In the seven decades since its founding, the People's Republic of China's diplomacy has passed through three phases, each with its rich vein of thought, wisdom and visionary blueprint.

In the first phase, during Chairman Mao Zedong's leadership from 1949 to 1976, China had to deal with the postwar tensions and tried to find the means to realize peace and development.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence were the most important achievement of that phase. The five principles laid the foundation for Chinese diplomacy－of seeking independent and peaceful diplomatic relations with other countries. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence not only won worldwide acknowledgment but also accorded with the pursuit of peace and helped conclude relatively comprehensive, inclusive and stable agreements.

The second phase started in 1978 when the Chinese government made economic development its major task. During the second phase of China's diplomacy, which lasted until 2012, the country experienced rapid economic and social development, and gained in international status. During this phase, peace and development were also strengthened with more theories, and gradually progressed toward the realization of China's major goal of playing a leading role in global governance.

Strategies in this phase focused on improving the diplomatic environment and enhancing China's international image. An extensive analysis of the internal and external situations showed the world was undergoing a change, and the new global pursuit was for peace and development, multipolarization and mutual learning, and to build an environment in which different social systems and institutions could coexist peacefully.

Not to be over-excited by its fast-paced growth and remarkable social development, China still saw itself as a developing country at an early stage of socialism, realizing that the world was full of challenges and opportunities which the country has to overcome and seize based on firm principles but through a flexible approach.

China entered a new era in late 2012, the third phase of diplomacy where it has developed the strength to not only safeguard its internal and external interests but also shoulder more global responsibilities and play a bigger role in international affairs.

Since then China has proposed a new type of relationship between major countries, more actively participated in global governance by upholding equality, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. It has also provided or proposed innovative public goods such as the Belt and Road Initiative to improve infrastructure connectivity, establishing a cooperative trade and economic partnership with more than 100 countries, regions and international organizations; and to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

In the seven decades since its founding, China's diplomacy has significantly improved, becoming more harmonious, cooperative and multilateral in nature, and its focus shifted from just self-development to global co-development.

The proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind, for instance, is based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which in turn is based on an independent and peaceful diplomatic policy, peaceful development and win-win cooperation.

China has kept pace with the changing times while making continuous efforts to help safeguard regional and global peace and security; maintain competition along with cooperation with major countries; counter hegemony; and combat terrorism.

China also is committed to playing the role of a responsible major country, developing amiable relationships with other countries and further contributing to humankind's shared future, while continuing to strengthen its economic power and overall national strength.

The author is a professor at the China Center for Contemporary World Studies. The views don't necessarily represent that of China Daily.