March 23 marked the beginning of the 100-days countdown for the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. On this day, a new exhibition titled “Seek Common Ground while Sheltering differences. Pursue Peace and Coexistence” started on the fifth floor of the Yifu Library of Nankai University, giving a full display of Premier Zhou Enlai’s diplomatic thought.

Through a lot of valuable historical records and pictures, this display retells China’s diplomatic development as a major country as well as Premier Zhou Enlai’s unique diplomatic style, thus guiding Nankai faculty members and students to learn this great person’s spirit and appreciate the unique appeal of major-country diplomacy.

Three areas have been divided and designed to be responsible for three significant periods of China’s diplomatic history. These areas comprehensively explain the Premier’s diplomatic practice and display China’s major-country diplomacy. The first period is called Establish Friendships with Asian and African Countries: Pursue Peaceful Coexistence in Sincerity. As it introduces the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and China’s active role in developing friendships with Asian and African countries in the 1950s, this stage praises the Premier’s capability in foreign affairs and the long friendship between China and these countries. The second period is called Break New Ground on Diplomatic Front: Seek Common Ground While Sheltering Differences and Improve Diplomatic Relations. While continuing to explain China’s efforts in strengthening its relationship with developing countries, it also tells the diplomatic story between China and western capitalist countries and speaks highly of the Premier’s fact-based spirit, humble attitude and groundbreaking contributions to diplomatic work. The third period, as marching into the new era, is called The Appeal of Major-Country Diplomacy: Independence, Peaceful Development and Win-Win Cooperation. Under the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee’s Authority with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, this period inherits and develops the diplomatic thought and ideas of Premier Zhou and shows China’s appeal through its major-country diplomacy.

It is known that this exhibition is jointly organized by the Yifu Library and the College of Foreign Languages of Nankai University. In addition to the major exhibition, more activities are waiting to be explored by the visitors, including the collection of diplomatic books, the board for recommending revolutionary works, video files about Premier Zhou’s diplomatic work, the multilingual reading pavilion and the photo board.

(Reported by Renming Qiao, Translated by Yating Jin, Photographed by Zhanyang Gao and Xiran Zheng, Edited by Davide Francolino and JianjingYun)