China's wisdom for global peace and stability

Editor's note: Wang Jin is an assistant director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Northwest University of China and a research fellow of the Center for China and Globalization. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

As of 2024, the world remains in a state of heightened geopolitical tensions, with a slew of crises continuing to disrupt global stability.

The conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2022, is still brewing, resulting in significant casualties, displacement of civilians and severe economic consequences, particularly in energy markets and food security. Western countries resorted to sanctions as a response to the conflicts, but the situation remains unresolved, with no clear end in sight.

In the Middle East, tensions between Israel and Palestine have been escalating, making the regional situation even more complex. This eventually resulted in rising crises between Israel and Iran, and conflicts between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah.

Additionally, rising internal conflicts, political instability and economic crises in parts of Africa and Latin America have contributed to the overall fragility of global peace. These ongoing conflicts highlight the urgent need for multilateral diplomacy and peacebuilding efforts, and China's endeavors in addressing the root causes of instability and preventing further escalation have been widely recognized.

Peace through economic stability

In most cases, poor economic conditions have turned out to be a catalyst in the outbreak and perpetuation of violence. In 2024, China's vision for global peace remains firmly anchored in the belief that true peace can only emerge in an environment where economic development flourishes.

With this philosophy at its core, China has continued to advance mutually beneficial initiatives, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the expansion of the BRICS group, as key tools for promoting global stability and peace. These efforts focus on fostering economic cooperation, reducing inequality, and encouraging mutual understanding, all of which contribute to a more peaceful world order.

In 2024, the BRI continues to focus on enhancing connectivity across Asia, Africa, Europe, and even Latin America. By investing in critical infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, ports, and energy networks, it has brought more job opportunities and vast market to regional countries. This will help reduce the economic disparities that often fuel political instability and conflict.

Take Malaysia's East Coast Railway Link (ECRL) as an example. As a landmark BRI project jointly built by China and Malaysia, it is a "land bridge" connecting the east and west coasts of the Malay Peninsula. By the end of October 2023, the project has created more than 18,000 jobs in Malaysia and neighboring countries, and has cooperated with over 1,900 local companies.

According to official data released in December this year, the overseas economic and trade cooperation zones built under the BRI had created 530,000 local jobs by the end of 2023. More job opportunities mean less likelihood of violence.

In addition, through initiatives like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB), China has provided critical financial support to developing countries, enabling them to access the capital needed for development projects. As an alternative to the traditional dominance of Western-led financial bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, China's approach offers developing nations greater flexibility and more tailored solutions to their economic needs.

China has also actively engaged in addressing global financial imbalances. Through the newly enlarged BRICS group, China has promoted the idea of a multipolar economy, where emerging economies play a more significant role in global governance. By advocating for reforms to the international financial system, China seeks to ensure that the interests of developing countries are better represented in global economic decision-making processes.

More efforts toward equal economic rights have tremendously reduced the likelihood of political unrest in Global South countries, which in most cases are a result of economic inequality.

Peace through diplomatic efforts

Apart from economic endeavors, by consistently promoting the principles of sovereignty and non-interference, China has been urging for diplomatic solutions to conflicts.

Under the framework of the United Nations, China has been actively mediating for regional peace. From facilitating historical reconciliation among different Palestinian factions, to the establishment of the "Friends of Peace" group for the Ukraine conflicts, and the formal ceasefire agreement reached by Myanmar's relevant parties in Kunming, China has been actively working to promote regional peace and stability.

China's approach is rooted in its long-standing commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for national sovereignty and multilateralism.

With regard to Middle East tensions, China is contributing its peace efforts through three-layers.

To begin with, China has been seeking international consensus on peace and stability, particularly under the principles of the United Nations. China has helped build bridges and channels of communication between the parties to the conflicts in the Middle East. In order to promote an early and just solution to the Palestinian issue, China coordinated the representatives of 14 major Palestinian factions to sign a declaration in Beijing in July 2024, helping to cool down the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Apart from forging an international consensus on peace, China is dedicated to finding a real solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, which is the trigger of many Middle East conflicts. China has reiterated that a two-state solution is the fundamental way out.

In the past year, representatives of China have made numerous visits to regional countries and attended relevant international peace conferences in an attempt to clear barriers for the two-state solution. In May, China and the Arab States issued a joint statement at the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held in Beijing, making a strong call for the maintenance of peace and the defense of justice with regard to the Palestine issue.

In addition to the mediation efforts, China has also been providing humanitarian assistance to Middle Eastern states. In order to alleviate the living difficulties of the people in the Gaza Strip, China, within its capacity, has supplied the region with batches of food, medicines, foodstuffs, medical supplies and other emergency humanitarian supplies through Egypt.

In October when the conflict broke out between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, China successfully delivered humanitarian aid to Lebanon, bringing much-needed help to the Lebanese people and injecting a warm force into the stability of the Middle East region.

China's foreign policy emphasizes the importance of respecting the political systems and development paths of other countries. In contrast to more interventionist policies pursued by some Western states, China has sought to maintain a neutral stance in conflicts while encouraging dialogue and cooperation.

China's mediation role has won widespread praise from the international community. According to a poll co-organized in March of 2024 by CGTN and Renmin University of China, as many as 83.5 percent of the international respondents appreciated China's independent foreign policy of peace and believed that it would help promote the formation of a more just and reasonable international order.

As the world navigates a period of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, China has an important and active role in shaping a global order that is more cooperative, peaceful, and inclusive. Under the vision of a global community of shared future, China offers a pathway toward a more interconnected and prosperous world.

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