China Should Pursue Four Principles as Coronavirus Hits the World

The year 2020 is of pivotal importance for China to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, achieve the great goal of national rejuvenation, and move closer to global center stage. Also, the year 2020 is crucial for the international community to promote a new round of globalization and perfect global governance. However, the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 has paralyzed the whole of humanity in an unprecedented manner. The “political virus” of beggar-thy-neighbor policy, mutual hostility and isolation, joined by the “spiritual plague” of scapegoating, defamation and instigating confrontation, has been causing turbulence to the world order. Facing such a chaotic international situation, to be able to draw on advantages and avoid disadvantages in this era of profound changes unseen in a century and forge ahead despite twists and turns, China has to remain committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, actively participating in the global anti-epidemic cooperation, promoting construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and advocating policy communication and people-to-people exchanges.

Promoting a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

In the course of human history, mankind has often encountered various

internal and external risks and dangers, as it went through unforeseeable conflicts and adventures. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest global health crisis of modern times as well as a life-and-death struggle for the entire human race, the adverse impact of which on international relations, the world economy, social culture and human behavior in the future remains impossible to be accurately evaluated.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by the end of April, the number of confirmed cases worldwide had exceeded 3 million, and there had been nearly 220 thousand deaths. With the highest number of cases and deaths, the United States has become the epicenter of the outbreak. European countries, especially Italy, Spain, France and the United Kingdom, have also suffered from very serious conditions, with the fatality rate in some countries exceeding 10 percent. In addition, from Russia and other CIS countries to Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia where Muslim populations are concentrated, from Africa to the South Pacific and even the whole of Latin America, the virus is spreading without recognizing national borders, ethnic groups, religions, ideologies, social systems or development levels. The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly a catastrophe and a common challenge for all humankind.

To cut off the transmission of COVID-19 and curb its expansion, some countries that are hit hardest have taken unusual measures such as suspending transport linkages, locking down cities, cancelling social events, shutting down factories, closing national borders and temporarily stopping freight traffic. As a result of carrying out these extreme but necessary policies, the world economy has experienced unimaginable destruction: global service and manufacturing industries have shrunk significantly, the international industrial and supply chains have encountered temporary rupture, and the world futures and stock markets have witnessed dramatic fluctuations. What lies ahead for countries around the world is a common risk and a global crisis.

Based on scientific evaluation and reflection, China has long held the view that the security and development interests of human society are

closely intertwined, and that the future and destiny of individuals as well as countries are closely related to each other. In recent years, China has paid additional attention to the connection and consistency in the relationship between development and security interests of China and those of other countries worldwide. In March 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia and for the first time delivered a speech on the progress of human civilization, the evolution of world structure, and the relationship between China and the rest of the world, explicitly expressing the notion of the community with a shared future for mankind and related concepts on times, development, cooperation, security and civilization. In addition, he put forward that we are in an era of change, confronted with an ever-changing world situation: “It is a world where countries are linked with and dependent on one another at a level never seen before. Mankind, by living in the same global village within the same time and space where history and reality meet, have increasingly emerged as a community of common destiny in which everyone has in himself a little bit of others.”

Ever since then, President Xi has repeatedly stressed the necessity and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind on many occasions at home and abroad. In January 2017, he delivered a speech under the title of “Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind” at the United Nations Office at Geneva, stressing once again that mankind had entered an era of major development as well as profound transformation and change, that interconnection and interdependence between countries are crucial for human survival, and that this is accompanied by numerous challenges and increasing risks for human civilization. In response to the continuous spread of traditional and nontraditional security threats including major outbreaks of infectious diseases, the Chinese solution is to “build a community with a shared future for mankind and achieve win-win and shared development.”

The idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind marks not only the theoretical foundation of China’s diplomacy in the new era, but also provides the guideline under which China participates in

international affairs, manages external relations, and promotes the reform of the global governance system. The credibility of this important idea has been proven by the developing trends of our times. The gradual emergence of global anti-epidemic cooperation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has once again demonstrated the essence of interconnection and interdependence in the human community. On March 26 of this year, President Xi Jinping announced at the G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit on COVID-19 that “major infectious diseases are the enemy of all,” receiving general recognition from the international community.

In his prayer for the world, Pope Francis said: “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.” António Guterres, Secretary-general of the United Nations, has also stated that as a human crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic demands coordination between major economies with the aim of conducting decisive, inclusive, and innovative countermeasures. Despite their different discourse systems, nobody can ignore that the scientific concept of a shared future for mankind is receiving broader recognition.

