Editorial

Delivering a speech at the closing of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress on Tuesday, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China will never seek development at the expense of other countries. His pledge that China’s development poses no threat to any country is a counterblast to those trying to indict China as a threat, for as he observed, “Only those who are accustomed to threatening others see everyone as a threat.”

He clarified that China hopes to help build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world with lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity and called for China’s efforts to this end not to be misinterpreted or distorted.

What he said in his speech provides a clear insight into China’s vision of a community of shared future for humankind, one that is united in the fight against common challenges and pulls together for shared development.

China has been making its own practical efforts in this regard. It has given assistance to help many developing and underdeveloped countries and seeks to shoulder its international responsibilities to the best of its capabilities; not least through its contributions to the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission. It has also introduced its own public goods, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which are intended to benefit as many countries as possible.

Through enhanced hard and soft connectivity, China hopes that countries can realize shared development and friendly relations so the sunshine of a community with a shared future illuminates the world.

This is because Chinese people have a strong sense of fairness and empathy, and associate their own country’s future and destiny with those of other countries and peoples, and they want to do their utmost to contribute to world peace and global development.

Instead of seeking hegemony and pursuing a policy of expansionism as major powers did in the past, China will never impose its will on other countries. Instead, Xi urged countries to use dialogue as the channel for settling conflicts and disputes and resolving any differences.

That is why Xi said in his speech that China will continue to participate in the reform and development of world governance as well as contribute more “Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions and Chinese strength” to promote lasting peace and stability in the world.