Recently, China's diplomatic momentum has been on a steady rising trajectory. From major Western powers to global South nations, and from neighboring countries to transoceanic partners, the frequency of China's diplomatic engagements knows no bounds. The country's cooperation has become indispensable on the world stage, and the advantages it provides have emerged as a valuable and scarce public good in today's international community.

Pillar of global stability

Toomas Hanso, junior researcher at the Estonian think-tank International Center for Defense and Security, said that  trips to Beijing by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin illustrate the extent of China's growing role and influence in global affairs, according to Estonian public broadcaster ERR News.

According to an analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), leaders of nine major European, Indo-Pacific and North American allies have visited Beijing since 2025: Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Spain and the UK.

CFR analyzed press releases from the Chinese foreign ministry for each of the nine leaders' meetings, and several themes emerged: trade and business agreements, green energy commitments, increasing interest in technological and artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation, all of which underscored global governance and increased people-to-people ties.

When commenting on the summit meeting between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, Lyle Goldstein, international affairs scholar of Brown University in the United States, pointed out that in the current situation of regional and global instability, the U.S. and China are not rivals but rather have many common interests and goals. Cooperation between the two countries is of vital importance for "avoiding the global economy from losing control and falling off the cliff."

Jack Shanahan, senior fellow, Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs, said on the Johns Hopkins University website that regarding AI more broadly, the China-U.S. leaders' summit reinforced how rapidly AI has moved from a secondary issue in the bilateral relationship to a central strategic concern. Given the current state of the relationship, even limited government-to-government AI discussions will represent a constructive and welcome step.

Graham Webster, research scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, said that one of the most important factors in assessing the China-U.S. leaders' meeting is the expectation that they will meet as many as three more times in 2026. The establishment of "boards" of trade and investment, so far, appears to reflect the agreement to continue talking.

Global popularity increasing

According to a Politico poll of Canadian, German, French and British nationals, the respondents prefer to depend on China over the United States, and say their country should move closer to China — a sentiment strongest among young people.

Gim Huay Neo, managing director and member of the managing board at the World Economic Forum, said that currently, the world is undergoing multiple transformations. Against the backdrop of rising trade protectionism and the continued uncertainty in global economic recovery, China is promoting high-quality development in various fields such as supply chains, trade and investment flows, innovation and technological breakthroughs, employment and skills training. Through practical actions of opening up, China is empowering global development and bringing greater benefits to international cooperation.

Felix Dapare Dakora, former president of the African Academy of Sciences, and an international academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that the wave of innovation in China has repeatedly captured the attention of the entire world. "I look forward to further deepening cooperation with the Chinese scientific research team in areas such as seed industry innovation, tropical crop research and agricultural technology promotion. We will bring more scientific research achievements to the agricultural personnel in Africa and China, and continuously enhance the agricultural production capabilities of both sides, making greater contributions to global sustainable development," he said.

Meanwhile, Silvia Pozzi, Italian sinologist, and professor of Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, said that Italy and China are both ancient civilizations. There are many commonalities in their cultures. The dissemination of Chinese culture in Italy has advantages. "I hope that my work can help more Italian readers overcome the language barrier and gain a comprehensive understanding of a vibrant and colorful China," she said.