Opinion Editorial by H.E. Wang Lixin, Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives.
In December 2023, the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs held in Beijing explicitly identified building a community with a shared future for mankind as the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era. Back to 2013, President Xi Jinping propounded the vision of building a global community of shared future for mankind, offering China’s solution to the question of what kind of world to build and how to build it. Now this vision has become a glorious banner leading the progress of the times.
Ten years on, the vision has developed from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system. In summary, in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the goal is to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity, the pathway is promoting global governance that features extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, the guiding principle is to apply the common values of humanity, the basic underpinning lies in building a new type of international relations, the strategic guidance comes from the implementation of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and the platform for action is high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
The vision advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and aims to advance global modernization featuring peace and prosperity through joint efforts of all countries in the world. The vision has been included in United Nations General Assembly resolutions for 7 consecutive years and has been repeatedly incorporated into resolutions or declarations of multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS, winning broad support from the international community and developing from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus.
China has built various forms of communities with a shared future with dozens of countries and regions, and has promoted the building of a community with a shared future in the areas of health, human beings and nature, oceans and seas, among others. To date, China has signed more than 200 BRI cooperation documents with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations to advance high-quality BRI Development. The BRI has established more than 3000 cooperation projects and galvanized nearly US$1 trillion of investment, created over 420 thousand jobs, lifted 40 million people out of poverty, and created an array of national landmarks such as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.
The GDI, GSI and GCI proposed by President Xi Jinping have taken roots and borne fruits. Global Development Project Pool now has nearly 200 practical cooperation projects. With China’s active mediation, a historic reconciliation was reached between Saudi Arabia and Iran, setting off a “wave of reconciliation” across the Middle East. This is a living example of implementing the GSI. The GCI advocating exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations has risen above wrong belief of “clash of civilizations” and the superiority of one civilization over others, and reached fruitful results. All these achievements demonstrate that building a community of shared future for mankind has developed from a promising vision to practical outcomes.
Nowadays we are witnessing much turbulence in our world and many challenges facing humanity. The global economy was weighed down by protectionism and the abuse of the security concept, and the international system was impaired by unilateralism and bloc politics. More and more countries have come to the understanding that the future of the world is determined by all, international rules are written by all, global affairs are governed by all, the fruits of development are shared by all, and building a community of shared future for mankind is the only future for humanity on this planet.
The Maldives is a traditional friendly neighbor and an important development partner of China. In January 2024, President Muizzu, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, paid a successful state visit to China. During that visit, the two heads of state agreed to build a community of shared future for mankind through joint efforts. President Muizzu also said that the Maldives looks forward to advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and reaffirmed the Maldives’ support to the GDI, GSI and GCI, opening up new and broad prospects for the development of our bilateral relations. The Chinese side welcomes the participation of the Maldives in the Group of Friends of the GDI, and is ready to work with the Maldives to accelerate implementation of the projects of GDI Project Pool to benefit the two peoples.
Just as an ancient Chinese proverb goes, “One should be good at finding the laws of things and solving problems”. Building a community of shared future requires efforts from generation after generation. China is ready to work hand in hand with all countries including the Maldives to advance the great cause of building a community of shared future for mankind and deliver a better future for the world.
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