The lecture was delivered by Spanish Ambassador Juan Leña, who served as Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (1993-1999), as well as in other posts such as Ambassador to South Korea and Japan. Ambassador Juan Leña’s presentation analyzed the country’s global growth and its opening to the world from the last decade of the past century, under the leadership of Jiang Zemin, Deng Xiaoping’s successor.

Regarding Jiang Zemin, one idea highlighted by Ambassador Leña is that he was not initially considered the main candidate for the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and later President of the People’s Republic of China. However, he had the support of Deng Xiaoping and other Communist Party leaders. Juan Leña considers China’s history as one of the most instructive, with its transformation and opening to the world beginning under the policies implemented during Mao Zedong’s leadership (1949–1976). Thanks to this transformation, China initiated its external opening, which led to improved relations with other countries. Today, China is a major global player and ranks as the world’s second-largest economy, behind only the United States. Juan Leña argues that all these factors have contributed to China becoming the main beneficiary of globalization.

The international initiatives pursued by China’s last five leaders reflect the country’s outward focus and its growing influence in global markets and politics. The international policies of Chinese leaders have primarily focused on joining various multilateral organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, and signing cooperation agreements with other countries. During Mao Zedong’s rule, China developed an opening strategy toward the United States and joined the United Nations in 1971. Later, Deng Xiaoping accelerated China’s integration into global markets through economic reforms and the modernization of key sectors. Jiang Zemin consolidated China’s foreign relations and improved its global image, strengthening ties with the United States and the European Union, as well as securing China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, as previously mentioned. Hu Jintao launched the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, of which Spain is a member. Finally, the current Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, is responsible for completing this transformation. To achieve this, he has promoted the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, while also working to improve China’s international image, which has been affected by the current pandemic context.

Ambassador Leña linked past policies to the concepts of hegemony, power, and influence, traditionally based on deterrence and military strength. However, today, international cooperation is emerging as the most effective mechanism.

Almudena Lobo
Communication Assistant, INCIPE