China has the prerequisites to lead

Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative can give people better lives

The year 2022 was a benchmark in China’s foreign policy achievements. It demonstrated a global vision forging ahead with greater resolve to write a new chapter in major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

The dynamic leadership of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping has played a key role in making the country a globally influential and responsible player.

Xi, who was re-elected as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee at the 20th CPC National Congress, has inculcated a bright vision in Chinese foreign policy following the congress. The Chinese leadership has chalked down key policy imperatives to build a community with a shared future by making necessary changes in postCOVID policy.

In 2022, China hosted the successful Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, at which hundreds of athletes achieved historic legacies amid strict COVID-19 prevention measures. International dignitaries, including 31 heads of state and representatives of international organizations, attended the Games’ opening ceremony. China received unprecedented support from the international community to boost its commitment to an inclusive, open and confident China.

At the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021, President Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative, and during the Boao Forum for Asia in April last year, he proposed the Global Security Initiative. Given the global scope of both initiatives, there has been an outstanding response from the global community favoring a developed and secure world.

UN members supported the Global Development Initiative, with nearly 70 member states joining the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative.

Since China is an overachiever on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, it carries immense experience, a diplomatic footprint, capital and human resources to make concrete contributions to global development. The case is no different with the Global Security Initiative, as Xi believes in mutual security and multilateral.

Xi has undertaken four significant Asia visits recently. During these important regional engagements, he participated in the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the APEC leaders’ meeting in Bangkok and the G20 Summit in Bali, and he made a state visit to Saudi Arabia.

These various engagements enabled China to present its vision of multilateralism, rejecting any notions of confrontation or zero-sum competition. Xi tends to lead by example and negates coercion to win alliances or interference in the internal affairs of other states.

Meanwhile, the US-China relationship remains a concern of every major stakeholder in the international system for several reasons. The US, in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, National Security Strategy and Nuclear Posture Review, has taken an offensive posture against China and is trying to disrupt Chinese growth. This Cold War mentality is rejected by China. These policies further intend to force a blockade of Chinese trade, suppress the economy and provoke China militarily. The politics of Western alliances come at the expense of global growth, peace, sustainability and security. This divisive behavior is intended to create polarization.

The US and China made substantial connections during 2022. President Xi and US President Joe Biden had two phone calls last year and a face-to-face meeting in Bali. Xi took the opportunity to explain the Chinese understanding of US actions while drawing parameters and red lines. He urged Biden to abandon the zero-sum mentality that leads to confrontation.

The Chinese position is that diplomatic engagement is based on mutual respect, trust, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The communication between Xi and Biden covered all issues of strategic importance, followed by a commitment to explore and build guiding principles for the bilateral relationship.

In addition to all the feathers in its cap and the resounding success of its foreign policy, China has made substantial headway in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. It has urged the world to shun all differences and unite to fight this menace.

Due to this challenge, humanity faces growing threats of recession, poverty and inflation, and China is playing a constructive role in building the global economy. The nation has the prerequisite elements to take the lead through the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative to create better living conditions for people and a favorable operating environment for developing states.