There are signs that President Xi Jinping of China has begun a process to transform the direction of the country’s foreign policy course by beginning to focus on economic interests. Does this mean a change in the country’s hitherto followed assertive core interest-based external line? No definite answer to this question can be given at the moment, but appearing meaningful in this regard is Xi Jinping’s declaration (Bo Ao Forum, March 2015) that his country is ready to sign friendship treaties with neighbors.
by D. S. Rajan