China
14:53, 20-Sep-2017
China Footprint: Confronting challenges affecting all mankind
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People across the whole world are feeling the impact of climate change, extreme weather events, terrorism, rising numbers of refugees, and renewed protectionism.
How can these serious challenges be confronted?
The world we are living in today is becoming increasingly unpredictable, but China has recognized the severity of these problems. President Xi Jinping, in his keynote speech in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, stressed the need to consider wider global interests.
He said that we should advance democracy in international relations and reject dominance by just one or several countries. All countries should jointly shape the future of the world, write international rules, manage global affairs, and ensure that development outcomes are shared by all.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 2017. /Xinhua Photo
The vision for a community of common destiny was first outlined when President Xi attended the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations in 2015, with five priorities: partnership, security, growth, inter-civilizational exchanges, and ecosystem.
It represented an effort to search for an answer to the question: Where is mankind ultimately heading?
In March, the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council adopted resolutions that called for efforts to create a community of common destiny for mankind.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Studies under Renmin University of China, said that the vision of the community focuses on all humankind, not just one single country. People used to emphasize mutual benefits, but now the vision has been bestowed with a shared future.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Studies under Renmin University of China. /CGTN Screenshot
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Studies under Renmin University of China. /CGTN Screenshot
Director Wang observes that China is turning the vision into practice through the Belt and Road Initiative. The approach is to work with all countries to address the issue of uneven development and stimulate new prosperity along the Belt and Road regions and beyond.
The world now needs something that highlights universal concerns and cooperation, he added, and the community of common destiny and the Belt and Road Initiative are a solution.
Wang added that the United Nations and the EU are successful examples of communities, but in different areas, such as politics, economy or security. However, the vision of community of common destiny is the one that covers all aspects. It is the biggest common divisor for all, serving as a new path for human development.
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