Dr. Marsela MUSABELLIU
For decades, the democratization of global politics has become an important topic on the international agenda. It seems clear that what is needed more than ever is enabling the participation of all and intensifying cooperation at multiple levels of global governance.
We live at an opportune moment in history to examine the dynamics of global change. With China’s rapid growth, with the chaotic conditions around the world – those of security, peace, and human development – it is of great importance that China’s role is first understood and secondly appreciated.
To understand it, it is better to rely on Chinese sources, rather than the interpretations of others, which are mostly biased and political. To appreciate it properly, it is enough to look at China’s approach to the international arena with a few words/sentences such as community with the shared destiny of mankind, cooperation with mutual benefits, true multilateralism, not dividing the world into blocs, rejecting ” the mentality of the Cold War”..etc.
How to explain the Chinese path to the global audience? – First, it is important to see it by epochs.
Professor Feng Zhongping, the Director-General of the Institute of European Studies at CASS, and the President of the China-CEE Institute, subdivides China’s path into three stages.
The first phase encompasses the first thirty years as the ones of independence, which lasted from the founding of the PRC in 1949 until 1979. At this time, China’s focus was self-determination, autonomy, internal focus, and more in this realm of independence.
The second stage, starting from 1979 to 2009, is the one of integration. In these decades, China was connecting to the rest of the world and the world was discovering China.
The third stage comes at the turning point, in 2009 to date, what Prof. Feng calls the stage of China bringing more contribution in shaping the world order. As the world expected China to do more, since that year to date, China is contributing more to international, global, and public goods, with several initiatives according to the needs of the times and creating so a global network of partnerships.
Indeed, after 2009, there have been a series of statements and initiatives, and China is speaking to the world somewhat differently than before. Its economic achievements, increased welfare, and poverty eradication are now being presented to the world with a perspective for the future. China thinks globally, it doesn’t think narrowly, and it doesn’t even think regionally.
Officials in Beijing are trying to address global problems with the idea of the “common destiny” of mankind. Rather than being seen as a rival, it should be seen as offering a beacon of hope with its experience its path to modernization, and recent global initiatives for security in development and civilization.
China represents a stability force in this uncertain world, and this is attractive to those countries that want peace and development. Most nations are satisfied with this Chinese activism and the more vocal expression of Chinese interest because it offers them alternatives for development and modernization.
Why is it attractive? – because China talks about the issues that really matter to the people, development, modernization, mutually beneficial cooperation…these are priorities for the vast majority of people and nations. China is unwaveringly promoting and supporting true multilateralism. Over the past decade, China has set up several active platforms of multilateralism, which have fostered intensified interaction between institutions, citizens, and governments.
Currently, China has the experience, the intention, the means, and the guarantees for the future.
Experience – Starting with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and more, the PRC is instrumental, proactive, and aligned with what the majority wants in shaping the future of true multilateralism. However, they must be seen in the long term, because they are a way of thinking about the world by identifying as priorities, a sustainable way to develop further.
Means/Ways – Proactive approach, China initiated and is encouraging, promoting, and expanding those initiatives, which have the potential to become a powerful engine of economic growth and improvement, serving countries that are part of its to achieve further development.
Intentions – the Chinese diplomatic agenda is intensifying every day on a global scale, in formal and informal settings, and the discourse we hear is extremely encouraging. We hear phrases like “Developing countries “carried” China to the UN; China has acted in the same spirit by talking about the developing world.” Or, “In the face of the global development financing gap, China calls on the international community to sincerely cooperate and work together to solve the problems of developing countries, especially poor countries.” Said on global platforms, these declarations resonate deeply and these phrases impact many countries that need to be heard on the international stage.
Guarantees – The continuity of Chinese leadership is a guarantee that along the way, China has been and will be consistent in its interactions with the rest of the world.
How is China presenting itself to the world during the last decade? – China’s commitment to work with the rest of the world towards a “community of shared future for mankind” reaffirms its long-term foreign policy of peace and prosperity, and this Chinese vision is not a geopolitical scheme to carve out spheres of influence but represents the pursuit of the aspirations of many peoples in the world for cooperation and not dependence.
Creating a community of shared future for humanity stems from traditional Chinese culture and its centuries-old philosophy of harmony and unity. President Xi described this vision of China in five directions “political, security, economic, cultural and ecological” and he calls for the creation of a “community…that is open, inclusive, for a clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity”. What China advocates in the geopolitical dimension is a sovereign, equality-oriented world, where disputes are resolved through dialogue and peace is built on partnerships rather than enforced through military alliances or political force.
But what does this Chinese approach mean in practice on the international stage? – The expression “broad consultation, joint contribution, and joint benefits” is often heard by Chinese policymakers. China is addressing other countries saying that “We together, discuss the rule of the game – together jointly should build it up according to our needs and visions, and jointly share results.
No country can tackle the many challenges facing humanity alone; no country can afford to retreat into isolation. But while in China statements are made to the world about respect for culture, history, heritage, and everything else, the same is required of the rest of the world vis-à-vis China, and labeling, categorization, and superficial description have no place, especially when analyzing its political system.
How does continuity coexist with change in the Chinese system? – China’s political system, especially in the West, is seen as the antithesis of the present times and is often taken as a reference point to justify the lack of desire for cooperation. But in fact, Socialism with Chinese Characteristics has produced incredible welfare and effective governance, and ultimately in China, they know very well that substance is more important than form. A country of more than 1.4 billion people cannot be governed well without proper, sound, and sustainable institutions. Political institutions as bearers and enforcers of the will of the people represent the ambition and reality of a nation. And the ultimate goal of successful leadership is to harmoniously combine national, social, and individual aspirations.
The relationship between the state and society in China is different from that in the West. In China, the state enjoys a lot of legitimacy, a lot of authority, and a lot of approval from the citizens, because it carries a special meaning as the representative, embodiment, and protector of the nation.
In this Chinese modernization, people’s aspirations are channeled through government commitments to progress. It is a line of thought and action in which people matter and the main concern is what is the best idea of progress and how to achieve it. The system as such is a plan of what best suits the reality of a nation and what best meets the needs of citizens, through commitment to the advancement of social justice and general human welfare.
In China, the government fulfills the expectations of the people through a rigorous selection of officials, if we only look at the level, background, and CV of the people who govern China, then it will be understood that their capacity matches the expectations and projections of the country. People’s participation and social and material improvement have been remarkable experiences that China has demonstrated to the world. Numbers never lie, more than 800 million people being lifted out of poverty within a few decades is a remarkable achievement by any standard and consideration.
Setting long-term goals, medium-term and short-term objectives that are constantly monitored and modified, and putting into practice the concept of hierarchy, meritocracy, and well-structured vision – this is the blueprint of a success story. In addition to adapting to changing situations, China also maintains continuity in grand strategies and the application of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The CPC has led the comprehensive transformation of the country for more than seven decades, leaving a deep imprint on China’s modernity and beyond.
China’s economic miracle did not happen by accident. It developed directly from the policies initiated, implemented, and monitored by the government at the central, regional, and local levels. One of the most powerful policy tools that China has and will continue to have is adapting to change and reform.
How Chinese policymaking has dealt with change and transformation should be analyzed in the context of how China sees itself, not how the world sees China.
To deliver prosperity to people is to give them dignity, to give dignity to the people is to give glory to the nation, and this is to be admired.
© 2023 Argumentum
