In the year 2025, China’s diplomacy reached new heights when Beijing showed the world that China is not just a regional player but a constructive force in world affairs. From official visits of Chinese leadership to enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation, from hosting SCO Summit in Tianjin to proposing the Global Governance Initiative, from completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan to unveiling the 15th Five-Year Plan, China proved that 2025 was the year in which China connected the divided world, build the bridges in a way no one ever did and positioned itself as an anchor of stability and a leader of the Global South amidst global turbulence. China, through its active leadership in multilateral platforms, peaceful negotiations with other major powers, championing cooperation and shared development, proved that its foreign policy is rooted in win-win cooperation, regional stability, connectivity, and mutual respect.
China’s Leadership at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit
The biggest and the historic win of China on the diplomatic front in the year 2025 was its leadership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin. It was the largest gathering in the 24-year history of the organization. The 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin unfolded not as a routine multilateral conference or just a summit of a regional organization. It was one of the largest international meetings China hosted all year and was actually a defining moment that revealed China’s growing role on the world stage under the leadership of His Excellency President Xi Jinping. Leaders from countries across Eurasia and beyond gathered in China to discuss security, economic cooperation, and shared development goals. China’s ability to bring together so many nations including Central Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern partners, demonstrated that when the matter is of security, peace and stability, no nation is more trusted than China.
Another highlight of the SCO summit in Tianjin was Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus meeting held in Tianjin on September 1, 2025. During this meeting H.E. President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). The GGI is a diplomatic concept that advocates for sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real actions. This Global Governance Initiative was a great diplomatic success of China in the year 2025 because it was unveiled at a time when the world is facing complex challenges. There is global uncertainty and gaps are widening among the nations. At this critical time, the GGI feels like a ray of hope. This new initiative also complemented China’s existing approaches such as the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI). Over 150 countries and international organizations supported this initiative and when it is combined together with the other three initiatives of China, the Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), these frameworks present a more inclusive and fairer world order.
China’s Grand Parade and the 80th Anniversary of China’s Victory in the War of Resistance
The year 2025 also marked the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. On September 3, two days after the conclusion of the SCO Tianjin Summit, a massive military parade was held in central Beijing to commemorate the victory. It was a moment to honor the past and reflect China’s ambitions for the future. This parade was full of mighty weapons but it was celebrating peace. Even during the parade, President Xi called for firmly upholding international fairness and justice, staying committed to the path of peaceful development, and making unremitting efforts to improving people’s well-being at all times. When white doves and multicolored balloons were released into the air together, it signaled harmony and hope. The ranks of the troops carried banners proclaiming: “Justice will prevail, peace will prevail, the people will prevail.” This parade did not mean to threaten the world. It actually wanted to convey a message that China’s growing strength is for safeguarding world peace, not challenge it. In this way China showed the world that it will always stand firm for peace and justice and that there is no room for unnecessary aggression and violence in China.
Stabilizing Major Powers Relations
A major diplomatic highlight of the year 2025 was the meeting between H.E. President Xi Jinping and the U.S. President, very honorable, Mr. Donald J. Trump. These talks were held in Busan, South Korea, on 30th Oct, 2025. This meeting carried great significance since both leaders met face-to-face after six years interval. Experts still argue whether this meeting was a hit or a miss but most of the people forget the main point that this meeting helped ease tensions between the two largest economies in the world. President Xi noted that under our joint guidance, China-U.S. relations have remained stable on the whole. China and the United States should be partners and friends. These words are remarkable as they reflect China’s willingness to cooperate and collaborate with the U.S. It tried to stabilize relations with the United States. Instead of escalating conflicts, both sides worked to balance their interests while maintaining dialogue. Similarly, President Trump also hailed this meeting as “amazing”. So, taking into account the actions, words, and gestures of the both leaders, it can be said that this meeting was a diplomatic success that contributed to global economic and political stability.
The year 2025 was also very important for China-EU relations as this year marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union (EU) and China. These relations are characterized by deep interdependence but China tried to further improve the ties with H.E. President Xi Jinping visiting France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal to enhance trust and cooperation in a more complex international environment.
