People's Daily (the 9th edition on May 24, 2024)

The Central Foreign Affairs Conference held at the end of last year summarized the historic achievements and changes in China's foreign affairs in the new era. One important aspect is that it "highlights the distinctive Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese style of China's diplomacy, and establishes the image of a big country that is confident, self reliant, open and inclusive.". How to understand the rich connotation of China's image of a great power in the new era? What role has home court diplomacy played in the process of building China's image as a major country? How to make the image of China as a major country more distinctive in the new era? This observation edition focuses on these issues.

——Editor

Build an image of a big country that is confident, self reliant, open and inclusive (People's Watch)

Wu Zhicheng

National image is an important part of national soft power. A good national image is of great significance for promoting national status, promoting national development, maintaining national security, and enhancing comprehensive national strength and international competitiveness. The Central Foreign Affairs Conference held at the end of last year summarized the historic achievements and changes in China's foreign affairs in the new era. One important aspect is that it "highlights the distinctive Chinese characteristics, Chinese style and Chinese style of China's diplomacy, and establishes the image of a big country that is confident, self reliant, open and inclusive.". Since the new era, the diplomacy of major countries with Chinese characteristics has overcome difficulties and forged ahead, and China's international influence, charisma and shaping power have been constantly improving. The establishment of an image of a big country that is confident, independent, open and inclusive has created a favorable external environment for promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation.

Adhere to self-confidence and self-reliance, and demonstrate spiritual bearing

Self confidence is the spirit of the Communist Party of China, and self-reliance is an important principle for our party and country. Looking back at the history of more than one hundred years, our Party has united and led the people to adhere to the path of independent development. At the same time, we have modestly learned from the useful experience of foreign countries, insisted on putting the development of the country and the nation on the basis of our own strength, insisted that China's problems must be based on China's basic national conditions, answered by the Chinese themselves, and overcome difficulties by our own strength, In overcoming difficulties, the country has become stronger and stronger. Since the new era, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China's diplomacy has firmly pursued an independent foreign policy of peace, adhered to socialism with Chinese characteristics as the foundation to further enhance strategic confidence, and was unafraid of all difficulties and challenges. It has fulfilled the mission of being a responsible big country, with more confidence, stronger action Achievements are more outstanding.

Show the composure and wisdom to grasp the general trend and lead the trend. General Secretary Xi Jinping scientifically grasps the trend of the times and major changes in the international situation, scientifically grasps the profound changes in the situation of the world and the party, and scientifically defines the development trend of the world today and the historical position of China from the abscissa of the balance of world forces and the ordinate of the progress of the Chinese nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping made an important conclusion that "the world today is in a great change not seen in a century", pointed out that "peace, development, cooperation and win-win are still the irresistible trend of the times", and pointed out the objective reality that the world is "increasingly becoming a community of shared destiny". General Secretary Xi Jinping's important statement scientifically grasped the historical trend and the world situation, guided China's diplomacy to be more confident and independent, not confused by fog, not hindered by wind and waves, and always stood on the right side of history and the side of human civilization progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward a series of ideas, propositions and plans that reflect China's position, wisdom and values, and demonstrate the composure and wisdom of grasping the general trend and leading the trend in the changing international situation.

Show perseverance and determination that dare to fight and are good at fighting. It is a fine tradition of New China's diplomacy to dare and be good at fighting. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in the face of rapid changes in the international situation, unreasonable blackmail and extreme pressure, China's diplomacy has always maintained strategic determination, carried forward the spirit of daring to fight and being good at fighting, demonstrated the will and determination to defy power and oppose hegemony, firmly maintained the core interests of the country and national dignity, and firmly held the initiative of China's development and security. We will resolutely oppose any wrong act that infringes on China's sovereignty and interferes in China's internal affairs. We will not give way in principle. We will defeat all kinds of attacks and denials against China by using Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, human rights and other issues, and firmly safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests. We will practice genuine multilateralism, firmly promote democracy and the rule of law in international relations, oppose hegemonism and power politics in all forms, take responsibility for safeguarding the legitimate rights of developing countries, shoulder moral and ethical responsibilities with an iron shoulder, and forge ahead firmly in the right direction of historical progress.

