從國家主席習近平到南非出席金磚國家領導人會晤前幾天及會上發表的講話來看，中國對發展中國家的外交政策不僅具有戰略性，而且符合中國設想一個以多邊主義、和平、平等和「人類命運共同體」為願景的社會主義世界。
習近平主席訪問南非期間，會見了古巴、埃塞俄比亞、塞內加爾、孟加拉國等國總統，發表重要言論值得我們分析。
中國願為非洲國家緩解債務壓力
首先，習近平表示，中國支持古巴捍衛國家主權，反對任何外部勢力對中美洲社會主義國家的干涉和封鎖，這句話含蓄地指出了美國霸權在中美洲地緣政治中的作用，而古巴仍然是中國意識形態上的朋友。他又說，在國際緊張氣氛下，中國願意為古巴的社會經濟發展提供支持。就習近平的言論，古巴總統迪亞斯-卡內爾認為，古巴將加強與中國共產黨的關係，哈瓦那讚賞北京試圖將古巴從美國「支持恐怖主義國家」名單中刪除的努力。
習近平支持古巴今年9月主辦「77國集團和中國」峰會，這是對古巴的友好姿態和積極支持。
其次，習近平向埃塞俄比亞總理阿比·艾哈邁德·阿里表示，中國的現代化模式為加強合作提供了絕佳機會，中國願為非洲國家緩解債務壓力。他表示，在中國「一帶一路」倡議背景下，中國企業將繼續赴埃投資興業，為埃塞經濟繁榮作出貢獻。事實上，2021年中埃雙邊貿易額增至26.6億美元，但埃塞對華債務達137億美元。通過緩解債務壓力，北京贏得了亞的斯亞貝巴的心。
第三，習近平向塞內加爾總統薩勒表示，中塞兩國擁有共同發展經驗，雙方要加強農業、基礎建設項目、人力資源建設、工業發展等領域合作。中國再次表明了與更多非洲國家建立密切關係的意願。
第四，習主席向孟加拉國總理哈西娜表示，中方全力支持孟加拉國主權、獨立、領土完整和經濟發展，反對外部干涉。顯然，中國的目標是贏得孟加拉國的心，特別是兩國在傳統上有着牢固的社會經濟和政治關係。
華冀加強合作 促進外交雙贏
習近平主席在金磚國家領導人會晤之前和會晤期間的講話，體現了中國對世界上發展中國家的看法。
第一，習近平向南非總統拉馬福薩表示，雙方應將全面戰略夥伴關係提升到新台階，中國將進口更多南非牛肉等商品，南非和非洲國家應全球治理中的代表性和發言權。具體來說，中方支持非盟加入二十國集團。習近平表示支持南非向烏克蘭派遣和平代表團，推動俄烏對話。
習近平訪問南非期間，中國政府與比勒陀利亞簽署了一系列協議，包括教育合作、基建項目、能源開發、旅遊業增長、數字技術等。有意思的是，南非將建一所孔子學院。
顯然，北京不僅熱衷於與比勒陀利亞發展更密切的經濟、教育和技術合作，而且熱衷於與更多南非人建立文化聯繫，希望他們能更深入地了解中國。
第二，習近平在金磚國家領導人會晤期間談到了具體的合作機制，包括建立中國─金磚國家新時代科創孵化園。他的講話題為〈團結協作謀發展 勇於擔當促和平〉。他強調，要深化貿易關係，加強金融合作，促進經濟發展，通過孵化園促進技術進步，收集科學數據，推動農業發展、生態發展和可持續發展。
很清楚，中國的目標是與金磚國家和其他發展中國家加強合作，實現在平等、可持續發展與和平的世界中，促進雙贏的外交政策。
第三，習近平在講話中呼籲更多國家參與金磚國家，並說，金磚國家與50多個國家聚首南非，不是拉誰「選邊站隊」，更不是「搞陣營對抗」，而是要「打造和平發展的大格局」。「秩序朝着更加公正合理的方向發展」。
習近平的措辭與他過去在國際機構中的言論是一致的，包括「多邊主義」、「不搞陣營對抗」等術語。
然而，習近平在金磚國家領導人會晤講話的特別之處在於，他首次提到「國際關係民主化」和建立「多極世界」的必要性──直接提及美國霸權是當今世界多邊主義和政治經濟平等的挑戰。
首提國際關係民主化、多極世界
第四，習近平關於避免「新冷戰」、避免「小圈子」的言論並非新鮮事；儘管如此，他強調「结伴而不结盟」、「不搞唯我獨尊、你輸我贏的零和遊戲」，以及在世界上「實現普遍安全和共同安全」的重要性，反映了習近平對整個世界的社會主義願景。
第五，習近平主席非常明確地表示，中國「沒有稱王稱霸的基因」，北京「沒有大國博弈的衝動」，中國「堅定站在歷史正確一邊」，堅定奉行「大道之行，天下為公」。
客觀地講，北京外交政策的中國特色從習近平在金磚國家領導人會晤上的重要講話中可見一斑。這種中國特色是強烈的社會主義基調、對世界和平與可持續發展的願景，以及中國平等主義和謙虛的傳統。
新成員加入 去美霸權有進展
第六是習近平強調，中國式現代化的經驗非常值得其他國家，尤其是發展中國家借鑒。他表示，中國作為南半球成員，願促進共同繁榮、安全和文化文明交流。
習主席指出，在世界動盪中，中國肩負着促進和平發展的大國責任。因此，中國熱衷於在世界各地建立更多的自由貿易區，反對「脫鈎」和「經濟脅迫」。習近平呼籲發展中國家通過參與金磚國家進程推動國際貨幣體系改革。
言外之意，中國推動去美元化，或許是為了讓發展中國家的貨幣在貿易和經濟交易中愈來愈多地使用，從而遏制美元在世界上的影響力。
隨着沙特阿拉伯、埃及、阿聯酋、阿根廷、埃塞俄比亞和伊朗這6個新金磚國家的加入，美國的去霸權化進程得到了推動，儘管同時並行的去美元化進程需要很長時間來實現突破。
總的來說，習近平主席在南非和金磚國家領導人會晤期間的講話，是中國實踐對發展中國家外交政策的明證。具體來說，中國致力發展多邊主義，建立多極世界，促進世界和平與可持續發展，通過更多國家參與金磚國家來削弱美國霸權，推動「國際關係民主化」，塑造和強調和平中國的形象。習近平強權外交絕不是「侵略性」的，而是通過漸進式的去美元化試驗來推動國際經濟體系的改革。北京明確利用金磚國家等國際組織來宣傳其社會主義願景和對世界的和平使命。一方面由於中美之間意識形態的不同；另一方面中美盟友之間的差異，仍然是影響北京對世界發展中國家外交政策的最重要因素。
China’s Foreign Policy Toward Developing Nations
Judging from the remarks made by Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), days before and during the BRICS Summit in South Africa, China’s foreign policy toward the developing states is not only strategic but also in conformity with its socialist vision of envisaging a world punctuated by multilateralism, peace, equality and the “common destiny of the humankind.”
