As the Chinese mainland convenes its annual Two Sessions, global attention is once again drawn to President Xi Jinping's ambitious vision for fostering a community of shared future and advancing win-win cooperation. Central to this vision are China's key global initiatives: the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). These initiatives highlight China's commitment to multilateralism and shaping a multipolar world order.
In the latest episode of CGTN's \"China Agenda 2024: Global Insights\" series, international experts discuss how these initiatives resonate on the global stage. John Mearsheimer, a distinguished service professor at the University of Chicago, emphasizes that many countries, especially in the Global South, view China's efforts as opportunities for assistance and cooperation. \"China is interested in winning friends and influencing people around the world. And from China's point of view, this is wonderful,\" he notes.
Kerry Brown, Director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London, echoes this sentiment, highlighting that China's unique and specific approach has proven more palatable and powerful in various regions. \"There are places where China's message is more palatable and powerful and countries do listen,\" Brown states.
However, not all perspectives are aligned. The United States perceives China's growing influence as a challenge, aiming to counterbalance it globally. Gladden Pappin, president of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, acknowledges this tension but advocates for overcoming zero-sum mentalities. \"China has a different view of this that there can be shared development. We have to push back against this idea that there's a zero-sum mentality in the world,\" he asserts.
Erik Solheim, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, envisions the 21st century as the Asian century, emphasizing the importance of improved relations between China and the U.S. for solving global issues collaboratively. \"If the main powers of the world work together, it would be so much stronger to solve the key issues of the day,\" Solheim explains.
As China actively engages in multilateralism and influences the global landscape, experts like Brown call for an open-minded approach to understanding China's modern complexities. \"Most of what's written in the media about China, contemporary China is not that satisfying. It's broadly either about the economy or about China being a threat. I don't think that captures the complexity of what modern China is all about,\" Brown advises.
Amidst economic competition and geopolitical tensions, a nuanced understanding of China's global initiatives is essential. China's commitment to multilateralism and cooperation in a multipolar world underscores the need for constructive engagement and dialogue among major powers, paving the way for a more inclusive and collaborative international order.
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China's key initiatives promote multilateralism in a multi-polar world
cgtn.com
