In the wake of the 18th National Congress of CPC Central Committee, catering to the needs of the changing relations between China and the rest of the world, and keeping in mind both the domestic and international situations, the new collective leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, proposed the great idea of realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. At the same time, focusing on the Two Centenary Goals, the new central leadership proposed the four-pronged comprehensive strategy (namely finishing building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, advancing the law-based governance of China and strengthening Party discipline), thus realizing major theoretical innovation in terms of governance theory. The innovation of his diplomatic thoughts is an important part of Xi Jinping’s governance theory. Therefore, we should study the governance theory of Xi Jinping as a whole to understand his thoughts of people-to-people diplomacy.

 

I. Peaceful development and national rejuvenation is the theme of people-to-people diplomacy

 

In the governance theory of Xi Jinping, one of the core threads is the Chinese dream realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, facing complicated international and domestic situations, the new CPC central leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, put forward the important thought of “Chinese dream” and endowed it with abundant connotation, making it the guiding ideology for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. “Realizing the great rejuvenation is the most important ambition of the Chinese nation since the modern times”1, as Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out explicitly. On March 17, 2013, in his address after being elected as the President of China at the first session of the 12th National People’s Congress, Xi Jinping gave further explanation to “Chinese dream”, “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, or the ‘Chinese dream’, referring to national prosperity and revitalization as well as people’s wellbeing”.2 Meanwhile, Xi Jinping argues that the realization of the Chinese dream requires us to take the Chinese path, carry forward the spirit of China, pool the strength of China, view the “Chinese dream” at the height of the overall national development strategy, and make it the core concept of strategy of governing the country in the new era. The important thought of “Chinese dream” is not an intangible dream. Instead, it is an explicit and feasible objective. This objective is the Two Centenary Goals: finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the time the Communist Party of China celebrates its centenary in 2021; and turning China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the time the People’s Republic of China celebrates its centenary in 2049. The Chinese dream goes in line with the “world dream” of promoting peace and enhancing the well-being of mankind. The “Chinese dream” is not only a dream of the Chinese in pursuing happiness, but also closely linked with the dream of people of the whole world. In the process of realizing the Chinese dream, China will, together with the rest of the world, help people of all countries realize their dreams. The realization of the “Chinese dream” of national rejuvenation calls for the understanding and support of people of all countries, as well as extensive exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, thus setting the tracks and directions for the development of people-to-people diplomacy of China.

 

In an era featuring peace, development and win-win cooperation, China should adhere to the road of peaceful development. Since the 18th National Congress of CPC Central Committee, President Xi Jinping has reiterated many times that China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. That is to say, China will, on the one hand, create a favorable environment for domestic development (via maintaining world peace); on the other hand, improve the ability of maintaining world peace (via domestic development). The path of peaceful development closely connects the interests of China and the rest of the world, to the realization of national rejuvenation. Pursuing peaceful development is the core and major tone of both national diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy. On May 15, 2014, when attending the International Friendship Conference in Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, President Xi Jinping pointed out that “people-to-people friendship is fundamental in promoting world peace and development, as well as the precondition of realizing win-win cooperation and mutual benefit; mutual trust and equality is the prerequisite to win-win cooperation.” “The key to maintaining world peace and promoting common development of all countries is to make people of all countries fully understand the significance of peace and development for mankind.” In a new era when the international system is undergoing profound changes and the international order is undergoing rapid transformation, neither maintaining peace nor promoting development and people-to-people friendship is a natural process. Efforts need to be excited to vigorously carry out people-to-people diplomacy, promote exchanges between different civilizations, widely spread the concept of peace, and deeply cultivate friendship. This is the important mission of people-to-people diplomacy in the new century.

 

Obviously, it is the core and major tone of Xi Jinping’s thoughts of people-to-people diplomacy to promote national rejuvenation at home, pursue peaceful development abroad, expand common interests among different countries (via strengthening friendly exchanges between people of China and the rest of the world), and make positive contribution to the cause of world peace and development. The above thoughts specify the right direction for people-to-people diplomacy to better fulfill its mission of “making friends for the country”, enhancing friendship between countries and peoples, as well as promoting international cooperation.

