Globalization: Common prosperity and win-win cooperation

Liu Chang

O n June 20， Lin Songtian， president of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， attended the eighth China and Globalization Forum AmbassadorsRoundtable and delivered opening remarks entitled “Globalization： Common Prosperity and Win-Win Cooperation”.

The UN resident coordinator in China； the permanent representative of the African Union to China； ambassadors to China from the European Union， Australia， Brazil， Croatia， Italy， France， Indonesia， Malaysia， New Zealand， Norway， Pakistan， Peru， South Africa， Portugal， Slovenia， Switzerland， Thailand and the United Arab Emirates； and leaders of international organizations — totaling 20 distinguished guests — attended and delivered speeches. The event was presided over by Wang Huiyao， founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization.

Lin noted that globalization helps optimize the allocation of industrial factors based on UN regulations， fair competition and market rules for mutual benefit. As it has turned out， mankind has become a close-knit com- munity with a shared future and shared interests and has achieved win-win cooperation for common development. Facts speak loudly that economic globalization stands as the irrevocable trend and holds the key to development and prosperity for all countries. It is not a favor furnished by one country to another， nor will it ever be reversed or changed.

“Economic globalization empowers world growth， but it does not naturally solve the problem of how to share the pie，” Lin said. “Some countries hold capital first. The interest groups in control of capital and technologies are free to monopolize distribution of benefits brought about by globalization， while the masses are deprived of their fair share.

“Social fragmentation， political polarization and nationalism are on the rise. Some politicians in those countries just wont let go of the Cold War mentality， such as zero-sum games. They politicize， weaponize and create camp politics in economic cooperation， undermining global industrial， supply and capital chains and threatening the lives， work and very existence of people. It is crystal clear in the eyes of every unbi- ased person that economic globalization is not to blame but rather the systematic failure of revenue distribution and overall governance in those countries.”

Lin noted that for more than four decades， China has pursued a policy of reform and opening-up and taken a people-centered approach for common prosperity at home while grasping opportunities brought along by globalization in the international arena. It remains committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind； promoting the Belt and Road Initiative， guided by the principles of extensive consultation， joint contribution and shared benefits； and working with other countries for win-win cooperation and common development.

Globalization， as proved by Chinas success， is the right way to economic development and peoples well-being. But the key to success is ensuring that all the achievements of development are shared by all. China has been participating in， benefiting from and contributing to economic globalization， and has blazed a trail of globalization with Chinese characteristics， striving for modernization and common prosperity at home， while promoting globalization for win-win cooperation for common development internationally. It is contributing Chinese solutions and wisdom to globalization in the 21th century.

“In spite of the backlash against economic globalization， the trend of history remains unstoppable，” Lin said.“Peace and development remain the underlying themes of our times. Peace， cooperation and development are the common aspiration of people from all over the globe. There exist differences in social systems， development modes， values and ideas. However， peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation for common development will be achieved so long as mutual respect， seeking common ground while shelving differences and equal and mutually beneficial partnerships are in place.

“China will， along with other countries， make globalization more open， inclusive， balanced and beneficial for all， so as to build a better world for a better life for all people around the world.”

The ambassadors spoke highly of Chinas important contribution to the world economy and globalization and shared their views on promoting the resumption of cross-border movement of people and post-pandemic economic recovery， practicing multilateralism and upholding the international order based on common rules.

Lin responded to the ambassadors concerns. On Chinas “dynamic COVID clearance” policy， Lin used detailed data to introduce the countrys important achievements in coordinat- ing epidemic prevention and control with international assistance and economic and social development.

He said China puts people and life first and respects science. It has effectively protected the lives， health and safety of over 1.4 billion Chinese people at minimal cost. Chinas experience shows that COVID-19 can be prevented， controlled and treated， Lin said， adding that global action is the key. China has not only contained the epidemic itself， but also provided vaccines and other assistance to more than 120 countries and international organizations. It has also served as the main engine for world economic recovery and development.

If China followed the US and Western “lie flat” policy， there would have been 4 to 5 million novel coronavirus deaths and hundreds of millions of infections， he said. It is not difficult to imagine what would happen in the worlds fight against COVID-19 and global economic recovery if China had adopted Western policies.

Lin suggested that the ambassadors adopt a different perspective by“standing in anothers shoes”. They should understand that China has a population of over 1.4 billion and that the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government are for the people. He also hoped that they would gain objective knowledge of Chinas epidemic prevention policies. Countries around the world can effectively control the epidemic at an early stage and make joint efforts to restore cross-border flows， exchanges and cooperation， he said.

About the international order based on common rules， Lin noted， China has established diplomatic relations with 181 countries and become the largest trading partner of more than 120 countries and regions. China is a staunch defender and practitioner of common rules. The common rules in the world are the international system with the UN at its core. The international order is based on international law. And the basic norms governing international relations are based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter， rather than the “domestic disciplines” of a certain country. China stands ready to work with other countries to practice true multilateralism and safeguard world peace and prosperity.

The eighth China and Globalization Forum Ambassadors Roundtable was co-hosted by the Center for China and Globalization and the China Society for International Economic Cooperation. It focused on the theme“Grasping the world transition and coping with global crisis： Strategies for China and globalization in an era of uncertainty”. Former political leaders， diplomatic envoys to China and representatives of international organizations from many countries， as well as domestic and foreign political， economic and academic elites were invited to the event. Participants had in-depth discussions on hot issues in the field of globalization and made suggestions to improve global governance. They reached broad consensus.