 180,000 jobs. The initiative has become an important global public product and has received an active response from more than 100 countries and international organizations. In November, we will hold an import expo as well as encourage exports to China. This practice is rare in the world and fully reflects our open attitude and sincerity to cooperate.

As the Chinese ambassador to France, I am full of confidence in the new dividends that the two sessions will bring to China-France relations. This year, French President Emmanuel Macron became the first European state leader to visit China after the Party’s 19th National Congress. He was warmly received by President Xi Jinping. The two heads of state reached an important consensus on promoting the development of China-France relations in the new era. Shortly after the conclusion of the two sessions, Macron talked with Xi on the phone and congratulated him on his re-election as China’s president. He said he was willing to work with Xi to implement the consensus reached by both sides and deepen bilateral cooperation. Xi expressed that he hopes to work together with France to build a comprehensive strategic partnership. China-French relations after the two sessions face new and broad development prospects.

Both sides can increase exchanges on their experiences in governance. In the institutional reform of the State Council, we have referred to the fruitful “super-ministry” system of some Western countries such as France. This year, China will carry out a number of structural reforms related to State-owned enterprises, finance and taxation, society and ecological civilization, many of which are problems that France has already encountered and solved. China and France should give full play to the existing dialogue mechanism and learn from each other.

Both sides also have great potential to cooperate in promoting higher-quality development. France has developed high-end manufacturing industries and has many leading technologies in the nuclear, aerospace and automotive industries. Both sides have a good foundation and great potential for cooperation. France has unique advantages in artificial intelligence and digital network technology. We can take advantage of the convergences of Made in China 2025 and France’s Industry of the Future to produce more cooperation opportunities. In the field of environmental protection, the two sides can grasp the opportunities of the French-Chinese Year of the Environment to strengthen cooperation in dealing with climate change, pollution prevention and national park construction.

China's opening-up has provided more opportunities for French goods and services to enter the Chinese market. The import expo will provide an important platform for French companies to enter the Chinese market. French competitive industries such as tourism, medical care, education and elderly care can take advantage of China's opening-up and expand in the Chinese market.

Both sides will make joint efforts to promote third-party cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. During his visit to China, Macron expressed his willingness to participate in the construction of the Belt and Road. The two leaders agreed to discuss specific project cooperation. The two sides have established a third-party market cooperation steering committee and a cooperation fund, which is a sound foundation for cooperation within the initiative. Achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration is the guiding principle for the cooperation of the initiative. Both sides will continue to work in a proactive and pragmatic manner to strengthen coordination and strive for early initiation, early implementation and early realization of the third-party cooperation, reflecting the leading role of China-France relations in the wider China-West relations.

As President Xi said to Macron, in the coming period, China will continue to deepen reform, boost opening-up, pursue more development and make more contributions to the world. China will provide more opportunities for cooperation with France and the rest of Europe.

ASEAN a crucial partner for China

The China-ASEAN partnership in the new era will provide, stabilize and lead regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The recent annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have set new milestones for the country and beyond. Taken together, the election of a new national leadership, adoption of Constitutional amendments, and a new round of national institutional reform, send out strong signals of China's sustained commitment to deeper reform and opening-up.

The latest amendments to the 1982 Constitution have captured most of the headlines overseas, but what is often missed is the inclusion into this "mother law" of ideas such as "following a path of peaceful development", "pursuing a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up", and "working to build a community with a shared future for mankind". They have been China's foreign policy practice and committed goals, and by being written into the Constitution, have become a binding manifesto governing China's engagement with the world.

The efforts to build a community with a shared future start with the neighborhood. And ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is in our immediate neighborhood. President Xi Jinping called on the two sides to build a higher level of strategic partnership and forge a closer community with a shared future.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated at his press conference during this year's NPC session that the China-ASEAN partnership has become the most successful and dynamic model for regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, and that China will put ASEAN on the front page of its international cooperation program, which speaks volumes about China's utmost sincerity and aspirations for stronger and closer partnership with ASEAN.

