China's vision for a better world

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Chinese president Xi Jinping’s proposal of building a global community of shared future, and the Chinese government released a white paper entitled 'A global community of shared future: China’s proposals and actions' on 26 September to mark this important occasion.

Back in March 2013, when addressing the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Xi first mentioned this concept of a global community of shared future, which has been elaborated on since then on many occasions, and gradually formed a systematic theory which - based on the common values of humanity - advocates building an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

By raising this grand vision, Xi has demonstrated his deep thoughts about "what kind of world to build and how to build such a world", a question concerned by many countries and people in the changes of international situation unseen in a century.

The core idea of building a global community of shared future is that, with their destinies closely connected, all nations and countries should stick together, share weal and woe, live together in harmony and engage in mutually beneficial cooperation. And it is only wise for the humanity to choose unity, opening up and cooperation rather than division, closing off and confrontation in this era of promise and challenges.

This vision of a global community of shared future serves the common interests of humanity and has nothing to do with self-interest. Instead, it confronts the hegemonic thinking of certain countries that seek supremacy and denies the so-called iron law of “all strong countries will seek hegemony”, the obsession with superior strength and the zero-sum mentality.

To build a global community of shared future is to pursue openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit, equity and justice. The goal is not to replace one system or civilisation with another. On the contrary, it is about countries with different social systems, ideologies, histories, cultures and levels of development coming together to promote shared interests, rights and responsibilities in global affairs.

True multilateralism

China advocates a new type of international relations and economic globalisation, true multilateralism and common values of humanity.

Over the past decade, China has successively introduced its belt and road, global development, global security and global civilisation initiatives, so as to contribute to the building of a global community of shared future with concrete actions and provide solutions to the major issues concerning world peace and development.

The belt and road initiative is a vivid example of building a global community of shared future, and a global public good and cooperation platform provided by China to the world. By July, more than three-quarters of countries in the world and over 30 international organisations have signed agreements on belt and road cooperation with China.

The initiative has attracted nearly US$1 trillion in investment, formed more than 3 000 cooperation projects, created 420 000 jobs for countries along the route, and lifted nearly 40 million people out of poverty.

The fundamental aim of the global development initiative is to accelerate the implementation of the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and bolster stronger, greener and healthier development, while jointly building a global community of development.

China has adopted 32 major measures to implement this initiative, such as creating the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund totalling US$4 billion, launching the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund (Phase III), and strengthening support for the China-UN Peace and Development Fund.

Key avenues for cooperation

In February, China officially released 'The Global Security Initiative' concept paper. The document further elaborates the core concepts and principles of the initiative, elucidates its key avenues for cooperation, and presents recommendations and ideas concerning its cooperation platforms and mechanisms.

China is a pillar in maintaining world peace, committed to handling disputes with relevant countries over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests through negotiation and consultation.

Through the global civilisation initiative, China calls for respect for the diversity of civilisations, the common values of humanity and the importance of continuity and evolution of civilisations, and advocates closer international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation as well as enhanced inter-civilisation exchanges and dialogue to promote human progress with inclusiveness and mutual learning.

We are delighted to note that a broad consensus of solidarity and cooperation has developed in the international community for the implementation of the concept of a global community of shared future to address the challenges facing humanity.

The future of the world depends on the efforts of all the countries. By working together, we will surely usher in a better world for the generations to come.

**Zhao Weiping is the Chinese ambassador to Namibia.