Xinhua Insight: Xi's world vision: a community of common destiny, a shared home for humanity

Thousands of years ago, China envisaged a world where people live in perfect harmony and are as dear to one another as family. Today, President Xi Jinping has given the world a new name -- a community of common destiny.

Since Xi first proposed the concept in late 2012, it has gone on to shape China's approach to global governance, giving rise to proposals and measures to support growth for all.

There is the new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation, and the Belt and Road Initiative set out to better connect the world. Xi has also come up with a new security concept that is designed to pool efforts to build universal, sustainable and comprehensive security.

"The concept of a community of common destiny transcends all sorts of differences in human society and targets greatest possible benefits for all," said Tang Qifang, a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies.

At the United Nations Office at Geneva on Jan. 18, Xi will deliver a keynote speech on building such a community, sending the message again that China is fully committed to creating "one home for all of mankind," as Xi called it in his 2017 New Year speech.

"This is a very advanced notion born out of changing world conditions, and an embodiment of the Chinese aspiration to share peace and development with the world," Tang said.

EQUAL PARTNERSHIPS

In his first diplomatic activity as China's top leader in late 2012, Xi shared his perception that "the world has increasingly grown into a community where one's destiny is interwoven with that of another." The concept came up time and again in his speeches over the years that followed.

According to Xi's vision, our future lies in the hands of all countries -- equally -- and all nations should pursue dialogue rather than confrontation with one another, and forge partnerships instead of alliances.

China is working to expand convergence of interests with more and more countries, such as Pakistan, Laos and Cambodia, and form communities of common destiny on a bilateral basis.

It has also approached nations in Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to develop similar communities by pushing forward win-win cooperation.

In the course of pursuing equal partnerships, China has actively participated in reforming the global governance system by addressing unreasonable and unjust aspects of the system.

While addressing the Business 20 (B20) summit in Hangzhou last year, Xi highlighted equitable and efficient global financial governance, open and transparent global trade and investment governance, green and low-carbon global energy governance, as well as inclusive and interconnected global development governance, as priorities for global economic governance, showcasing China's commitment to contributing its wisdom to the world economic growth.

Also as part of its efforts in this regard, China champions better representation and say of developing countries in the international governance system, calling for the equal participation of all countries in making rules.

"China's vote in the United Nations will always belong to developing countries," Xi told the general debate of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2015.

He also advocated valuing both righteousness and interests in shaping international relations, saying that righteousness comes first.

This has become an important principle guiding China's cooperation with other developing nations, and the rationale for China's rush to the aid of other countries at times of difficulties.

China was there to help African countries during the Ebola outbreak, to help save lives after earthquakes in Nepal and Ecuador, and to alleviate the water shortage in the Maldives.

"In Xi Jinping, and messages he has delivered, the world sees a China that embraces its responsibilities, stands by developing countries through thick and thin, and participates in setting international rules and reforming the global governance system," said Tang Zhimin, director of China ASEAN studies at Thailand's Panyapiwat Institute of Management.

INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

In the community of common destiny, the development of one country is closely intertwined with that of other countries.

"China will always work to contribute to global development," Xi said during the UN general debate, welcoming other countries to get on board China's express train of development. "Development for all is development for real."

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in this spirit, as was the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the South-South Cooperation Fund, and increased investment by China in the world's least developed countries.

The AIIB has allocated loans totaling 1.73 billion U.S. dollars in nine infrastructure projects across seven countries since it started operating in January 2016.

Connecting some 60 countries, the Belt and Road Initiative has been aligned with many national and regional development strategies, bringing forth more and more cooperative projects, including railways, roads and ports.

The Initiative will gain greater popularity because "in it, the interests of many parties converge and with it, the common development of mankind will be promoted," said Cui Hongjian, director of the department of European studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

In addition to these development efforts, China has placed great emphasis on creating a safer world to make sustainable development possible, evident in its proposed solutions to risks and conflicts, and increased support for UN peace efforts.

In 2015, Xi promoted a concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security to tackle challenges. "No country can single-handedly seek absolute security for itself, and neither can it gain stability from unrest in other countries," he said.

China does not pay lip service to the cause of peace. It takes action.

Currently, nearly 2,500 Chinese military personnel are involved in nine UN peacekeeping operations. From 2016 to 2018, China will account for 10.2 percent of the UN Peacekeeping assessed contributions.

In 26 years of involvement in peacekeeping missions, China has lost 13 soldiers.

With its constructive proposals and active participation in peacekeeping operations, China has contributed greatly to promoting world peace and multilateralism, said Zhu Shuai, a researcher at the China Center for Information Industry Development.

"China has shown to the world that as a responsible country, it will continue efforts toward the goal of achieving common development for mankind," Zhu said. Endi