This year is the inaugural year for China to implement the blueprint mapped out at the 19th CPC National Congress and marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up. It also opens a new chapter for ASEAN in next 50 years. While China and ASEAN are embarking on new phases of development respectively, ASEAN-China relations also enter a new era.

In such a new era, China's policy toward ASEAN is as clear and consistent as ever, which can be shortened into "One priority, two furthers and three supports". Namely, China will continue to take ASEAN as a priority partner in its neighborhood diplomacy; China will further promote a higher level of strategic partnership and further forge a closer community of a shared future with ASEAN; and China will continue to support ASEAN's community-building, support ASEAN's centrality in regional cooperation, and support ASEAN's bigger role in international and regional affairs.

This policy bears the hallmark of what we call "the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era". It is consistent with China's decades-old engagement with ASEAN, and in line with our shared embrace of traditional values like unity in diversity, and harmony without uniformity. Above all, it underlines our deep appreciation of what ASEAN means to China. It can be understood in the following four aspects:

First, linked by mountains and rivers, ASEAN is China's immediate and inseparable neighbor. We share land boundaries of more than 4,000 kilometers, and the vast majority of China's foreign trade passes through Southeast Asia, which underlines how crucial the peace and stability of this region is to China.

Geographical proximity means we are easily affected by common challenges, be it natural disasters or manmade hazards. History has seen us stand by each other in such instances, lending support and help and emerging stronger. Proximity also leads to frequent people-to-people exchanges and closer cultural relatedness. Two-way mutual visits are about to cross the benchmark of 50 million in these two years.

Second, ASEAN is an important platform for China to promote global multi-polarization, build a new type of international relations, and participate in the regional rule-making process. The "ASEAN Way", featuring mutual respect, dialogue, consensus and noninterference, shares the same spirit with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence that China has long advocated and abided by in its efforts to build a new type of international relations of mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation. The ASEAN-centered East-Asian regional cooperation frameworks have been valuable platforms for China to participate in regional cooperation and work for the common good of the region and beyond.

Third, ASEAN is a critical partner for China to uphold economic globalization and regional integration and work for a more balanced and healthy trade relationship. China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for nine consecutive years, and ASEAN has remained China's third largest trading partner for seven years in a row. In 2017, China's trade with ASEAN exceeded $500 billion for the first time, up 14 percent on an annual basis, of which China's imports from ASEAN rose by 20 percent.

We are now working closely to intensify the implementation of the upgraded protocol to the China-ASEAN free trade agreement, and move up the negotiation toward a mutually beneficial RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. With protectionism and isolationism on the rise and international trade rules dismissed and trampled, China and ASEAN will continue to champion economic globalization, free trade and regional integration.

Fourth, ASEAN is a priority area in China's Belt and Road Initiative and the endeavor to open wider to the outside world. ASEAN stands at the intersection of the Belt and Road and is at a critical stage in advancing its own regional connectivity. China is working closely with ASEAN and many other partners to contribute to this process. A number of infrastructure projects have been kicked off, such as the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway, China-Laos Railway and China-Thailand Railway. ASEAN is also among the highest destinations for Chinese investment and business partnerships.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership. We are working to formulate the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership Vision 2030 to chart the course for our relations in the next decade. Efforts will include more strategic communication, better synergies between development strategies, and enhanced people-to-people exchanges, toward building a closer community with a shared future. China-ASEAN partnership in a new era will be one that provides, stabilizes and leads for regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Forging deeper, stronger relations with neighbors

Nation's ties with Pakistan highlight the vision and thinking of China's diplomacy in the new era to forge solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries.

The year 2018 is crucial to China's development. It is the first year for the full implementation of the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the crucial year for securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and for implementing the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). It is also the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up policy. Against this background, the national Two Sessions, the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held last month, have great significance.

These important political events came under the new situation in which the people of all ethnic groups across the country are studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Two Sessions were a complete success with a democratic and united, realistic and progressive approach. They are also windows to show China's confidence in its path, theory, system and culture to the world.

