BEIJING, Sept. 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In an era marked by
unprecedented global transformations, the world stands at a
critical crossroads, grappling with deepening deficits in peace,
development, security, and governance. As humanity faces
unparalleled challenges during this tumultuous period, Xi Jinping,
general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese
president, has put forth a solemn call to action through the Global
Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI),
and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).
The three pivotal initiatives address the pressing issues of our
time, offering viable pathways and robust support for the building
of a global community of shared future. Rooted in the rich
historical experiences of the CPC's century-long struggle and
infused with the wisdom of China's
traditional culture, these initiatives are expected to unite the
world in the pursuit of common progress and stability.
To offer a deep understanding of the GDI, the GSI, and the GCI,
and elaborate on their significance on a global scale, the Global
Times is launching series of articles featuring engaging stories
and in-depth interviews to provide our readers with a comprehensive
insight into the three initiatives.
From 'Convention of Peking'
to 'Beijing Declaration'
In April 2022, President Xi
proposed the GSI to promote universal security while delivering a
keynote speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the Boao
Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. The initiative is a global
public good offered by China, as
well as a vivid illustration of the vision of a community with a
shared future for mankind in the security field.
On July 23, 2024, 14 Palestinian
factions gathered in Beijing and
signed the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening
Palestinian National Unity after participating in reconciliation
talks mediated by China, a lively
demonstration of the GSI's function in practice, which many
international observers hailed China for having "made something impossible
possible," and regarded it as a milestone in the Middle East reconciliation process.
"Palestinian unity is key to the realization of Palestinian
statehood and China is committed
to facilitating it," read an article on news outlet Al Jazeera.
"The Palestinian question is at the core of the Middle East issue. Over the past years,
China has put forward proposals
and taken action to address the Palestinian question with Chinese
wisdom and solutions," stated the article.
China's Foreign Ministry
Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular media briefing on
July 24, that "China firmly supports the Palestinian people
in restoring their legitimate national rights, and supports the
people of Middle East countries in
holding their future in their own hands. China will continue to advance the GSI and
make more contribution to peace and stability in the Middle East."
On the day that the "Beijing Declaration" was signed, many
Chinese people hailed the important step in peace in the
Middle East and shared the
sentiment "Because we have been caught in the rain, we want to hold
an umbrella for others" on social media platforms.
They recalled the history that 164 years ago, the Qing
government was forced to sign the humiliating "Convention of
Peking" in 1860, which included ceding territories and paying
indemnities. That dark era saw China reduced to a semi-feudal and
semi-colonial society, when bullying by foreign powers and frequent
wars tore the country apart and plunged the Chinese people into an
abyss of great suffering. After a strenuous fight, the CPC has
closely united and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to
work hard for a century to put an end to China's national humiliation, guiding the
country to progress and prosperity.
The past suffering is not merely a reminder of a dark history;
it has also made the Chinese people more sympathetic to the
suffering of others and has deepened their understanding of the
value of peace.
Turkish Ambassador to China
İsmail Hakkı Musa hailed the significance of the GSI in an
exclusive interview with the Global Times. "The GSI has its own
rations. It focuses on sovereignty, equality, territorial
integrity, and [the] peaceful settlement of the disputes. You may
have noticed that too many people - too many analysts - defended
the idea that, for example, the role assumed by China between the approach of Saudi Arabia and Iran was a kind of application or practice of
this initiative," Musa said.
"We all know that this approach is a good thing. Lesser tension
in that region is an important contribution to the world peace," he
stressed.
In practice, China is not only
playing an unselfish, active role in the brokering of peace in the
Middle East while some other
countries ignore human lives for selfish interests, but has also
become an important force in maintaining world peace.
Since the restoration of its legitimate seat in the United
Nations, China has faithfully
fulfilled its international legal obligations as a permanent member
of the UN Security Council.
Currently, China is the
second-largest contributor to the UN's regular budget, the
second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and the
largest troop-contributing nation among the permanent members of
the Security Council. China
actively participates in negotiations and the formulation of rules
on global security issues in various fields, including
international arms control and preventing nuclear
proliferation.
It also collaborates with various parties in non-traditional
security areas such as counter-terrorism, biosecurity, and
food security. In the face of ongoing hotspot issues, China is committed to playing the role of a
responsible major power.
Right to development
In the heart of Africa, where
the sun shines brightly and the needs of the people are as vast as
the savannah, a new story of development is unfolding. It's a tale
of "small but beautiful" projects born from China-Africa
cooperation, ranging from crop cultivation and maize growth and
combating the region's hunger issue, to clean energy projects that
provide affordable new energy, and to the Luban Workshop, which
offers training to many in Africa.
