Today, we are living in the same global village. The connections and interdependence between countries around the world are more frequent and closer than ever. No country can stay unaffected in the face of various pressing global challenges. Ten year ago, president Xi Jinping put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. This vision replaces conflicts and confrontation with peaceful development, absolute security with common security, and zero-sum game with mutual benefits and win-win results, prevents cultural clashes through cultural exchanges, and champions green development to protect the planet we call home. The vision responds to the common pursuit of people in countries around the world for peace, development and cooperation, and identifies the fundamental path to solve global issues.
Over the past decade, the vision has been translated from ideas into actions, and has provided effective safeguard for preserving world peace, injected vigorous impetus into promoting global development, and built strong synergy for addressing global challenges. It has been warmly echoed by the international community. Under the guidance of the vision, China has proposed and promoted the implementation of major initiatives including the Belt and Road cooperation, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. China stands ready to make joint efforts with the international community to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity, and create a better future for humanity.
Promoting high-quality cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Policy connectivity. Over 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations have joined BRI cooperation by signing relevant documents, covering more than 75 percent of countries and regions of the world.
Infrastructure connectivity. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway in Indonesia has added impetus to the local economy; the Piraeus Port in Greece has grown into a leading container port on the Mediterranean coast; the new terminal of Bole International Airport in Ethiopia is serving as a hub for African airlines; the Belo Monte ultra-high voltage transmission project in Brazil has become a “clean electricity expressway” across its vast territory.
Trade connectivity. World Bank statistics show that BRI is likely to generate US$1.6 trillion in revenues each year by 2030—roughly 1.3 percent of global GDP—90 percent of which will be shared by BRI partner countries. The estimation is 7.6 million people will be lifted from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty.
Financial connectivity. The silk Road Fund, the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank have made a big difference in development investment and financing. China and BRI partner countries have jointly operationalized more than 3,000 projects, and mobilized nearly US$1 trillion in investment.
People-to-people connectivity. The International Alliance of Museums of the Silk Road and the Network of Silk Road Arts Festivals boast a total of 562 members from China and around the world; Confucius Institutes and Luban Workshops have helped train young talents in BRI partner countries; small and beautiful programs, such as Juncao technology for mushroom farming, water boreholes building and hybrid rice growing, are delivering sustained gains for ordinary people.
Delivering on the three major initiatives
First, the Global Development Initiative (GDI). China is committed to creating opportunities for global development through its own development. It held the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development and major expos like the China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and continued to shorten the negative list for foreign investment. China is committed to win-win cooperation for common development. Over 130 livelihood programs have been carried out in nearly 60 countries to the benefit of 30 million people. China is committed to promoting an open world economy. It has become a major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions, and entered into free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions.
Second, the Global Security Initiative (GSI). China is a strong force for world peace. It is the second largest contributor to both the UN’s regular budget and its peacekeeping assessment, and the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. China is playing its role as a responsible major country in tackling hotspot issues. China has issued position papers on Ukraine and the Palestinian question, and the special representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian affairs and the special envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue traveled intensively to engage with various parties. China facilitated the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which helped to set off a wave of reconciliation in the region.
Third, the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). China held the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, the CPC and World Political Parties Summit, the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, Dialogue of Friendship Associations of Countries with Ancient Civilizations and so on; it continued to deepen cooperation with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); it hosted the Chengdu FISU World University Games and Hangzhou Asian Games; it celebrated the Year of Culture and Tourism with multiple countries, and established a great number of sister relations between cities or provinces.
Promoting international cooperation in all regions and fields.
China is working with African, Arab, Latin American and Caribbean, and Pacific Island countries to build communities with a shared future fast and steady. Solid progress has been made in building these communities with ASEAN, fellow Lancang-Mekong countries, members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Central Asian countries. China issued action plans and joint statements or reached agreement with a growing number of countries on building bilateral communities with a shared future.
To promote international cooperation in different domains, China proposed field-specific initiatives such as a global community of health for all, a community of shared future in cyberspace, a community of shared future on nuclear security, a maritime community with a shared future, a community of life for man and nature and a community of all life on Earth. These initiatives helped build a powerful synergy in a collective response to global challenges.
As an old Chinese adages goes, “With the rising tide and favorable wind, it is time to sail the ship and ride the waves.” More and more countries and people have come to realize that the future of humanity should be decided and created together by all countries. A community with a shared future for mankind spells hope for the world. It will generate even greater benefits when all countries work together toward this goal.
Li Yigang, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Willemstad