Hence, no matter how the global situation will change in the future and in what manner the post-epidemic world will be reconstructed, China should unswervingly adhere to the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and remain committed to adopting this theory and related policies in its diplomacy, to promote the common development and progress of human society.

Contributing to Global Anti-epidemic Cooperation

With distinct governance systems, social customs and cultural psychology, as well as different levels of development, the capability and approach of countries to cope with major disasters and crises vary greatly. However, in addressing these major disasters, cooperation and mutual assistance are in line with the humanitarian character and nature of human society as well as

with the constant demand to work together in times of crisis.

In its fight against the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, China has received support and assistance from foreign governments, enterprises, non-governmental organizations as well as friendly people worldwide. The Chinese government has repeatedly expressed its gratefulness. Meanwhile, China has also worked closely with the WHO from the very beginning, reporting in a timely manner about all developments of the epidemic and China’s prevention and control measures. As its domestic situation was gradually stabilizing, China began providing support and assistance in various forms to the WHO and related UN agencies, neighboring countries, developing nations, and even the United States and European countries, which has been widely praised by the international community. Even US President Donald Trump once admitted that China’s contribution to the global anti-pandemic battle was “positive.”

The world knows that from the very beginning China has embraced the international community’s solidarity and cooperation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with an attitude of honesty, openness and active participation. At the G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit, President Xi announced that China would be more than ready to share its good practices while submitting four proposals for fighting an all-out global war against the COVID-19 outbreak. At that time, he also wrote in a reply letter to WHO Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “… humanity is a community with a shared future … China will continue to work with WHO and other countries and contribute our part to upholding global public health security.” Since then, the international community has witnessed practical actions being taken by China’s central and local governments, non-governmental organizations, enterprises, public institutions, diplomatic missions, and companies operating overseas. China is injecting ample resources and support into the global anti-epidemic cooperation, with an increasing number of Chinese experts and medical staff sent to all parts of the world to fight in the frontlines against this pandemic.

There are many indications suggesting that worldwide anti-epidemic actions may have to continue for quite some time. China’s involvement in the global anti-epidemic cooperation, in a variety of forms, has generated both rewards with good faith, and unexpected problems ranging from malicious attacks and distortions made by international hostile forces to misconduct of corrupt enterprises or malignant individuals resulting in adverse consequences. However, under any circumstances of complexity and hardship, China firmly believes in taking due responsibility and fulfilling its corresponding mission in the global anti-epidemic cooperation. To address this major issue of overarching significance concerning the future of humankind, China is moving forward together with the international community, in accordance with the trend of the times.

Advancing the Belt and Road Construction

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the health and security of humankind in grave danger while wreaking immeasurable harm to the world economy, the reconstruction of a global trade order, and international people-to-people exchanges. In other words, the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously disrupted the progress in the development of human society.

The world economy and global employment will experience unprecedented hardship as a consequence of the outbreak. As the world’s largest economy, the United States was the first to experience a financial shock with its stock market triggering circuit breakers several times, the Federal Reserve adopting unlimited pump priming, and giant companies including Boeing and General Electric suspending production or laying off large numbers of employees. On April 21, the price of the May contract for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures surprisingly fell to a negative value, and finally settled at -$37.63 per barrel. This round of economic crisis in the international community will far surpass the Great Depression before World War II in the last century. The vigorous economic globalization after World War II is nearing its end, and an era of isolated

development where sovereign economies dominate may take over.

Confronting this grim situation, President Xi, speaking at the G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit, called on the international community to enhance international macro-economic policy coordination to keep global financial markets and global industrial and supply chains stable. If these suggestions would be generally accepted and fully implemented, it is not impossible for all countries in the world to strengthen economic ties through global anti-epidemic cooperation, rebuild the international economic order, reshape the world economic and trade structure, create more efficient global industrial and supply chains, and open up a new path for improving global economic governance.

China’s promotion of construction under the Belt and Road Initiative demonstrates an irreplaceable commitment to preventing the collapse of economic globalization, exploring a new economic and trade order, and boosting new types of international cooperation. Over the past six years, the Belt and Road Initiative has gained worldwide recognition in many countries and sectors. Practice has proven, and will continue to prove, that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is not only a Chinese approach to contributing to global inclusive and interconnected development, but also a new paradigm leading the world onto the path of win-win cooperation and mutual benefit. Despite the potential major changes taking place after the pandemic, and lasting differences in social systems and ideologies, it is still possible for countries to conduct equal, extensive and sustainable cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. In the process, they can enhance the synergy of their development concepts, policies and regulations, and institutional mechanisms to the greatest extent.

