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The Main Connotations and Pathways of China's Integrated Neighborhood Diplomacy From a Global Perspective

Fea tries was held in Beijing.General Secretary of the Communist Party ofChina （CPC） Central Committee Xi Jinping systematically summarized theachievementsandexperienceof China's neighborhood work in the newera，scientificallyanalyzed the situation，clarified the goals， tasks， ideasand measures for neighborhood work in the coming period，and emphasized theneed to focuson buildingacommunitywithasharedfuture with neighboring countries， striving to break new ground in neighborhood work. Facing the ever-changing international landscape， especially the surrounding environment， China needsto carry out integrated diplomacy，reshape the neighborhood environment， translate the concepts and policies of the CPC neighborhood diplomacyintodiplomaticpractices andachieve greaterresults.

CHINA'SNEIGHBORINGENVIRONMENT FROMAGLOBALPERSPECTIVE

China has a vast territory and long borders，making itsneighborhooda vital foundation forachievingdevelopmentandprosperity，akeyfront forsafeguardingnational security， a priorityarea inmanaging overall diplomacy，and a crucial link in promoting the building of a community withasharedfutureformankind. China's national interests are directly related to the safe and stable development of its neighboring countries.As astrategicareawhereforcesoutside and inside the region intertwine and compete with each other， the neighboring region is key for China's rise.

First，the neighborhood isavital foundation forachieving development and prosperity.Over thepast 40 years，one important diplomatic experience behind China'ssignificant developmentachievementsisthat China's reform and opening up has brought about a favorable international environment.A sound neighboringenvironmenthasplayedasa boosterin China'sreform and openingup，whichneighboringcountries inturn havereapedhugedividends from. Without a good neighboring environment，China'sreformandopening up could not have made such remarkableachievements.China's rise requires a good neighboring environment，and China'sdevelopment will also bring more opportunities andimpetustothedevelopmentand prosperity of neighboring countries.

Second， the neighborhood isa key front for safeguarding national security. China faces various challenges in itssurroundingarea，such asintensified geopolitical rivalry， unbalanced economic development，and prominent non-traditional security and governance issues. Some countries are stepping up to build military blocs thatposeathreatto China. TheKorean Peninsula issue remains complex andtense.TheAfghanreconstruction after the withdrawal of the U.S. troops isarduousand fullofchallenges.The smuggling of drugsand arms in China'sneighborhood threatensregional security.Moreover，international terrorism，extremenationalismand religious extremist forces remain important factorsundermining regional securityand stability，indicating that the surrounding security environment should not be taken lightly as it hasahuge impact on China.

Third，the neighborhood is a priorityarea inmanagingoverall diplomacy.Atpresent，China'srelationswith its neighboring countries areinthebestperiod sincemodern times.Meanwhile，China'sneighboring environment today is deeply interwoven with the changing global landscape.The top priority of China's foreignpolicy still liesin itsneighboring countries. Guided by the policy of fostering an amicable， secure and prosperousneighborhood，andthe principleof amity，sincerity，mutual benefit， inclusiveness， and building a community with a shared future， Chinaaimstodeepenfriendship，mutualtrustand integrationof interests with neighboring countries. China's neighborhood diplomacyservesthe strategicneedsofChinesemodernization.Ittakesintoaccountbothdomesticandinternational situationsand focuses on China'stwo major tasks of development and security. Going forward，Chinawill continuetowork with its neighboring countries for a brighter future.

Fourth， the neighborhood isa crucial link in promoting the building ofacommunitywith a shared future for mankind.As humanity enters the twenty-first century，changesin the world，in our times and in history areunfolding in all aspects.Human society is facing unprecedented challenges.Theworld onceagain standsat acrossroadsofhistory，andwhereto go next depends on the choices of people of all countries. China has always adhered to the foreign policy purpose of maintaining world peace and promotingcommondevelopment，and is committed to promoting the building ofacommunity with a shared future formankind.China'sneighborhood is key for building a community with a sharedfutureformankind，itishence necessary to view neighboring regions through a global perspective and enhance the sense of responsibility and missionindoingtheworkrelated to neighboring countries.

