The air in Beijing on March 8, 2026, buzzed with anticipation. As the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress convened, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stepped up to the podium, ready to address a room packed with journalists, both domestic and international. It was a fitting day, International Women's Day, a moment to acknowledge contributions and look forward. Wang Yi began by extending warm wishes, a personal touch that immediately set a tone of connection, before diving into the weighty matters of China's foreign policy.
He painted a picture of a world grappling with unprecedented change – a century of shifts, turbulence, and unfortunately, conflict. Yet, amidst this global flux, China, he emphasized, is forging ahead, building a modern socialist country and pursuing national rejuvenation with growing international influence. This progress, he noted, is guided by the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, a framework that prioritizes defending national sovereignty, security, and development interests, upholding international law, fairness, and justice, and firmly rejecting unilateralism, hegemony, and bullying.
"China is the greatest force for peace, stability, and justice in the world," Wang Yi declared, a statement underscoring a commitment to a positive global role. He expressed confidence in humanity's future and a desire to collaborate with like-minded nations to build a shared future for mankind, writing new chapters of peace, development, and win-win cooperation.
When asked about the achievements of China's 'Head of State Diplomacy' in the past year, Wang Yi highlighted its role as the nation's compass. He spoke of President Xi Jinping's significant diplomatic engagements amidst international turbulence, marking historic moments. These included crucial dialogues with leaders of major countries, fostering new dynamics of good neighborliness through visits to Southeast Asia, Russia, Central Asia, and the Republic of Korea, and boosting the Global South's solidarity by presiding over the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit and the China-CELAC Forum. Participation in commemorations, like the 80th anniversary of the victory against fascism, served to amplify the message of peace and justice.
The impact of this diplomacy, Wang Yi explained, has been a clearer understanding and increased confidence in China internationally. More countries, he observed, see China's diplomacy, under President Xi's personal guidance, as a source of stability and certainty in an unstable world, an indispensable pillar. The initiatives and visions put forth by President Xi, he added, demonstrate strategic foresight and a commitment to the common good, charting a course for a world undergoing profound transformations.
Looking ahead to 2026, Wang Yi outlined a busy agenda. President Xi Jinping is set to host foreign dignitaries, preside over major events in China such as the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the second China-Arab States Summit, and undertake significant international travel. These engagements, he concluded, are poised to further enhance China's relations with the world and open new avenues for building a community of shared future for humanity, allowing China to contribute even more significantly to global peace and development.
