Chinese President Xi Jinping's attendance at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting and state visits to Vietnam and Laos chart a new course for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on November 14.

The recent successful convening of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has drawn worldwide attention, Wang said, adding that the international community lauded China's great achievements and focused on China's development strategy and diplomatic policies.

Xi's attendance at the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and his state visits to China's two socialist neighboring countries from November 10 to 14 marked his first overseas trip after the 19th CPC National Congress.

Wang pointed out that Xi's trip has manifested to the world China's development paths and governing principles, put the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness as well as win-win cooperation into practice, demonstrated the confidence of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the path, theory, system and culture, and unveiled the new atmosphere, new actions and new contributions of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Xi has participated in nearly 40 bilateral and multi-lateral activities over the past five days, winning broad support for China's future development, opening up bright prospects for Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, and injecting strong impetus into China-Vietnam and China-Laos relationships.

It is generally believed in and out of China that Xi's trip is a significant action for the opening up of a new stage of Chinese diplomacy, a strong move in building a new type of international relations and a community of shared future for mankind, a marvelous roadshow of China's institutional ideas and development prospects, and a vivid display of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Wang noted that Xi's talks during the trip are significant in three aspects.

Firstly, Xi illustrated China's development path and broadened the international community's understanding and recognition of it.

Concerning China's development, President Xi in his speeches elaborated on the progressive journey of China's development, profoundly revealed the bright development prospects, pointed out the essence of peaceful development, and fully demonstrated its global significance.

Secondly, Xi's talks have charted the course of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, and deepened mutual benefit and mutual trust among different parties in the region. This is exemplified in his upholding of the direction of building an open economy, and a mapped-out blueprint for a new round of development, as well as an elaboration on the meaning of promoting cooperation onto the next stage.

Thirdly, Wang said Xi's visit has promoted the Chinese tradition of developing good-neighborly relations, and brought China-Vietnam and China-Laos ties closer.

China has formed profound friendship with Vietnam and Laos in the process of striving for national independence and liberation, Wang noted, adding that neighboring geographical locations, identical social system and similar development paths have made the countries closely tied together.

President Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chose the two countries as destination for his first visits after the 19th CPC National Congress, which signaled a new manifestation of the traditional friendship, a new advancement of the political mutual trust, a new expansion of practical cooperation, and a new consolidation of public support for bilateral ties, Wang said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2017)