Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

As an important economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region, the APEC summit and a series of meetings will be held in Beijing in November. As the theme of this year's summit, Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership, shows, China will promote multinational cooperation and express its will for peaceful development while acting as a host.

China's rapid economic development and rising national strength after reform and opening-up have benefited from the improved relations between China and its neighboring countries.

Therefore, neighborhood diplomacy has become more and more strategically important.

In recent years, East Asia seems to have entered troubled times. This is not only due to the complexity of the development rules of the security issue itself, but also because of the changes in each country's political and economic evolution.

Simply labeling China's rise as a regional threat obviously does not fit the basic doctrine of international relations.

Looking into security issues in East Asia, no matter whether North Korea's nuclear issues or disputes in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, none can be solved by an arbitration of an international mechanism through forceful means.

The unique historical background, popular national sentiments and the political and economic situation should all be taken into consideration.

Meanwhile, the role of a major power should be understood in a rational way. It is far from practical for a major power to address security issues once and for all with its economic and military clout. If a major power wants to play a role in maintaining regional security, it should not be partial to any side, as this will only worsen the dispute and lead it to a deadlock.

The international and regional pattern that China faces nowadays differs greatly from the situation for the US a century ago. Judging from the regional geopolitics formed after WWII, there is more than one mechanism that dominates East Asian affairs.

There are influential economies such as China and Japan, US-led alliances, and multilateral organization such as ASEAN.

Given such a geopolitical pattern, China's neighborhood diplomacy is more complex than for any other country in history. China could never resort to the Monroe Doctrine the US adopted in the 19th century. It is dangerous to assume China's political purpose by reckoning on what the US has done before.

In the face of the new challenges of China's neighborhood diplomacy, the Chinese government and academia have been working on how to ensure the positive strategic environment and at the same time benefiting more neighbors.

From the 18th National Congress of the CPC in November 2012 to the conference on the diplomatic work on neighboring countries in October 2013, the aim of the Chinese government of stressing harmony and stability and benefiting neighboring countries has remained the same.

The Silk Road economic belt is such a strategic notion. It is not only an economic development plan, but also a vital part of China's neighborhood diplomacy. Through the construction of the Silk Road economic belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, more neighboring countries can benefit from China's rapid development.

It is understandable that some countries, especially those small ones that have disputes with China, feel anxious about China's rise. China will continue to explain its policies and kind intentions through bilateral and multilateral channels.

As for disputes caused by different standards, China believes they can be peacefully solved through joint efforts of the parties concerned.

China has noticed that the US' role cannot be neglected as it always engages with the economic and security affairs in the Asia-Pacific region.

If the US wants to play a positive role in East Asian affairs, a new type of major power relations between China and the US based on equality and mutual trust is a must.

The two should overcome their strategic mistrust and look for ways for the sake of peace and stability in East Asia.

The author is an Associate Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn