Retrospect and Prospect of 70 Years of Diplomacy of New China

-- A lecture by Vice Minister Yu Hongjun

Hosted by the Institute for China & World Studies and the School of Political Science & International Relations (SPSIR) of Tongji University, the Tongji Serial Lectures on Social Sciences No.14 & the Tongji Advanced Lectures for Graduate Students No.95 was successfully held in the lecture hall on the first floor of Yifu Building, Siping Campus, Tongji University on Sept. 12, 2019. Professor Yu Hongjun, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD) and former Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, was specially invited to give a keynote speech entitled "Retrospect and Prospect of 70 Years of Diplomacy of New China" for teachers and students of Tongji. This lecture was moderated by Professor Men Honghua, Dean of SPSIR.

Based on his rich diplomatic and personal experience, Prof. Yu divided the 70-year development and evolution of Chinese diplomacy into three periods: the first period from 1949 to 1978 when the People’s Republic of China was just founded, the second period from 1979 to 2012 when China began to pursue peaceful development, and the third period featuring major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era after the 18th CPC National Congress. Talking about the first period, Prof. Yu first emphasized that the Soviet Union recognized the legitimacy of PRC on the second day of its founding, which had played an important role in China’s appearing on the world stage and standing among the nations of the world. Then he explained the connotations of the three guidelines for diplomacy established after the founding of PRC, i.e. “leaning to one side”, “starting all over again”, and “cleaning the house before inviting guests”, and he fully affirmed the unique and groundbreaking significance of these three guidelines. Prof. Yu pointed out that during that period, facing the complex international situation and difficult conditions at home, China always adhered to the principles of “starting from scratch, keeping learning, being cautious, and minding the smallest issues in diplomacy”, enabling China to successfully maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity in foreign affairs and achieve a series of diplomatic victories.

In his discussion about the second period, Prof. Yu said that the most significant change in China’s diplomacy was the adjustment of theoretical orientation: peaceful development was the trend of the times, and the political conflict between the East and the West and the wealth gap between the North and the South was ultimately an issue about peace and development. Based on this, China's diplomatic work has shifted to serve the modernization drive. China was sanctioned by the US in 1989 amid changes in the world pattern, and then China focused its diplomatic task on breaking through the sanctions, nevertheless, China identified many opportunities for the development of its diplomacy. Since then, under the diplomatic principle of "keeping a low profile for the moment and making positive contributions when the time is ripe", China has gradually integrated into the international order, and eased the tension across the Taiwan Straits and its relations with the US, laying the foundation for a new and greater success in Chinese diplomacy. As we can see, China had made remarkable diplomatic achievements during this period, including improving its status in the United Nations and taking an active part in the establishment of leading international organizations and multilateral platforms. Thanks to these, China was able to get closer to the center of the world stage.

Finally, Prof. Yu discussed the major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. After the 18th CPC National Congress, China began to demonstrate its style by hosting a series of diplomatic events. He pointed out that the pursuit of a global community of shared future and the commitment to peaceful development and win-win cooperation reflect not only the basic ideas of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, but also a significant innovation and historical leap in the existing theory of international relations. In this process, China must not only implement the "Four-Sphere Confidence" defined at the 19th CPC National Congress, but also strive to strengthen economy, science and technology, education and national defense to empower Chinese diplomacy. Besides, China should advance the Belt and Road Initiative, adjust the relations with other major powers, and create and participate in international institutions, so as to provide a new blueprint for the consolidation of China's national interests and the expansion of its overseas interests. On the new journey toward the rise of a great power, China will exhibit its style and fulfill its responsibilities in a more mature and confident manner through its diplomacy, thus contributing positive energy of Chinese civilization to the progress and development of all mankind.

Prof. Yu’s speech was full of in-depth observation and thinking, along with exciting stories. The audience was fascinated by his theoretical explanation and historical analysis, and the lecture went on smoothly in a warm and lively atmosphere. In the Q&A session, Prof. Yu answered questions on China-US relations and China’s diplomatic situation, benefitting the audience a lot.

Dean Men spoke highly of Prof. Yu’s speech. As the dean said, Prof. Yu has a deep understanding of the history and keen observation of the reality. He took the audience to revisit the 70-year development history of New China's diplomacy, and his speech was a nice warm-up for the upcoming activities related to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Dean Men welcomed Prof. Yu to visit Tongji again to share his insights with Tongji students.