Shen Dingli, Deputy Dean of the Institute o f International Studies under Fudan University in Shanghai

T h r e e w o r d s— pioneering, leading and institutional— can be employed to describe China’s current diplomacy. With its national strength growing, China is doing its fair share in pushing the international order in the direction of cooperation against the backdrop of rising tides of protectionism and anti-globalization.

The Belt and Road Initiative (namely the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road), the founding of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the pursuit of a global infrastructure connectivity alliance demonstrate China’s commitment to upgrading the current international system. The initiative, based on win-win prospects for the whole world, is of pioneering significance. The upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in May will exemplify China’s resolve.

The Belt and Road Initiative was conceived at a time when China sought to combine its own growing infrastructure construction capacity with corresponding demands in other countries. It is also a result of China’s consideration of the development order of neighboring countries and the rest of the world.

The times are pushing China to the world’s center stage, and China is increasingly aware of its responsibilities as a large and leading nation. The international community needs a model, and China should be prepared to offer an alternative model of governance.

Regarding world governance, China is calling for the establishment of international mechanisms to improve global security and well-being through consultation and joint actions. In 2016, it worked with other countries to make the Paris Agreement on climate change a reality. Earlier this year, the China-proposed concept of “a human community with shared destiny” was written into a UN resolution on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the African Union’s economic development program, giving it a new dimension.

The world economy is experiencing a downturn with emergent populism in many countries. The traditional powers are flexing their supremacy. They may become less interested in cooperation and even pursue development at the expense of neighbors. Against this backdrop, Chinese President Xi Jinping underlined the importance of globalization and the need for it in his speeches in Switzerland’s Davos and Geneva at the beginning of this year. As an emerging power, China is a responsible player, leading the way in global cooperation. During the 13th FiveYear Plan (2016-20) period, it will seek to contribute more to the world.

Alongside economic cooperation, the initiative also aims to promote country-tocountry and people-to-people connections. But language is a major barrier.

Including China, the Belt and Road Initiative roughly covers 65 countries, with over 60 different languages. The official language of many countries is not the lingua franca, and in some countries there are thousands of different dialects. Huge cultural, historical, religious and philosophical differences also exist from country to country. However, there is limited exchange of translated classic works and literature between China and these countries. Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate translation professionals to promote economic cooperation and cultural exchange. In addition, exchanges between media and think tanks of countries along the Belt and Road can help enhance communication and understanding between people.