BEIJING – President Xi Jinping is focusing on creating communities with a common future with Chinese neighbours and trying to open new ground for the work of the neighbours.
President XI made comments at a central meeting relating to neighboring countries held in Beijing, China’s capital, from April 8th to 9th.
He systematically summarised the achievements and experiences of Chinese neighbourhood work in a new era. Chinese leaders have scientifically analyzed the current situation and outlined the goals, tasks, ideas and measures for the next stage of work in the neighborhood.
Xi has also committed to strengthening strategic ties with neighbouring countries by “good” managing differences and strengthening supply chain ties.
Members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), including Prime Minister Li Qiang, attended the meeting.
On his part, Li emphasised the importance of fully embracing the essence of President Xi’s important speech and enthusiastically carrying out the various responsibilities related to his relations with his neighbouring countries.
The conference emphasized that China’s vast territory and long borders make its neighbourhood an important foundation for national development and prosperity. These areas serve as important aspects of protecting China’s national security.
Additionally, the conference urged viewing neighbourhoods through a global perspective and strengthening its responsibilities and mission in moving forward with work in China’s neighbourhoods.
China has not only sought to promote relations with its neighbours, but has also not escaped efforts to contribute to world peace and security.
China highlighted the need to promote multilateralism at the Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 Boer Forum (BFA) held in Hainan last month.
BFA Vice Chairman Zhou Xiaochuan said at the BFA subforum that Asian countries should promote regional economic integration and shape an inclusive and equitable form of economic globalization.
He said these countries need to unite with unilateral protection and trade protectionism on the other side and support true multilateralism.
Beyond Asia, China is also making efforts to help resolve global conflicts, including wars between Russia and Ukraine through diplomatic means.
US Trade War
President Xi’s speech to the meeting concluded Wednesday comes amid the US trade war with China.
On Wednesday, China announced a new tariff of 84% on imports of all US goods, up from the previously announced 34%.
The decision comes after Donald Trump’s latest tariff wave came into effect and imports from China reached 104% interest rates.
Trump began a trade war with China after returning to white China on January 20th by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated the placement of tariffs, particularly agricultural products.
Beijing called for Washington to immediately correct the wrong practices, cancel all unilateral tariff measures, and properly resolve differences through equal dialogue based on mutual respect.
Experts believe that the US trade war in China will backfire and tackle what will undermine American farmers.
Prominent American economists have characterized Trump’s trade dispute with China as a counterproduction strategy.
“Well, I think the trade war is very self-destructive for the US, so I don’t think it will hinder China, but it will hurt the US,” Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development, told the Tehran Times late last month on a side job with the BFA.