Chinese dream not one of hegemony

Editor's Note: It has become the common expectation of the international society that the United States and China will try their best to avoid an "economic iron curtain". Columnist Zhong Sheng comments on People's Daily:

To achieve national prosperity and happiness through innovation, this is a blameless dream. But unfortunately, the United States is still trapped in its old mentality and views any emerging innovation power as a threat.

China does pursue the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, but this dream is by no means a "hegemonic dream" and it is China's solemn commitment to the world that it will not seek hegemony. China is striving to restore its dignity and status. Despite the remarkable achievements it has scored over the past decades, China has always adhered to the traditional concept of "harmony without uniformity" and the path of peaceful development engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries.

That some already see China as an "imaginary enemy" stems from their narrow mentality, because they neither understand why the Chinese dream is not a dream for "hegemony", nor know that Chinese people will never allow other countries to stop China's development. The US cannot stop China's rise, and any attempt to do so is likely to compromise its own interests.

Innovations should benefit the world, not be treasures buried in caves. Innovation should be without borders, any technological Cold War goes against the trend of the times.

As the world's two largest economies, China and the US should try to resolve their problems in a cooperative rather than confrontational manner. Former US treasury secretary Henry Paulson has warned that increasing pressure on the US to "decouple" with China and the application of such a "zero-sum thinking" in the business sector will change the global business and economic landscape, bringing risks to both countries and the world.

A better world makes China better and vice versa. The Chinese dream is closely connected with the dreams of other countries and people of all countries should make joint efforts to pursue a better life.