International

Xi’s vision gives boost to global governance

Multilateralism more crucial than ever with world at a crossroads, experts say

With a global vision, President Xi Jinping has strategically steered the course of the giant ship of the nation in actively participating in and guiding the reform of global governance, to make the system fairer and more equitable amid the speedy evolution of the international landscape.

Over the past decade, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has proposed a number of initiatives on global governance as part of Chinese solutions to the mounting problems confronting humanity.

Analyzing the drastic changes of the international situation in a keynote speech at the BRICS Business Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, four years ago, Xi said that the next decade will see a profound reshaping of the global governance system.

“The international community has reached a new crossroads, and we are facing a choice between cooperation and confrontation, between opening-up and a closed-door policy, and between mutual benefit and a beggar-thy-neighbor approach,” Xi said.

A freight train from the China-Europe Railway Express arrives at a land port in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Thus, the evolution of the global governance system will have a profound impact on the development of all countries, particularly emerging markets and developing countries, and indeed on the prosperity and stability of the whole world, Xi said.

Guo Shuyong, head of Shanghai International Studies University’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs, said that the reform of the global governance system is at a historical juncture, as the world faces profound changes unseen in a century and is in a crucial period of new transformations.

Led by Xi, China has been actively involved in global governance reforms with an emphasis on upholding the international system with the United Nations at the core, demonstrating China’s assumption of responsibility as a major country, and contributing to the nation’s reform and development as well as world peace and development, Guo said.

When delivering a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021, Xi said that global governance should reflect the world’s evolving political and economic landscape, conform to the historical trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and meet practical needs in addressing global challenges.

All countries should follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, uphold true multilateralism and make the global governance system fairer and more equitable, Xi said.

Former Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme said that Xi has time and again underlined the urgency and importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation in coping with global crises and challenges.

China is playing an increasingly important and indispensable role in boosting global cooperation, especially in the context of rising protectionism and unilateralism, Leterme wrote in an article published by the People’s Daily.

He emphasized the need to readjust the international cooperation framework, saying that countries around the world should jointly work for a fairer, more equitable, more inclusive and more efficient global governance system.

A community with a shared future for mankind that President Xi has been advocating for will help advance the building of such a new global governance system, he added.

Benefits delivered

Since Xi proposed in 2013 the Belt and Road Initiative, an international public good to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the platform for win-win cooperation for countries involved in the initiative has delivered substantial benefits to them. These include infrastructural connectivity, facilitated trade and investment, policy coordination, financing support and stronger people-to-people bonds.

By the end of March, 149 countries and 32 international organizations had signed cooperation documents with China on jointly building the Belt and Road. As of June, the volume of trade in goods between China and countries involved in the BRI amounted to around $12 trillion, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

As the global development process hit major roadblocks, Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative last year, calling for forging a united, equal, balanced and inclusive global development partnership. The initiative has won support from many countries.

After the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, Xi put forward the Global Security Initiative in April, calling on all countries to stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. He urged the international community to reject zero-sum games and jointly oppose hegemony and power politics, and called for building a new type of international relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation.

Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, said that the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative are crucial to building a more equitable global governance system toward a community with a shared future for mankind.

“The two initiatives are also the key to reinforced multilateralism, international cooperation and solidarity in order to address global challenges and concerns. Both initiatives are public goods that China provides to the rest of the world in addition to the BRI,” Matthews told Xinhua News Agency.

China has always played a leading role in safeguarding global peace and security, he said, and the Global Development Initiative will foster a new type of security to replace the confrontation, alliance and zero-sum approach with dialogue, partnership and win-win results.

International

CHINA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

China marks National Day with light shows, #fireworks, drone displays #PRC75Years

Fireworks illuminate the sky in Macao, south China on Oct. 1, 2024. Various events and activities were held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

*Tourists visit the Senado Square in Macao, south China*

International

Wang Yi calls on Global South to jointly advance peace and development

Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday called on the Global South to work actively and contribute to building a world of lasting peace and universal security.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a dialogue session between high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors from BRICS and Global South countries in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Noting the international security situation is becoming increasingly complex with fierce geopolitical competition and emerging hotspot issues, Wang said the aspiration of people of all countries for peace and security has become stronger and the call for unity and cooperation has become more urgent.

Global peace and development cannot be achieved without the support and participation of all progressive forces, Wang added.

Gaining momentum in the new century, Wang said, the Global South should stand ahead and make positive contributions to building a world of lasting peace and universal security in the face of a turbulent and interwoven world.

Wang called on the Global South countries to adhere to dialogue and cooperation and share the development opportunities and fruits to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, realize common prosperity and gain a greater voice in the international arena.

Wang said, being an ex-officio member of the Global South, China has always stood firm with southern countries to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and promote world peace and development.

BRICS countries and the Global South share a natural emotional bond and extensive common interests, Wang noted, and China supports BRICS in pursuing development with an open door and promoting cooperation with open arms.

China welcomes more like-minded Global South countries to join the BRICS family and work together as a force for stability and peace, a backbone for open development, a force for global governance and a force for mutual learning among civilizations, so as to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang added.

Caption: Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attends a dialogue session between high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors from BRICS and Global South countries in St. Petersburg, Russia, September 11, 2024.

International

The Authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 Cannot Be Challenged

Article by H. E. YanXiusheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados

The 79th United Nations General Assembly opened on September 10 in New York. At present, there are still a handful forces that have been deliberately distorting and challenging UNGA Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971, trumpeting the notion that Taiwan’s status is undetermined, and advocating support for Taiwan’s participation in UN meetings and activities, in an attempt to challenge the international community’s consensus on the one-China principle. I believe that such actions, which go against the tide of history, will undoubtedly end in failure.

On October 25, 1971, the 26th UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, deciding to “restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it”. The Resolution resolved once and for all politically, legally and procedurally the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the United Nations. The resolution also made clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN and precluded the possibility of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

UNGA Resolution 2758 is based on historical facts and has a legal basis. Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times. Before the adoption of Resolution 2758, it was already a historical fact and an international consensus that Taiwan is part of China. This was a significant political precondition for the UN General Assembly to adopt Resolution 2758. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation clearly stipulated that Taiwan, a Chinese territory stolen by Japan, shall be restored to China. These documents with international legal effect formed an integral part of the post-WWII international order and also established the legal foundation of Taiwan’s status as China’s inalienable territory.

The one-China principle adopted by UNGA Resolution 2758 is a widely accepted international consensus. For over half a century since the resolution’s adoption, the UN system has always observed Resolution 2758 and upheld the one-China principle in dealing with Taiwan-related issues. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly reaffirmed that the UN’s position is very clear, which is to observe the Resolution and uphold the one-China principle, and that all UN actions are based on this. To date, 183 countries, representing over 93% of UN member states, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. These facts fully demonstrate that the one-China principle reflects the will of the people and represents the trend of the times and the course of history.

Barbados is one of the earliest countries in the eastern Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with China, and is also a good friend and partner of China in the region. Over the past 47 years, the bilateral relations have steadily advanced based on the one-China principle, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. China highly appreciates Barbados’ firm adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to work with Barbados to continue implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of our two countries, deepen political mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in various fields, continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning our core interests and major concerns, constantly expand and enrich the friendly relations between our two countries, and build a closer China-Barbados community with a shared future.