Xi Jinping elevates China’s ties with record number of nations to counter US
Xi Jinping upgraded diplomatic ties with a record number of countries last year as he seeks to rally the Global South to help reshape the US-led world order.
Beijing elevated the way it described ties with 17 countries and territories, most of them from the developing world, according to a Bloomberg analysis of statements issued by the foreign ministry. That’s a pace not seen during Xi’s first decade in office.
While Washington has built a diplomacy strategy dependent on coalitions of mostly rich allies, Beijing is doing the opposite, wooing developing countries that make up the majority of the world’s population using aid, trade and investments. The geopolitical benefits are on display this week with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s first state visit to China, breaking convention with previous Maldivian leaders and handing Xi a victory over regional rival India.
“With the deepening of its strategic competition with the US, China is increasingly eager to solidify its partnership base with more countries,” said Yun Sun, a director of the China Program at Stimson Center. This is especially for nations that depend on China economically or have similar world views.
Xi spoke with Muizzu on Wednesday afternoon and said their meeting shows the importance they attach to developing bilateral ties. “I’m willing to work with you to draft new plans and bring China-Maldives relations to a new level,” the Chinese leader said.
The countries that upgraded ties with China last year include neighboring Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, Zambia and Ethiopia in Africa, as well as Venezuela, Uruguay and Colombia in Latin America.
China also boosted ties with the Solomon Islands
