China Builds Global Partnerships for Shared Progress

At the Port of Piraeus in Greece, one of Europe’s busiest maritime hubs, ships come and go around the clock, carrying goods and connecting markets across the world.

Once beset by economic hardship, the port has undergone a remarkable transformation through cooperation, demonstrating how such efforts can advance shared development, a principle frequently emphasised by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his diplomatic vision and work.

During his state visit to Greece in 2019, as reported by Xinhua, Xi inspected the port and spoke highly of the cooperation project. He said that China, in its external relations, upholds a proper approach to justice and interests, adding that it was heartening to see the project had helped local people through difficult times.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Xi that Greece had gained a deeper understanding of the true meaning of friendship through cooperation with China on the Piraeus Port project.

The Piraeus Port project is one example of the high attention Xi pays to cooperation projects, such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Chancay Port in Peru, which deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

For Xi, the true value of cooperation is measured not only by economic returns but also by the extent to which it improves people’s quality of life.

During his visit to Tajikistan in September 2014, Xi attended the inauguration ceremony of the China-Tajikistan joint thermal power plant in Dushanbe. Seeing the difficulties local people faced due to shortages of electricity and heating, Xi said that he had himself experienced hardship and could understand their feelings. A project that genuinely benefits local people is the best one, he added.

As Xi has said, “Development is real only when all countries develop together. Prosperity and stability cannot be achieved in a world where the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Every nation longs for a better life, and modernisation is not a privilege reserved for any single country.”

Xi’s vision of shared progress is taking root in regions such as Africa, where countries are seeking faster development.

In 2013, Xi chose Africa for his first overseas visit after becoming president. During that visit, he set out the principles of China’s policy towards Africa: sincerity, real results, friendship and good faith, and pursuing the greater good and shared interests.

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, Xi said that “on the journey towards modernisation, no one, and no country, should be left behind.”

Over the years, China-Africa cooperation has expanded beyond the economic sector to include areas closely linked to people’s lives. In Kenya, the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has become one of the main transport arteries in East Africa.

Meanwhile, water supply projects supported by China are helping millions of Africans gain access to safe drinking water.

“I once went to Fujian Province. I met my counterpart at the time, Governor Xi Jinping,” said Peti Lafanama, former governor of Eastern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea. “In my view, the president has great concern for the people.”

Cooperation has also been extended to the public health sector, with the headquarters of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), built with Chinese support, helping to strengthen health capacity across the continent.

In May this year, China further opened its market to African countries by fully implementing a zero-tariff policy for all 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

“The greatest virtue in China-Africa relations is closely combining Africa’s independent and sustainable development with China’s own development,” Xi said. “The ultimate goal is to achieve mutually beneficial cooperation.”

One example is Juncao technology, which Xi promoted when he worked in Fujian Province in eastern China more than two decades ago. He later introduced the technology to a visiting official from Papua New Guinea, paving the way for its application overseas.

Juncao technology, which uses a type of grass to cultivate edible mushrooms, provide livestock feed and prevent soil erosion, has become an effective tool for poverty reduction and sustainable development.

The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind is also reflected in Xi’s efforts on global climate governance. Xi has repeatedly called for global solidarity to address this urgent challenge, stressing that ecological protection concerns the well-being and future of all countries.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that China played a “decisive role” in the negotiation process of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, expressing his gratitude for China’s contribution to accelerating the ratification of the agreement.

“Were it not for President Xi Jinping’s initiative, we might not have the Paris Agreement on climate change even now,” Ban said.

In 2025, marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Xi announced China’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2035 at the UN Climate Summit, a step that further demonstrates China’s commitment and determination to advance global green development.

“These targets represent China’s best efforts based on the requirements of the Paris Agreement,” Xi said in his video statement to the UN summit.

“Our people hope to successfully achieve national development, but they also hope to see all nations of the world live happy and peaceful lives,” Xi said.