‘Two sessions’ 2024: Premier Li Qiang vows China’s ‘new type’ of diplomacy will pursue equality and order
- A year after taking office, Li Qiang tells NPC legislators China ‘will remain firm in opposing all hegemonic, high-handed and bullying acts’
- Ministry of Finance’s proposed annual budget boosts diplomacy spending 6.6 per cent to US$8.4 billion for 2024
China has pledged to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and stand firm against “bullying” and “hegemonism” as priorities in diplomacy this year.
“We call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, and we are committed to promoting a new type of international relations,” the Chinese premier said during the opening of the annual gathering of the National People’s Congress (NPC).
“We will remain firm in opposing all hegemonic, high-handed and bullying acts and upholding international fairness and justice.”
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers his first work report amid concerns about state of the economy
At that time, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Communist Party leaders, senior government officials and diplomats to step up efforts to “elevate China’s international influence and … create a more favourable international environment” to “lay the strategic foundations of building a strong nation and achieve national rejuvenation”.
Once thought inevitable, China overtaking US in GDP now far from certain
In the annual budget proposed by the Ministry of Finance, spending on diplomacy in 2024 will increase 6.6 per cent to 60.783 billion yuan (US$8.4 billion), mild growth compared with the 12.2 per cent budget increase last year when Beijing resumed its diplomatic engagement after three quiet years under Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
While the total spending will be just shy of the 2019 pre-pandemic peak of 61.539 billion yuan, it marks a notable contrast to the 11.8 per cent cut in 2020 and 1.9 per cent trim in 2021 before the 2.4 per cent boost in 2022.
Over the past decade, China has steadily ramped up its diplomatic offensive, trying to present itself as a key force in an increasingly multipolar world order, particularly in opposition to what Chinese state media describes as chaos in the United States and Europe.
It also seeks to cast itself as a neutral leader in the developing world, from the Middle East to Africa, where calls for reform of the Western-dominated international system have mounted.
To that end, Xi is expected to host leaders from Africa for the China-Africa cooperation forum. It is part of a broader effort to deepen China’s influence in the resource-rich region and bring together countries in the Global South, which has been increasingly important to Beijing, especially when ties with the US and Europe are strained by economic disputes, political tensions and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Beijing is also seeking to expand its diplomatic outreach.
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Marcos Jnr says Manila determined to use diplomacy to resolve South China Sea row with Beijing
Under its traditional arrangement, China has four vice-premiers and five state councillors.
China’s top legislature vows to overcome US tech and science sanctions