During his visit to South Africa, President Xi met the presidents of Cuba, Ethiopia, Senegal and Bangladesh, making important comments that deserve our analyses.
First, he supported Cuba in defending its national sovereignty and opposing any external interference as well as blockade on the socialist state in Central America – a remark implicitly pointing to the role of US hegemony in the geopolitics of Central America where Cuba remains an ideological friend of the PRC. President Xi added that the PRC is willing to collaborate with Cuba’s socio-economic development amid an atmosphere of international tensions. In response to Xi’s comments, Cuban President Diaz-Canel believed that Cuba would strengthen the relations with the Communist Party of China, and that Havana appreciates Beijing’s efforts of trying to remove Cuba from the US list of “state-sponsored terrorism.”
President Xi supported Cuba to host the Group of seventy-seven developing countries in the coming September – a gesture of friendship and positive support of Cuba.
Second, President Xi told the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that the PRC’s model of modernization provides excellent opportunities for closer cooperation, and that the African state’s debt payments can be suspended. Xi added that, given China’s Belt and Road initiative, the Chinese enterprises would continue to invest in Ethiopia and contribute to its economic prosperity. In fact, the bilateral trade between the PRC and Ethiopia increased to US$2.66 billion in 2021, but the debt incurred by Ethiopia to China amounted to US$13.7 billion. By suspending the debt payments, Beijing wins the hearts and minds of Addis Ababa.
Third, President Xi told Senegalese President Mackay Sall that both China and Senegal shared developmental experiences and that both sides should strengthen cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure projects, human resources construction and industrial development. Again, China shows its intention of forging close relations with more African states.
Fourth, President Xi told Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Beijing fully supports Bangladesh’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and economic development while opposing external interference. Clearly, China aims at winning the hearts and minds of Bangladesh, especially both countries have traditionally developed strong socio-economic and political relationships.
Prior and during the BRICS Summit, President Xi Jinping made comments that demonstrates how China sees the developing countries in the world.
