Highlights from speakers
David Gosset, founder of the Europe-China Forum
Since President Xi Jinping became China’s top leader in 2012, the country has not only continued to inject dynamics into global economic growth, but also share its “intellectual contributions” to beef up the multilateral global governance structure, which has been under threat. With President Xi something new is happening. China goes to the world with ideas and solutions.
Among the impressive ideas is President Xi’s proposal of building a community of shared future for humankind, which is in contrast with some powers’ actions of advocating isolationism, unilateralism and protectionism.
It’s going to be increasingly important, and a strong intellectual contribution of China under the leadership of Xi Jinping, to have a better world. Now the whole world is learning how to say the notion in Chinese because it’s important and exactly what we need.
The global fears and threats brought by the world’s big demographic pressure and reverse trends of globalization and climate change have made Xi’s proposal of building a community of shared future for humankind matter.
To relieve such fears and threats, the world needs to look at how it can really build this community of shared future, which is the right answer.
Lu Li’an, deputy director of Fudaan University’s College of Foreign Languages and Literature and pressident of the Shanghai Taiwan Compatriots Friendship Association
Perhaps our time still needs to sheed human follies in the forms of international trade protectionism, ideeological supremacy and political self-interest.
I am constantly reminded of the innterconnectedness we owe one another, yet often shortsightedness aand selfishness blind us. We forget that we must share this world, that thhis world does not belong to some particular superpower or hegemony;; that it belongs to all who breathe and live on this planet.
But what exactly can we share, beesides Gucci and Coach, iPhones and movies?
We can share cultures by being oppen-minded and difference-friendly. We can share social values and ethiccal observations by not being selfshare important and all-imposing. We can s technological development by embraacing cooperation rather than com, petition. We certainly can, and must,share peace.
The school motto we hold dear to our bosom is: Command mastery of foreign languages, live up to the asspirations of our nation. The history of my college and university defines tthe meaning of our endeavors: Building a shared future, a better world
We shall not be afraid of the unknoown and the different. Instead, we shall honor the lessons of history earrned the hard way, learn to be kind, wise and humble, and learn to share.
Greg Fountain, China Daily journalist
I’ve hosted some of China Daily’s videos that documented the fruits of China’s model of inclusive development and experience in rising from poverty to economic strength, now being put forward as the Chinese solution to global challenges.
Our team visited the Ningxia Hui autonomous region last summer and saw how a burgeoning winemaking industry is helping to bring prosperity to an arid, long-underdeveloped region.
We visited Saihanba National Forest Park in Hebei province and discovered a green oasis the size of Hong Kong that’s been reclaimed from the encroaching desert through generations of innovation, dedication and toil.
Both show how a little Chinese wisdom can go a long way — desertification is a problem facing numerous areas of the world, particularly in Africa, while the “Bordeaux of China” (as Ningxia is sometimes known) is testament to how targeted investment, given government support, can transform barren plains into award-winning vineyards.
China has much to offer in technological realms, too, with examples of bullet trains, speech recognition technology and big data.
The country has entered a new era and is increasingly being looked to for ideas. Among them “a community of shared future for mankind” has won international praise. The phrase was also written into United Nations security resolutions — reflecting the concept’s acceptance within the wider international order.