Over the past five years, in the face of a complex environment, at home and abroad, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has rallied and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to forge ahead. We have moved forward in a coordinated manner with the five-sphere integrated plan and the four-pronged comprehensive strategies, and have laid out a creative new vision and new thinking as well as new strategies for China's diplomacy.

General Secretary Xi Jinping's thought on diplomacy has been formed and established, providing theoretical guidelines for China's diplomacy in the New Era, and contributes China's perspectives and wisdom for reforming and improving the global governance system.

China has embarked on a road of major-country diplomacy with China's distinct vision, style and value, which has contributed its wisdom to the reform and improvement of the international system. The proposal to foster a new type of international relations and build a community with a shared future for mankind put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping has become the strongest voice to promote the development of the times.

Now, China's diplomatic agendas for 2018 have been unfolded. We are forging ahead with the pioneering and innovative spirit on the diplomatic front by launching efforts to implement the decisions of the 19th CPC National Congress.

We are hosting a series of diplomatic events in China such as the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference (April 8-11 in Boao, South China's Hainan province), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in June in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing in September, and the first China International Import Expo in November in Shanghai.

We will continue to expand China's network of global partnerships, build a framework for major-country relations of overall stability and balanced development, and forge a new form of international relations. We will continue to deepen relations with our neighbors in line with the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and the policy of forging friendship and partnership with these neighbors.

We will, in keeping with the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests and the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, wish to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. We will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation to comprehensively promote the Belt and Road Initiative. We will play a more constructive role for world stability, and on hot issues actively explore solutions with Chinese characteristics.

In the context of China's diplomacy, the relationship with Pakistan has always been the priority of our neighboring diplomacy. China-Pakistan relations have grown from strength to strength. The friendship between the two countries remains unbreakable.

In April 2015, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Pakistan. The leaders of the two countries agreed to upgrade the China-Pakistan relationship into an all-weather strategic cooperation partnership and opened a new era for the China-Pakistan relationship.

As an important pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has pressed ahead with remarkable results. Of the 43 early harvest projects under the CPEC, 22 projects are under construction or completed with a total investment of around $19 billion.

In trade and investment and fields such as science and technology, culture, education and defense, the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries is also deepening. It can be said that China-Pakistan relations have become the pioneer and an important demonstration in our drive to forge the new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for neighboring countries.

In the near future, President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan will attend the SCO Summit in Qingdao. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of Pakistan is attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. We will take these opportunities to further strengthen the exchanges between the two countries and promote the construction of the CPEC and cooperation in other fields.

Both countries will devote ourselves to push forward the China-Pakistan relations to new heights. We are confident that the China-Pakistan relationship will continue to take the lead in state-to-state relationships, playing an exemplary role in the practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Navigating a bright future together

As natural partners, China and Indonesia are embarking on a new journey on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

China and Indonesia enjoy long-standing friendship as neighbors across the sea. The ancient Maritime Silk Road was opened over 2,000 years ago as a fleet of cargo-laden merchant ships set sail from China's southeast coast, raising the curtain on friendly exchanges between China and Indonesia.

Faxian and Yijing, both prominent monks from ancient China, traveled to Sumatra via the Silk Road for Buddhist exchanges. During his seven naval expeditions, the great Chinese navigator Zheng He led his fleet to Indonesia's Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. His adventure became a tale told far and wide. With ships coming and going, the two countries not only completed the exchange of goods, but also bolstered mutual learning between cultures.

In addition to being an important hub along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Indonesia bore witness to the proposing of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It was in his address to the Indonesian House of Representatives in 2013 that Chinese President Xi Jinping set forth the initiative for the first time.

Accounting for around 40 percent of the total landmass, population and GDP in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia is the bloc's largest member state and a major driver of regional and even global economic growth.

As major developing countries both striving to promote development and improve their people's livelihoods, China and Indonesia are natural partners as they complement each other in infrastructure, industrial capacity, finance and other sectors.

In recent years, under the strong leadership of President Xi and President Joko Widodo, the two countries have focused on promoting synergy between the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative and the Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy, deepened cooperation and exchanges across the board, and elevated bilateral relations to new heights.

