Fellow Diplomats:

Good morning!

I am delighted to join you at this webinar.

This is the first online event that the Chinese Embassy hosts with the Oxford University Diplomatic Studies Programme. Over the past years, similar events have helped diplomats from around the world better understand China's foreign policy. They have also deepened mutual understanding between diplomats from China and other countries. I would like to take this opportunity to take stock of China's foreign relations in 2020 and share our visions for 2021.

The year 2020 was a watershed in human history. The sudden outbreak of Covid-19 threatened the safety and health of the people; Economic recession dealt a severe blow to people's wellbeing; Power politics and Cold-War mentality is rearing its head; Unilateralism and protectionism was on the rise. The world was confronted with disturbances and transformation.

At the same time, the evolution of the international landscape was speeding up; a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation gathered momentum. People of the world gained a more profound appreciation for the need to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

At this watershed, the vast majority of the international community called for solidarity rather than division, for openness rather than exclusion, and for cooperation rather than confrontation.

Facing the grave test of Covid-19 and the complex external environment, the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, united as one behind a common purpose. China was among the first to put the virus under control, carry out international cooperation against the pandemic, bring economic activities back on track, and restore economic growth.

We accomplished the historical mission of eliminating extreme poverty within the set time frame, and achieved decisive success in building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. The first centenary goal is now within our reach.

At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, a grand blueprint was drawn for China's development in the coming five years and beyond. Under this blueprint China will embark on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country. This will be yet another big step towards the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

In the past year, under the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China's diplomatic service met challenges head on and stepped up to our responsibilities to serve the country and contribute to the world. We fought the coronavirus as well as the "political virus" and made new contribution to safeguarding national interests and global stability.

In 2020, China took an active part in international cooperation against Covid-19 as a major responsible country.

Since the very beginning, China worked with the WHO and the international community in an open, transparent, science-based and responsible manner.

China was the first country to report cases to the world. We wasted no time in publishing key information including the genome sequencing, issued protocols for diagnose, treatment, and control of the disease at record time. We supported the leading role of the WHO and provided funding to the WHO and the UN Covid-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan. China provided assistance to over 150 countries and 10 international organisations, and sent 36 medical teams to 34 countries in need.

President Xi Jinping pledged that China would make its vaccines a global public good as part of China' s contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability for developing countries.

China carried out joint research, development and production of vaccines with more than ten countries, involving over 100,000 volunteers of more than 100 nationalities. To date, 17 Chinese vaccines have entered the stage of clinical trials and more than 60 countries have authorized the use of Chinese vaccines. We stands ready to explore the feasibility to implement plans with other countries on the mutual recognition of vaccination.

China has joined the COVAX, under which we have undertaken to provide an initial 10 million doses for emergency use in developing countries. So far, China has donated or is donating vaccines to 69 developing countries in urgent need, and is exporting vaccines to 43 countries. Responding to the UN appeal, China has donated vaccines to peacekeepers from various countries. China is also ready to work with the International Olympic Committee to provide vaccines to the athletes who will take part in the Olympic Games. It is our hope that Chinese vaccines will bring more confidence to global response to the pandemic.

In 2020, China opened wider and pursued win-win cooperation.

China accelerated reform and opening-up across the board. The Foreign Investment Law came into effect. The negative list for foreign investment was shortened to just 33 items. With these steps, China has opened its door even wider to the world.

We set out to foster a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. By vigorously expanding domestic demand, we provided greater market opportunities for the world and broader space for international cooperation.

Despite the challenges, China continued to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, providing important support for global economic recovery.

Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative demonstrated strong resilience and vitality. The China-Europe Railway Express hit new records in both the number and the volume of freight services. The freight trains formed a "steel camel fleet" supporting the pandemic response in countries along the route.

At the high-level video conference on Belt and Road cooperation, the participants agreed to build a Silk Road for Health, adding momentum to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

The third China International Import Expo was a success. Over 3,600 companies from more than 150 countries and regions took part and signed contacts worth US$72.62 billion.

The Chinese market has increasingly become a market for the world, shared by all and accessible to all.

In 2020, China advanced relations with major countries and provided strong support for world stability.

President Xi Jinping had five telephone conversations with President Vladimir Putin. These conversations provided guidance for the continuous growth of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. The two countries made steady progress in business cooperation and Covid-19 response. We also worked in concert to safeguard the outcomes of World War II and international fairness and justice, as important pillars of stability in a turbulent world.