This year H.E. President Xi Jinping also met Russian Prime Minister, very honorable, Mr. Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing just days after his summit with U.S. President. Even during this meeting President Xi said that China seeks to deepen relations with Russia despite a “turbulent” external environment. In addition to this meeting, within this year, H.E. President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had active engagements. All these engagements and meetings were aimed at enhancing Sino-Russian relations, expanding investment and economic relations, and other global issues such as climate change.
Such engagements with the leaders of world’s major powers and further enhanced relations were a huge diplomatic success for China in the year 2025 because these meetings reflect the trust of the world leaders in China.
Deepening Regional Partnerships and Bilateral Achievements
China’s global diplomacy was important and on its peak in 2025 but we cannot ignore the major successes China achieved in building stable and cooperative regional partnerships. These partnerships included South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa. It also showed China’s capacity to work with diverse nations.
In South Asia, China-Pakistan “all weather strategic partnership” remined strong as ever. Both governments reaffirmed their “ironclad friendship”. They vowed to upgrade major initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Even the CPEC entered its second phase called CPEC 2.0 in 2025. The upgradation plans included expanding infrastructure, economic cooperation, and development projects that benefit both countries. China also played the role of mediator in mediating dialogues between India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. All these countries were facing tensions and China encouraged peace talks and confidence-building measures that helped reduce border frictions and promote regional security. The 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, held in Kabul on August 20, 2025 was also the result of China’s efforts. It was China who made Pakistan and Afghanistan sit together on one table. This meeting was another success of China because it served as a beacon of hope for regional stability with China positioned between Pakistan and Afghanistan, working tirelessly to bridge their differences.
In addition to South Asia, China’s diplomatic engagement in Southeast Asia was also very strong. To promote good ties, regional development and connectivity, His Excellency President Xi Jinping made state visits to three Southeast Asian countries i.e., Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, in April 2025. These visits helped strengthen economic cooperation, cultural ties, and political trust between China and these ASEAN member states.
The year 2025 also witnessed the growing cooperation between China and the Central Asian Republics. In June 2025, the heads of state of China and the five Central Asian countries jointly signed a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation in Astana, Kazakhstan. Furthermore, two sides also signed over 60 bilateral cooperation documents in areas including development strategy alignment, energy, and connectivity. China also invested in infrastructure in Central Asia. This investment, partnerships, engagements, all these actions show that both sides continue to deepen their friendship.
Diplomacy for Global Development and Shared Future
China’s diplomatic successes in 2025 were not limited to political sphere only. It was also about supporting global development and shared prosperity.
One of the most visible expressions of this was China’s continued commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China expanded this cooperation across continents and in the year 2025 it signed a number of agreements with partner countries. It also expanded two-way trade and infrastructure projects such as railways, ports, and logistics corridors. These projects further improved connectivity, supported economic growth in many countries like Pakistan, and also helped countries build resilience against global downturns.
China’s diplomacy focused on people-to-people exchanges and cooperation also. In 2025, China unilaterally expanded its visa exemption list to 48 countries and eased transit visa policies, significantly increasing visa-free entries and people-to-people connectivity. These policies made cultural, educational, and business exchanges quite easy and also made China more accessible to the world, thereby strengthening understanding and mutual trust between people and countries also.
Another very important highlight of China’s diplomacy in the year 2025 was H.E. President Xi’s remarks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in the Republic of Korea (ROK). During this summit, President Xi urged economies to “bear in mind the well-being of the entire humanity”. His speech conveyed a very clear message to the world that they should not forget humanity in this race of becoming economic giants.
This year, apart from hosting SCO Summit in Tianjin, China hosted several other significant international gatherings also. These included the ninth Asian Winter Games and the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women.
In essence, China, in the year 2025, used global forums such as SCO, BRICS, APEC, and so on along with its bilateral engagements within and beyond the region to promote peace, friendship, shared development, win-win cooperation and mutual respect.
Final Remarks
In conclusion, the year 2025 was one of China’s most successful years diplomatically. China hosted major international events, it stabilized relations with other big powers, actively played the role of mediator, encouraged peace talks, and promoted the concept of shared development and shared prosperity. In the light of these facts, it can be said that China’s diplomatic successes in 2025 were not accidental. They were the result of China’s dedicated leadership, the long-term planning, and the forward-looking vision.
International Relations Expert and Social Activist.
