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The Prominent Characteristics of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy

徐秀军:习近平外交思想的突出特性

· · Research Highlights · Chinese Social Sciences Today, 6 February 2025 · 8 min read

On the great journey of advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy has opened up a new realm of Chinese diplomatic theory and practice. With its distinct national character, contemporaneity, people-centeredness, global vision, and systematicity, it guides foreign work to continuously achieve historic accomplishments, providing the fundamental guidance for comprehensively advancing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

在推进新时代中国特色社会主义事业的伟大征程中,习近平外交思想开辟了中国外交理论和实践的新境界,以鲜明的民族性、时代性、人民性、世界性和系统性,指引对外工作不断取得历史性成就,为全面推进中国特色大国外交提供了根本遵循。

National Character: Fully Activating the Contemporary Value of Fine Traditional Chinese Culture

民族性:全面激活中华优秀传统文化的时代价值

The national character of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy primarily stems from its profound civilizational foundation. Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy integrates the Chinese nation’s consciousness, culture, beliefs, value pursuits, and philosophical reflections, fully activating the civilizational value of fine traditional Chinese culture in the new historical era.

习近平外交思想的民族性主要源于深厚的文明根基。习近平外交思想将中华民族意识、民族文化、民族信仰、价值追求、哲学思考等融为一体,在新的历史时代全面激活中华优秀传统文化的文明价值。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy embodies the humanistic vision of a world in great harmony and universal peace among all nations. [1] Chinese civilization has always advocated the beauty of harmony, coexistence in harmony, a world in great harmony, and universal peace among all nations. [2] General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward the beautiful vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as the practical platform for its realization, making the maintenance of world peace and the promotion of common development the purpose of China’s foreign policy. This activates the political ideals of ancient sages and manifests a humanistic vision that transcends the limitations of time and space.

习近平外交思想蕴含天下大同、协和万邦的人类情怀。中华文明历来主张美美与共、和合共生、天下大同、协和万邦。习近平总书记提出构建人类命运共同体的美好愿景,又提出构建人类命运共同体的实践平台,将维护世界和平、促进共同发展作为中国外交政策的宗旨,激活了古代先贤的政治理想,展现了超越时空局限的人类情怀。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy embodies the way of interaction that values harmony and seeks harmony without uniformity. [3] “Harmony” is a distinctive feature of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and China’s diplomatic practice in the New Era, and it is the source of China’s diplomatic influence and appeal. In the New Era, China’s greater emphasis on peace and cooperation and its promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind are all sublimations of the traditional Chinese thought of “harmony.” At the same time, Chinese diplomacy advocates harmony without uniformity, promoting the common development of all countries while pursuing its own development, complementing each other’s strengths and exchanging what is needed through cooperation, and striving to realize a pattern of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits among the peoples of all countries.

习近平外交思想蕴含以和为贵、和而不同的交往之道。“和”是习近平外交思想和新时代中国外交实践的鲜明特点,是中国外交影响力和感召力的源泉。新时代,中国更加强调和平与合作、推动构建人类命运共同体,都是中国传统“和”思想的升华。同时,中国外交主张和而不同,在谋求本国发展的同时促进世界各国共同发展,通过合作取长补短、互通有无,努力实现各国人民形成共商共建共享的格局。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy embodies the value pursuit of benevolence and the integration of righteousness and benefit. [4] With “benevolence” and “righteousness” as its value core, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy advocates amity, good-neighborliness, universal love, and non-aggression in peripheral diplomacy, promoting and practicing the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. [5] In international relations, it practices the correct view of righteousness and benefit, insisting on balancing righteousness and benefit, and advocating trustworthiness, valuing friendship, upholding justice, and adhering to morality, thus forging a righteous path of integrating righteousness and benefit and winning over others with virtue.

习近平外交思想蕴含仁者爱人、弘义融利的价值追求。习近平外交思想以“仁”“义”为价值内核,在周边外交上讲求亲仁善邻、兼爱非攻,倡导和践行亲诚惠容理念;在国际关系中践行正确义利观,坚持义利兼顾,提倡讲信义、重情义、扬正义、树道义,走出了弘义融利、以德怀远的人间正道。

Contemporaneity: Fully Perfecting the Global Layout of Major-Country Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics

时代性:全面完善中国特色大国外交的全球布局

The contemporaneity of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is mainly reflected in its profound grasp of the new historical orientation. General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the major judgment that “the world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century,” scientifically assessing China’s historical orientation in the New Era. Guided by a correct view of history, the overall situation, and China’s role, major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has been comprehensively advanced, forming a diplomatic layout that is all-dimensional, multi-tiered, and wide-ranging.

习近平外交思想的时代性主要体现在对全新历史方位的深刻把握。习近平总书记提出“当今世界正处于百年未有之大变局”的重大论断,科学判断新时代我国历史方位。在正确历史观、大局观、角色观的指引下,中国特色大国外交全面推进,并形成全方位、多层次、立体化的外交布局。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy profoundly grasps the global changes of the century. In essence, the chaotic phenomena in today’s world arise from problems in development, governance, and other areas, ultimately reflecting that the era’s theme of peace and development has not been properly addressed. To this end, Chinese diplomacy in the New Era continues to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, promoting the building of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and continuously pushing forward the noble cause of peace and development for humanity.

