In an interaction with Pakistani media, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong shed light on China’s enduring commitment to neighborhood diplomacy and the strategic vision guiding its relations with Pakistan. His remarks followed the high-level Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries, held on April 8–9 in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping outlined China’s roadmap for fostering a “community with a shared future” among neighboring nations.
China’s Neighborhood Diplomacy
Ambassador Jiang, who personally attended the conference, emphasized that President Xi Jinping’s speech provided a comprehensive analysis of China’s neighborhood policy in the new era, highlighting achievements, challenges, and a forward-looking agenda. Since 2013, China’s neighborhood diplomacy has operated under the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. Under President Xi’s leadership, China has reached consensus on building a shared future with 17 neighboring countries, signed Belt and Road agreements with 25, and become the largest trading partner for 18 regional nations.
The Ambassador noted that two significant clusters of cooperation have emerged, one in the Indochina Peninsula and the other in Central Asia, demonstrating the practical impact of this diplomacy. These gains, he said, stem from the “strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and the scientific guidance of his diplomatic thought.” As China moves forward, it aims to leverage the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen regional integration, and promote head-of-state diplomacy to safeguard peace, prosperity, and people-to-people connectivity in the neighborhood.
China-Pakistan Relations: A Cornerstone of Regional Strategy
Reiterating Pakistan’s pivotal role in China’s neighborhood diplomacy, Ambassador Jiang stated that China has always prioritized relations with Pakistan from a strategic and long-term perspective. This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi’s landmark visit to Pakistan, and next year will celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties – offering “a crucial juncture and opportunities for bilateral ties.”
Looking ahead, the Ambassador outlined four areas of enhanced cooperation to build a stronger China-Pakistan community of shared future:
Strategic Mutual Trust: China remains firmly committed to supporting Pakistan’s sovereignty, national integrity, and development model.
Development Integration: China seeks to align the eight major steps for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Pakistan’s “5Es” framework, upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for inclusive and sustainable growth.
Security Cooperation: Beijing will help Islamabad enhance counterterrorism capacity under the Global Security Initiative (GSI), safeguarding both stability and bilateral cooperation.
People-to-People Ties: China will expand cultural and educational exchanges, fostering deeper understanding and goodwill between the two nations and their civilizations.
China Responds with Resilience to U.S. Tariffs
When asked about the United States’ recent imposition of broad reciprocal tariffs affecting over 180 countries, Ambassador Jiang offered a stark critique. He noted that America’s history of tariff-driven protectionism—from the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930 to modern policies—has repeatedly resulted in economic setbacks and global instability.
Highlighting current risks, he cited projections that the U.S. tariff spree could cost 2 million American jobs and raise inflation by 1.5 percentage points. The Ambassador condemned the U.S. administration’s strategy of weaponizing tariffs, calling it “an extremely dangerous political tool” that violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and disrupts global trade flows.
In contrast, he emphasized China’s constructive role, pointing to the release of two key documents: China’s Position on Opposing U.S. Abuse of Tariffs and the white paper on China-U.S. Economic and Trade Relations, as evidence of China’s commitment to globalization and multilateralism.
China’s Economic Stability
Responding to concerns about China’s economic resilience, Ambassador Jiang underscored that seven years after the U.S.-launched trade war, China’s economy has not only endured but thrived. The share of exports to the U.S. in China’s total trade fell from 19.2% in 2018 to 14.7% in 2024, accounting for just 2% of China’s GDP.
Meanwhile, China has continued to record strong economic indicators, with 5.4% GDP growth and 6.9% export growth in the first quarter of 2025. Echoing President Xi’s statement that “China’s economy is a vast ocean,” the Ambassador affirmed that China remains capable of withstanding external shocks and will continue to inject positive energy into global economic recovery.
Strengthening Solidarity Among Developing Countries
Finally, Ambassador Jiang called on the Global South, particularly China and Pakistan, to unite against unilateralism and protectionism. He stressed that U.S. actions severely violate WTO principles and pose an existential threat to the multilateral trading system. Instead of yielding to economic coercion, he urged developing nations to champion openness, inclusiveness, and cooperation.
Quoting President Xi Jinping, he said: “A single small boat may not survive a ferocious storm; only by working together can we sail steady and far.” In this spirit, China and Pakistan must coordinate their positions, resist decoupling, and work with other developing nations to build a fairer, more equitable international economic order.
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