Last year marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU. The two sides took this opportunity to strengthen coordination and cooperation, deepen mutual trust, uphold multilateralism and tackle global challenges together. China and the EU signed an agreement on geographical indications and decided to build partnerships for green and digital cooperation. Negotiations for the investment agreement were concluded on schedule. Closer cooperation in all these areas added new dimensions to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

China-US relations faced the most challenging situation since the establishment of diplomatic ties over four decades ago. In response to the bullying and provocations from anti-China forces in the United States, China took justified, effective and proportionate counter measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, to firmly uphold the norms governing international relations and international fairness and justice, and to vigorously safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of countries of the world, especially developing ones.

In the meantime, China's policy towards the United States remained stable and consistent. Determined and cool-headed, China handled and managed differences in a constructive manner, and tried its best to maintain the strategic stability in the international system.

In 2020, China made steady progress in building partnerships with other countries and took global cooperation to a higher level.

We took new steps towards building a community with a shared future with our neighbors.

• We realized a stable transition in China-Japan relations.
• We steered China-India relations in the right direction.
• We engaged in productive cooperation with the Republic of Korea on resuming economic activities.
• President Xi Jinping visited Myanmar ushering in a new era for the bilateral ties.
• Asia-Pacific countries agreed to work together to build a community with a shared future.
• The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed, and China decided to favorably consider joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), boosting the confidence of the relevant parties in building a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.
• Premier Li Keqiang attended the leaders' meetings for East Asian cooperation.
• China and ASEAN became each other's largest trading partners, which was a historic milestone indeed.
• China and the five Central Asian countries launched a mechanism of foreign ministerial meeting.

Solidarity and cooperation between China and other developing countries demonstrated new vitality.

• The Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against Covid-19 was a success.
• Dialogue mechanisms were established between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries and Arab states.
• China took an active part in developing and implementing the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), and co-hosted with the UN a high-level video conference on poverty eradication and South-South cooperation.

From fighting Covid-19 to restoring the economy, China worked closely with its neighbours and fellow developing countries, and deepened friendship with them through solidarity in the face of difficulties.

In 2020, China took an active part in global governance and stood up for multilateralism.

The past year witnessed headwinds and setbacks in global governance. Against such a background, President Xi Jinping expounded China's perspectives on global governance in a comprehensive and systematic way while attending major multilateral meetings, and put forward China's proposals on tackling global challenges.

Together with the rest of the international community, China firmly upheld the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the multilateral trading regime with the WTO as the cornerstone. We stood for greater democracy in international relations and advocated for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

Following the tide of history, China took part in international cooperation on climate change in a responsible manner. We made a solemn pledge to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, contributing our share to global ecological preservation.

China also proposed the Global Initiative on Data Security to foster an international cyberspace of peace, security, openness and cooperation.

To defend international justice, China actively explored approaches to resolve hotspot issues.

• We firmly upheld the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue and put forward a proposal of building a platform for multilateral dialogue for the Gulf region.
• We continued to advocate the phased and synchronized approach to achieve the two goals of denuclearization and establishment of a peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula.
• We supported advancing intra-Afghan talks.
• And we mediated between Bangladesh and Myanmar in addressing their disagreements.

In 2020, China's diplomatic service resolutely fought back against provocations and effectively safeguarded China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

We took a clear-cut position against politicization and stigmatization of Covid-19 by some Western countries and held back the global spread of the "political virus".

We refuted rumours and slanders against China's social system and development path, and defended the political authority and the system of the Party and the country.

We acted resolutely to defeat the attempts of some countries to interfere in China's internal affairs through issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, and safeguarded our sovereignty and the basic norms governing international relations.

We handled disputes over territorial boundaries and maritime rights and interests in an resolute and appropriate manner, and effectively defended our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We debunked various types of disinformation and exposed "double standards" of some Western countries and their attempts to shift blames on others, in an effort to present and put on record an objective and truthful historical narrative.

We took firm countermeasures against unilateral sanctions and the so-called long-arm jurisdiction in the name of national security to uphold the dignity of China and the Chinese nation, and to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses and citizens.

Some people put various labels on China's diplomacy, including "wolf warrior diplomacy". What Chinese diplomats did was only to oppose and say "no" to groundless and malicious slanders and attacks that do not seem to have bottom lines. This is the duty and responsibility of diplomats from any country to do so.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. It is the first year to implement the 14th Five-Year Plan, starting a new journey towards building a modern socialist country in all aspects and realize China's second centenary goal in 2049/2050.