Persist in thinking of the world and highlight the responsibility of a major country

It is the historical experience of the Communist Party of China in its centennial struggle to keep the world in mind, and the basic idea of keeping the world in mind is to build a community with a shared future for mankind. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "A big country should look like a big country, and show more responsibility." Mindful of the world shows the broad mind and great responsibility of making progress for mankind and seeking common ground for the world. The major countries should take the future and destiny of mankind as the priority and shoulder greater responsibility for world peace and development. In today's world, the unprecedented changes in a century have accelerated the evolution, the instability and uncertainty of global development have become increasingly prominent, and the world needs a big mind, a big pattern, and a big responsibility. China's diplomacy has always been concerned about the future and destiny of mankind from a global perspective, and has adhered to the correct understanding and handling of relations with the outside world from the general trend of human development, the general pattern of world change, and the great history of China's development. It has unified the interests of the Chinese people and the interests of the people of the world, and has constantly contributed wisdom and strength to human development and progress, It shows the feelings and mission of big parties and big countries with the world in mind.

We will push forward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the future of the people of all countries in the world. The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind is based on the objective reality of the common destiny of mankind in the era of the global village and the overall consensus of the world as a whole, which conforms to the general trend of the world and the aspirations of people by transcending conflict and confrontation with peaceful development, replacing absolute security with common security, abandoning zero sum games with mutual benefit and win-win results, preventing civilization conflicts with exchanges and mutual learning, and protecting the earth's home with green development, It has become a contemporary expression of China's diplomacy with the world in mind. Since the new era, building a community with a shared future for mankind has expanded from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, transformed from a good vision to rich practice, and developed from a concept to a scientific system, demonstrating increasingly strong influence, vitality, and charisma. The value of building a community with a shared future for mankind has won the recognition of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS and many other international organizations, and has become a glorious banner to lead the times and build a better world together. Over the years, from bilateral to multilateral, from regional to global, from health care to network and ocean, China has worked with dozens of countries and regions to build a community of common destiny in different forms in many fields, and the building of a community of common destiny for mankind has gone deeper and deeper and achieved fruitful results.

Actively participate in and lead the process of global governance. China adheres to the global governance concept of joint consultation, joint construction and sharing, and takes the responsibility of a major country to promote the reform of the global governance system. China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and firmly supports the United Nations in playing a greater role. Promote and improve the governance structure of economic globalization, support the reform of the World Trade Organization, enhance its effectiveness and authority, promote free trade, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard fair competition, safeguard the development rights and space of developing countries, and enhance their representativeness and voice. Focus on addressing global challenges, promote dialogue and cooperation among countries in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Group of 20, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, and take the initiative to put forward a series of multilateral cooperation initiatives in the surrounding, regional, and global areas, and actively provide materials The global public goods in terms of system and concept promote all countries to share governance responsibilities and promote peaceful development.

Adhere to openness and inclusiveness, highlight the pursuit of win-win

Openness and inclusiveness are important driving forces for social development and progress. In the era of economic globalization, all countries share a common destiny. Anyone who "builds a wall" or "decouples" violates economic laws and market rules and the trend of the times. Only openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation are the right path in the world. We should treat different civilizations and countries with less arrogance and prejudice, more respect and tolerance, embrace the diversity of the world, actively seek mutual respect and win-win cooperation with other countries, seek equal exchanges, tolerance and mutual learning with other civilizations, jointly promote the harmonious coexistence and common development of all countries in the world, and promote the building of an open, inclusive, beautiful and common world. Openness and inclusiveness are the distinctive qualities and image of China in the new era, which demonstrate the consistent pursuit of harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation between China and other countries.

We will firmly pursue a win-win strategy of opening up. China's development cannot be separated from the world, and the world's development cannot be separated from China. Opening up is China's long-term basic national policy and the only way for national prosperity and development. In the new era, China insists on mutual promotion between "bringing in" and "going out", promotes trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, steadily promotes the internationalization of RMB, builds a network of high standard free trade zones facing the world, promotes institutional opening of rules, regulations, management, standards, etc., and forms a pattern of opening up to the outside world in a wider range, broader fields, and deeper levels, It will provide more opportunities for cooperation among countries and inject more impetus into the recovery and growth of the world economy. In the face of the "headwind and headwind" of economic globalization in recent years, China insists on "tearing down the wall" rather than "building the wall", opening up rather than isolating, taking a clear stand against unilateralism and protectionism, and striving to eliminate trade, investment and technical barriers in global development. Since this year, China has signed visa free agreements with Antigua and Barbuda, Singapore, Thailand and others to jointly build a fast network for cross-border personnel exchanges. From the Canton Fair to the China International Trade Fair, from the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair, from the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair, from the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair, from the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair, from the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair, from the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair, from the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair to the China International Trade Fair. We have optimized the market-oriented, legal and international business environment, expanded common interests in opening up, and promoted the sharing of opportunities in cooperation. The high-quality co construction of the "Belt and Road" has achieved fruitful results. By working with the co construction countries to build the road of peace, prosperity, openness, green, innovation and civilization, the Chinese market is more closely linked to the world market, and the development space of the co construction countries is broader. China does not engage in exclusive small circles, group politics and camp confrontation. We welcome all like-minded countries to join in the Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, we hope that other countries' connectivity initiatives will also be open, showing their open mind and wisdom in pursuing development and promoting cooperation.

