BEIJING, Jan. 7 (People’s Daily Online) – “China is still keeping a low profile in its diplomatic strategy, but it is becoming more proactive in tactics,” said Jin Canrong, vice president of the School of International Studies of the Renmin University of China, at a forum on international issues in Beijing on Tuesday.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (NCCPC), there has been a heated debate about whether China’s diplomatic strategy has changed. Jin believes that China remains the largest developing country and the country needs peaceful development. Therefore, China still keeps a low profile in its diplomacy.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs last November that since the 18th NCCPC, China has achieved remarkable progress in foreign affairs on the basis of maintaining continuity and consistency in foreign policy. President Xi also put forward requirements on expanding and broadening the agenda of China's diplomatic strategy.

Jin noted that unlike the previous strategy; the new diplomatic strategy put forward by President Xi has put “neighborhood diplomacy” at the top of the agenda. China should “carefully manage its relations with other major powers”. These include both traditional powers and developing powers.

Jin pointed out three major challenges China faces in the next ten years. First, China’s internal problems - free of internal problems, China has nothing to fear. Second, separatism - China is the only major country that has not achieved complete national reunification. Third, external problems - China may remain the second strongest country in the world for a long time.

To deal with these challenges, China must first manage its relationship with the U.S. Building a new model of major-country relationship is a clear goal. The next step is to promote neighborhood diplomacy. China-Japan relations, the Korean Peninsula, and China's maritime disputes will be three prominent issues in the future. In addition, China needs to deal with non-traditional security issues, protect China’s overseas interests, and meet its responsibilities to provide foreign aid.