Necessity and feasibility of building a community of shared future

Editor's note: Wang Yiwei, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is Vice President of Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Renmin University of China and a professor at the School of International Studies. His recent works include China's Answer to the Question on the Times: Building a Global Community of Shared Future and Embracing the World: The Global Significance of Chinese Modernization. The article reflects the author's opinions on the idea and not necessarily those of CGTN.

A "global community with a shared future," as the name suggests, means that the future of every nation and every country is intricately linked. We should stand together through thick and thin, sharing both glory and hardship and strive to turn our planet – where we are born and raised – into a harmonious global family, making people's aspirations for a better life a reality. Twelve years ago, when Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his first state visit as China's head of state, he introduced this vision to the world. Since then, the idea has evolved into a concrete framework for action, rallying the broadest consensus across countries. Today, it not only encapsulates a shared pursuit of common values but also lays the groundwork in the thinking paradigm for the reform of the United Nations as it approaches its eightieth anniversary.

The idea of a global community with a shared future is the cornerstone of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. It represents China's deepening understanding of the fundamental laws governing human social development. It offers a distinctly Chinese answer to the question: What kind of world should we build, and how should we make it? Since the beginning of the new era, this vision has evolved from a Chinese proposal into an international consensus, from an aspirational idea into real-world practice, and from a broad philosophical concept into a structured theoretical system. It has become a defining principle of our time, setting the course for global cooperation and governance. Building a global community with a shared future means striving for a peaceful, secure, prosperous, open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world. It calls for a new global governance model based on consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, upholding values that resonate across humanity. It promotes a new type of international relations, with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative serving as guiding pillars. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation is a practical platform for implementing this vision. It enables countries to work together to address global challenges and achieve shared prosperity. This vision ultimately leads the world toward a future of peace, security, prosperity and progress.

The feasibility of building a global community with a shared future: Foundations in thought and practice

Over the past 80 years, the United Nations has grown from its original 51 member states to 193, yet it, too, must adapt to the changing world. The recognition of universal values is a necessary step in this process. It's essential to transform the notion of a global community with a shared future from a passive acknowledgment of interdependence into an active project of collective construction. This provides a clear direction for international cooperation and global governance.

At the same time, the concept of a global community with a shared future resonates with the core ideas of many cultural traditions. Across civilizations, one can find early traces of this philosophy. Western Christianity speaks of "all for one, and one for all;" Hinduism envisions the unity of Brahman and the self; Buddhism emphasizes collective karma; Islam teaches that all humans are brothers; and Africa has the Ubuntu philosophy: "I am because we are." In different ways, these traditions reflect a fundamental truth that human existence is interconnected. 

However, historical notions of civilizational or religious "communities" have often been homogenous and exclusionary, defining belonging along fixed lines of faith or identity while drawing boundaries against outsiders. Moreover, these ideas essentially took shape in eras dominated by slavery, agrarian economies, or pastoral societies, making them ill-equipped to address the challenges of an industrialized, digital and globally networked world. 

The vision of a global community with a shared future is not simply an expansion of China's ancient concept of "Great Unity under Heaven;" rather, it represents a creative transformation and innovative evolution of diverse cultural traditions in an era of universal connectivity. It does not advocate for a single artistic or religious worldview. Still, it seeks to integrate the wisdom of civilizations across time and space, moving beyond the idea of a singular deity, a singular culture, or a singular ideology. This is a matter of layering different civilizations side by side and synthesizing their essence into a shared framework that upholds universal human values. By doing so, it elevates the principle of "harmony in diversity" from a cultural ideal to a guiding vision for the future of humanity.

The logic behind the practice of building a global community with a shared future

First, we must advance Chinese modernization from within to beyond to achieve national rejuvenation and build a global community with a shared future. Through Chinese modernization and international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, China extends its development experience to promote global modernization and build a global community with a shared future. The journey from creating a Chinese national community to building a global community with a shared future reflects a core value of Chinese civilization: "establishing oneself while helping others succeed."

Second, from near to far: Expanding from neighborly and bilateral to regional and global cooperation. For China, its immediate neighborhood is the foundation for security and prosperity. A stable and thriving periphery is essential for national development. Building a community with a shared future starts here and gradually extends outward to the world. At the bilateral level, China works with neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to establish shared-future partnerships tailored to regional realities. 

At the regional level, the vision has expanded across Asia, the Asia-Pacific, and key multilateral frameworks such as China-ASEAN, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, China-Africa, China-Arab, China-Latin America, China-Central Asia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At the global level, the idea continues to take shape in emerging areas of international governance, including cyberspace, nuclear security, and maritime cooperation. The concept of a global community with a shared future has been incorporated into key documents and resolutions of international organizations such as the United Nations and BRICS, consolidating global consensus and fostering deeper cooperation.

Third, from the soft to the tough: We should start with soft issues before addressing challenging issues like sovereignty and security. Building a global community with a shared future cannot be achieved overnight. It requires a step-by-step approach, beginning with soft issues – such as climate change and pandemic response – where international cooperation is easier to build. These shared challenges can help establish a community of shared interests and a community of shared responsibility, laying the groundwork for building a community of shared values. Only on this foundation can more contentious challenging issues, such as national sovereignty and security, be approached with mutual understanding. In this way, the historical concept of nation–states gradually gives way to a broader vision of a global community with a shared future.

Fourth, preserving tradition while innovating: building new frameworks while adapting existing ones, shaping new ways of thinking through new technology.

Building a global community with a shared future is not about tearing down existing systems but reshaping them through openness, inclusivity, and mutual respect. It does not seek to override national sovereignty or disregard each country's core interests; instead, it focuses on establishing cooperative frameworks in new areas rather than dismantling existing ones. 

Instead of challenging traditional security structures head-on, the effort starts in emerging domains – such as the community of shared future in cyberspace and maritime cooperation – and gradually expands into security. Likewise, rather than forcing ideological alignment, the focus is on fostering shared perspectives through cutting-edge technologies. Fields like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Everything present new ethical and governance challenges that demand collective solutions. By engaging in these frontier areas, countries cultivate a shared sense of destiny, strengthening confidence in and commitment to the broader vision of a global community with a shared future.

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