Continuity and innovation of Xi Jinping's foreign policy ideas

The author examines in detail aspects of the topic such as the continuity and innovation of Xi Jinping's foreign policy ideas. Xi Jinping's foreign policy concept embodies the ideological principles in the field of international politics formulated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China under Xi Jinping's leadership, serving as the foundation and guidance for China's modern diplomatic activities. This approach reflects both the continuity of the foreign policy course of previous leaders of New China and the new theoretical ideas that reflect contemporary trends and the specifics of the current international situation. The study of the foreign policy ideas that remain unchanged and the innovations introduced by Xi Jinping is of great practical significance for understanding the development of the guiding ideology and determining the vector of innovative changes in China's foreign policy. The article employs comparative-historical and discourse analysis (systematic comparison of official documents such as white papers, reports from CPC congresses, and key speeches and statements by leaders from different periods of the PRC on foreign policy themes). Since the founding of New China, from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping, Chinese diplomatic thought has combined both continuity and development of traditions with innovations adapted to a new historical stage in accordance with the characteristics of the era. The first generation of the party's central leadership, led by Mao Zedong, implemented a new policy of independence and peaceful diplomacy. Deng Xiaoping introduced the new idea that peace and development are the main themes of the modern era. Jiang Zemin added the form of "promoting common development" to China's diplomatic goals and articulated the thesis of the unacceptability of a unipolar world. Hu Jintao advocated for the "path of peaceful development of China" and proposed the concept of a "harmonious world." Xi Jinping, based on adherence to the diplomatic ideas of previous generations of leaders, proposed to implement a major power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, launched the initiative of building a community with a shared future for humanity, and is constructing a new type of international relations, thereby writing a new chapter in the history of China's independent and peaceful diplomatic theory and practice.