The implementation of these "small and beautiful" projects
echoes the
GDI's call for sustainable and people-centric growth.
Three years ago, Xi proposed the GDI at the
general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN)
General Assembly, calling for the building of a consensus in
pursuing development, promoting shared growth, and helping
accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
China achieved the goal of
eradicating absolute poverty 10 years ahead of the United Nations'
2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, making significant
contributions to global poverty alleviation efforts.
Internationally, China is fully
committed to development, actively sharing its development
opportunities and experiences with other countries, especially with
those in the Global South.
Since the initiative was proposed, the content has been
consistently substantialized, with its implementation
mechanisms becoming more refined over time. This has led to the
gradual establishment of practical cooperation within its
framework, providing China's
approach to addressing the development gap in Global South
countries.
At the just concluded 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC), the China-Africa Joint Statement on Deepening
Cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development
Initiative was released.
"Since the launch of the GDI, China and Africa have joined forces and mutually
supported each other in exploring paths toward modernization,
further implementing the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035,
advancing the nine programs to a high standard, as well as
completing 175 'small and beautiful' livelihood cooperation
projects," read the statement.
More than 30 African members of the FOCAC have joined the Group
of Friends of the GDI and the Global Development Promotion Center
Network to put in place an efficient working mechanism and platform
for alignment in development policies, coordination of development
resources, and facilitation of joint actions.
Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, CEO of the
Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development in
Pakistan, told the Global Times
that he believes that the GDI, which advocates that development
"holds the master key" to solving problems and ensuring sustainable
peace, is what the world is desperately seeking now. He noted that
apart from Africa, other Global
South countries are benefiting from the GDI and China's development dividends.
"Without sharing the dividends of development, we cannot preach
ethics, and the dream of peace will remain a dream. Without
cooperation, concrete programs, and the allocation of financial
resources, we cannot achieve these goals. China is cognizant of this reality and has
launched numerous programs and provided financial support such as
$4 billion to the Global Development
and South-South Cooperation Fund," he said.
Musa noted to the Global Times that "China initiated the concept of the 'right to
development.' The GDI also offers action-based policies and
result-based projects."
According to China's Foreign
Ministry, over the last three years, the GDI has made remarkable
achievements. Over 100 countries and some international
organizations have given support to or taken part in the
initiative. More than 80 countries have joined the Group of Friends
of the GDI. China has set up a
Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, which has
financed over 150 programs. The Global Development Promotion Center
Network is bringing more members on board.
"The GDI was put forward by China, but its opportunities and benefits are
shared by the world. On the path toward development and prosperity,
no country or individual should be left behind. This is the vision
of the GDI, as well as the goal advocated by the UN," Mao Ning said at a regular media briefing on
September 20, 2024.
Respect for diverse civilizations
In March
2023, Xi proposed the GCI for the first time at the CPC
in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting,
advocating for the respect of the diversity of world civilizations,
the promotion of common values for all humanity, the emphasis on
the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and the
strengthening of international cultural exchange and
cooperation.
The initiative is another major public product offered to the
world by China after the
GDI and the GSI. It sends a sincere call to the
world to deepen the dialogue of civilization exchanges and promote
the progress of human civilization through inclusiveness and mutual
learning, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to promote a
higher level of international cooperation, experts said.
Shahbaz Khan,
director of the UNESCO Regional Office,
told the Global Times that the GCI
aligns with UNESCO's mission to foster respect for cultures
worldwide, particularly those that possess outstanding universal
value.
China now boasts 59 World
Heritage sites, including the Beijing Central Axis, a "remarkable
example" of urban heritage that showcases advancements from the
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)
to the present day, Khan said.
In recent years, China has
enhanced communication and coordination with UNESCO, working with
all parties to promote the implementation of the United Nations'
Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, strengthening
dialogue and exchange among civilizations, and increasing the
sharing of values, concepts, and experiences behind the policies of
various countries, jointly exploring solutions to global challenges
and issues.
Ramay noted that the GCI,
together with GDI and GSI, "negates the idea of
superiority and present the vision of equality and equity built on
respect for diversity and cultures. The vision categorically
highlighted the need for a fair and just system where everyone
(country or human) can pursue the dream of development and
peace."
"These initiatives promote the idea of resolving conflicts or
disputes through dialogue and development to strengthen peaceful
and cooperative co-existence. Thus, the world welcomed the
initiative, especially the Global South," he said.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202409/1320506.shtml
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-chinas-gdi-gsi-and-gci-foster-global-cooperation-address-urgent-challenges-302261752.html
SOURCE Global Times