In search of a path toward a better world

[Photo by Ma Xuejing/China Daily]

By Wu Hongbo

The challenges facing the North and the South, the East and the West, can be boiled down to two major issues — peace and development.

Without peace, there will be no sustainable development; without development, peace will not last. As peace and development are inseparable, they should be handled together.

In terms of peace, conflicts have been increasing in number over the last decade. Ukraine and Gaza are still bleeding. A huge number of infrastructure and facilities have been destroyed. People are suffering. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world is not sleepwalking into a wider war; it is doing so with eyes open.

This brings me to the issue of Ukraine, the top topic for Europe. Since the very beginning, China has made its stance clear on the issue of Ukraine. First, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected. Second, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed. Third, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken into account. Fourth, all efforts conducive to peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported.

China is not adding fuel to the fire. Nor does China encourage either side to fight with more firepower. China has normal trade relations with both Russia and Ukraine. China is still Ukraine's largest trading partner. The two countries have stayed in touch with each other. In early June, China and Ukraine held consultations at the vice-foreign minister level. Recently, China and Brazil reached a six-point common understanding on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, which has gained positive response from more than 100 countries. China is not sitting there with folded arms, but striving for a peaceful solution in its own way. To call China Russia's supporter is a sheer fabrication. China will continue to work for the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

In terms of development, only 15 percent of the 169 targeted sustainable development goals are on track. CNN reported that 5 billion out of 8 billion people globally have become poorer since 2020, while, during the same period, the wealth of the richest five people in the world has more than doubled. Forbes told us that at the current pace, it would take 230 more years to eliminate global poverty.

What is the root cause of all the troubles? A senior diplomat gave us a perfect answer at this year's Munich Security Conference. He said, in the international system, if you are not at the table, you are on the menu. That is the rule of the animal world. It is the Law of the Jungle.

Talking about security, if one country or a group of countries try to seek "absolute security" for themselves, they are putting other countries in "absolute insecurity".This would lead to the lurking danger of future conflicts.

What we are facing together is not a single challenge, but a whole set of challenges. What we need is an international order that works for all. We will build a world order that serves everybody without reinventing the wheel.

Seventy years ago, when over 80 colonies were trying to achieve independence, the prevailing catchphrase was "might is right".Exactly 70 years ago, the Chinese government put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, namely mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The Principles have been enshrined in the Chinese Constitution. China has been following the guiding principles for the past 70 years and is celebrating the 70th anniversary. China is a stabilizing factor in world affairs. To suggest the rise of China is a threat to world peace is absolutely unfounded.

China has been trying to find the common values acceptable to all countries, and has so far identified five features for the future world: First, lasting peace. I believe nobody has objections. Second, universal security. If any country is feeling unsafe, it could be a problem. Third, common prosperity. Many troubles are attributable to the widening gap between the rich and the poor. The best solution is common prosperity. Fourth, openness and inclusiveness. It is dangerous to divide the world into different blocs, and separate production and supply chains by building different silos. Fifth, a clean and beautiful environment. That is what China is trying to deliver with its efforts to address the climate change challenges.

A world with the above five features is summarized precisely by President Xi Jinping as a community with a shared future for mankind.

In September, the UN will convene the Summit of the Future, the biggest UN event of the year. China stands ready to work with other UN member states to contribute to a better future of the world.

The author is special representative of the Chinese Government for European Affairs.