China News Service, Beijing, January 18. Title: China's diplomacy is frequently in trouble. Three sets of relationships understand the ups and downs of the new year

China News Service reporter Guo Chaokai

From the successive visits of dignitaries from many countries to China, to the congratulatory messages and replies from heads of state, to the 36-year tradition of visits to Africa by Chinese foreign ministers... Since the beginning of 2026, interactions between China and foreign countries have been lively and there are many highlights. Through the three sets of relationships, the outside world can better understand China’s diplomatic upsurge in the new year.

Periphery and the world

China has always placed its periphery at the top of its overall diplomatic agenda. At the beginning of the new year, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar Dar and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung visited China one after another. The first foreign minister and the first head of state China received at the beginning of the year were both from neighboring countries, making the outside world more clearly aware of the weight of peripheral diplomacy in China's diplomacy.

While deeply exploring its surrounding areas, China continues to expand its “circle of friends” with a global perspective. From January 4 to 8, Irish Prime Minister Martin paid an official visit to China. This visit was the first visit to China by an Irish Prime Minister in 14 years, adding new impetus to the healthy and stable development of China-Ireland and China-EU relations. From January 14th to 17th, Canadian Prime Minister Carney was invited to visit China. When Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Carney, he proposed to promote the establishment of a new strategic partnership between China and Canada and put forward four opinions on China-Canada relations.

In addition, Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the new President of the Swiss Confederation Pamlan, a congratulatory message to Doumbouya on his election as the President of Guinea, a congratulatory message to Thongloun Sisoulith on his election as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the 2026 "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges", a reply letter to teachers and students of the American Youth Education Exchange Group visiting China, and carried out head-of-state diplomatic activities in various forms.

Chen Yurong, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, said in an interview that China's diplomacy has had a "good start" at the beginning of the new year, which not only reflects the international community's emphasis on developing relations with China, but also confirms China's growing influence.

Tradition and Newness

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa. In this special year, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, visited many African countries and attended the opening ceremony of the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges" at the African Union headquarters, continuing the tradition of the Chinese foreign minister's first visit to Africa in the New Year in 36 years.

Tang Bin, an assistant researcher at the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, pointed out that persisting in doing one thing for 36 years is a vivid practice of China’s policy concept of sincerity, affinity and good faith towards Africa, and demonstrates the stability of China-Africa friendship.

In addition to continuing the tradition, the diplomatic boom at the beginning of the year is full of innovative "firsts" and "firsts": Martin is the first European leader to visit China this year; Lee Jae-myung will make a state visit to China as his first overseas visit in 2026, and it will also be his first visit to China after taking office as the president of South Korea; Carney made his first visit to China since taking office as the Canadian Prime Minister, which is also the first time a Canadian Prime Minister has visited China in 8 years.

Chen Yurong analyzed that face-to-face meetings between Chinese and foreign leaders set the course and draw a blueprint for bilateral relations. Many "firsts" have also released a strong signal that all parties hope to expand cooperation and share development opportunities with China.

Risks and Opportunities

Today's world is intertwined with chaos. As the global economic growth slows down, the development of various countries faces severe risks and challenges. How to jointly cope with risks and seize opportunities has become an important topic in China-foreign dialogue.

In response to the recent situation in Venezuela and Iran, China clearly opposes the use of force and unilateral bullying and expresses its firm attitude. When Wang Yi talked about the situation in Venezuela at the China-Brazil Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, he said, “We have always opposed the use or threat of use of force in international relations, and opposed the imposition of one country’s will on other countries.” When speaking on the phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, he bluntly stated that “we oppose the world’s regression to the ‘law of the jungle.’”

China has always adhered to the concept of win-win cooperation and provided new opportunities for the world. Recently, when meeting with foreign entrepreneurs, Chinese senior officials expressed that they welcome companies from all over the world to continue to invest in China, deepen their cultivation in China, share China's opportunities, and achieve greater development. Practical cooperation is bearing fruitful results. The heads of state of China and South Korea jointly witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation documents. China and Canada are committed to expanding bilateral trade, strengthening two-way investment, and deepening cooperation in many areas of common interest.

“A series of cooperation achievements have written a vivid footnote for the diplomatic upsurge at the beginning of the year, and also made a good start for China’s diplomacy this year.” Tang Bin said that as more leaders of countries visit China one after another, Sino-foreign exchanges and cooperation are expected to continue to deepen, injecting more stability into a turbulent world.