CRI听力:China Takes Global Diplomacy Center Stage: Blue Book

The "Blue Book" describes China's role in global diplomacy as "taking the center stage" through 2014.

The report notes two major summits were held last year in China.

Shanghai hosted the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

And in November, world leaders descended on Beijing for the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The "Blue Book" report suggests this has given China a stronger voice on the international stage.

Chen Xulong heads the team which authored the "Blue Book" for the China Institute of International Studies.

"Chinese leaders attended a total of 11 multilateral summits last year. The leadership now views those summits as the main playing field for China's foreign diplomacy. They plan it carefully and try to strike a critical balance in maintaining various geopolitical partnerships. Therefore, the leadership thinks they cannot afford to miss any of those summits."

The "Blue Book" also highlights the various international initiatives the Chinese government helped to formulate this past year.

These include the "Belt and Road" initiatives, the BRICS Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Observations in the "Blue Book" also suggest China's voice on the international stage has been assisted by other major world powers being embroiled in their own problems, including the United States' continued entanglements in the Middle East, as well as Russia's issue with Ukraine.

The "Blue Book" also has a forecast for China's involvement in international affairs this year.

Ruan Zongze is the vice director of the China Institute of International Studies.

"One of dominant themes of China's global diplomacy is peace. There are three major 70th anniversaries this year. The 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the 70th anniversary of the victory of China's war over Japan and the 70th anniversary of the world's victory against Fascism. We will reflect on the past and we will also work on how to better contribute to the future."

The "Blue Book" issued by the China Institute of International Studies is an annual project designed to give the Chinese leadership, as well as the rest of the world, a general observation of how China views its role in international affairs.

For CRI, I am Qian Shanming.