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China’s Summit Diplomacy (1993–2018): Progress, Evaluation and Prospects

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Report of Strategic Studies in China (2018)

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Abstract

This article analyzes the characteristics and context of China’s summit diplomacy, identifying key events in the development of China’s summit diplomacy, providing a systematic analysis of innovations China has made since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It points out that China’s summit diplomacy has continuously sought to advance common interests between China and other partner states. Relying on regionalism, it has also sought to guide East Asia towards an open environment supportive of peace and development. With the concept of a “Community of shared future for mankind” as its guideline, China has coordinated its international strategy, creating new initiatives for its relations with major powers, neighbouring countries, and with developing countries, while also proposing the further implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. China has further leveraged its summit diplomacy at all major international issues to advance its international strategy, injecting China’s wisdom into global governance discussions and providing China’s solutions to problems.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Shambaugh (2013).

  2. 2.

    Christensen (2001).

  3. 3.

    By the end of December, 2018.

  4. 4.

    Bolton (2017).

  5. 5.

    Goldstein (1996).

  6. 6.

    Young (1996).

  7. 7.

    See Adolphsen (2014, pp. 17–21).

  8. 8.

    See Alexandroff and Brean (2015), Heap (2008).

  9. 9.

    Krasner (1982).

  10. 10.

    Un.org (2018).

  11. 11.

    Xi (2017a).

  12. 12.

    Men (2016c).

  13. 13.

    Powell (2003).

  14. 14.

    Putnam and Bayne (1984).

  15. 15.

    Acharya (2014).

  16. 16.

    Men (2016b).

  17. 17.

    From 3.134 trillion yuan to 82.712 trillion yuan, See: National Bureau of Statistics of China (1994).

  18. 18.

    National Bureau of Statistics of China (2018).

  19. 19.

    Men (2013).

  20. 20.

    Barry (2007).

  21. 21.

    Gilpin (1981).

  22. 22.

    Deng (1993).

  23. 23.

    Generally, “Thucydides Trap” is a controversial phrase coined by Graham Allison to refer to when a rising power causes fear in an established power which escalates toward war.

  24. 24.

    Kingdon (2013b).

  25. 25.

    Kingdon (2013a).

  26. 26.

    Xi (2018e).

  27. 27.

    Yu (1998).

  28. 28.

    Men (2005).

  29. 29.

    Excluding G8+5 Italy Summit in2009, the 4th Summit of CICA in 2010, the 4th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in 2011. Former Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended these meetings as Special Envoy of former Chinese President Hu Jintao.

  30. 30.

    Xi (2017b).

  31. 31.

    Chen and Ye (2017).

  32. 32.

    Men (2017).

  33. 33.

    mofcom.gov.cn, from http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/i/jyjl/k/201801/20180102703211.shtml.

  34. 34.

    xinhuanet.com, from http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/cnleaders/2018BeijingSummit/index.htm; xinhuanet.com, from http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/2018-09/29/c_129963589.htm.

  35. 35.

    ‘Guterres: China is the pillar of multilateralism of the world—People's Daily Online' 2018, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/0410/c90000-9447303.html.

  36. 36.

    Men (2016a).

  37. 37.

    2016, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2016/1017/c64094-28782971.html.

  38. 38.

    Jorgenson and Vu (2013).

  39. 39.

    2016, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0905/c64094-28690353.html.

  40. 40.

    2016, xinhuanet.com, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://www.xinhuanet.com//world/2016-09/03/c_129268346.htm.

  41. 41.

    2015, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/0710/c1024-27287228.html.

  42. 42.

    Xi (2018a, d), 2016, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0625/c1001-28477569.html, 2015, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/0710/c1024-27287228.html.

  43. 43.

    Xi (2018b).

  44. 44.

    2014, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1112/c1001-26007913.html; Zhu (2014).

  45. 45.

    2016, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://cpc.people.com.cn/n/2014/1109/c64094-25997795.html.

  46. 46.

    ‘Highlights of Xi's address at 2016 APEC Economic Leaders' Summit' 2016, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/2016-11/20/c_129370744.htm.

  47. 47.

    “BRICS summit delivers tangible results”, 2013, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2013-03/28/content_16352449.htm.

  48. 48.

    2016, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2016/1017/c64094-28782971.html.

  49. 49.

    2014, people.com.cn, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://opinion.people.com.cn/n/2014/0717/c1003-25295508.html.

  50. 50.

    2014, xinhuanet.com, accessed November 6, 2018, from http://www.xinhuanet.com//politics/2014-11/29/c_1113457723.htm.

  51. 51.

    Xi (2013).

  52. 52.

    Xi (2013).

  53. 53.

    Men (2016a).

  54. 54.

    Xi (2018c).

  55. 55.

    Neumann and Sending (2010).

  56. 56.

    Shih and Yeophantong (2017).

  57. 57.

    Huang (2014).

  58. 58.

    See: Gao (2013).

  59. 59.

    Shi (2015).

  60. 60.

    Adolphsen (2014, pp. 193–197).

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  1. School of Political Science and International Relations, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Honghua Men & Xiao Wang

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    Honghua Men

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Men, H., Wang, X. (2020). China’s Summit Diplomacy (1993–2018): Progress, Evaluation and Prospects. In: Men, H. (eds) Report of Strategic Studies in China (2018). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9286-3_9

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