China has been buffeted in the recent past because of their controversial role in the South China Sea and the question of territorial waters. There has also been a lot of pressure on their economic gains due to the after-effects of the 2008 international financial recessionary crisis. Nevertheless, the past few weeks have seen them gain international recognition over the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visionary role wherein he has been espousing the concept of the world working together to forge a new partnership to create a shared future for mankind.China moves ahead on the path of a shared future
China is now especially emphasising that peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom are common values of all mankind and these are consistent with the lofty goals of the United Nations. Consequently, it is being stressed that we must forsake unilateral action and understand that all countries are interdependent and share a common future
Muhammad Zamir
China has been buffeted in the recent past because of their controversial role in the South China Sea and the question of territorial waters. There has also been a lot of pressure on their economic gains due to the after-effects of the 2008 international financial recessionary crisis. Nevertheless, the past few weeks have seen them gain international recognition over the Chinese President Xi Jinpings visionary role wherein he has been espousing the concept of the world working together to forge a new partnership to create a shared future for mankind.
In several interventions at the United Nations during the 70th UN General Assembly Session and also in important meetings held in the sidelines, he reiterated that this international organization carried mankinds hope for a new future and an era of cooperation. He also correctly underlined that the Charter of the United Nations was the cornerstone of the contemporary international order, and the focal point of the fundamental principles of contemporary international relations.
This approach of the Chinese President has been the theme of most interventions by Chinese leaders in their international meetings with the leadership of other developed countries in recent days. This has particular bearing given the gradual dynamics toward a multi-polar world and the rise of emerging markets and developing countries. There is also recognition that economic globalization and the advent of an information age have unleashed social productive forces that have created unprecedented development opportunities.
In this context China is now especially emphasizing that peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom are common values of all mankind and these are consistent with the lofty goals of the United Nations. Consequently, it is being stressed that we must forsake unilateral action and understand that all countries are interdependent and share a common future.
Consequently, it is vital that countries treat each other as equals and engage in mutual consultation and demonstrate mutual understanding. One presumes that such a thought is consistent with the idea that the principle of sovereignty means that territorial integrity of all countries are inviolable and that their internal affairs are not subjected to interference. This also suggests that all countries have the right to independently choose social systems and development paths aimed at promoting economic and social development and improving the lives of their people.
China, in all international fora has also been drawing attention to the need to resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation. This, they believe, will help to forge a global partnership at both international and regional levels, and encourage a new approach to state-to-state relations, one that features dialogue rather than confrontation, and seeks partnership rather than alliance.
In an obvious hint for the Western powers, China has also been underscoring that in this age of economic globalization, the security of all countries is not only interlinked but also that no country can achieve stability out of other countries instability. Analysts have interpreted this as Chinas belief that there is need to foster a new vision of comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Xi Jinping made it clear in the UNGA that China believes that we should advance international cooperation in both economic and social fields and take a holistic approach to addressing traditional and non-traditional security threats. This, he believes will prevent unnecessary conflicts. He has also advised in his meetings with the financial community that the growing gap between rich and poor is unfair and that all concerned should try to develop a synergy between market forces and government function. This will then help achieve both efficiency and fairness.
We all know that development is meaningful only when it is inclusive and sustainable. This is an important factor that is quite often referred to but sometimes conveniently overlooked. This requires mutual assistance and cooperation and that is not always forthcoming. This is a significant equation that directly affects the future prospects of the close to 800 million people who still live in extreme poverty and whose well-being, freedom from want, access to development and dignity is being addressed through the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Like Bangladesh, China believes that this Agenda, to be implemented, will require inclusiveness and respect for differences.
China is now stressing another welcome factor ahead of the Climate Change Summit to be convened over November-December in Paris this year. They are pointing out like Bangladesh that we must attach more importance to renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and that we should reconcile industrial development with nature and that all countries need to work together to build a sound global green, low-carbon eco-environment. It has also been encouraging to see that the Chinese leadership is now asking other industrial nations to honor their emission reduction commitments and help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. This last factor is crucial because some of the least developed countries and island states might be unable to strategically move forwards towards adaptation and safeguarding their interests without financial assistance.
Continuing unbalanced developments has been the subject of international attention and has also come within the focus of the Chinese authorities. This has attracted specific attention given the latest process of exodus of poverty-stricken refugees from the conflict-ridden Levant to Europe. They have given an interesting interpretation as to how this issue needs to be addressed. According to them, this challenge alongwith other economic obstacles can only be resolved through development.
That will address the root cause of conflicts; safeguard the fundamental rights of the people and their hopes for a better future. It is also heartening to note that Xi Jinping asserted in the United Nations that while striving to eliminate poverty and improve peoples livelihood, it is important for us to uphold equity and social justice and ensure that everyone has access to opportunities and benefits of development. Efforts must be made to realize a coordinated development of the economy, society and environment and achieve harmonious coexistence between man and society and between man and nature.
The international community also has a duty to help developing countries with capacity building and provide them with support and assistance tailored to their actual needs. This, as has also been re-affirmed by Bangladesh in more than one multilateral meeting will require countries working together to maintain international peace, promoting development with peace and securing peace through development. A sound external institutional environment will also be required to sustain development and this can be taken forward by international financial institutions reforming their governance paradigm and multilateral development agencies increasing their supply of development resources.
China in this regard is drawing world attention to the newly established Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank of BRICS and promising that these institutions will help to generate economic, social and environmental advances and will also instill vigor to South-South cooperation. To help this process move forward China has also indicated that it will continue to increase investment in the Least Developed Countries, aiming to increase its total to US$12 billion by 2030 and also take steps to exempt the debt of the outstanding intergovernmental interest-free loans due by the end of 2015 owed by the relevant Least Developed Countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing countries. This will indeed be a good shot in the arm.
On September 26 in New York, President Xi Jinping attended and chaired the High-level Roundtable on South-South Cooperation co-hosted by China and the United Nations. This was convened to share experience and also discuss its development plan on South-South cooperation with leaders of developing and developed countries. It was attended by leaders of a large number of developing countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia, and also some leaders from the developed world of Europe.
There were also representatives from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and several UN Agencies. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh was also present. Persuaded by the Chinese initiative, the attending countries agreed that developing countries need to follow the development paths of their own choice which might possess its unique characteristics. Nevertheless, they need to share their successful experience in governance and administration of state affairs. This will then enable them to better focus on capacity-building, exploring growth potentials and solve development difficulties.
The last but not the least significant aspect of Chinas initiatives has been to focus on gender equality and empowerment. It was important that this issue was addressed. By doing so, China shared the belief of Bangladesh that disparities still remain in the level of womens development, and inequality continues to exist between men and women in rights, opportunities and access to resources. It was emphasized in this regard that development strategies should take into account not only national realities, gender differences and the special needs of women but also aim to ensure womens equal share in the fruits of development. One can only agree with such a course of action.
We must not forget in this regard that to achieve desired results, policy measures should also be updated to stimulate womens potential and increase their participation in the process of social and economic development. Education should also be made more affordable for them and that steps should also be taken to develop their vocational training to help them better adapt to changes in society and the job market.
These ideas have attracted special attention of the world towards the moves being made by China- the largest developing nation and the second largest economy in the world. This has also resulted in careful monitoring of what China is attempting to include in its new 13th Five-year national socio-economic development Plan, which will be the blueprint for this country for the next five years (2016-2020). Apparently, it will be guided by the premise of maintaining medium-high growth, highlighting the ideas of innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing with others to fulfill its goals.
The writer, a former Ambassador, is an analyst specialized in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance.
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