习近平外交思想深刻把握世界百年变局。从本质上看,当今世界乱象纷呈,是因为发展、治理等出了问题,归根结底是和平与发展这个时代主题没有解决好的反映。为此,新时代中国外交继续高举和平、发展、合作、共赢的旗帜,推动建设相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系,推动构建人类命运共同体,不断推进人类和平与发展的崇高事业。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy profoundly grasps the new situation of China’s development. Standing at the historical starting point of deep interaction and deep opening-up with the world, Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy conforms to the historical process of China moving toward the world and the world moving toward China, profoundly grasps China’s role positioning, examines issues from the perspective of China’s relationship with the world, clarifies China’s status and role in the evolution of the world pattern, and scientifically formulates foreign policies and guidelines.

习近平外交思想深刻把握中国发展新局。习近平外交思想站在同世界深度互动、向世界深度开放的历史起点上,顺应中国走向世界、世界走向中国的历史进程,深刻把握中国的角色定位,将自己摆在同世界的关系中看问题,弄清楚在世界格局演变中我国的地位和作用,科学制定对外方针政策。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy profoundly grasps the overall situation of Chinese diplomacy. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China actively promotes coordination and benign interaction among major countries, and works to build a pattern of major-country relations featuring peaceful coexistence, overall stability, and balanced development. It adheres to the peripheral diplomatic policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, and of building friendships and partnerships with neighbors, deepening friendly mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with neighboring countries. It upholds the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith and the correct view of righteousness and benefit, strengthens unity and cooperation with developing countries, and safeguards the common interests of developing countries.

习近平外交思想深刻把握中国外交全局。在习近平外交思想指导下,中国积极促进大国协调和良性互动,推动构建和平共处、总体稳定、均衡发展的大国关系格局;坚持亲诚惠容和与邻为善、以邻为伴的周边外交方针,深化同周边国家友好互信和互利合作;秉持真实亲诚理念和正确义利观,加强同发展中国家团结合作,维护发展中国家共同利益。

People-Centeredness: Fully Demonstrating the Unique Charisma of a People’s Leader

人民性:全面展现人民领袖的独特魅力

The people-centeredness of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is mainly rooted in the unique

习近平外交思想的人民性主要植根于人民领袖的独特人格魅力。在对外工作上,习近平总书记发挥了元首外交的战略引领作用,带领中国外交全面进入以人民为中心的新时代,人民至上已成为中国外交最亮丽的底色。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy guides Chinese diplomacy to steadfastly safeguard the people’s interests. In the New Era, Chinese diplomacy has consistently served economic development and the improvement of people’s livelihoods, firmly protecting the overseas interests of the Chinese people. Especially in major incidents involving overseas Chinese and Chinese nationals, the Chinese government has always taken a stance of upholding the rights and interests of compatriots, adopting proactive measures to resolve issues, and winning acclaim from people around the world.

习近平外交思想指引中国外交坚定维护人民利益。新时代,中国外交始终服务于经济发展和民生改善,坚定维护中国人民的海外利益。尤其是在涉及华人华侨的重大事件中,中国政府始终站在维护同胞权益的立场,采取积极措施解决问题,赢得了世界各国人民的赞誉。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy guides Chinese diplomacy to focus on drawing wisdom from the people. The masses of the people are the source of strength for advancing historical progress and the development of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to

习近平外交思想指引中国外交注重汲取人民智慧。人民群众是推进历史进步和时代发展的力量源泉。习近平总书记高度重视民众的需求和期望,通过各种渠道收集民众的意见和建议,充分发挥民间智慧,为外交政策制定提供有益参考。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy guides Chinese diplomacy to comprehensively enhance friendship among the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to people-to-people and cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and innovatively proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, gathering a vast force to promote the progress and development of the times. At the same time, head-of-state public diplomacy carried out in person makes the credible, lovable, and respectable image of China more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, allowing people of all countries to experience Chinese culture firsthand and enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

习近平外交思想指引中国外交全面增进人民友谊。习近平总书记高度重视人文交流和文明互鉴,创新提出全球文明倡议,汇集起促进时代进步与发展的宏大力量。同时,亲力亲为的元首公共外交让可信、可爱、可敬的中国形象更加深入人心,让各国人民亲身感受中国文化,增进相互了解和友谊。

Worldliness: Fully Demonstrating the Responsibility and Commitment of Bearing the World in Mind

世界性:全面展现胸怀天下的责任担当

The worldliness of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is mainly embodied in the lofty pursuit of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is a major innovation of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, fully demonstrating the global vision and sense of responsibility of the times of the Chinese Communists.

习近平外交思想的世界性主要体现为构建人类命运共同体的远大追求。构建人类命运共同体是习近平外交思想的重大创新,充分展现了中国共产党人的天下情怀和时代担当。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy embodies the common values of all humanity. General Secretary Xi Jinping actively advocates the common values of all humanity—peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. Their global significance lies in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation among different civilizations and countries, providing moral and conceptual support for building a peaceful, just, developed, and prosperous world. Therefore, they are recognized by the international community as pointing the way forward for all humanity.

