Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Yin Chengwu, Writes
Monrovia, Liberia – Not long ago, the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing, which is the most authoritative of its kind in China. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, attended the conference and delivered an important address. In his address, President Xi presented a systematic review of the historic achievements and valuable experience of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, gave a profound exposition on the evolving trend of the international environment, and made comprehensive plans for China’s external work for the present and coming periods.
The conference clarified the main lines and noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, namely building a community with a shared future for mankind. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the core tenet of the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and a Chinese program to promote the improvement of the global governance system. The Chinese nation has long established a unique view of the world. Building a community with a shared future for mankind has the genes of excellent traditional Chinese culture and is in line with the Chinese people’s traditional concepts of being gentle with others, harmonizing all nations, and bringing the world into harmony.
Since the dawn of the new era, building a community with a shared future for mankind has responded to the universal aspirations of people from all countries, developed from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, from a promising vision to substantive actions, and from a conceptual proposition to a scientific system. It has served as a glorious banner, leading the progress of the times. Within the framework of building a community with a shared future for mankind, President Xi has also put forth the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, further responding to the universal aspirations of people of all countries for peace, development, and cooperation and providing Chinese solutions to the common problems faced by mankind.
At present, China has built various forms of communities with a shared future with dozens of countries and regions. During the fight against the Ebola epidemic and COVID-19, China and Liberia stood by each other and shared weal and woe, reflecting a brotherly friendship that was a true reflection of joining hands to build a community of common health for mankind.Building a community with a shared future for mankind is a theoretical system that is rich in connotation, systematic, and highly practical.
Since President Xi proposed it in 2013, the idea of creating a community with a shared future for humanity has undergone a gradual, step-by-step development process and is now a rigorous theoretical system. In summary, in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the goal is to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security, and shared prosperity. The pathway is promoting global governance that features extensive consultation and joint contributions for shared benefit; the guiding principle is to apply the common values of humanity; the basic underpinning lies in building a new type of international relations; the strategic guidance comes from the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative; and the platform for action is high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
On this basis, we seek to bring countries together to meet challenges, achieve prosperity for all, and usher in a bright future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress for our world.Building a community with a shared future for mankind, the voice of the “global south,” including those of China and Liberia, needs to be heard. At a time when the world’s unprecedented changes are accelerating, the voice of the “global south” is growing in strength, with a growing sense of solidarity and collaboration, which has a profound impact on world history. A few days ago, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai mentioned in his inaugural speech that ‘we also will foster South-South cooperation to address mutual developmental issues in the global South’, which coincides with China’s proposition.
The international community should listen more to the voices of the “global south,” especially the legitimate aspirations of African countries, and work together to find the right solutions to the backward currents of globalization, the recurrence of geopolitical conflicts, and the sluggish recovery of the world economy. As a developing country, China has always been a member of the “global south,” shared the same destiny with a vast number of developing countries, including Liberia, and firmly safeguarded the common interests of developing countries. To this end, China calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
An equal and orderly multipolar world is one in which all countries, regardless of size, are treated as equals, hegemonism and power politics are rejected, and democracy is truly promoted in international relations. A universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization is one that meets the common needs of all countries, especially the developing countries, and properly addresses the development imbalances between and within countries resulting from the global allocation of resources.The year 2024 is an important year in the history of China-Liberia relations.
Mr. Bateer, special envoy of President Xi and Vice Chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has just been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Boakai and met with him. The two sides jointly expressed their desire to enhance bilateral relations and deepen cooperation between the two countries, which will certainly vigorously promote the development of relations between the two countries. Despite being thousands of miles apart, China and Liberia have a lot in common, including similar positions and ideas as well as a wide range of shared interests.
As common members of developing countries, China and Liberia should continue to support each other, unite and collaborate, and continuously promote new achievements in China-Liberia cooperation, so as to write a new magnificent chapter for building a community with a shared future for mankind!
