Experts' take on the Global South

Beijing is fostering shared development through initiatives

By Khalid Taimur Akram

China has not only transformed its economy, lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, but also promoted development initiatives aimed at fostering growth and prosperity, and improving the well-being of people in other developing countries. In doing so, China has demonstrated to the world how to create development opportunities for, and benefit, all of humanity.

China has entered a new era as a result of its industrialization and modernization drive, and contribution to global peace. For instance, it has helped other countries make greater efforts to jointly build a shared future for all and boost global cooperation in every possible way.

China has provided technical and financial assistance to many developing countries and backed renewable energy projects in Africa and Asia, while initiating various projects in other countries.

In this regard, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at improving connectivity and boosting development throughout Asia, Europe and Africa, has had a positive impact on millions of people in not only developing countries but also developed nations.

China believes that the world is a shared community in which people should coexist peacefully and all individuals live as members of one family. While China's foreign policy is based on the concept of building a unified global community, the country's concern for humanity's well-being has prompted it to deepen cultural relations with other countries and promote mutual understanding.

China believes in the values and aims of the United Nations Charter, and therefore respects the sovereignty of all countries, never interferes in the domestic affairs of other countries, and favors settling bilateral issues through diplomacy and discussions.

Developing countries recognize China's role in driving global socioeconomic development and fostering shared prosperity. Apart from the Belt and Road Initiative, China has also proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, offering Chinese solutions to global problems and Chinese wisdom to promote global growth and cultural enrichment.

The Global Development Initiative is committed to promoting inclusive economic development by adopting a people-centered approach. Its primary aim is to help the developing countries realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, forge deep global development partnerships, and facilitate international cooperation for development.

President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Boao Forum for Asia. The initiative aims to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, improve global security governance, encourage joint international efforts to bring more stability and certainty to a volatile and changing world, and promote durable peace and development in the world.

In terms of non-traditional security, China supports all countries in their efforts to combat climate change and address global challenges.

As for the Global Civilization Initiative, it was proposed by President Xi during the Communist Party of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting on March 15. The initiative's main goal is to provide new opportunities for global development, add new impetus to humanity's exploration of paths toward modernization and make new contributions to the theory and practice of humanity's modernization as China makes new progress in modernization.

The Global Civilization Initiative urges countries to respect the diversity of world civilizations and uphold the principles of dialogue and inclusion. China is advancing its mission by fostering shared values among humanity, and encouraging people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among different cultures. Besides, China's efforts to promote humanity's common values facilitate cooperation and collaboration to address global challenges.

The West has always had a problem with China's unprecedented socioeconomic development. The West has been criticizing the Belt and Road Initiative since its inception even though the initiative has helped build roads, railways, ports, airports and power plants in many countries, and is desperately trying to check China's peaceful rise by accusing it of violating human rights.

The militaristic nature of the US' alliances, from NATO to AUKUS (the security alliance among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and the "revitalized Quad" (the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue among the US, India, Japan and Australia), are all aimed at isolating China from the rest of the world.

The West's policy toward China is becoming so hostile that it could trigger conflict. For example, the US-led West's intervention in the South China Sea disputes and provocative actions, such as sailing warships through China's waters in the name of "freedom of navigation", have raised tensions and are jeopardizing peace and security in the region. In fact, the US has been continually devising new strategies to maintain its global hegemony by suppressing China.

Military interventions by the US have resulted in the loss of millions of lives and immense economic destruction in many parts of the world, tearing the social fabric of many countries. And yet the US has got away with such heinous crimes by claiming to be promoting democracy and protecting human rights. But the US-led West's militarization in the region, obviously targeting China, will not realize its goal. Nor will the West succeed in weakening China or halting its development.

The author is the executive director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future in Islamabad. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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