China underscores neighbourhood diplomacy as cornerstone of regional peace and prosperity
Published: 23 May 2025, 1:39:45
Liang Jianjun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening good neighbourly ties, calling them essential for regional peace and China’s national development.
“A good neighbour means a peaceful and secure home,” Liang said during a press conference held at the “Lin Jia 7 Salon” at the Beijing International Club. He highlighted that China’s Central Committee had convened the first-ever Neighbourhood Diplomacy Work Conference to underline the strategic importance of fostering strong ties with neighbouring countries.
Liang emphasized that neighbourhood diplomacy is a foundational pillar for China’s security, development, and broader diplomatic efforts. He pointed out that major Chinese foreign policy initiatives—including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative—were first introduced or promoted in neighbouring nations.
To date, China has forged consensus on building a shared future community with 17 neighbouring countries, most recently with Brunei in February 2025. In mainland Southeast Asia and Central Asia, China has established two regional clusters aimed at promoting this shared vision.
Liang outlined a blueprint for China’s neighbourhood diplomacy based on constructing five types of shared homes—peaceful, secure, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly—guided by values such as amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. He said this framework reflects core Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusivity, with the Belt and Road Initiative serving as its primary platform and a cooperative, sustainable security model as its strategic base.
Addressing economic matters, Liang criticized tariff wars and reaffirmed China’s commitment to free trade and supply chain collaboration. “Tariff wars have no winners,” he said, contrasting China’s approach with what he described as “U.S. economic bullying.” He stated that China has emerged as a defender of developing countries’ interests and a leading force in regional cooperation.
Liang also noted that China’s firm and early countermeasures against U.S. tariff impositions helped prompt adjustments in American trade policies, positioning China as a stabilizing force and reliable partner in a time of global uncertainty.
“China speaks and acts accordingly,” Liang concluded, underscoring Beijing’s role as a consistent and trusted actor in regional affairs.
