Concept of common destiny embraced

Building a community of common destiny is “pretty significant” and “in the long run, it profits us all”, said Philipp Charwath, chairman of the 55th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development.

For the first time, the concept, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2012, was incorporated in a UN resolution that was approved by the commission.

The resolution, presented recently as recommendations to the UN Economic and Social Council, calls on the international community to enhance the support for Africa’s development “in the spirit of win-win cooperation and to create a shared future, based upon our common destiny”.

The draft resolution won support from the group of 77 developing countries at the UN.

Charwath said the landmark concept is of great value to all UN member states and the UN itself in joint efforts to build a better world.

“It basically is an acknowledgement that we all depend on each other,” Charwath said,

Climate change is one example, he said. Europe, China and the United States reached an agreement in Paris in December 2015 because “we all understand that we have only one shared future”.

The concept also applies to economic development, he said.

“We cannot be happy with what we achieved in one part of the world if our neighboring region is suffering.”

Charwath noted that Xi, in speeches in Switzerland in January, renewed his call for building a community of a shared future for mankind, offering inspiration to a world beset by rising challenges and risks.

“China is a country with a long history. Usually your perspective and how you look at things is longer than other countries,” he said. “So look at the concept: It is a long-term vision.”