Straight News: The Chinese head of state has exchanged congratulatory telegrams and letters with the leaders of many countries in the past two days, Mr. Guan, what is your observation on this?
Special Commentator Guan Yao: The renewed world of Vientiane is not peaceful, and it can even be said to be full of crises. For the first time in decades, the world stumbled into the New Year with two large-scale regional wars, and on the first day of New Year's Day, a strong earthquake struck neighboring Japan, triggering a tsunami warning. In this sense, standing at the beginning and starting point of the new year, in the face of the changes in the world, the times, and history that have unfolded in an unprecedented way, and the world and people's hearts in a new period of turbulence and change, of course, we are particularly looking forward to certainty and stability, confidence and opportunities.
At the end of last year, the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference was held in Beijing, and a significant and far-reaching strategic situation judgment was made: The mainland is facing new strategic opportunities for its development, and major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will enter a new stage in which more can be accomplished. In this regard, the intensive interaction of the Chinese head of state with congratulatory telegrams and congratulatory letters to foreign countries is the rallying cry for the New Year when the diplomacy of major powers is more effective, and the top leaders are vigorously pushing forward and mobilizing with drums. Shaping a new pattern of relations between the mainland and the world, and raising the mainland's international influence, charisma, and shaping power to a new height are the tasks and objectives of the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference to comprehensively deploy major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. In my view, creating a more favorable international environment externally and providing more solid strategic support internally are the internal and external forces for major country diplomacy to enhance its shaping power, and it is also an important point to achieve more achievements in the new period of strategic opportunities. In his New Year's message last night, the supreme leader made a special recall: The pace of this year, we have walked with great strength, great vigor, and confidence, and this strength, vigor, and confidence will certainly be projected into the great power diplomacy that we are determined to do more in the new year.
Straight News: The heads of state of China and the United States exchanged congratulatory letters to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which has attracted special attention from foreign media.
Guan Yao: This is the weight of the world's most important bilateral relationship and its huge spillover impact, and the Chinese head of state emphasized in his congratulatory message today (1 July): Over the past 45 years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs and developed on the whole, which has not only enhanced the well-being of the two peoples, but also promoted world peace, stability and prosperity.
I have noticed that today's Reuters cable from Beijing has been updated for two consecutive editions, and it has also included the interaction between China and Russia and the leaders of China and North Korea in the report. 2024 is named "election year" by many foreign media, the United States and Russia and other major countries will hold presidential elections, CNN's analysis of today's year, and even called 2024 "the year of the watershed of the 21st century", its annual outlook includes this question: Will the US-China Cold War heat up again? Will the so-called "US-China Cold War" heat up again? Please note that US President Joe Biden is about to enter his fourth year in the White House, and he has repeatedly made clear in face-to-face or video and telephone communication with the Chinese head of state that the US has no intention of fighting a "new Cold War" or a conflict with China.
This year is an election year in the United States, and this year is also the 45th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. This is also the core lesson of China-US relations that has been repeatedly verified along the way. In his congratulatory letter, the Chinese head of state stressed that he is willing to work with President Biden to continue to steer the rudder of China-US relations, benefit China and the United States and their peoples, and promote the cause of world peace and development. Biden's congratulatory letter also said that he is committed to managing the US-China relationship responsibly, and looks forward to continuing to advance the US-China relationship on the basis of the progress made in many meetings and discussions.
However, CNN's forward-looking analysis pointed out that multiple pressures are tearing apart the world's most important bilateral relationship every day, and in the election year, which is an American-style distorting force field of power and politics, to what extent Biden's promises and decisions can be implemented, and to what extent are they likely to be deformed and alienated, and even the so-called "Trump risk" that the US media is hotly discussing in the New Year, as well as other potential risks, will amplify various disturbances and then affect the direction of China-US relations? This is the soul of China-US relations, and the US must answer it.
Straight News: The Chinese head of state's New Year's message, which has been swiped in the domestic public opinion field since the first moment it was released, is also the focus of attention of foreign media today, what do you think about this?
Guan Yao, Special Commentator: I have previously analyzed in my comments that the Supreme Leader's New Year's message on the night before New Year's Day has created an annual moment of empathy for all Chinese, and it is also another hope mobilization for the future at the end of the year. Of course, for the outside world, this is also an important window for the forward-looking major powers to grasp the pulse of policy. I noticed that foreign mainstream media, including the Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, Bloomberg, etc., followed up on the congratulatory messages as soon as possible, which in itself is also a direct demonstration of China's international influence, charisma and shaping power.
As far as I can see, there are two main focuses of foreign media reports.
First, it is necessary to reaffirm and emphasize that the reunification of the motherland is a historical necessity. Of course, the background added by foreign media Lenovo is the Taiwanese election factor, and in less than two weeks, the Taiwan region will elect local leaders. The headline of the Associated Press cable from Beijing last night said that the Chinese head of state stressed in his New Year's message that Chinese mainland will definitely be reunified with Taiwan. It must be pointed out that no matter what the results of Taiwan's local elections are, no matter who becomes the leader of the Taiwan region in the next four years, the motherland will be reunified, and it will inevitably be reunified.
Second, focus on China's economic prospects and momentum. The headline of the Reuters cable from Beijing last night said that the Chinese head of state stressed that it will consolidate and strengthen the upward trend of China's economy in 2024. AFP called the New Year's message a "bullish New Year speech," a "bullish speech," saying Xi praised China's economic vitality. Of course, the frankness and courage of the speech in facing difficulties and challenges also impressed the foreign media. The New Year's message does not shy away from saying, "On the way forward, wind and rain are the norm." I am concerned about the pressure on the operation of some enterprises, the difficulties encountered in the employment and livelihood of some people, and the occurrence of natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, and earthquakes in some places." The British Daily Telegraph called it "a rare admission".
As for me personally, I believe that like most Chinese people, the most heart-warming and touching thing is undoubtedly the expression of the New Year's message: our goal is very grand and simple, and in the final analysis, it is to let the people live a better life. The most simple words are also the most powerful, and I strongly suggest that foreign media read and savor this passage carefully, which is precisely the best entry point for understanding and grasping Chinese-style modernization.
Author丨Guan Yao, special commentator of Shenzhen Satellite TV's "Live Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan".