The visits of China’s top diplomat to Singapore and the Republic of Korea this week to discuss issues of bilateral and regional significance show the importance the country places on its neighborhood diplomacy. The visits by Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, will no doubt help to enhance regional solidarity and economic recovery. Although sporadic outbreaks continue to appear in the three countries, China, Singapore and the ROK have done a good job in containing the novel coronavirus, reflecting the experience and wisdom of Asia. Yang’s two-country trip, which sees him in Singapore on Wednesday and Thursday and the ROK on Friday and Saturday, will no doubt help boost regional cooperation and coordination. Such confidence building cooperation and coordination is badly needed in both the region and beyond as multilateralism and the spirit of international cooperation have met with strong headwinds. In this light, some Western media have speculated that Yang’s visits are aimed at persuading Singapore and the ROK not to join the coalition the US administration is trying to build against China, ignoring the fact that Asian countries have different views from those of the United States and its allies on many issues, and solidarity and cooperation remain the priorities for countries in the region, which are working together to amicably resolve regional economic and security issues. Although the US and its allies have tried to blame China for their own failure to control the pandemic, their stigmatizing words of division have generally fallen on deaf ears in the region, as most countries recognize that another Cold War would be in the interests of no country, whatever Washington might claim to the contrary. What has happened this year has been a clear reminder to all members of the world community that we share a common home and our fates are intertwined. Although Washington continually tries to distort Beijing’s actions and intentions, China is committed to putting people’s lives and well-being first, and seeks to strengthen relations with neighboring countries according to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Carrying forward this “Silk Road Spirit” through the advancing of the Belt and Road Initiative offers neighboring countries tangible cooperation outcomes and the opportunities, and the benefits generated will spread throughout the world.
