Xi Jinping, who boldly gathered developing countries... Strengthening his position while checking the US

People's Daily Reports Indonesian and Chilean Leaders on Front Page
Mentions Global Multilateralism and Non-Interference in Internal Affairs

Chinese President Xi Jinping showcased his global leadership by rallying developing countries through the Belt and Road Forum. He emphasized the importance of cooperation and China’s role to allied leaders, while also mentioning global multilateralism and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, sending a message aimed at countering the United States.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 18th, President Xi held successive summit meetings at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with leaders from Indonesia, Chile, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Hungary, and other countries who had come to China to attend the “3rd Belt and Road Forum” the previous day.

On the front page of the People’s Daily on the 18th, the day of the forum’s opening ceremony, there was a photo of President Xi delivering a speech at a banquet with the participating heads of state, alongside images of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Chilean President Gabriel Boric. The layout of the Communist Party’s official newspaper, the People’s Daily, carries significant political and diplomatic implications compared to other state-run and local media. This page arrangement and coverage are interpreted as an effort to strengthen relations with Indonesia, which once experienced anti-Belt and Road sentiment due to South China Sea territorial disputes, and to showcase a cooperative atmosphere with Chile, the first South American country to establish diplomatic ties with China and a resource-rich nation with lithium and other minerals.

During his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Xi emphasized, “I was the first to propose jointly building the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ with Indonesia,” adding, “We will connect each other’s core interests and major concerns and cooperate together to achieve success.” Recently, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, a Belt and Road project, was completed in Indonesia and is set to open this month. President Joko responded, “We welcome more companies to participate in the construction of Indonesia’s new capital and the North Kalimantan industrial zone.”

Meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Xi signed a joint Belt and Road cooperation plan and stressed, “Chile is the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with China and a pioneer in jointly building the Belt and Road. Chile is a trusted good friend and a partner pursuing common development with China.” President Boric said, “I hope this visit will be an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in areas such as environmental protection, poverty alleviation, energy, science and technology, and mining, and to deepen people-to-people exchanges.”

On the same day, during talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Xi said, “Ten years ago, I first proposed the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ concept in Kazakhstan,” emphasizing, “No matter how the international situation changes, the friendly ideals between our two countries must be passed down through generations.” President Tokayev responded, “Kazakhstan has firmly supported and actively participated in the Belt and Road initiative since the day President Xi proposed it,” and then signed cooperation documents covering various areas including connectivity and economic development.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Meeting with Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape, Xi said, “In the new situation, I hope we can build political mutual trust together and expand the scope of cooperation.” Papua New Guinea is one of the South Pacific island countries where China is competing with the United States for influence. President Xi emphasized the importance of cooperation and China’s role to developing country leaders, while also mentioning global multilateralism and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, showing a stance to check the United States.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 18th, President Xi is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meeting for the first time in seven months since their summit in Moscow last March, the two leaders are expected to discuss their stance on U.S. policy and current issues such as the recent Israel-Hamas conflict.