(Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the BRICS Xiamen Summit in September. Photo/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ever since its founding 68 years ago, China has been expanding its partnerships worldwide, aiming to safeguard world peace and stability while promoting development.

To that end, China has proposed, over the past five years, the Belt and Road Initiative and the vision of building a community of shared destiny for humankind, which will help establish a just and fair global governance system.

EXPANDING CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

China's diplomacy has born fruits under President Xi Jinping's leadership and boosted development of countries around the world.

On the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos extended warm wishes to the Chinese people.

"Today our two countries, despite the differences in their size, population, and even in their political systems, are working together closely and in harmony to consolidate peace, prosperity and progress worldwide," Pavlopoulos said in a televised message.

"I wish that they (the Chinese people) will contribute with all their strength not only to China's prosperity, but also to promoting development, peace and prosperity for all mankind," he said.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said the China-Africa ties are set to grow deeper.

"Chinese don't come here to tell us what to do. They come, you give your opinion and they give theirs. They will always take yours because they know it is your country," he said.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong said that China's success and development have made great contribution to the stability and development of economies around the world.

"During the past 68 years, China, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, has made a lot of achievements in various fields and grown into the second largest economy in the world," Namhong said.

He said the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China has greatly promoted the development in such fields as infrastructure, cultural exchanges, investment and trade, and helped realize an all-win situation among countries across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Speaking on China's major-country diplomacy in a documentary series, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said "China has established different forms of partnership with 97 countries and international organizations. It is fair to say our circle of friends is getting bigger and bigger."

CREATING SUBSTANTIAL RESULTS

Put forward by Xi in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

Statistics from China's Ministry of Commerce indicates that China's direct investment in 53 countries along the routes reached 14.53 billion U.S. dollars and the total value of contracts China signed with 61 related countries amounted to over 126 billion dollars in 2016.

Chinese businesses helped build 56 economic and trade cooperation zones in about 20 countries along the Belt and Road with a combined investment surpassing 18.5 billion dollars, generating nearly 1.1 billion dollars in tax revenue and about 180,000 jobs in those countries.

"Because of new infrastructure projects, the Belt and Road region's gross domestic product in 2016 grew by 4.6 percent, exceeding the developing economies' average growth of 3.6 percent," said Lu Yao, capital projects and infrastructure director of accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers China.

The initiative has delivered promising early results that have benefited other countries and regions, showing great development potential.

Apart from promoting trade and development, China has been actively addressing global issues, including the Paris Agreement, the Iranian nuclear program, the Syrian crisis and the Korean Peninsula issue.

China has also left an indelible mark on the world through its peacekeeping missions and efforts to tackle public health emergencies such as Ebola epidemic.

Miroslav Lajcak, president of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, has spoken highly of China's role in world affairs.

"I am glad to see China play a very important role, being a leader on a number of global issues. And I wish to see China continue playing this role and speak not only in its national capacity, but speak as a promoter of the UN agenda," said Lajcak.

TAPPING POTENTIAL FOR BENEFIT SHARING

China has boosted its economy through innovations. With high-speed rail, Alipay, bike-sharing and e-commerce, the so-called "New Four Great Inventions," prospering in China, more opportunities have emerged for China's partners.

Bruce Rauner, governor of the U.S. state of Illinois, has shown a strong interest in expanding mutually-beneficial cooperation with China in areas ranging from trade and tourism, to educational exchanges.

"I'm a believer in more trade and more investment, especially with the people of China. So I look forward to doing whatever I can to expand it," Rauner told Xinhua in a recent interview.

China has 50 companies headquartered in Illinois, which has a diverse economic base and serves as a major transportation hub, while 400 Illinois companies have a base in China.

"I believe that China, in the future, will be Illinois' greatest partner, and greatest friend. I want to do everything I can to expand our friendship," Rauner said.

At a reception held in London marking the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said China's development provides new opportunities to advance bilateral relations.

He said that building a China-Britain "Golden Era" is not a slogan, but a brand-new definition of the two countries' relationship and a symbol of determination to build consensus and deepen cooperation.

"We can deliver more 'golden fruits' in this 'Golden Era,'" he said.