We will actively promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Since ancient times, Chinese culture has exchanged and learned from other civilizations with an open attitude and an inclusive mind, which has achieved the broad atmosphere of Chinese civilization embracing all rivers and making the world one family. China in the new era embraces the world with a more open attitude and contributes to the world with a more dynamic civilization. China has put forward the global civilization initiative, advocating respect for the diversity of world civilizations, carrying forward the common values of all mankind, attaching importance to the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, strengthening international people to people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and injecting impetus into the cause of human civilization progress. We advocate that China and Latin America "become a model of harmonious coexistence and mutual promotion of different civilizations", "build a bridge of civilization and common prosperity, and connect the two major civilizations of China and Europe", and promote the formation of a BRICS cooperation framework driven by political security, economic, trade, finance, and people to people and cultural exchanges, Promote the construction of a people to people community within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization... China has helped to deepen the integration and symbiosis of different civilizations in the world. The Asian Civilization Dialogue Conference and Liangzhu Forum were held, and the Forum of Ancient Civilizations was jointly launched with Greece... China has built a platform and mechanism for communication and dialogue among civilizations, and promoted people from all over the world to know each other. These are vivid expressions of China's openness and inclusiveness in the new era. In the new era and new journey, in the process of working with other countries to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, China will certainly show a more distinctive image of a great power and more extraordinary demeanor. A confident, self reliant, open and inclusive China will make new and greater contributions to the cause of human progress.

(The author is a professor of the Institute of International Strategy of the Central Party School (National School of Administration).)

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An important window to display the image of a big country (said by observers)

Guo Rui

Home diplomacy usually refers to diplomatic activities carried out by a country on the stage of its own territory, inviting other countries to visit and taking advantage of its home advantage. It is the embodiment of a country's diplomatic philosophy, international status, and comprehensive strength. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has carefully planned and actively participated in various high-level host diplomacy activities, promoting the layout of host diplomacy to be constantly improved, the content to be increasingly rich, and the results to be continuously displayed, which reflects China's magnanimity, world feelings, and the hospitality, sincerity and friendliness of the Chinese people. Home diplomacy has become a highlight and advantage of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It has also become an important window to show China's achievements in peaceful development and the image of a confident, independent, open and inclusive major country.