 

II. People-to-people diplomacy should lay a solid foundation for state relations among the peoples

 

On the role of people-to-people diplomacy in national diplomacy, comrade Xi Jinping argues that the key to sound relations between states lies in the affection between the people and the friendship between the people is the foundation for national relations. He once said humorously to some officials of the Foreign Ministry, “friendly exchanges is the power of diplomacy just as practice is the power of life, and Chinese diplomats should go out more frequently, make more friends and good friends.” In his visit to Kazakhstan and Indonesia in 2013, Xi Jinping put forward the important initiative of “One Belt One Road” with people-to-people bond as an important pillar of “five-major-goals” (namely, policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bond). On July 4, 2014, in his speech delivered at Seoul University, President Xi Jinping pointed out, “strengthening people-to-people exchanges so as to improve friendship between the people. If people make friends for material interests or power, their friendship will end when interests or power is used up. Only friendship of hearts can last long. The development of state relations would eventually lie in the affection between the people”.3 All these elaboration emphasize the fundamental significance of people-to-people diplomacy for state relations.

 

When he was the Vice-President of China, Xi Jinping had emphasized for many times that people-to-people diplomacy was the foundation of national diplomacy. On May 5, 2011, when he was meeting former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who was attending people-to-people exchange activities in China, Xi Jinping, then member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and the Vice-President of China, said that the relationship between states lie in the affection between the peoples. People-to-people exchanges are an important part of bilateral or multilateral exchanges, as well as an effective way to enhance understanding and mutual-trust between the people of different countries. People-to-people exchanges between China and Japan in various fields are not only conducive to strengthening friendship between the two peoples, but could also substantivly enrich the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between China and Japan. On May 15, 2012, during his meeting with representatives attending the conference of the 10th national council of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Xi Jinping emphasized that people-to-people diplomacy was fundamental for enhancing friendship between the peoples and countries, and was an integral part of overall diplomacy of the country. In the new development stage of the new century, people-to-people diplomacy boasted more, public diplomacy boasted more onerous tasks, more prominent roles and more broad stage. On July 10, 2012, when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-Africa People’s Forum in Suzhou, Xi Jinping pointed out that we should actively create conditions to enable more people of both sides to share the ever-growing fruits of China-Africa cooperation, and further consolidate the foundation in public opinion of China-African cooperation.

 

After he was elected the President of China, Xi Jinping closely connected people-to-people friendship with diplomacy on many occasions, and emphasized that people-to-people diplomacy should lay a solid foundation (social and public opinion) for state relations and international cooperation. On September 7, 2013, when he was visiting Kazakhstan, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech themed “Promote Friendship between Our People and Work Together to Build a Bright Future” at Nazarbayev University, emphasizing that the friendship between was based on the affection between the people, “the successful cooperation in various fields of the Silk Road Economic Belt calls for the support from people of different countries, therefore, we should strengthen the friendly exchanges between the people, enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship, thus laying a solid social foundation (of social and public opinion) for regional cooperation”. On May 12, 2014, the 3rd China-Africa People’s Forum opened in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum, emphasizing that “friendship between the people is an important foundation for the development of state relations”. “As an important institutionalized platform for people’s exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa, China-Africa People’s Forum plays a positive and unique role in strengthening people-to-people friendship, enhancing practical cooperation and maintaining world peace.”4 On May 15, 2014, when addressing the China International Friendship Conference in Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, President Xi Jinping further emphasized that facing complicated and ever-changing international situations and austere global issues, people of all countries should strengthen friendly exchanges and join hands to pull together in times of trouble. On May 23, 2015, in his speech at China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the foundation of China-Japanese friendship lied in the people and the future of China-Japanese relations would be decided by people of both countries. At time when bilateral relations met with difficulties, it is all the more important for people of all walks of society to work actively to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, so as to create favorable condition and environment for the improvement of bilateral relations.

