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Diplomatic cooperation during the Winter Olympic Games

With the aim of accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Global Development Initiative practices true multilateralism, upholds the spirit of open and inclusive partnership and the principle of “building and sharing together”, and is open to all countries. Since the initiative was launched, the international community has responded positively and participated enthusiastically, with nearly 100 countries and many international organizations such as the United Nations expressing their support for the initiative. This fully demonstrates that accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is the common voice of all countries, especially the majority of developing countries, that there is a broad international consensus on the core concept of the global development initiative, that the focus of cooperation is in line with the priorities of all parties and international development cooperation, and that the initiative has the basis for a stable and far-reaching future. Thus, during the Winter Olympics, China also shared a sense of cooperation with several countries in implementing this principle.

Argentina

The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina, and at this point of friendship, a new phase of cooperation between China and Argentina is also underway. During the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, President Fernández officially signed up to China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which will result in more than US$23 billion of Chinese investment.

Paving the way for cooperation between China and major Latin American economies.

In fact, 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries had already joined the “One Belt, One Road” Initiative before Argentina did, but several of the region’s largest economies, outside of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, have yet to join, so with Argentina’s lead, other major economies may be more likely to follow suit, paving the way for China’s wider Latin American cooperation.

Related data shows that China overtook Brazil as Argentina’s largest trading partner in April 2021 and is the main buyer of Argentine soybeans and beef. Another set of data released by the General Administration of Customs shows that China’s total trade with Latin America reached a record high of over US$450 billion last year, up 41.1% from 2020, maintaining its position as Latin America’s second largest trading partner. From this data we can find that the economic ties between not only Argentina but the entire Latin American region and China are getting stronger.

Strong complementarity between the two economies, decreasing the control of the dollar.

In recent years, Latin American countries have experienced a lot of ups and downs. Argentina, for example, has gone downhill in recent years under the influence of the dollar and is in a deep debt crisis. Argentina itself has realized that it has to begin the action of “de-dollarize” and strengthen its partnership with other countries, such as China.

Under the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, the two countries have pledged to strengthen ties not only in the areas of trade, agriculture and energy, but also in the area of currency swaps. In terms of the development of the two countries, the strengthening of ties with the Chinese currency will not only contribute to the financial stability of Argentina, but also to the internationalization of the RMB.

On the other hand, for China, cooperation with Latin American countries such as Argentina can complement its economic shortcomings and the region can benefit enormously from it. Although China is a vast country, it still relies heavily on imports for oil and agricultural resources, and Latin America can meet this demand, and which will also boost its local economy through exports. In addition, China has a strong manufacturing sector and Latin America is a huge market.

Russia

On 4 February, the opening day of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the leaders of China and Russia met and concluded their talks in a very ideal atmosphere, after which “a Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on International Relations and Sustainable Global Development in a New Era” was issued, in which the two leaders had a frank and in-depth exchange on a number of topics, including the global epidemic, China’s relations and the international situation. The statement on cooperation, which covers as many as 15 items, demonstrates that China and Russia will work in tandem to resist others’ ideologically, economically and strategically based actions to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and stir up regional warfare from a number of angles, including democracy, energy, peace and development.

The Chinese leader said that the new crown epidemic has brought many challenges to countries around the world, but that China and Russia have always remained true to their original intentions, actively participating in global affairs, practising true multilateralism and playing a pivotal role in the international community. It was also stressed that China and Russia will cooperate practically in more areas, giving full play to the political advantages of both countries to boost the economy, fight epidemics, combat climate change and uphold international fairness and justice. For example, the Chinese leader also mentioned the dovetailing cooperation between Russia and China on the “One Belt, One Road” Initiative and announced the launch of the Year of Sports and Cultural Exchanges between Russia and China to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Putin also expressed Russia’s willingness to deepen cooperation with China in energy, trade and economy, finance, science and technology, transport and other areas. The trade volume between China and Russia has reached a new high, and Sino-Russian relations are moving forward steadily. Under the new historical conditions, the high level of mutual trust in Sino-Russian relations will be translated into various areas of cooperation and into the fruits of cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

The specific affirmation contains the following elements:

  • Firstly, China has made it clear that it opposes the eastward expansion of NATO.
  • Secondly, China and Russia have confirmed enhanced oil and gas cooperation, including a long-term contract for the supply of an additional 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year, making it possible for Russia to supply China with up to 48 billion cubic meters of gas per year in the future. There is also a 10-year agreement for the supply of up to 100 million tonnes of oil to China via Kazakhstan. 100 million tonnes of oil exceeds 700 million barrels, a full 100 million barrels more than the oil reserves of Japan, currently the world’s largest strategic oil reserve holder.

Mongolia

Shortly after the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg and the two expressed their views on China-Mongolia relations. Wang Yi said that China and Mongolia are important neighbours and that friendship and cooperation between the two countries have strong roots and broad prospects for development. The two sides should continue to consolidate political mutual trust, respect each other’s sovereign independence and territorial integrity, support each other in safeguarding their core interests and major concerns, and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Battsetseg, on the other hand, said that the Mongolian side would cooperate with the Chinese side in a comprehensive manner to implement the political consensus between the two sides in order to promote the construction of economic corridors, deepen cooperation between the two countries in various fields and contribute to the building of a multilateralist society. The two countries then issued a joint statement to show the world their attitude towards each other.

On 6 February, Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun Erden held talks with the Chinese side, after which the two sides issued a joint statement in which they made it clear that both countries agreed that the Olympic Games belong to sportsmen and women and are a symbol of solidarity and friendship among peoples, and that we oppose any attempt by any country to politicize sport in any name and use it to suppress other countries.

Secondly, and most importantly, the two sides will then reaffirm to the United Nations the importance of maintaining international peace and working together to deal with international affairs, and will adhere to the purposes and principles of the “UN Charter”. This cooperation between China and Mongolia has once again attracted the attention of various countries. More and more countries are starting to strengthen their communication and cooperation with China, and the Winter Olympics has become a platform for good communication between countries.

Sri Lanka

February 7 is the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka. Over the past 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have always understood and supported each other, setting an example of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between large and small countries. China and Sri Lanka are good friends who look after each other, good partners who seek common development and good brothers who support each other. Sri Lanka adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports China’s legitimate position in international affairs. China also firmly supports Sri Lanka in safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence, and supports the country in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions. After the outbreak of the epidemic, the two sides carried forward the spirit of mutual assistance and joined hands to combat the epidemic.

At the beginning of 2022, Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, successfully visited Sri Lanka and jointly launched with the Sri Lankan side the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rice Glue Agreement. China is willing to work with the Sri Lankan side to take the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to carry forward the spirit of the Rice Glue Agreement of “independence and self-improvement, solidarity and mutual assistance”, further deepen traditional friendship, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen solidarity against epidemics, promote the quality and upgrading of practical cooperation such as the construction of “One Belt, One Road” and so on. In addition, the government should closely coordinate and cooperate in international and regional affairs, and consolidate and expand the strategic partnership between China and Sri Lanka for the betterment of the two countries and their peoples.

Like the slogan of the Beijing Winter Olympics, “Together for the Future”, what China is trying to convey to the world in the “Joint Statement” is a model of cooperation and a starting point for a “community of human destiny”, as a demonstration to the international community that countries should not be divided and confront each other with exclusionary alliances, but rather take the whole as a framework for what a future of common development and sustainable peace for all countries can and should look like.

By Sherry

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