The Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries was held in Beijing from April 8 to 9, 2025. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the conference and delivered an important speech. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, as well as Vice President Han Zheng, attended the conference.
In his important speech, Xi Jinping systematically summarized the achievements and experience of China’s neighborhood work in the new era, scientifically analyzed the situation, clarified the goals, tasks, ideas and measures for neighborhood work in the coming period, and emphasized the need to focus on building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, striving to break new ground in neighborhood work. While presiding over the conference, Li Qiang stressed the need to thoroughly implement the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech and earnestly carry out the various tasks in work related to neighboring countries.
The conference highlighted that China’s vast territory and long borders make its neighborhood a vital foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key front for safeguarding national security, a priority area in managing overall diplomacy, and a crucial link in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It is necessary to view neighboring regions through a global perspective and enhance the sense of responsibility and mission in effectively conducting work related to neighboring countries.
It was made clear at the conference that after the 18th CPC National Congress, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China put forward the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy, and advocated for the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries. Guided by head-of-state diplomacy, China has worked with neighboring countries to deepen all-round cooperation, strengthen exchanges in various fields, and jointly maintain peace and stability, thus forming a pragmatic and efficient framework for neighborhood work and securing historic achievements and transformation in neighborhood work. The experience gained through exploration in practice should be adhered to and effectively applied.
It was noted at the conference that at present, China’s relations with its neighboring countries are at their best in modern times, and are also entering a critical phase of deep linkage between the regional landscape and the world changes. It is necessary to follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focus on the central task of the CPC and the country, take into account both domestic and international imperatives, and coordinate the two top priorities of development and security. To jointly create a better future with neighboring countries, China will hold high the banner of a community with a shared future for mankind, act on the common vision of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, foster an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, follow the policy and principle featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness as well as a shared future for humanity, take the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness as the fundamental guidance, use high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main platform, and pursue the model of security for Asia that features sharing weal and woe, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and prioritizing dialogue and consultation as the strategic support.
It was emphasized at the conference that to build a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, China needs to consolidate strategic mutual trust with its neighbors, support regional countries in following a steady development path, and properly manage differences and disputes. China will also deepen development integration with its neighbors, build a high-level connectivity network, strengthen cooperation in industrial and supply chains, maintain regional stability, conduct security and law enforcement cooperation, respond to various risks and challenges, expand people-to-people interactions and communication, and facilitate personnel exchanges.
It was pointed out at the conference that to effectively carry out neighborhood work, China must strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee and enhance coordination and cooperation across various aspects. China will deepen its institutional reform, improve its legal system on foreign affairs, strengthen its capacity and team buildings, and promote theoretical and practical innovations in its neighborhood work.
Wang Yi gave concluding remarks.
Relevant leaders of the Party and the State and responsible officials from relevant departments attended the conference.