First, he told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that both sides should elevate their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, that China would import more South African goods like beef, and that the Global South and African states should have more say in global governance and institutions. Specifically, China supports the entry of the African Union to G20. Xi expressed his support of South Africa to dispatch a peace mission to Ukraine and to promote dialogue between Ukraine and Russia.
During Xi’s stay in South Africa, the Chinese government signed a series of agreement with Pretoria, including educational cooperation, infrastructure projects, energy development, tourism growth, and digital technology. Interesting, a Confucius Institute would be built in South Africa.
Obviously, Beijing is keen to develop not only closer economic, educational and technological collaboration with Pretoria but also cultural ties with more South Africans who will hopefully understand China in a deeper way.
Second, President Xi during the BRICS Summit talked about concrete cooperative mechanisms, including the establishment of a China-BRICS Innovation and Technology Incubation Garden. His speech was entitled “Solidarity and Coordination seek development, Taking the Responsibility to promote peace.” What President Xi emphasized was to deepen trade relations, strengthen financial cooperation, promote economic development, foster technological advancement through the Incubation Garden, and to gather scientific data to propel agricultural, ecological and sustainable development.
Clearly, China aims at forging closer cooperation with BRICS and other developing states and implementing its foreign policy of promoting a win-win situation in a world punctuated by equality, sustainable development and peace.
Third, President Xi in his speech appealed to the participation of more countries in BRICS, adding that the presence of some fifty countries in the BRICS Summit was a sign of “not siding with any camp” and “not making any confrontation” while “generating a grandiose style of peaceful development.” He added that multilateralism is the key to world peace, promoting a “multipolar world,” “the democratization of international relations,” and “the fair and reasonable direction and development of the international order.”
The language used by President Xi is consistent with what he remarked in international institutions in the past, including terms like “multilateralism” and “not taking side with any camp.”
But what was special in Xi’s speech in BRICS Summit was that for the first time he mentioned the need to “democratize” international relations and the establishment of a “multipolar world” – direct references to the challenges posed to the US hegemony in a world of multilateralism and politico-economic equality.
Fourth, Xi’s remarks on the need to avoid “a new Cold War” and to shun “small circles” are by no means new; nevertheless, his emphasis on the necessity of “partnership without alignment,” “win-win situation without a zero-sum game,” and the importance of creating a “common security entity” in the world reflects Xi’s socialist vision for the entire world.
Fifth, in a very explicit way, President Xi said that China has “no gene to become a hegemon,” that Beijing has “no impetuous motive of having any big power struggle,” and that the PRC would like to “stand consistently on the correct side of history to create a big moral path of walking and a world of fairness.”
Objectively speaking, the Chineseness of Beijing’s foreign policy can be seen in his important remarks at the BRICS Summit. This Chineseness is characterized by a strong socialist tone, a vision of a peaceful and sustainable world, and a legacy of Chinese egalitarianism and modesty.
Sixth, President Xi emphasized the Chinese model of modernization would be an example for the developing countries to study and learn further. He said that China as a member of the Global South would like to promote mutual prosperity, security and cultural as well as civilizational exchange.
President Xi pointed to the role of the PRC in shouldering the responsibility of a great power that promote peaceful development amid world turbulence. As such, China is keen to build up more free trade regions in various parts of the world, opposing “decoupling” and “economic coercion.” Xi appealed to developing states to promote reforms in the international monetary system through their participation in BRICS.
By implication, China promotes de-dollarization so that the influence of the US currency in the world would perhaps be curbed by the increasing usage of the currencies of developing states in their trade and economic transactions.
With the participation of six new countries in BRICS – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Argentina, Ethiopia and Iran – the process of de-hegemonizing the US is given a boost although it will take a long time for the parallel process of de-dollarization to achieve any breakthrough.
In conclusion, President Xi’s remarks in South Africa and during the BRICS Summit were a testimony to how China implements its foreign policy toward the developing world. Specifically, China is keen to develop multilateralism, establish a multipolar world, promote world peace and sustainability, minimize the US hegemony through embracing more states’ participation in BRICS, “democratize international relations,” project and stress an image of a peaceful China whose great power diplomacy is by no means “aggressive,” and to promote the reform of the international economic system through an incremental approach of experimenting with de-dollarization. Beijing clearly utilizes international organizations, like BRICS, to promote its socialist vision and peaceful mission for the world. Ideological differences between China and the US on the one hand and China and the US allies on the other hand remain the most important shaper influencing Beijing’s foreign policy toward the developing states in the world.
原刊於澳門新聞通訊社（MNA）網站，本社獲作者授權轉載。原文網址：https://www.macaubusiness.com/opinion-chinas-foreign-policy-toward-developing-nations/