 

III. Build a multi-dimensional pattern of people-to-people diplomacy

 

In the diplomatic thoughts of Xi Jinping, people-to-people diplomacy is an important part the Party’s international work as well as an important part of the multi-dimensional pattern of diplomacy.5 President Xi Jinping pointed out, the international work of the Party “should strive to become an important channel enhancing the development of international relations of China, an important window demonstrating the sound international image of the Party, an important platform for Party members and leading cadres observing and researching the world, and an important channel for dreaming upon foreign experience and facilitating decision-making of the CPC Central Committee”. Under the guidance of such thoughts the international work the Party has dramatically expanded its domains, and has gradually formed a multi-dimensional working pattern integrating party diplomacy, public diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, thus improving the overall advantage and comprehensive benefits.

 

In the specific case of people-to-people diplomacy, President Xi Jinping has emphasized for many times to promote public opinion communication, people-to-people friendship and cooperation in areas important to people’s livelihood, as well as broaden the scope of cooperation, enhance non-governmental exchanges, strengthen collaboration and solidarity. Xi Jinping has been keeping an eye on the exchanges between non-governmental organizations of China and Africa, and frequently attended or issued congratulatory letters to China-Africa People’s Forum. “Centering around the theme of ‘public opinion communication, people-to-people friendship and cooperation in areas important to people’s livelihood’, non-governmental organizations of China and Africa probe into new initiatives of mutual benefit and common development, new forms of people-to-people exchanges, and new ideas of win-win cooperation, which are of great significance to enhance people-to-people friendship and China-Africa relations development”, said Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping also emphasized that China and Africa should adhere to all-round cooperation and promote the multi-dimensional development of China-Africa relations. “We should promote the development of China-Africa relations from a wider scope, more diversified areas and higher level, strengthen interaction in terms of official diplomacy, parliamentary diplomacy, party diplomacy, public diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, so as to build an all-round and multi-dimensional cooperative system and promote the comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development of a new-type of China-Africa strategic partnership.” President Xi Jinping called on non-governmental organizations of both China and Africa to further innovate cooperation concept, expand scope of cooperation, promote non-governmental exchanges and strengthen solidarity, so as to further entrench the social foundation of China-Africa cooperation. Public opinion communication, people-to-people friendship and cooperation in areas important to people’s livelihood emphasized by President Xi in terms of non-governmental cooperation between China and Africa highlighted the three focal points of people-to-people diplomacy in the new era, thus specifying the directions of carrying out multi-dimensional people-to-people diplomacy.

 

The multi-dimensional people-to-people diplomacy pattern is not only embodied in its content of public opinion communication, people-to-people friendship and cooperation in areas important to people’s livelihood, but also embodied in the forms and channels of people-to-people diplomacy. President Xi Jinping has emphasized for many times that efforts are needed to promote people-to-people exchanges in an all round way, strengthen friendly exchanges in terms of tourism, science, education, cooperation at sub-national level, and make friends extensively. In the above areas, President Xi Jinping specifically elaborated the significance of city diplomacy, youth diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges. On May 15, 2014, in the China International Friendship Conference in Commemoration of 60th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Xi Jinping stressed that we should make more efforts in forming international sister cities, enhance local government exchange between China and foreign countries, and promote resource sharing, win-win cooperation, and complement each other’s advantages through exchanges. On April 7, 2015, when attending the 15th China-Vietnam Youth Friendly Gala, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the relationship between countries was based on affection between the people, while the affection between the people should start from youth. He hoped that the young people of both countries inherit the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, promote the friendly cooperation, contribute to the building of future friendship, and build bridges of friendship between China and Vietnam. President Xi Jinping also makes instructions on strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world for many times the development of relations between different countries, in the end, depends on affection between the people. If political, economic and security cooperation is the hard power driving the development of national relations, then people-to-people exchanges is the soft power connecting the hearts and friendship between people of different countries. Only by integrating the strength of hard power and soft power, can we better promote different countries to get on well with each other in an atmosphere of honesty and win-win cooperation. In terms of boosting mutual understanding and friendship between people of different countries, the role of culture is just like life-giving spring breeze or the rain which baths everything. The above elaboration of President Xi Jinping is strategically situated and rich in connotations, thus boasting important guiding significance for the development of people-to-people diplomacy in the new era.

