Editor's note: 2026 marks the 13th anniversary of the China-proposed idea of building a community with a shared future for humanity. CGTN invited Wang Yiwei, Jean Monnet chair professor and director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, to explore what a community with a shared future for humanity means and analyze the practical significance and urgency of the vision in the context of today's intertwined and turbulent international situation. Below is part two, in which Wang explores how to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Read part one here. This article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Does world history inevitably repeat cycles of conflict and confrontation? Can mankind break free from this cyclical pattern of world history to achieve lasting peace, common security, shared prosperity, inclusiveness, and a clean and beautiful world? The answer is yes.

The cyclical pattern of world history stems from fatalism, a product of monotheistic thinking: the belief in original sin, that human nature is inherently evil, and that power is inherently evil, which leads to the so-called tragedy of great power politics. However, the country rising today is China, not a Western power. China is not a monotheistic country. This is the most significant change in international politics since the Industrial Revolution. The strategic cultures of China and the United States are fundamentally different, let alone their social systems. The US-Soviet rivalry carried the impulse to claim the legacy of the Third Rome, whereas China-US relations are, in essence, a relationship with peaceful coexistence and mutual flourishing as the ultimate way forward. In the words of former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the future of China-US relations lies in "competitive coexistence."

Second, it is determined by China's position in the global division of labor. As the world's factory, China was expected to eventually become a developed economy and suffer the fate of industrial hollowing out. Instead, since overtaking the US as the world's largest manufacturing nation in 2010, China has consistently accounted for nearly 30% of global manufacturing output and stands as the only country with a full industrial chain. It has not been crushed by the US trade war or its technology war. The world's factory has remained in China, neither shifting to India nor returning to the US, ensuring that attempts to decouple and sever supply chains have failed. Two opposing systems have not taken shape. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has not ended with a high-tech blitzkrieg; instead, it has devolved into a war of attrition in terms of production capacity and manpower. The US and its allies supporting Ukraine are already stretched thin in ammunition supply and dare not go to war with China, which possesses enormous production capacity.

Third, it is the product of the scientific and technological revolution. The world is now entering the era of digital civilization, which operates on a logic that is different from that of industrial civilization. There is no clear division between primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. Instead, it is a community of integrated innovation, where we are intertwined – you are part of me, and I am part of you. The combination of artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons could lead to a scenario described by Einstein, "I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." In other words, the catastrophic potential of weapons to destroy all of humanity remains the stabilizing force that prevented direct hot war between the US and the Soviet Union. Today, it is even less likely that China and the US would become embroiled in a hot war that triggers a world war. Globalization and technological innovation still hold immense potential to ease conflicts between major powers. An era of intense competition does not necessarily lead to a world war. International relations and the broader social sciences must keep pace with human technological progress; we should not live in the 21st century while our minds remain in the 19th or 20th century. The so-called tragedy of great power politics and the Thucydides Trap are, to some extent, tragedies of the social sciences and traps of Western-centrism. In the face of profound transformations unseen in a century, neither clinging to outdated approaches nor succumbing to unfounded fears will solve the problem.

China, adhering to a policy of non-alignment, upholding a culture of harmony and coexistence, and possessing a full industrial chain, will help the international community break free from the cyclical pattern of world history.

The vision guiding this path is, of course, a community with a shared future for mankind. It transcends the binary mindset of replacing one system or civilization with another. It was hailed by Peter Thomson, former President of the 71st UN General Assembly, as "the only future for our planet."

A community with a shared future for mankind is both a reality and a goal, as well as a vision that requires the concerted and sustained efforts of the international community. From the perspective of productivity, the main pathway is the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to unleash the productive forces of Global South countries, improve global production relations, and enhance global governance. From the perspective of ideology and the shaping of a healthy global political environment, the Global Development Initiative focuses on the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and addresses gaps in economic development. The Global Security Initiative fills security gaps in development, and the Global Civilization Initiative improves the underlying logic of globalization – traditional cultures should nourish modernization, enabling nations to become themselves rather than someone else.

The vision of a community with a shared future for mankind embodies the essence of traditional cultures from around the world, reflects humanity's aspirations in the era of digital and ecological civilizations, and represents the broadest common ground among the world's outstanding cultural traditions. The concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind is the quintessence of China's diplomatic theory since the founding of the People's Republic.

Chinese sociologist Fei Xiaotong pointed out that, "In Western societies, people often form groups. Groups have clear boundaries – who is inside the group and who is outside cannot be ambiguous. Those inside the group form a collective, and their relationship to the group is uniform. If there are distinctions or hierarchies within the same group, they are predetermined."

A community with a shared future for mankind transcends the Western binary distinction of "us and others," embracing the broadest form of inclusion.

Establishing a scientific system for building a community with a shared future for mankind is a complex and far-reaching process that requires multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral cooperation and innovation. The following are key steps and considerations:

(1) Theoretical Foundation:

· Multidisciplinary Integration: Integrate theories from political science, economics, sociology, environmental science, international relations, and other disciplines to form an interdisciplinary theoretical framework.

· Value Consensus: Emphasize the common values of humanity – peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom – as the value foundation for building the scientific system.

(2) Practical Pathways:

· International Cooperation: Strengthen international dialogue and cooperation, advancing the reform and improvement of the global governance system through multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the G20.

· Development for Shared Benefits: Promote the Belt and Road Initiative, facilitate infrastructure connectivity, and achieve shared development.

· Addressing Global Challenges: Jointly tackle global issues such as climate change, pandemics, and terrorism, strengthen the global public health system, and promote green and low-carbon development.

(3) Institutional Building:

· Rule-Making: Participate in and drive the formulation of international rules to ensure they are more just, reasonable, and reflective of the interests and aspirations of the majority of countries.

· Mechanism Innovation: Establish new mechanisms for international cooperation, such as the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, to meet the needs of the new era.

(4) Cultural Mutual Learning:

· Civilization Dialogue: Promote dialogue and exchanges among different civilizations, enhance mutual understanding and respect, and foster an inclusive and harmonious international cultural environment.

· Educational Exchange: Strengthen international educational cooperation, cultivate talent with a global perspective, and provide intellectual support for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

(5) Scientific and Technological Support:

· Innovation-Driven Development: Leverage scientific and technological innovation to advance sustainable development, particularly in areas such as clean energy, digital technology, and biotechnology.

· Data Sharing: Establish global data-sharing platforms to facilitate the flow of information and the sharing of knowledge, supporting science-based decision-making.

(6) Public Engagement:

· People-to-People Exchange: Encourage the participation of non-governmental organizations, businesses, academia, and the public, fostering a landscape of engagement by diverse actors.

· Awareness Enhancement: Raise public awareness and recognition of the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind through media and education.

Building a scientific system for a community with a shared future for mankind is a long-term process that requires the joint efforts of governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society across the globe. Through the steps outlined above, a more just, equitable, and sustainable global governance system can gradually take shape, laying a solid foundation for the shared future for all.