CCTV: Today is the ninth National Security Education Day of China. I noted that this year’s theme is “the 10th anniversary of a holistic approach to national security: guiding the way with innovative thinking.” Can you share with us how a holistic approach to national security is implemented in diplomatic work and how it contributes to global security?
Lin Jian: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the holistic approach to national security put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping. This approach is rooted in socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and epitomizes the experience and collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people formed in their endeavour in the course of over a century to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Under its guidance, our work on national security has made historic achievements. The nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests are upheld in an all-round way. We have maintained long-term social stability. China is one of the safest countries in the world.
As we speak, changes of the world, of our times, and of historical significance are unfolding like never before, and the world has entered into a new period of instability and transformation. A holistic approach to national security underlines coordinated effort to protect both China’s security and the common security of the world, advocates the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security vision, and calls for the building of a community with a shared future that enjoys universal security. In our external work, we have effectively upheld China’s sovereignty, security and development interests with a firm will and an indomitable fighting spirit, actively promoted bilateral and multilateral security exchanges and cooperation, and improved the global security governance system. To address the prevalent turbulence and instability in today’s world, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative, which advocates a new path to security that chooses dialogue, partnership and win-win over confrontation, alliance and zero-sum game, providing China’s solution to the global security predicament. At the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs at the end of last year, it was pointed out that building a community with a shared future for mankind is the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era; The strategic guidance comes from the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative; On this basis, we seek to usher in a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world.
Looking ahead, we in the diplomatic service will continue to follow the requirements of a holistic approach to national security, contribute to global common security while safeguarding China’s own security, advance the Global Security Initiative with solid efforts, promote common responses to various kinds of security risks and challenges, and jointly build a beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace and universal security.