习近平外交思想凝聚了全人类共同价值。习近平总书记积极倡导和平、发展、公平、正义、民主和自由的全人类共同价值,其世界意义在于促进不同文明、国家之间的相互理解与合作,为构建一个和平、公正、发展、繁荣的世界提供道德和理念上的支持,因而被国际社会认为指明了全人类共同前进的方向。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy enriches global governance proposals. In response to the increasingly prominent global problems and governance deficits in today's world, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposes upholding true multilateralism, practicing the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and leading the reform of the global governance system with the concept of fairness and justice. At the same time, General Secretary Xi Jinping advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions for people of all countries at a historical crossroads to make correct choices.

习近平外交思想丰富了全球治理方案。针对当今世界日益凸显的全球问题和治理赤字,习近平总书记提出坚持真正的多边主义,践行共商共建共享的全球治理观,以公平正义为理念引领全球治理体系变革。同时,习近平总书记倡导平等有序的世界多极化和普惠包容的经济全球化,为正处于历史十字路口的各国人民作出正确抉择贡献了中国智慧、中国方案。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy has given rise to a series of major global initiatives. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative are the practical products of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. As a practical platform for a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative drives countries to jointly meet challenges and achieve shared prosperity, steering the world towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress.

习近平外交思想催生了一系列重大全球倡议。共建“一带一路”倡议、全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议是习近平外交思想的实践产物。作为人类命运共同体的实践平台,共建“一带一路”倡议推动各国携手应对挑战、实现共同繁荣,推动世界走向和平、安全、繁荣、进步的光明前景。

Systematicity: Fully Penetrating a Scientific Methodological System

系统性:全面贯穿科学的方法论体系

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is rich in connotation and profound in thought. It not only systematically presents General Secretary Xi Jinping's positions and viewpoints on advancing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics but also profoundly interprets a worldview and methodology with the characteristics of the times and Chinese features. It is an innovative development of the Marxist worldview and methodology.

习近平外交思想内涵丰富、思想深邃,不仅系统展现了习近平总书记关于推进中国特色大国外交的立场观点,而且深刻诠释了具有时代特征和中国特色的世界观和方法论,是马克思主义世界观和方法论的创新发展。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy fully penetrates a scientific system of thinking. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to systematic thinking, skillfully applies it to the analysis and research of foreign work, and repeatedly requires cadres on the diplomatic front to improve various thinking abilities, including strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systematic thinking, innovative thinking, law-based thinking, and bottom-line thinking, continuously strengthening forward-looking thinking and overall planning for foreign work, and defining diplomatic strategic tasks in a more three-dimensional and comprehensive manner.

习近平外交思想全面贯穿科学的思维体系。习近平总书记高度重视系统思维,娴熟运用于对外工作的分析研究,并反复要求外交战线的广大干部提高包括战略思维、历史思维、辩证思维、系统思维、创新思维、法治思维、底线思维在内的各种思维能力,不断加强对外工作的前瞻性思考、全局性谋划,更加立体、综合地明确外交战略任务。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy comprehensively runs through a scientific system of coordination. General Secretary Xi Jinping has explicitly pointed out that diplomatic work must be well-coordinated, organized, and harmonized across all aspects. On the one hand, it coordinates the two overall situations of domestic and international arenas, seeking to develop oneself by striving for a peaceful international environment, while also safeguarding and promoting world peace through one’s own development; on the other hand, it coordinates the use of both domestic and international markets and resources, enhancing the capacity for resource allocation and increasing global influence over the allocation of factors such as capital, information, technology, talent, and goods.

习近平外交思想全面贯穿科学的统筹体系。习近平总书记明确指出,要做好外交工作的统筹兼顾,组织和协调好方方面面。一方面,统筹国内国际两个大局,通过争取和平国际环境发展自己,又以自身发展维护和促进世界和平;另一方面,统筹利用国内国际两个市场、两种资源,增强资源配置能力,提高对资金、信息、技术、人才、货物等要素配置的全球性影响力。

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy comprehensively runs through a scientific logical system. Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is an open and continuously developing theoretical system, embodying the organic unity of historical logic, practical logic, and value logic. In the practice of foreign work in the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping confronts the real issues of contemporary China, exploring and deepening the understanding of the laws governing foreign work with a broad theoretical vision and profound theoretical thinking, thereby opening up a new realm of Marxist theory on world intercourse.

习近平外交思想全面贯穿科学的逻辑体系。习近平外交思想是开放的、不断发展的理论体系,体现了历史逻辑、实践逻辑和价值逻辑的有机统一。在新时代对外工作实践中,习近平总书记直面当代中国现实问题,以广阔的理论视野和深刻的理论思维探索并深化了对外工作的规律性认识,开辟了马克思主义世界交往理论的新境界。

(The author is a researcher at the Institute of Chinese-Path Modernization, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

(作者系中国社会科学院中国式现代化研究院研究员)

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑:慧慧