Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), elaborated on China's opening-up strategy and diplomatic policy during a meeting with foreign experts working in China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 5, 2012.

Xi said China pursues a cause that enjoys international support. He also underlined the need for China to open itself to and learn from the outside world while advocating mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries.

The meeting, which was the first diplomatic event Xi participated in after the 18th CPC National Congress, drew close attention from international observers. They spoke highly of the new signals delivered from the event, noting that Xi's remarks conveyed profound messages with far-reaching implications.

Mutual benefits

B.R. Deepak, a professor with the Center of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at India's Jawaharlal Nehru University, told People's Daily that Xi's friendly and genuine speech is a profound interpretation of China's image as a responsible great power. In the era of economic globalization, all countries should learn from one another and draw on each other's strengths in order to achieve win-win cooperation, Deepak said.

He said Xi's speech reminds him of ancient Chinese philosopher Mozi's well-known saying: "Reciprocal love brings mutual benefits." Since all countries are highly interdependent in the international community, they should follow the principle of win-win cooperation, instead of a zero-sum theory. He believed that China will continue to adhere to the reform and opening-up policy and follow the road of peaceful development, which not only creates a favorable external environment for China's future economic development, but also eases worries of neighboring countries about the rise of China.

Ivan Manez, a scholar of Chinese studies and Director of Spain's Global Asia Magazine, said what China has done in the past decades has testified to its determination to follow the road of peaceful development. For the international community and other countries, China's development brings opportunities instead of threats. The rise of China is conducive to the balanced development of the international pattern. Furthermore, China plays an increasingly important role in many regional and hotspot issues.

Opportunity rather than threat

Brazilian website Terra.com.br commented that China's development is neither a zero-sum game nor a threat to the world. As all countries in the world are increasingly dependent on each other, China's commitment to peaceful development and the deepening of reform and opening up will bring opportunities to the whole world under current global economic conditions, it said. In the speech, Xi specified the irreversible trend of economic globalization, while expressing China's wish to work together with other countries for win-win results.

An official with the Egypt-China Friendship Association said Xi's talks with foreign experts shortly after being elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee reflected his easy-going and amiable manner. The new top leadership of China has brought a new outlook, the official said, adding Xi's speech is of great significance in declaring China's guiding principles on foreign affairs and clarifying China's diplomatic policy.