Xi Jinping: "We Will Work to Build a Community of Shared Future with Neighboring Countries"

President Xi Jinping has announced a policy to strengthen strategic mutual trust in order to build a community of shared destiny with neighboring countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is delivering a speech at the "Special Symposium on High-Quality Financial Development" held at the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China (National Academy of Governance) in Beijing. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 9th, President Xi revealed this plan at the "Central Work Conference on Surrounding Areas," held over two days in Beijing starting the previous day, with the Chinese leadership in attendance. This was the first time in 12 years that a top-level meeting addressing diplomatic issues with neighboring countries was held.

President Xi stated, "To build a community of shared destiny with neighboring countries, we must strengthen mutual trust and support regional countries in maintaining a stable path of national development."

The conference also discussed the need to increase exchanges. China presented five shared visions: peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty, and friendship, along with surrounding diplomatic principles such as Seolin (睦隣, harmonious relations with neighboring countries) and Anrin (安隣, reassuring neighboring countries).

The leadership said, "Relations between China and neighboring countries are at their best since modern times," adding, "Currently, this is an important stage deeply connected with the situation of neighboring countries and global changes."

China shares land borders with 14 countries and maritime boundaries with 6 countries. Among these are U.S. allies such as South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.

There is an assessment that China held this meeting to secure allies amid the United States imposing a global 'tariff bomb.' The meeting took place as dissatisfaction with the tariff measures was erupting among allied countries.

Meanwhile, China's policy of strengthening diplomacy with neighboring countries is expected to affect South Korea-China relations as well. Recently, President Xi and other Chinese leaders have emphasized cultural exchanges between South Korea and China, raising expectations for the lifting of the 'Hanhanryeong' (Korean Wave ban).