China’s Binzhou: The opening ceremony of China’s Binzhou International Friendship City Day in Shandong Province, China served as a powerful platform to reaffirm President Xi Jinping’s visionary call for global unity and cooperation.
Attended by domestic and foreign officials, journalists and officials around the world on Thursday, the event highlighted China’s commitment to promoting international partnerships under President XI’s diplomatic philosophy guidelines.
At the heart of the discussion was focused on building communities that shared the future of humanity. This has become the basis of China’s foreign policy and a rallying cry for comprehensive multilateralism.
Framework for cooperation
Song Yongxiang, secretary of the CPC Binzhou Municipal Committee, took the stage to highlight President XI’s transformative global initiative. He repeated Xi’s Clarion’s call to embrace unity in the face of Xi’s common challenges, citing the Chinese leader’s focus on the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). Song is a practical blueprint designed to promote equitable development, sustainable security, and cross-cultural harmony, as well as the theoretical components.
The clarification of the community that shares President Xi Jinping’s future is rooted in the belief that it cannot thrive in isolation. From climate change and economic instability to pandemics and geopolitical tensions, the interconnected nature of modern challenges is in demand for collective action.
Xi’s philosophy supports win-win cooperation and rejects zero-sum competition, urging nations to “sit on the same boat” and navigate turbulent waters together. The song elicited an attractive parallel between President Xi Jinping’s diplomatic doctrine and ancient Chinese wisdom. He traced the concept of collaborative efforts back to Sun Tzu’s The Art of War written in Binzhou two,500 years ago. The phrase that leads to “crossing the river on the same boat” symbolizes the unity of adversity. This is the principle that President XI has been energized for modern global governance.
“The world today is like a great ship,” the song reiterated Xi’s Philosopher. “We cannot pilot a single country alone. We must row together.” This image resonates deeply with an era where one-sided protectionism and protectionism threaten world stability. By invoking this ancient proverb, President XI strengthens China’s role as a bridge builder advocating for joint solutions rather than a divisive rival.
Friendships, Partnerships, and Relationships
Song introduced three important English words: friendship, partnership and dating to encapsulate China’s approach to international relations.
Friendship: The foundation of trust and goodwill. President XI emphasizes the exchange of people as the bedrock of permanent diplomatic relations. China aims to deepen mutual understanding through cultural exchanges, educational programs and tourism.
Partnership: Commitment to shared goals. XI’s focus on win-win cooperation is evident in initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which promotes infrastructure connectivity and economic integration.
Dating: A permanent bond that requires development. As the song states, quoting China’s ideals, “True relationships only endure when they cherish,” President XI’s diplomacy prioritizes long-term engagement over trading. These principles are consistent with Xi’s broader narrative that global governance must be inclusive, fair and resilient.
Shandong’s role in advancing Xi’s vision
Li Hong, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Shandong State Commission, strengthened President XI’s message by introducing Shandong’s achievements in the international sister city partnership.
Since 1979, when Qingdao established its first sister city relationship with Japan’s Shimonoseki, Shandong expanded such partnerships to 718 worldwide. Lee emphasized that these bonds are not merely iconic, but will help advance the Xi vision of a shared future. “President Xi Jinping reminds us that we are all on the same boat,” she said. “In an age of unprecedented change, we must unite to achieve results that are beneficial to both parties.”
Her speech highlights how urban-to-city collaboration can be amplified by promoting grassroots collaboration.
Binzhou’s Mous: Practical Steps to Shared Development
The ceremony saw signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (Mous) between Binzhou and cities across multiple countries, strengthening President Xi’s call for concrete cooperation. On behalf of his city, Jean Claude Buffer, Mayor of France, signed the agreement and further strengthened his cross-border relations. These partnerships illustrate XI’s belief that localized collaboration is key to global advancement.
Diplomatic Philosophy in China’s Diplomatic Philosophy
As an Iranian journalist taking part in the event, I observed how China’s diplomatic strategy under President XI works on multiple levels.
Multilateral engagement: China advocates rules-based orders and actively supports a centrally unsupported international system, amplifying the voices of developing countries.
Economic inclusiveness: Through BRI and trade policy, XI promotes balanced growth and ensures small economies are not alienated.
Cultural Connections: By hosting events like Binzhou International Friendshion Cities Day, China promotes intercultural dialogue and is in line with Xi’s GCI.
President Xi Jinping’s doctrine of a community that shares the future is more than a diplomatic slogan. This is a practical roadmap for global governance in the 21st century.
The Binzhou event showed how this vision could be translated into actions, from high-level policy initiatives to local partnerships. In a world that is working on fragmentation, XI focuses on “cooperative efforts” and “voyages on the same boat” and provides a unified framework. The appeal of friendship, partnership, and dating provides a timeless guide to collective progress. Binzhou International Friendshion Cities Day has not only celebrated intercity ties. It is a testament to the enduring relevance of President Xi Jinping’s vision for a harmonious and interconnected world.