Fifth， the neighborhood is an importanttheaterof theU.S.tocontain China'srise.TheinfluenceoftheU.S. on China'srelationswith its neighbor ingcountriesisparticularlyevident inNortheastAsiaandSoutheastAsia. Froma spatial perspective， the U.S. has been causing trouble in China's neighborhood.Itconcentratesitsstrategic forcesin the vicinity of China， carrying out all-round containment against China and implementing a “close and tight”strategy.For that purpose， it has pieced together many smallmultilateral mechanisms，such asthe“FiveEyes”alliance，theQuadrilateral Security Dialogue （Quad）， andthe Australia-UK-US （AUKUS） trilateral security partnership，further strengthening itsalliancesystemin the Indo-Pacific region. The neighboring region of China is where theinteractionsbetweenChinaand theU.S.are themostconcentrated， frequentandcomplex.Oneof the trickstheU.S.usedtocontain China is to pressurize China's neighboring countries into taking sides. The U.S. all-round containment against China in its neighboring region during Trump's second term will not change. The U.S. strategy of“taking sides” brings pressure upon China’s neighboring countries.Meanwhile， some particularcountriesbelieveinthe “China threat”narrative，and have doubtsabout China'srise.

Todealwiththenewcircumstances and trends，China needs to implementintegrateddiplomacyin its neighboring region. On the onehand，Chinaneedstothwart theU.S. efforts to compel neighboring countriestotakesides，andsendaclear signal to theneighboringcountries thatweareall in thesame boat，and the boat cannot be capsized by others. On the other hand，it needs to make it clear to the neighboring countries that China doesnot follow the old path of expansionism and bullying， butanewoneofintegration.Thisis because Asian people expect an open and integrated Asia，and Asian people hope that all countrieswill reject self-exclusion， embrace integration， uphold openness and promote policy， infrastructure，trade，financialand people-to-people connectivity.So we can jointly foster a communitywith asharedfutureforbothAsiaandall humanity.

OnJune11，2025，the openingceremonyof the2025 China-MalaysiaHigh-SpeedRailwayandNewEnergy VehicleCulturalStudyCampwasheldatLiuzhouRailway Vocational TechnicalCollege，Guangxi.

THEMAINCONNOTATIONSOFAN INTEGRATEDNEIGHBORHOOD DIPLOMACY

After more than a decade of diplomatic practice， the connotation and basic frameworkofChina'sintegrated neighborhooddiplomacyhavebeen presentedrelativelycompletelyand clearly.

First，its goal is to build a communitywithasharedfuturewith neighboring countries.This is a reflection of building a community withasharedfutureformankindon theregional level. To achieve this， thefirstandforemostistobuilda communitywithsharedinterests.Following the BeltandRoad Initiative （BRI）， China put forward the idea of building the community with shared interests，the communitywith shared responsibilities and the community with a shared future respectively. The three“communities”originallywent in parallel， but later the“community withasharedfuture”waselevated to ahigherposition and developed intothe“communitywithashared future for mankind\".Focusing on the destinyof mankindandthecommon difficulties facing humanity from the perspectivesof philosophyand civili zation，it becomes our highest pursuit. But speaking of the community with sharedinterests，itisthefoundation ofa community with a shared future，withoutwhichthe cooperation between China and its neighboring countrieswilllackasolid basis.Therefore，itisimperativethatwecooperateundertheprincipleofmutual benefit， forgean everclosernetwork of common interests， and bring the integration ofmutual interests to a higher level. In this way，we can enableneighboring countriesto benefit from our development，and allowus togainbenefitaswellfrom thecommon development of neighboring countries.

Second， it involves a platform for practice.Thejointbuildingof the BRI serves as a practical platform for building a community with a shared future in the neighboring region.Buildinga community with asharedfutureformankindisthe strategic goal of China's diplomacy， and the joint building of the BRI is a platform for building a community withasharedfutureformankindand with neighboring countries as well. Since the BRI was put forward， three versionsforitsimplementationhave takenshape：The firstis the“fiveconnectivities”（policy，infrastructure， trade，finance，and people-to-people connectivities）;the secondisthe“five paths\"（path of peace，prosperity，openness，innovation，and civilization）;the third isthe“eightactions”inthenext decade （coordinating the promotion of landmark projectsand“small yet smart\"livelihood projects，etc.），which havefurther developedand enriched the BRI.

