China as a stabilizing force in a changing world

Editor's note: Jessica Durdu, a special commentator for CGTN, is a foreign affairs specialist and PhD candidate in international relations at China Foreign Affairs University. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

When Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the international press on Sunday, his remarks were not simply a summary of China's diplomatic activities. They were a structured articulation of how Beijing interprets the evolving international order and defines the responsibilities of a major power within it.

A close reading of his statements reveals a strategic narrative that blends China's cultural traditions, its contemporary development trajectory and broader theoretical debates within international relations.

One of the most striking elements of Wang's remarks was his emphasis on China's role as a stabilizing force in regional and global politics. By highlighting the principles of "amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness" in China's neighborhood diplomacy in the new era, Wang framed China's regional engagement as a deliberate alternative to traditional great-power competition.

China's security approach rests on cooperative engagement and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring states, rather than pursuing spheres of influence or bloc confrontation.

The Asia-Pacific region illustrates this. Asia has remained one of the most dynamic centers of global growth, contributing more than 60% of global economic expansion in the past year. Wang Yi attributed this stability to China's consistent diplomatic orientation toward good-neighborliness and open regionalism.

His rhetorical question, whether Asia would remain stable if China pursued the same competitive strategies once used by traditional great powers, underscores the broader message: Stability in the region is not accidental but the result of deliberate diplomatic choices. Through dialogue mechanisms, economic integration and pragmatic cooperation, Beijing portrays itself as a central pillar of regional equilibrium.

This framing also reflects elements of constructivist thinking in international relations. Rather than viewing security purely through military balance, China emphasizes the role of shared norms, mutual perceptionsand institutional dialogue in reducing conflict.

Another central theme in Wang's remarks was the relationship between development and peace. In his analysis, global instability is often rooted in economic disparities and uneven development rather than purely geopolitical rivalry.

China's response to this challenge is the promotion of inclusive economic globalization. Wang emphasized that globalization must expand not only overall prosperity but also distribute its benefits more fairly among nations. The objective, in his words, is not merely to "make the pie bigger," but to ensure that no country is left behind in sharing its benefits.

This argument reflects a broader shift in global political economy, particularly the growing influence of the Global South. As Wang said, developing countries now account for over 40% of the global economy, transforming the structure of the international system. China's partnerships with these countries, especially in Africa, are examples of development cooperation based on mutual benefit rather than dependency.

Referencing historical cooperation projects such as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and new initiatives like zero-tariff access for African imports, Wang framed these relations as a partnership rooted in shared development goals.

He also gave significant emphasis to the transformation of global governance. Central to this vision is the concept of an equal and orderly multipolar world.

Equality refers to the sovereign rights of all states, regardless of size or power, while order refers to adherence to internationally recognized rules, particularly those enshrined in the United Nations Charter. This dual concept seeks to reconcile the realities of emerging multipolarity with the need for institutional stability.

China's support for multilateral platforms, such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, reflects this governance philosophy. These mechanisms expand the participation of developing countries in shaping international rules and norms.

Wang called multilateralism particularly important for the Global South, which requires an open and cooperative international environment to pursue modernization. By strengthening coordination among developing countries, these platforms can provide greater representation and balance within the global governance system.

China's diplomatic stance on international conflicts, such as its advocacy of the two-state solution for Palestine and its emphasis on dialogue in the Middle East, illustrates how Beijing seeks to apply its principles in practice. Respect for sovereignty, rejection of force and political negotiation are the core norms guiding conflict resolution.

Perhaps the most ambitious dimension of Wang's remarks was the broader philosophical framework underpinning China's foreign policy: the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Wang described this idea as both a moral vision and a practical strategy for navigating an increasingly interconnected world. By identifying common threats – war, poverty, hunger and injustice – as the primary challenges facing humanity, rather than rival states, this concept reframes international competition within a cooperative paradigm.

The vision also reflects China's self-perception as a major power pursuing peaceful development. According to Wang, China's rise will not follow the past historical pattern in which emerging powers sought territorial expansion or hegemonic dominance. Instead, China aims to demonstrate that national rejuvenation can coexist with international cooperation.

From a theoretical standpoint, this concept gives a normative dimension to global governance debates. It suggests that sustainable international order requires not only power balancing or institutional cooperation but also shared values and collective responsibility.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X, formerly Twitter, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)