New world order must be based on cooperation

The world order is facing increasing challenges because of the change in the balance of power and rising anti-globalization. What sort of world order should China pursue to facilitate its own long-term development, global stability and shared interests?

For a long time, the world ignored the growing influence of a rising China, as the existing order is based on the leadership of Western countries and participation of other countries. But China, the largest emerging economy, has had a big impact on the world order. Therefore, despite being committed to peaceful rise, China will not seek a future world order similar to the current one, so as to avoid its interests being given short shift again.

To help establish a new world order, China should make continuous efforts and adjustments by interacting with other countries on various issues and in different fields. In this process, it is likely that conflicts but not a large-scale war will occur. So China should make full use of its advantages to make its development more effective and ensure it adheres to a peaceful development path.

Also, China should make efforts to make the characteristics of Chinese civilization part of a future world order. Differences distinguish civilizations and similarities enable them to better communicate. As such, one civilization, by learning the advantages of other civilizations, can evolve and increase its chances to not only survive but also thrive.

Modifications helped the Chinese civilization to develop for thousands of years, laying the cultural foundation for China's rise. It will continue playing a vital role in China's development.

China is undergoing a modern remolding of the Chinese civilization's core values, which requires the removal of what is bad, and retention of its good aspects to build upon its advantages.

China also needs to act in accordance with its capability based on a clear understanding of its soft power. No civilization or superpower has the comprehensive strength to govern the world as one country. Islam and Christianity are the most-practiced religions in the world, but Islamic civilization has only a limited influence on non-Islamic countries.

Similarly, the United States, the leader of the modern international system, cannot act as the global government on its own. What's more, actions beyond the effective areas and fields will cause the decline of a country.

Cooperation and mutual benefits are the clearest path to success and security and, therefore, should be an integral part of a new world order.

But since China is a typical regional civilization, its influence will be concentrated in neighboring countries and some other countries, and several specific fields. It will be difficult for China to replace the US and lead the whole world.

Therefore, China should pursue a regional order to make efficient contributions for its own and other countries' good. A peaceful and objective proposal will promote understanding and cooperation on a future and fairer world order.

The author is a senior research fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.