 

IV. Air the voice and story of China

 

In recent years, with China becoming the world’s second largest economy, it is receiving more and more attention from the international community and different arguments on China such as “China threat” theory and “China collapse” theory emerged. It has become an important mission for people-to-people diplomacy or even the overall diplomacy of China in the new era to present a real, all-round and multi-dimensional China to the world.

 

Facing complicated situations, Xi Jinping emphasizes that we should strengthen cultural confidence and air the voice and story of China to the rest of the world. In August 2013, Xi Jinping stressed at the National Conference on Political and Ideological Work that efforts should be made to create new concepts, new domains and new expressions acceptable to both China and foreign countries and spread the voice and story of China to a larger scope. On October 25, 2013, at the forum of neighborhood work of the CPC central committee, Xi Jinping pointed out that we should strengthen publicizing, public diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, and people-to-people exchanges with neighboring countries, make friends extensively, integrate Chinese dream with the wish of people of neighboring countries to lead a better life and regional development prospects, and set the root of awareness of community of common destiny in neighboring countries. In November 2014, Xi Jinping proposed again to improve the soft power of China and tell our story to the rest of the world. In terms of telling China’s story, Xi Jinping is a good advocator as well as practitioner. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC Central Committee in his public speaking during visiting foreign countries, Xi Jinping told a number of heart-warming stories, which brought closer the psychological distance between people of China and the rest of the world, and redefined the temperature of official diplomatic expressions.

 

Besides stressing airing the voice and story of China, Xi Jinping also emphasizes that we should strengthen national image building with innovative spirit, so as to constantly improve soft power and international discourse right. Xi Jinping pointed out, in the circumstance of all-round opening up to the outside world, “we should introduce to the outside world our domestic and international policies, air the voice and stories of China, integrate Chinese dream with the wish of people of all countries to lead a better life and regional development prospects”; “present to the world a real China, a multi-dimensional China and a panoramic China”. Xi Jinping has emphasized for many times that the improvement of national cultural soft power is related to the status of China in world cultural pattern, the international status and international influence of China, the realization of the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation of the nation. Therefore, we should entrench the foundation of national cultural soft power, strengthen cultural confidence, take the overall objective of Chinese dream as the guidline, thoroughly introduce and publicize the road, theory and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, vividly display the practice and experience of China, tell the stories of China excellently with international, understandable and popular expressions to foreigners, in an effort to improve the political influence, opinion competitiveness, image-affection, and moral appeal of the Party in international stage, and further entrench the international image of the Party as a open-minded, peaceful, democratic, and progressive party. All these elaboration invests people-to-people diplomacy with new historic mission.

V. Strengthen people-to-people bond and build a community of common destiny for all mankind

 

In September 2015, in addressing the general debate when attending the 70th United Nations General Assembly in the UN headquarter in New York, President Xi Jinping pointed out, “In today’s world, the nations coexist through interdependence, sharing both weal and woe. We should abide by and carry forward the purposes and principles of the UN Charter to build a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation, and create a community of common destiny for mankind”. Since the 18th National Congress of CPC Central Committee, President Xi Jinping has elaborated the idea of “community of common destiny” for more than 60 times and proposed the “five in one” layout, namely to build partnerships in which countries treat each other equally, engage in mutual consultation and show mutual understanding; to create a security architecture featuring fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits; to promote open, innovative and inclusive development that benefits all; to increase inter-civilization exchanges to promote harmony, inclusiveness and respect for differences; and to build an ecosystem that puts mother nature and green development first. How to promote the idea of community of common destiny for mankind in people’s hearts has become an important pursuit of people-to-people diplomacy in the new era.