The recently concluded "two sessions", namely, the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress and the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, deliberated on and adopted the 14th Five Year Plan and the long-range objectives through the year 2035 for China's economic and social development.

The aim is to fully implement the new development philosophy and build a new development paradigm. More emphasis is given to the quality and efficiency of development, and concrete and feasible indicators outlined, charting the course for development at home in the new stage. China will also open its market wider and provide more development opportunities for the rest of the world.

China's diplomatic service will make further efforts for realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

First, we will do our utmost to serve our national development strategies.

We will take full advantage of our new development stage and promote our new development philosophy. We will better integrate the domestic and international markets and resources and will work to foster a favorable external environment for building a new development paradigm and implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan.

In light of the pandemic, we will meet the needs for regular epidemic prevention and control on the one hand and economic and social development on the other. While consolidating the success of pandemic response, we will open more "fast tracks" for travel and "green lanes" for cargo shipment, establish joint pandemic response mechanisms with more countries, and carry out international cooperation on vaccines.

We will develop a comprehensive consular network to protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens and institutions.

Second, China will strive to accelerate global economic recovery.

We will stay committed to building a new system of open economy of higher standards to fully unlock the potential of its huge market and domestic demand. We will drive global economic recovery and share more benefits of our development with the world.

We will firmly oppose protectionism of all forms, promote the stable and smooth operation of the global industrial and supply chains, and work with other countries to build an open world economy.

We will vigorously advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and speed up the development of the health Silk Road, digital Silk Road and green Silk Road, and bring benefits to more countries and peoples.

Third, China will continue working to build a new type of international relations.

We will deepen comprehensive strategic coordination with Russia and jointly form pillars for peace, security and strategic stability in the world.

We will upgrade our relations with Europe by enhancing mutual trust, building consensus and expanding business cooperation.

At their telephone conversation, President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations and charted the course to bring the relationship back on the right track. We are ready to work with the United States to follow through on the outcomes of this important phone call, embrace a new beginning, and set China-US relations on a new path of healthy and steady growth.

Fourth, China will take solid steps to advance international and regional cooperation.

We will work for the early entry into force of the RCEP, advance the China-Japan-ROK free trade process, and promote the building of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Economic Development Belt. These efforts will encourage the relevant countries to work with China to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

We will work more closely with the relevant countries to build the China-Africa, China-Arab and China-Latin America and Caribbean communities with a shared future in a bid to enhance solidarity and deepen friendship with developing countries.

We will contribute our share to poverty alleviation, debt reduction and disaster mitigation of other developing countries, and help them build up capacity for independent development. We will also continue to deliver our promise to make Covid-19 vaccines a global public good.

Fifth, China will take an active part in the reform of the global governance system.

The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat at the UN and the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO.

We will remain committed to multilateralism, uphold the principles of openness and inclusiveness, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, and follow the trend of the times. We will support bringing into full play the UN's central position and role in international affairs.

As the host of UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), we will endeavor to make the event a success and join other parties in exploring new strategies for global governance on biodiversity in order to build a community with a shared future for all life on Earth.

We will enhance cooperation within the frameworks of the G20, APEC, the SCO and BRICS to address global challenges of climate change, cyber security and public health. We will call on all parties to jointly draw up rules on global digital governance and develop a governance system that is fairer and more equitable.

Sixth, China will promote mutual understanding and trust with other countries.

We will engage in friendly interactions with the rest of the world, call on all countries to seek common ground despite differences for common development, and facilitate exchange and mutual learning and harmony among civilisations.

We will better communicate to the world the CPC's governance of China, the Chinese people's extraordinary journey towards the Chinese Dream, and China's commitment to peaceful development. Through better communications, we hope the world will get a more objective view of the CPC and a more accurate understanding of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

We will continue to enhance mutual understanding with the rest of the world, and deepen mutual trust between the Chinese people and the people around the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Year 2021 is the Year of the Ox. Ox symbolizes perseverance and strength.

To conclude, I want to stress that in this year, China's diplomacy will endeavor to write a more splendid chapter, bring more warmth and hope to the world, and inject more confidence and strength to the common development of all countries.

We will continue to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, work with other countries to rise above differences in ideology, social system and development stage, and jointly protect the planet Earth, our only home.

We will uphold the common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, and work with other countries to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

Thank you! Now I am ready to take your questions.

Video link of the speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzD7XAro9Eo