Thoughts On China's Multilateral Diplomacy Since It's Reform And Open Campaign

A new upsurge of multilateral diplomacy is an important phenomenon in contemporary world politics. In 1978 China established the basic policy of Reform and Open and the focus on economic construction, which consequently brought about an adjustment of it's international strategy. China's multilateral diplomacy began a stage of full development. China has pragmatically conducted multilateral diplomacy on it's own initiative with more forms and contents. The realm has extended from "high politics " to "low politics" and economic diplomacy takes an increasing significant part. The arena has expanded from the U.N. to East Asia integration and other regional multilateral organizations.China's multilateral diplomacy has made a breakthrough and it's strength improved greatly. Today, China is a an important member of the multilateral regime system; it holds an eminent standing in East Asia affairs; it's ability of participating and holding great multilateral conferences or activities has developed very much. In multilateral arenas China has defended it's national interests effectively and played a more and more important role.The root cause of the successful development and achievements of China's multilateral diplomacy are the correct strategic principles and it's international standing and influence as a world power. Simultaneously, the rise of economic globalization and regional integration, and the increasing multilateral regimes push for it.However, China's multilateral diplomacy is still restricted by many factors. Internationally, the world order lost balance; the U.S.'s hegemony and unilateralism are insufferably arrogant. The existing multilateral regime system is insufficient to some extent and is dominated by west powers. Civilly, such problems restrict China's more contribution to the international society and greater role-playing in world affairs as the finite economic strength and comprehensive power, Taiwan issue and China's cognition on some concepts concerned, etc.For the reasons above, there are many defects in China's multilateral diplomacy whose play is not commensurate with China's world power position. The practice is"comparatively passive" on the whole. China lacks sense of active participation and planning; lacks ability of participating and resolving issues with magnificence in the framework of the U.N.; lacks special interests in regions outside Asia. What's more, it's soft power is not fully developed.Developing multilateral diplomacy is the road that China must follow to build a world power. In future, we must pioneer and innovate on the following four aspects. First, strengthen participating and play a role as a world power more effectively. We should join more international organizations to enlarge our space of international activities; we should provide more public goods to set an international image of "a responsible world power". Secondly, push on the economic integration in (East) Asia and seek for the new mode of the multilateral security cooperation in Asia-Pacific area. Third, employ tactics and arts skillfully to defend our national interests. Insure an effective participation in moderate degree. Make use of contradictions to contain opponent by another hand. Last but not the least, develop and utilize soft power with respect to institutions, idea, culture and publicity, to set a good image of a world power.Therefore, China's multilateral diplomacy in the 21th century should be defined as "active and responsible multilateral diplomacy of a world power".