Third，its basic principleis to adhere to the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries and foster anamicable，secure and prosperous neighborhood.This embodies the essenceofintegrateddiplomacy.The basic policy ofChina's neighborhood diplomacymustbe subordinate to and serve the Two Centenary Goals and the great rejuvenation of the Chinesenation.Theadvancement of the Chinese modernization requires the all-round development of relations with neighboring countries， consolidatingthe foundationof good-neighborlinessand friendship， and deepening mutual cooperation. Neighborscannotbemoved awayor chosen at will. The purpose of China's integrated neighborhood diplomacy is to achieve harmonyin the neighborhood through fostering an amicable neighborhood.Once suchdiplomatic strategyisachieved，itwillhelpChina breakaway from theencirclement of the U.S.When China improvesits relations with neighboring countries， theU.S.will no longerhold theleverage in China's neighboring region to contain China.

Fourth，itsessenceistofosteramity，sincerity，mutual benefitand inclusiveness.Facingthenewchanges andtrendsintheinternationalenvironment，somecountriesshunChina despite being China'sneighbors. The keyto dealingwith thatistomake eachother emotionally close.Only through down-to-earthand sustained efforts，canweachieve the effect of theconcept ofamity，sincerity， mutualbenefitandinclusiveness.This requires China to treat neighboring countries with equality and empathy， and refrain fromdoinganythingthat harms their feelings.Chinaalso needs to strengthen face-to-face exchanges with people from neighboring countries，enable Chinese people to have frequent mutual visits with them， do morethingsthatwin theirhearts，and ensure orderly exchanges among cross-border ethnic groups.

Fifth，it carries forward theright approachtojusticeandinterests.Differentviewson therelationsofjustice andinterestsreflectdifferentvalue orientations.China takes the right approach towards the two， which upholds justice while pursuing shared interests. It gives priority to and attaches greater importance to justice， whichisreflectedinChina'sfine traditionalculture.InMarch2013， President Xi Jinping put forward the rightapproach to justice and interests during his visit to Africa. Since then， he has highlighted on multiple occasions that we should stick to theright approachtojusticeandinterests.We should pursue both justice and interests，and putjustice first.We should honor our words，value friendship， uphold justice， and champion integrity.To take the right approach to justiceand interests eventuallycomes down to the unity of patriotism and internationalism， the integration of the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of people of all countries， and its ultimate goal is to ensure positive and win-win interactionbetweenChinaandother countries in the world.

Sixth，itadherestothepath ofpeacefuldevelopmentandthe principleofpeaceful coexistence. Whydidn'tChinatakethepathof colonizationandexploitation，but insteadblazedanewtrailofpeaceful development forChinesemodernization？Thisis becausethe Chinese nation worships peace in nature.As President Xi Jinping pointed out， the Chinese civilization advocates harmony through exchangesand opposes isolation and seclusion. It advocates coexistence and joint progress，and opposes forcing one's will on others. It advocates maintaining harmony and opposes practicing the law of the jungle. The peace nature of theChinesecivilizationismanifested in four aspects：Firstly， China has alwaysbeena builder of world peace， acontributor to global development， andadefenderof international order. Secondly， China constantlypursues the exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations without engaging incultural hegemony.Thirdly， China will notimpose itsownvaluesand political system on others. Fourthly， China adheres to cooperationand does not engage in confrontation， factionalismanddiscrimination.China's integrated neighborhood diplomacy reflects the inherent peace nature in the Chinese civilization.China conveys to the international community which consists of China's neighboring countriestheclearideathatChina's pursuitofa peaceful development pathisnot just a slogan，but is an extension of its Hehe culture historicallyappliedinhandlingrelations with the outside world in today's era.

THEPATHWAYSOFCONDUCTING ANINTEGRATEDNEIGHBORHOOD DIPLOMACY

First，itisnecessaryto consolidate strategic mutual trustwith neighboring countries and support regional countries in taking their own developmentpaths.Chinahasestablished varioustypesofpartnerships with the vast majority of neighboring countries in the new era，and political mutual trust has been continuously enhanced.For instance， China and Kazakhstanhavecommittedtofurther consolidating the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership at a higher level and promoting the building of a community withashared future featuring everlasting friendship， strong mutual trust and solidarity， common development and shared prosperity. The two countries will continue to deepen political mutual trust and strengthen mutual support on issues related to sovereignty， security and territorial integrity. China firmly supports the development path independently chosen byKazakhstan， and Kazakhstan firmly supports the one-Chinaprinciple.Evidently，continuously enhancing political mutual trustbetweenChinaanditsneighbor ing countries is the prerequisite and guarantee for conducting an integratedneighborhood diplomacy.At present，someneighboringcountries have difficulties to varying degrees in securing peace and development. China needs to play an active role， workwith neighboring countries to eliminatefactorsthatinterferewith thedevelopmentand stabilityofthe region，and ensure the stability， peace and prosperity of theregion.People to-people cooperation isan important part of enhancing political mutual trust among countries. Therefore， China should expand exchanges and interactions with neighboring countries，facilitate personnel exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture，education，and sports. By leveraging such advantages as sharing cross-border ethnic groups with neighboring countries，China aims tobuildacommunitywitha shared future with neighboring countries through exchanges and contact.

Second， we should handle prop erly the relationship between taking thepathofpeacefuldevelopment and safeguarding the core interests of thecountry.Thishasthreelayersof meaning：First，the path of peaceful development is the strategic choice of China，but that by nomeans implies that China will giveup its legitimate rightsand interests，nordoesit sacrificeitscorenationalinterests.No foreign country should expect China totradewithitscore interests，norto swallowthebitterfruitthatundermines its sovereignty， security and developmentinterests.econd，China follows the path of peaceful development，andothercountriesshould follow the same path. Only when all countries choose so，can the world achievecommondevelopmentand countriescoexist peacefully. Third， China'sdevelopment will never come attheexpenseofthe interestsofothers.Wewill neverdoanythingto benefit ourselves at the expense of our neighbors.

Third， we should depen development and integration，build a highlevel interconnectivity network，and strengthen cooperation in industrial and supply chains. The material basis of integrated neighborhood diplomacy lies in deepening development and integration with neighboring countries. We should fully leverage the platform of jointly building the BRI， promote landmark projects and “small yet smart” livelihood projects in a coordinated manner， facilitate green development， promote scientific and technological innovation， support people-to-people exchanges， build clean governments， and improve the international cooperation mechanism. We should build a highlevel interconnectivity network， further leverage the economic and social benefits of the China-Laos Railway and the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway，and build the high-quality China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway， and unblock the railway transportation network between China and its neighboring countries under the framework of the China-Europe Railway Express We should strengthen industrial and supply chain cooperation with neighboring countries. Efforts should be made to promote practical economic cooperation under the framework of building the ChinaASEAN and China-Central Asia communities with a shared future， expand industrial chains and stabilize supply chains. Against the backdrop of the U.S. imposing tariffs globally， especially using tariff to curb China's development， China and its neighboring countries should deepen the integration and interconnection of industrial and supply chains to a greater degree. Fourth. we should manage conflicts and differences wiselyand properly，jointlymaintainregional enforcement cooperation， and respond to all kinds of risks and challenges. The “high winds and rough waves”in China’s diplomatic environment have already been seen in the neighboring region， and there may be some“storms and torrents” in the future. Therefore， managing conflicts and differences is one of the important tasks of China's diplomacy.As a responsible major country， China has the awareness and ability to manage regional issues. The Chinese modernization follows the path of peaceful development. China will not initiate crises or stir up incidents， nor will it aim to weaken strategic rivals by disrupting regions or even the world. China has chosen to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind through peace and cooperation. In terms of the current international environment， China should be adept at managing the various troubles and problems， big and small， created by the U.S. In particular， it needs to break through the small multilateral mechanisms pieced together by the U.S.against China， so as to proceed steadily and far in the face of“high winds and rough waves” or even “storms and torrents\". By resolving and transforming a series of major international issues in the neighboring region， China is stepping up to recreate its regional environment. All these are parts of its integrated neighborhood diplomacy. It does not mean blindly compromising or accommodating. Instead， it requires a strong will to act with courage and determination， as well as wise diplomatic means and strategies and the ability to skillfully utilize diplomatic tools.