 

Whether in terms of implementing the Belt and Road Initiative or forging a community of common destiny for mankind, Xi Jinping has attached great importance to people-to-people bond, and argued that the friendship between countries is based on affection between the people and affection between the people is based on mutual understanding. The closeness of relationship between countries is in the end decided by the affection between the people. We should strive to strengthen cultural exchanges and mutual learning, while people-to-people diplomacy is the most fundamental force driving cultural exchanges. President Xi Jinping has emphasized for many times that China should make friends extensively at the international stage and treat friends with honesty, sincerity and kindness. People-to-people diplomacy should innovate its work by carrying out people-to-people foreign exchanges in diversified fields, at different levels and with different channels, bringing closer the distance between Chinese and foreign people, making them become more friendly, more approval, more supportive and closer to each other. Special attention should be paid to exchanges between youth and children of China and foreign countries, so as to bring up successors to the cause of people-to-people friendship. On May 25, 2015, in his congratulatory speech to the First Annual Conference of CICA Non-governmental Forum, Xi Jinping pointed out that in the process of exploring the road to regional security, and enhancing the mutual respect, mutual trust and harmonious coexistence of different civilizations, regions, ethnic groups and religions in Asia, the role of civil society should not be underestimated. Former statesmen, diplomats, scholars, experts, media professionals, non-governmental organizations devoted to people-to-people friendly exchange can all play important roles in this process. Xi Jinping pointed out, “We should establish a network of people-to-people exchanges, in an effort to create better conditions for extensively spreading the CICA concept of security, improving the influence of CICA and promoting regional security governance. On July 10, 2015, the 15th Conference of Council of Heads of States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was staged in Ufa of Russia. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the summit and delivered an important speech. Xi Jinping argued that SCO countries should promote people-to-people bond and consolidate the good neighborly and friendly relations formed by the past generations. The ancient Silk Road bears testimony to the profound friendship of our peoples. We should carry forward the Silk Road spirit and enhance public support for our friendship. With mutual trust and respect between our peoples, we will be able to build a harmonious, peaceful and prosperous homeland. Under new circumstances, we should stick to making friends based on the principles of rationality, affection and justice, and strive to establish a friend-network integrating both the party and the government, both the administration and the public, and both the officials and civilians.

 

In terms of attracting popular support, people-to-people exchanges is the most important platform and channel. Xi Jinping argues that we should strive to strengthen cultural exchanges, while people-to-people diplomacy is the most important fundamental force driving cultural exchanges. Culture will become more diversified and rich in content with the aid of exchanges and mutual learning. Cultural exchanges and mutual learning is an important force driving human civilization progress and global peace and development. We should, via transnational, cross-cultural, trans-time-and-space exchanges and mutual learning, promote mutual learning, mutual understanding, mutual support and mutual help between people of different countries, consolidate the concepts of peace and common development in the mind of people of all countries, thus forming powerful strength of preventing and opposing war and promoting common development. Therefore, people-to-people diplomacy should forge ahead with innovative spirit, bring into full play its advantages, strive to establish more exchange channels and cooperation platforms, in an effort to attract foreign institutions and talents to participate in the modernization drive of China with diversified means.

 

In conclusion, since the National Congress of the 18th CPC Central Committee, based on setting the strategic layout of governing the country, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has comprehensively and systematically answered major issues on people-to-people diplomacy in the new era, such as “why” “what to do” and “how to do”, identified the core and guideline of national rejuvenation and peaceful development, confirmed the strategic positioning of people-to-people diplomacy as the foundation of national relations, established the multi-layered pattern of people-to-people diplomacy, proposed new missions for people-to-people diplomacy telling the story of China, airing the voice of China, promoting people-to-people bond and building a community of common destiny for mankind thus pointing out the directions of people-to-people diplomacy at present and in a long period of time. A series of elaboration, such as public opinion communication, people-to-people friendship, cooperation in areas important to people’s livelihood, and improving international discourse power and influence, are both strategic and feasible, and of important guiding significance for pushing forward people-to-people diplomacy in the new era, thus opening a new situation of the development of people-to-people diplomacy of China.

 

                (Zhao Kejin, Professor of Department of International Relations, Tsinghua University)