A view of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. /VCG
Editor's note: Xing Zhiyuan is a commentator on Macao affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
In the 1980s, guided by the policy of "One Country, Two Systems," China conducted diplomatic dialogues with the United Kingdom and Portugal to peacefully resolve the issues concerning Hong Kong and Macao. As a result, Hong Kong and Macao were smoothly welcomed back into the embrace of the motherland in 1997 and 1999 respectively.
This peaceful solution altered the conventional wisdom that lost territories had to be reclaimed through military action. It set a remarkable example for the world of how to resolve historical disputes amicably and showcased China's commitment to peace and development.
Since the return of Hong Kong and Macao, the cause of "One Country, Two Systems" in these two regions has achieved remarkable success. With its unique institutional design and enriched practice, the policy has profoundly demonstrated the value of peace and contributed to world peace.
On the 25th anniversary of Macao's return in 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that the values of peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing embodied in "One Country, Two Systems" are relevant to not only China but also the whole world. These values should be cherished by all.
"Peace and harmony" are the core value of Chinese political culture. The concept of "peace and harmony" has been deeply rooted in the cultural veins of the Chinese nation over more than 5,000 years. Traditional cultural values such as "peace is the most precious," "harmony without uniformity," "peaceful coexistence and harmony," and "peace among all nations" have been carried forward and developed for thousands of years, becoming important guidelines for the Chinese in their conduct and in handling domestic and international affairs.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, China has consistently adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, held high the banner of peace, and firmly safeguarded international fairness and justice.
Tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul's in the Macao Special Administrative Region, China, June 13, 2024. /VCG
Peace means resolving wars, conflicts, disputes and differences through consultation and dialogue. More than 70 years ago, in the face of the tragic devastation of actual wars and the division and confrontation in the Cold War, China proposed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. They have stood the test of changing international circumstances and become a great innovation in the history of international relations.
Today, more than 70 years later, to the major question of what kind of world to build and how to build it, China has offered its answer of building a community with a shared future for mankind. From a Chinese proposal the vision has grown to an international consensus, powerfully advancing the world towards a brighter future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress.
Wars were frequent throughout human history. When the flames of war devoured once-joyous homelands and left behind desolate wastelands, humanity became more acutely aware than ever that peace is like air and sunlight – we benefit from it without realizing it, but we cannot survive without it. President Xi, focusing on the future and well-being of all, proposed the Global Security Initiative, emphasizing that humanity is an inseparable community of shared security and advocating a new path of security based on dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum. In future global governance, China, as it increasingly approaches the center of the world stage, will make new and greater contributions to peace for humanity.
Let's melt the ice with dialogue, bridge the gap with understanding, replace confrontation with cooperation, resolve conflicts through negotiation, and make peace a shared treasure of mankind. Just as the stone carvings on the facade of the Ruins of St. Paul's in Macao, which blend Chinese and Western styles, imply, peaceful dialogue and integration among different civilizations will carve out a community with a shared future for mankind.
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)