Op-Ed Contributors

More proactive diplomacy

By Jing Men (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-25 07:53

By emphasizing the necessity of strengthening "the awareness of opportunities and potential risks", actively adjusting "to the changes of environment", and effectively solving "various problems", the Chinese government is attempting to be better prepared for both "foreseeable and unforeseeable risks and challenges" in the world.

Such a statement has the following implications: First, Beijing has accumulated rich practical experience and it is now time to act based on what it has learnt over the years. Second, the years of policy practice have given Beijing self-confidence. It believes that only by being more proactive can it be more successful in dealing with challenges. Third, the emphasis on the readiness to adapt to changes and to solve problems indicates the willingness of Beijing to behave as a responsible power.

Needless to say, it is easier to deal with foreseeable risks and challenges than unforeseeable ones. Nevertheless, unforeseeable problems can be triggered by foreseeable ones, and thus, in order to nip in the bud all possible problems, better preparation is necessary.

For example, the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 world financial crisis were both unforeseeable. However, if appropriate measures had been taken in the financial field and good coordination had been achieved among all the players involved, these crises might have been avoidable.

In the contemporary era, globalization has tremendously increased the interconnectedness between states. Countries have realized, more than ever, that what happens somewhere else may affect them. China, as an important player in world affairs, has no doubts about its responsibility to work together with other countries to maintain healthy international financial order, uphold sustainable economic growth and protect the environment.

In East Asia, good regional relations are crucial for China to focus on its domestic reform and development. From the perspective of economic cooperation and trade relations, China has been very successful, as it has become the largest trading partner of Japan, South Korea and established a free trade area with ASEAN.

Yet, from the security perspective, the territorial disputes in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea between China and its neighbors may trigger problems if they are not handled with caution.

Inside China, domestic challenges may also have external repercussions. Natural disasters, disease epidemics, energy shortages, and the fight against terrorism, for example, will all be watched closely by the world.

All in all, to be able to have an upper hand in dealing with all kinds of challenges, China needs to give full play to its wisdom developed from the knowledge and experience acquired in the past years of policy practice. Furthermore, China needs to possess a long-term vision.

The road taken by China, which features Chinese characteristics, is a unique one. It not only takes into consideration Chinese national interests, but also international responsibility so as to be a reliable stakeholder. In such a way, China's rise will follow a peaceful trajectory and contribute to world stability and development.

The author is the InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of EU-China Relations at the College of Europe.

(China Daily 10/25/2010 page8)