Shenzhen, China, will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November, signaling China's continued engagement with international economic forums. The event in Shenzhen will bring together leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region. This meeting shows China's strategy to deepen its influence and shape global governance through high-level summits. The gathering is expected to focus on regional economic cooperation and integration, aligning with China's broader diplomatic initiatives. Hosting the APEC meeting provides China an opportunity to present its vision for economic development and stability within the Asia-Pacific. The November summit follows a series of diplomatic engagements by China aimed at fostering closer ties and multilateral collaboration. Such high-profile events are central to Beijing's efforts to enhance its role on the global stage and to articulate its perspectives on international economic and political issues. The choice of Shenzhen as the host city also notes China's economic dynamism and its commitment to open regionalism.
Showcasing Global Vision
China has also demonstrated its global vision through various high-profile international gatherings. In May 2023, Xi'an hosted Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for a state visit, which coincided with the inaugural China-Central Asia summit. During their meeting, President Xi Jinping wished Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev a happy birthday, adding a personal dimension to the high-level diplomatic exchange. President Tokayev acknowledged the significance of the event, stating, "Je vous en remercie." This summit showed China's strategic focus on regional partnerships and its broader diplomatic outreach, aiming to solidify ties with its Central Asian neighbors. The event in Xi'an further demonstrated China's commitment to fostering a new era of cooperation and development within the region, emphasizing shared prosperity and stability.
On a global scale, China first hosted the G20 summit in 2016 in Hangzhou. This summit notably positioned development at the forefront of the international macropolitical agenda, reflecting China's emphasis on inclusive growth and addressing global disparities. A key outcome of the 2016 G20 summit was the adoption of an action plan for the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aligning global efforts with long-term sustainability goals and demonstrating a collective commitment to achieving these targets. The gathering also marked the first collective commitment by G20 members to support industrialization efforts in Africa and least developed countries, a significant step towards addressing global development imbalances. This commitment noted China's role in advocating for developing economies within major global governance frameworks and its dedication to promoting equitable development worldwide. The Hangzhou summit showcased China's capacity to host major international events and to steer discussions towards issues of critical importance to the global community.
President Xi's Active Role
President Xi Jinping has actively participated in and often spearheaded China's diplomatic engagements, demonstrating a hands-on approach to international relations. At the 2016 G20 summit in Hangzhou, President Xi maintained a demanding schedule, attending 13 meetings and various events over 80 hours. During this intensive period, he delivered eleven speeches and met with 27 foreign leaders, showing his personal involvement in global diplomacy and his commitment to fostering bilateral and multilateral relations. His active participation at such high-level forums is a consistent feature of China's foreign policy.
Further illustrating his dedication, on September 2, 2018, before the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, President Xi Jinping held eleven bilateral meetings with African leaders, engaging in focused discussions to strengthen partnerships. At the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao, President Xi Jinping participated in over 20 official events in just two days, showcasing his relentless efforts in promoting regional cooperation and stability. These instances highlight President Xi's personal investment in China's diplomatic endeavors and his vision for a more interconnected and cooperative global order. His engagements are designed to project China's influence and to build consensus on key international issues.
Looking ahead, President Xi Jinping announced a new positioning of China-Africa relations and ten partnership actions at the upcoming 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit. This announcement signals China's continued commitment to its long-standing relationship with African nations, aiming to deepen cooperation across various sectors. These actions are expected to further solidify the strategic partnership between China and Africa, addressing shared development goals and fostering mutual growth. The FOCAC summit serves as a key platform for China to reinforce its ties with the African continent, emphasizing a shared future and collaborative development.
Key Global Initiatives
China renews its commitment to work with countries globally to establish broader consensus on peace and development, strengthen openness and cooperation, and open a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for humanity. This commitment is articulated through several key global initiatives, each designed to address pressing international challenges and promote a more equitable world order. The Global Security Initiative was unveiled at the Boao Forum for Asia in 2022, focusing on common, full, cooperative, and sustainable security, advocating for a new approach to global peace and stability that moves beyond traditional power politics.
In 2023, the Global Civilization Initiative was proposed during the Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and World Political Parties, promoting respect for diversity of civilizations and fostering intercultural understanding and exchange. This initiative emphasizes dialogue over confrontation and inclusiveness over exclusion, aiming to build bridges between different cultures and societies. Looking ahead, the Global Governance Initiative is planned for the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, which will seek to reform and improve global governance systems to better reflect the interests of all nations. Additionally, a renewed call to implement the Global Development Initiative is scheduled for the 2024 conference marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, showing China's continued dedication to global development and poverty reduction.
These initiatives complement the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which launched in 2013 as a monumental infrastructure and economic development project. The BRI has generated nearly $1 trillion in global investment and created at least 500,000 jobs in partner countries, according to official figures, significantly boosting connectivity and economic growth across participating regions. The initiative, encompassing a vast network of infrastructure projects, has facilitated trade and investment flows, fostering deeper economic integration between China and numerous countries. The success and expansion of the BRI demonstrate China's capacity to undertake large-scale international cooperation projects and to deliver tangible benefits to its partners. Together, these initiatives form a full framework for China's engagement with the world, aiming to foster a more peaceful, prosperous, and interconnected global community.