Apart from economic ties, China also maintains ever-growing exchanges and communications with the peoples of its nearby countries. There are more than 830 flights on 47 regular passenger air routes, as well as 47 flights on 10 regular cargo routes each week between main cities in China and South Korea. In 2010, 5.96 million people traveled between the two countries, which have 130 sister cities and provinces. At the end of 2010 around 65,000 South Korean students were studying in China, while 75,000 students from China were at South Korean universities – the highest numbers in both countries of overseas students.

Many of these achievements have been made amid unfavorable conditions. Take China-India relations as an example. Bilateral trade between the two countries in 2010 reached US $61.7 billion – 43 percent higher than the previous year – and surpassed US $70 billion in 2011, when China maintained its status as India's biggest trading partner. Exaggerated international observations nonetheless abound of contradictions and strategic confrontations between China and India. Whatever their intent, these opinions have failed either to hamper or impede development of Sino-Indian economic and trade relations.

Regardless of certain comments on bilateral relations, China has real and enduring economic ties with its surrounding countries that have direct bearing on the immediate interests of their peoples. These healthy trade relations are integral to maintaining stability in the region and the external environment necessary for China's peaceful development. They are indeed vital to the fundamental interests and needs of all peoples in the region.

Problems and Challenges

Although China generally maintains good relations with its surrounding countries, it also faces problems and challenges in this respect. For instance, the U.S. is shifting its global strategy eastward, placing greater emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region. This is evident in policies strengthening military connections with East Asian countries, more frequent joint military drills in areas around China, and deployment of U.S. military forces in Australia. These measures have aggravated tension and uncertainty in East Asia. The U.S. has also intervened in the South China Sea issue, conflicts arising from which have strained relations between China and certain Southeast Asian nations. Moreover, the U.S.'s promotion of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement has had unfavorable impact on economic cooperation in the region.

This by no means signifies any fundamental changes in China's vicinity. The problems appear under a backdrop wherein the relationship between China and the rest of the world is closer than ever before. They signify that relations with surrounding countries have a solid economic base, but less so in the fields of culture and politics. Such disparities have caused certain imbalances in the development of bilateral relations. China's growing influence has been a source of worry to some of its surrounding countries, to the extent that they have turned to other big powers in efforts to balance China's sway in the region.

Changes in China's relations with its surrounding countries, such as development of uncertain factors in relations with certain countries, have occurred in the past two years. But there has been no fundamental change in macro-situation.

First of all, as China's comprehensive national power continues steadily and speedily to rise, its surrounding countries are not inclined to challenge this fast developing great nation. Second, China's desire for peace does not change. China remains a responsible actor in the international community and seeks substantial cooperation with countries in its vicinity. It spares no effort towards building a peaceful and stable regional environment. Third, a massive war would not be in China's or its surrounding countries' interests. None would consider initiating all-out war or conflict.

Under this background, uncertain factors in China's proximity might cause tension, but will not overtly affect the development direction of the region. Bearing in mind China's massive scale as well as its desire for peace, the focus of imminent intensifying competition in the vicinity between it and the U.S. will be mainly on economy. Considered as a whole, therefore, China and its environs will maintain peace and stability in the foreseeable future. In the meantime, all concerned will continue to share the benefits of cooperation and regional development, and further economic and cultural exchanges will be carried out.

In the context of the world situation, the area surrounding China is peaceful, stable and has a bright future. It also provides major impetus for world economic growth. The good relationship between China and the countries in its vicinity is hard-won. Preserving and fostering it demands effort and political wisdom from all concerned. Maintaining peace, stability and prosperity is achievable through common efforts of all countries in the immediate region.