The two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and strengthened mutual trust and confidence. Within three years, Widodo has visited China five times and held six bilateral meetings with Xi.

Last year, in May, Widodo attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing, during which the two presidents reached important consensus on further synergizing development strategies and expanding practical cooperation across all sectors. The two countries have maintained comprehensive dialogues at all levels, and the bilateral relationship has gained vigorous momentum and all-around growth.

Bilateral business ties and practical cooperation have grown from strength to strength. In 2017, the two-way trade between China and Indonesia registered year-on-year growth of 18.3 percent, reaching $63.3 billion. In particular, Indonesian exports to China increased by 33 percent, leading to a more balanced trade relationship.

The annual rate of increase of Chinese investment in Indonesia in 2017 surpassed 30 percent, with total volume reaching $3.4 billion. Major cooperation projects including the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway are in full swing, while new growth drivers keep emerging in infrastructure, industrial capacity, the digital economy and other sectors.

Thriving people-to-people and cultural exchanges have further deepened the mutual understanding between the peoples. In 2017, the number of Chinese tourists to Indonesia reached 2.06 million, an increase of 275 percent from 2013, ranking China as Indonesia's largest source of overseas tourists. In addition to Bali, tourist attractions such as Manado, Lombok and Raja Ampat have gained increasing popularity.

China currently receives more than 14,000 Indonesian students and has become Indonesia's second most popular overseas education destination. Chinese giant pandas Cai Tao and Hu Chun have made their homes in Indonesia, building yet another bridge of friendship between the peoples.

The fruitful bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative gave expression to the plan's winwin nature and strong vitality. For five years, the Belt and Road Initiative has adhered to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Offering new models and solutions to global economic cooperation, the initiative has revitalized a new round of globalization.

As an open, transparent and inclusive international cooperation platform, the Belt and Road Initiative draws a clear distinction from zero-sum game mentality and geopolitical competition, and is not directed against any other country. Instead, it focuses on the fundamental issue of development, and strives to help countries along the route to build up infrastructure to attract investment and enhance their ability to develop on their own. It is widely welcomed by countries along the route, including Indonesia as well as the rest of the international community.

During the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Widodo proposed the initiative of Regional Integrated Economic Corridors, as a new landmark project in the joint efforts to synergize respective development strategies.

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, held in October last year, laid out the blueprint for China's future development. It marks the beginning of a new era for China and offers new opportunities for China-Indonesia relations.

"Happiness is achieved through hard work." These words remind us to spare no efforts and approach our work with a firm footing, so as to translate the blueprint into reality, whether it is the Belt and Road Initiative or through the synergizing of development strategies.

Looking ahead, China is ready to work with Indonesia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached between the two presidents, push forward major cooperation projects including the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, strengthen communication on the initiative of Regional Integrated Economic Corridors, and explore possible priorities and approaches of cooperation, so as to foster new highlights in bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

I believe with our joint efforts, the China-Indonesia relationship will continue to sail toward an even brighter future.

Stronger partnership for a greater harvest

As China and South Africa celebrate 20 years of relations, efforts to further boost mutual trust and benefits continue on both sides.

By Lin Songtian

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China and South Africa establishing diplomatic relations. In that time, relations have come a long way and grown into a comprehensive strategic partnership. Today, the countries’ partnership is underpinned by the four pillars of deep political mutual trust, mutually beneficial business cooperation, people-to-people friendship, and international coordination and cooperation.

By strategic, it means the partnership has become a priority in terms of foreign relations and has growing global significance. The countries have always had mutual understanding and firm support regarding each other’s core interests and major concerns. As two major developing countries and emerging market economies, China and South Africa have effectively coordinated and cooperated with each other within the frameworks of BRICS, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the G20, the United Nations and South-South cooperation, and have fought together for a more equitable and just global governance regime.

The core meaning of the comprehensive strategic partnership is that this partnership is solidly based on shared strategic interests, serves the fundamental interest of our two countries and peoples, and will never shift because of a change in leadership.