In the new era, in the face of complicated world changes and increasingly serious global challenges, China has put forward a series of new ideas and initiatives to seek effective solutions to global challenges and inject ideological strength into the world's lasting peace, prosperity and development. Among them, many new ideas and new initiatives were put forward at the main diplomatic event held by China, which vividly demonstrated the unique style of China's diplomacy in the new era of integrity, innovation, and self-reliance. For example, at the 2014 CICA Summit, the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable Asian security concept advocated by China has had an important international impact. At the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia, China proposed to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind by moving towards a community with a shared future in Asia, and advocated Asian countries to make joint efforts to this end. At the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016, China advocated to put the world economy on a path of strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, and put forward five proposals, including strengthening macro policy coordination and innovating the development mode. We make use of the unique advantages of home diplomacy, such as initiative in agenda setting, convenience in concept dissemination, and guidance in media influence, to promote the wide spread of the community with a shared future for mankind, common values for all mankind, new international relations, global development initiatives, global security initiatives, and global civilization initiatives, to promote its transformation from Chinese discourse to international discourse, and to strengthen the Chinese concept The international voice and influence of China's initiatives. Based on home diplomacy, China, as a responsible big country, has actively practiced the consistent concept of promoting world peace and common development, and maintaining regional stability and prosperity, which has won widespread praise from the international community.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "with the increase of global challenges, it is a general trend to strengthen global governance and promote the reform of the global governance system." In today's world, the peace deficit, development deficit, security deficit and governance deficit are increasing, and the authority of relevant international organizations and the effectiveness of the global governance system are declining, Humanity urgently needs to keep pace with the times, innovate and improve the global governance system. By hosting a host diplomatic event, China has gathered international consensus, increased institutional supply, made greater contributions to the reform and improvement of the global governance system, and demonstrated the image of a big country that is bold, promising and dynamic. China's home diplomacy can provide a platform for all countries to communicate and coordinate their policies, thus gathering the "greatest common denominator" of all parties. Whether at international conferences hosted by China, such as the G20 Hangzhou Summit and the BRICS Xiamen Meeting, or at international events initiated by China, such as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, China has focused on building consensus on common development, promoting the international community to place development in the prominent position of the global macro policy framework, and promoting synergy in the process of multilateral development cooperation. From the 2021 Summit between the Communist Party of China and the leaders of the world's political parties to the 2023 High level Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and the world's political parties, "the responsibility of political parties" is the common theme of the main diplomatic activities held by the Communist Party of China for the world's major political parties in recent years, and efforts are made to rally the responsibility and mission consciousness of political parties of all countries to work for the happiness of the people. A sound international mechanism is an important guarantee for addressing global problems and promoting orderly global development. Today, such as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Boao Forum for Asia, and the World Internet Conference have become institutionalized, and become an important starting point and platform for global governance in related fields.

Foreign dignitaries, relevant personages and the public come to China to participate in the host diplomatic activities, feel the profound connotation and unique charm of Chinese civilization, observe the great achievements and vivid atmosphere of contemporary China's reform and opening up, and understand the lifestyle and cultural values of contemporary Chinese people, which can further enhance the understanding and recognition of China's development path and Chinese culture. From the G20 Hangzhou Summit on the West Lake's "Most Memories of Hangzhou" artistic performance to welcoming guests from Central Asian countries attending the China China Asia Summit at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, the Chinese cultural elements in China's home diplomatic activities are becoming more and more abundant, while also focusing on showing the integration and mutual learning of Chinese elements and world culture, and showing the spirit of inclusiveness of Chinese culture, Reflect the theme of exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations. Through home diplomacy, China's image as a great civilized country with deep foundation, openness and affinity has been constantly established and enriched in the world.

Our times are full of both hope and challenges. We should further innovate the concept of home diplomacy and optimize the model of home diplomacy under the guidance of the concept of promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. In terms of global home diplomacy, we will actively implement the global development initiative, the global security initiative, and the global civilization initiative, and build more platforms and mechanisms to enhance exchanges, promote cooperation, and seek win-win results. In terms of regional home diplomacy, we should actively develop good neighborly and friendly relations with neighboring countries, continue to be a "propeller" for regional economic development and a "stability anchor" for regional security, and promote the construction of a community of shared future in the neighborhood. In terms of cross regional home diplomacy, we should make good use of multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS mechanism, and the China Arab, China Latin America, and China Africa Cooperation Forum to consolidate and expand the "circle of friends" and better play the positive role of multilateral mechanisms in addressing global issues. With a more proactive historical responsibility and a more dynamic creative spirit, we should promote all countries to seek peace and jointly promote development, and promote the image of China as a responsible big country to become more popular.

(The author is a professor of the School of Administration of Jilin University)

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Confident, independent, open and inclusive

In the new era, the image of China as a major country is more distinct

Xing Liju

The development process of big countries is not only the process of improving hard power such as economic strength and comprehensive national strength, but also the process of improving soft power such as ideology, culture and national image. As China is getting closer to the center of the world stage, the image of China as a big country with confidence, self-reliance, global mindedness, openness and inclusiveness has been established in the world. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that "we should pay attention to shaping China's national image". The national image is formed in the practice of international exchanges and needs to be actively shaped. At a time when the world is highly interconnected and information communication technology is changing rapidly, we should tell a good story about China, spread the voice of China, take the initiative to "self shape" and focus on "co shape", so as to make the image of China as a major country in the new era more distinctive.

