Xi's diplomacy injects certainty, stability into turbulent world

INJECTING CERTAINTY INTO WORLD

Amid the international trade chaos caused by the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" of the United States, China has taken swift and firm countermeasures not only to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, but also to protect the common interests of the international community and defend international fairness and justice.

On April 11, Xi had a three-hour-long meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who made his third trip to China in three years. Xi called on China and the EU to fulfill their international responsibilities, work together to safeguard economic globalization and the international trade environment, and jointly reject unilateral and bullying actions.

Noting that China is an important partner of the EU, Sanchez said Spain always supports the stable development of EU-China relations. Facing the complex and challenging international situation, Spain and the EU are willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to maintain the international trade order, he said.

Malaysia is ASEAN chair and the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations for 2025. On April 16, during a meeting with the visiting Chinese president, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said facing the rise of unilateralism, Malaysia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly address risks and challenges, noting that ASEAN will not endorse any unilaterally imposed tariffs, and will promote collective advancement through cooperation to maintain economic growth.

On April 24, Xi held talks with Kenyan President William Ruto in Beijing, saying the fundamental purpose of China-Africa cooperation for win-win results and common development will not change, which is a welcome policy statement from a major country in a world full of uncertainty.

Trade wars undermine the existing international rules and order, and Kenya appreciates China's role as a stabilizer in the current volatile situation, Ruto said.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents in areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, new and high technology, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, economy and trade, and media.

As certainty and stability increasingly become scarce globally, not only political leaders but also business community turn to China for certainty and stability.

On March 28, Xi met with more than 40 global chairmen and chief executive officers of foreign businesses as well as representatives of business councils, including leaders from FedEx Corporation, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Sanofi SA, HSBC Holdings Plc, Hitachi Ltd., SK Hynix Inc and Saudi Aramco.

A key message Xi sent is that China has been and will remain an ideal, secure, and promising destination for foreign investors, and that investing in China is investing in the future. He pointed out that China offers a vast stage for business development, vast market prospects, stable policy outlook, and a secure environment, making it a favored choice for foreign investment and business operations.

Having the world's second-largest consumer market and largest middle-income group, China offers great potential for investment and consumption. China is now a major trading partner with more than 150 countries and regions. China continues to build up industrial strength and foster institutional opening-up, drawing influential foreign investors such as tech giants and automakers into the world's second-largest economy.

Aramco is currently investing in projects in China that have a collective and total value of over 240 billion yuan, covering petrochemical projects and equity acquisition deals. Amin H. Nasser, president and CEO of the company, said: "China is becoming an oasis of certainty in an increasingly unpredictable global environment."