中国的多边外交实践与多边主义理念

China’s Multilateral Diplomacy and Conception of Multilateralism

多边主义、双边主义、单边主义是三种不同的外交理念或政策路径,是不同国家或同一国家针对不同议题、不同外交对象而做出的策略选择,原本并无高低贵贱、贬义褒义之分。但是,近些年来,由于霸权国频频采取单边主义行动或构筑“小院高墙”式的排他性小多边组织,瘫痪或撤出全球性多边机构,对国际秩序产生了严重冲击,单边主义和排他性的多边主义被赋予了贬义。与此形成鲜明对照的是,中国倡导践行真正的多边主义,将联合国作为最重要的多边机制,将包容性置于多边主义理念的核心,侧重于理念而非制度,追求国际关系的民主化。中国的多边主义理念源于自身从联合国的“局外人”到“局内人”、从“批判者”到“维护者”的角色变化,源于百年来反殖民主义、反帝国主义的外交传统。中国关于多边主义的主张,重视“应然性”,延续了中国文化传统中对权威的尊重和对信义的坚守,是结伴不结盟的包容性外交原则的体现。

Multilateralism,bilateralism,and unilateralism are three different diplomatic ideas or foreign policy approaches.They are the choices made by different countries or the same country for different topics and different diplomatic objects.They are not necessarily high or low,and derogatory or commendatory.However,in recent years,various actions such as the frequent unilateralist actions taken by hegemonic countries,forming of blocs and exclusive groups targeted against particular countries,and withdrawal from global multilateral institutions,have had a serious impact on the international order.Unilateralism or exclusive multilateralism has been given a derogatory meaning.In contrast,China has advocated and practiced true multilateralism.China’s conception of multilateralism takes the United Nations as the core of international system,places inclusiveness at the key of the concept of multilateralism,opposes unilateralism and exclusive multilateralism,focuses on ideas rather than systems,and promotes greater democracy in international relations.China’s belief of multilateralism stems from its role changing from"outsider"to"insider"of the United Nations,from"critic"to"defender",and from the diplomatic tradition of anti-colonialism,anti-imperialism,and anti-hegemonism over the past centuries.China’s position on multilateralism emphasizes"what should be"rather than"what is".It continues the respect for authority and the adherence to faith in the Chinese cultural tradition.It is the embodiment of the inclusive diplomatic principle of partnership rather than alliance.