Beijing: Mr. Liang Jianjun, Deputy Director of the Department of Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, reaffirmed China’s strong focus on neighborhood diplomacy, particularly with ASEAN member states, during a press conference held in Beijing under the theme ‘China’s Philosophy and Practice of Neighborhood Diplomacy in the New Era.’
According to Lao News Agency, the event, attended by international journalists from the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) and domestic media, highlighted China’s evolving regional engagement strategies and its commitment to fostering stronger ties with neighboring countries amid a shifting global landscape.
‘China’s foreign policy places top priority on neighboring countries, especially ASEAN members,’ Mr. Liang stated, underlining that the Department of Asian Affairs, one of the earliest departments established within the Ministry and concurrent with the founding of the People’s Republic of China, oversees bilateral relations with 23 neighboring nations. ‘We share over 22,000 kilometers of land borders with 14 countries, making China the country with the most neighbors in the world,’ he added.
Mr. Liang emphasized his department’s role in managing relations with 11 Southeast Asian nations and overseeing the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism. He also reviewed the outcomes of President Xi Jinping’s recent state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia from April 14 to 18 – his first overseas mission in 2024 and the first since the Central Conference on Diplomatic Work Relating to Neighboring Countries.
During the trip, President Xi participated in over 30 engagements, including high-level meetings and joint declarations with the three nations. In total, more than 108 cooperation agreements were signed, covering a broad range of sectors. The joint statements released – amounting to nearly 20,000 characters – demonstrated the depth of diplomatic coordination. The joint statement with Vietnam alone contained 8,200 characters, though still short of the 2023 visit which set a record at 8,400 characters.
One of the visit’s signature achievements was the upgrading of bilateral relations to ‘communities with a shared future,’ along with practical cooperation outcomes that resonated across political, economic, and cultural dimensions.
‘This visit sent a clear message on China’s commitment to regional peace and development, especially during a period of global transformation and growing protectionism,’ said Mr. Liang. He noted that key Chinese diplomatic initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) were first piloted or promoted in neighboring countries.
The Deputy Director further pointed to the China-Laos Railway as a successful example of the BRI in action. The project has significantly boosted Laos’ economy, with foreign trade up 21% since the railway’s inauguration and exports to China rising by 70%. Agricultural exports via the railway increased by 79% year-on-year – a vital statistic for a nation where 80% of the population depends on agriculture.