Build the core of national image and show the true, three-dimensional and comprehensive China. In order to make the image of China as a great power more distinctive in the new era, we need to give full play to the role of shaping the main body. The shaping of the national image is a whole process of constructing the concept from the national subject and transforming it into a signal message, interpreting the information through key participants, carrying out international communication, and making it acceptable to audiences at home and abroad. The shaping of national image needs to enhance initiative, creativity and foresight. We should give full play to the "self shaping" function, release positive information to the outside world, express our understanding of self meaning and the relationship between ourselves and the world, and then shape and spread the national image to create a good public opinion environment for national development. In this process, we need to pay attention to the relationship between three aspects: first, the relationship between the whole and the part. It is necessary not only to grasp the overall situation, but also to accurately position in all aspects. It is necessary to clarify the core and goal of the construction of the national image, combine China's long historical and cultural traditions, socialist core values, and the common values of all mankind, and strive to shape the image of China as a civilized country, an oriental country, a responsible country, and a socialist country. The second is the relationship between concept and behavior. It is necessary to expand the concept of national image building into concrete and perceptible behavior activities, mobilize all kinds of official and civil subjects to participate widely, and actively promote in education, film and television, tourism, sports and other fields, so that national image building can be permeated in all aspects of international exchanges and communication. The third is the relationship between universality and particularity. National image communication faces audiences in different regions and cultural backgrounds. It is necessary to consider how to adapt to the thinking and expression methods of overseas audiences from the perspective of universality, and also consider the differences of overseas audiences in thinking, philosophy, culture and other aspects, so as to do a good job in mass communication. Only by organically combining several aspects can we better attract audiences in international communication and show a true, three-dimensional and comprehensive China.

We will deepen people to people and cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign people. State to state relations lie in people to people relations, and people to people relations lie in heart to heart communication. People to people and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries are an important part of the Party's and the country's foreign work, an important way to consolidate the social public opinion foundation of Chinese foreign relations, and of great significance to show the image of China as a great power. In recent years, the Silk Road International Theater, Arts Festival, Museum, Art Gallery, Library Alliance has been established, the "Meet Beijing" Olympic Cultural Festival and other cultural events have been held, and more than 30 large-scale cultural and tourism years (festivals) have been held, including the China Russia Cultural Year, the China Italy Cultural Tourism Year, the China Latin America Cultural Exchange Year, the China Zambia Cultural Year, the China Cambodia Cultural Tourism Year, and the SCO Cultural Year It was successfully held... The people of China and other countries have enhanced mutual understanding and brought each other closer in international people to people and cultural exchanges. The increasingly rich people to people and cultural exchanges have become an important window for spreading China's image. We should continue to strengthen people to people and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, promote China to go global and effectively promote the world to further understand China. On the one hand, we should promote the domestic people to actively tell Chinese stories to the outside world. As a key participant in shaping the national image, the domestic people have natural advantages in perceiving and understanding the national image. The vivid practice of China's development is the most convincing Chinese story and the most credible Chinese discourse. We can encourage more people with cross-cultural communication ability to use their own stories and stories around them to show the values and practical achievements of Chinese modernization, and tell stories of Chinese modernization that are full of vitality and vitality. On the other hand, attract more overseas people to personally contact and experience Chinese culture and values. Through forums, exhibitions, academic exchange activities and other platforms, the distance with overseas audiences can be narrowed, so that overseas audiences can form a perception of China's image according to the real and objective situation.

Gather the joint force of public opinion communication to realize three-dimensional communication. At present, the "short and smooth" communication characteristics in the field of international communication have become increasingly prominent. People from all countries can more easily and quickly access various information in the world, and their perception of a country's national image is usually shaped by multiple sources. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen overall coordination, integrate all kinds of resources, and gather the joint force of public opinion communication to make the communication of China's national image more three-dimensional. Mobilize multiple communication subjects to participate widely, describe the same event from different levels and perspectives, form a joint force of communication, and improve the ability to reach the voice and image of China. We will promote the global, regional and mass oriented expression of Chinese stories and Chinese voices by adopting accurate communication methods close to audiences in different regions, countries and groups. In the face of the prejudice of some western media, we should actively carry out self interpretation through the sinicization of perspective, professionalization of agenda setting, and precision of communication. At the same time, we will further improve our ability to analyze, judge and respond to international public opinion, establish an early warning mechanism to study and judge risk points in a timely manner, meet the audience's information needs for events through multiple sources, multiple perspectives, multiple interviews and other forms, and make rapid analysis and response with reasonable grounds. We should pay attention to the strategy and art of public opinion struggle, improve our ability to speak out on major issues, and strive for greater international voice.

(The author is a professor of the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University)

People's Daily (May 24, 2024, Edition 09)

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