By mutually beneficial, it means the partnership delivers tangible benefits to both peoples. China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for the past nine years. Bilateral trade reached $39.7 billion in 2017, more than 26 times the figure in 1998. South Africa has been China’s largest trading partner in Africa for eight years, accounting for one-fourth to one-third of overall China-Africa trade. South Africa has also become the first African country to export beef to China.

South Africa is the best destination for Chinese investment and tourists in Africa. According to incomplete statistics, China’s direct investment in South Africa reached about $25 billion in accumulative terms by June 2017. More than 180 major Chinese enterprises and thousands of small and medium-sized Chinese enterprises have established business in South Africa, creating more than 400,000 jobs for South Africans.

As for people-to-people, South Africa is the top destination in Africa for Chinese tourists. Some 117,000 Chinese tourists visited South Africa in 2016, up by 38 percent. Compared with the total number of 120 million outbound Chinese tourist every year, this number is very small. History has proven that a sound development of China-South Africa relations, both politically and economically, serve the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples.

China-South Africa relations have now reached a new historic starting point. As a major economic power in Africa, South Africa boasts rich natural and human resources, a well regulated market, sound legal system, and the best geographic location and economic foundation in Africa.

China has a huge domestic market of 1.4 billion people as well as advantages in terms of capital, technology, enterprises and expertise. Over the next five years, China will import over $8 trillion in goods, and the outflow of foreign direct investment will exceed $750 billion. Chinese tourists will make over 650 million trips abroad, which is a truly huge business opportunity for South Africa. While South Africa is actively pursuing economic and social transformation, China is promoting supply-side structural reform. China and South Africa enjoy huge complementarity and potential for more fruitful cooperation.

Most importantly, we have put in place both bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as FOCAC, BRICS and the Belt and Road Initiative, of which South Africa has established itself as both a major contributor and the biggest beneficiary across the continent. Based on the principle of planning together, building together, sharing together and working for policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds, China and South Africa can make full use of such mechanisms for win-win cooperation for common development. Meanwhile, financing platforms for our cooperation have been built under these mechanism, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (with a capitalization of $100 billion), the Silk Road Fund ($40 billion), the BRICS New Development Bank (with an initial capitalization of $100 billion), and the BRICS Contingency Reserve Arrangement ($100 billion).

We strongly believe that through win-win cooperation, China could also contribute significantly to South Africa’s agenda for renewal, job creation and transformation, as emphasized by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in his maiden address to the nation. China is ready to deepen its mutually beneficial and complementary cooperation with South Africa with a comprehensive approach. The Chinese government has been committed to encouraging more Chinese investors and tourists to join South Africa’s endeavor for sustainable development and prosperity, with an aim to support South Africa’s efforts for economic development and job creation.

While celebrating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties, we are going to have two important summits in 2018. In July, South Africa will host the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg; and in September, the third FOCAC summit will be held in Beijing. New blueprints and master plans for future China-Africa and China-South Africa cooperation will be drawn up. China and South Africa should make full use of FOCAC and BRICS mechanisms, and make good use of South Africa’s geographical advantage as well as its leading position in the continent to jointly forge a bridge connecting the Belt and Road Initiative with the African continent.

Building on the fruitful achievements and solid foundation of China-South Africa relations in the past two decades, it is time for us to work together for another golden decade of China-South Africa relations and harvest more for both our peoples. China supports South Africa’s efforts to remain the leading power in the continent, become a locomotive to drive and a production base to serve Africa's industrialization, and become the gateway for Africa to connect with construction of the Belt and Road.

Moving forward, China stands ready to join hands with South Africa to fully leverage our strengths of political mutual trust, economic complementarity and the friendship between our two peoples, as well as work together to promote win-win cooperation in 10 priority areas: infrastructure, HR, manufacturing and processing industries, agriculture, tourism, marine economy, finance, safety and security, people-to-people exchange and international cooperation.

I am fully confident that with our strong commitment and joint efforts, China-South Africa relations will harvest more visible and tangible benefits for our two peoples.

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