As governments are concentrating their efforts on epidemic prevention and control, it is notable that the Belt and Road construction is suffering from unexpected distraction. In China, enterprises are faced with difficulties and pressures in production, circulation, financing, employment, safety and other aspects, which in turn reduces their capabilities for going abroad. In addition, countries that are suffering from the disease are less capable of

pursuing large-scale infrastructure construction, which also constrains the progress of new Belt and Road projects. Moreover, some foreign powers are seizing the opportunity to criticize the initiative and sow divisions between China and its partners.

In this regard, a clear understanding and adequate preparation are both indispensable. To secure the continuous advancement and smooth operation of Belt and Road projects, new arrangements and policy guidance aimed at optimizing resource allocation and working orientation shall be conducted. In other words, the construction of the Belt and Road is in demand of timely adjustment to be in accordance with the current situation. Most importantly, China should strictly follow its general policy of seeking progress while ensuring stability, and it shall make further efforts in adjusting its priorities, improving project quality, enhancing the level of cooperation, reducing security risks, strengthening people-to-people communication, and guaranteeing personnel safety. Under the current circumstances, it should attach greater importance to the demands of domestic economy, people’s livelihood and public health, and strive to make substantive contributions to international anti-epidemic cooperation.

As an embodiment of China’s willingness of enhancing its own economy through opening up to the world, the Belt and Road Initiative is China’s inevitable choice to cooperate with the international community in difficult times. China is not in a rush for quick success with instant benefits, nor does it impose pressures upon others. Instead, it is strengthening its overall planning capability and keeping a dynamic balance on Belt and Road construction. In global anti-epidemic cooperation and economic reconstruction in the post-epidemic era, we have strong confidence in the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve great success.

Advocating Policy Communication and People-to-people Exchanges

The COVID-19 pandemic has warned us of the fact that abrupt changes

are taking place in the human-nature relationship, in the path of human survival and development, as well as within different components of human society. International public opinion has been chaotic due to the singularity of the COVID-19 event and the on-going impacts and challenges as a reaction to profound and once-in-a-century changes. However, the strong capabilities demonstrated and extraordinary measures taken by the Chinese government in its anti-epidemic operation, which have generated good exemplary effects in the international society, have also aggravated worries, fears and speculations of some powers against China’s rise.

On the one hand, these forces are utilizing the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China as a pretext to spread rumors and stigmatize China, with the intention to divert attention away from their own responsibility for severely delaying anti-epidemic measures, which in turn caused far-reaching spread of the disease. Moreover, they demand China to take the blame for the global pandemic, and even call for China to “compensate” the world. On the other hand, they also criticize the measures taken by the Chinese government to halt the epidemic’s spread, even going further to denigrate China’s political system, governance approach, and value system. The positive impact of China’s contributions to the global anti-epidemic operation has also been largely neglected by these voices. Given this situation, it is imperative for China to carry out policy communication and people-topeople exchanges.

Policy communication demands that, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s practice of presidential diplomacy, all levels, ranging from the central government to local governments, from diplomatic missions to overseas state-owned enterprises, shall stay mobilized and work closely with each other to inform the public with a correct assessment of China’s domestic and foreign policies. People-to-people exchanges require us to make full use of communication resources available domestically as well as internationally, employing the power of any potential components of our society including media and academic institutions, with the aim of addressing public concerns

and leading public opinion.

At present, the focus of China’s policy communication and peopleto-people exchanges is to deliver the message of China’s domestic antiepidemic achievements led by the Chinese government and its significant contributions to the global cooperative struggle against this pandemic. Therefore, our current targets are firstly to help the international community realize that COVID-19 is the common enemy of mankind, and that the world has no alternative but to put aside past grievances and support each other. Secondly, we should work to demonstrate to the outside world that it is unjustified to denigrate China’s achievements and contributions in both domestic and international anti-epidemic operations.

In conducting policy communication and people-to-people exchanges in the current global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to pursue a balance between current priorities and long-term tasks. We shall therefore take additional regular actions such as improving national image building, strengthening domestic and foreign policy publicity, and enhancing cultural exchange and cooperation.

Fulfilling policy communication and people-to-people exchanges is of great importance to construct a good image of our party and nation, and strengthen the public foundation of conducting international cooperation based on mutual trust. Therefore, we shall remain firm in enhancing coordination to realize the synergy of these two tasks. By summarizing experience and making up for deficiencies, it is necessary to adjust our approach to countering unfair publicity and prevent the adverse impact of narrow-minded nationalism and vulgar populism on our diplomacy. While demonstrating our clear opposition to any statement and conduct directed against society and humanity, we should further institutionalize policy communication and people-to-people exchanges with the aim of safeguarding justice, interests and integrity in accordance with laws and procedures.