Active regional diplomacy belies 'China threat theory'

The simultaneous and landmark arrival of three prime ministers from neighboring countries last week saw China raise its regional diplomacy to a new level.

The arrival of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mongolian Prime Minister Norov Altankhuyag on October 22 for China visit was part of China's plan to further friendly relations with its neighbors, an goal considered by its new leadership as a foundation stone for the "China Dream".

From Eastern to Central Asia, from the Far East to Southern Asia, from the Pacific to the Indian oceans, China's new leadership is striving for a sound neighborly environment via more reciprocal visits and dialogue.

China is attaching increasing importance to relations with its neighbors. For one thing, consolidated neighborhood relations is essential for China's national rejuvenation in that no one can develop without a stable and sound regional environment.

For another, closer links and more frequent interactive exchanges between China and its neighbors require upgraded relations with deeper security, economic and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, which will fundamentally serve the common development of China and its neighbors.

As President Xi Jinping has put it, only through better integration of China's interests with that of its neighbors, can they benefit from each other's development.

But the upgraded neighborhood diplomacy leaves no room for those advocating the "China threat theory".

In a rare high-ranking conference on diplomatic work held last week in Beijing, Xi vowed the basic tenet of China's diplomacy with its neighbors was to treat them as friends and partners, make them feel safe and help them to develop.

With friendship as the consistent principle of China's regional diplomacy, cooperation with its neighbors will be based on mutual benefit and equality.

After all, the Asia-Pacific region is big enough for all countries to develop, and China itself will embrace this idea so it becomes the shared belief and norms of conduct for the whole region, as pledged by Xi.