China playing its part in galvanizing of collective efforts to build a better world: China Daily editorial

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with multiple foreign leaders and officials in New York over the past two days on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future, expounding on China's pro-peace and pro-development message that he delivered in his speech at the summit on Monday.

In these bilateral meetings, the foreign leaders and officials have invariably expressed their countries' willingness to strengthen communication with China and deepen economic and trade cooperation with it, to not only keep the healthy development of bilateral ties on the right track but also jointly contribute to global peace, stability and common development.

The positive responses of foreign leaders and senior officials to Wang's call for promoting cooperation, exchanges and development all indicate the strategic significance the international community attaches to the responsible role China plays in these regards, as well as the fact that peace and development remain the defining themes of the times.

The summit and following general assembly of the UN that Wang will also attend provide all peace-loving countries with a platform to inject positive energy into international relations at a time when the world is being roiled by the increasing uncertainties and risks caused by the United States' resorting to protectionism and a cliquiest approach to shore up its hegemony. To this end, it has sabotaged international solidarity to address common challenges, instigated the flare-up of some hotspot issues, and destabilized the global industry and supply chains.

As Wang stressed in his speech, in stark contrast, China has proposed the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and put forward the Belt and Road Initiative and the global initiatives on development, security and civilization. These are the practical means to address the four deficits — governance deficit, trust deficit, development deficit and peace deficit — that have provided fertile ground in which the seeds planted by the US in its anxiety have taken root. China upholds fairness and justice in international relations, peaceful coexistence and mutual learning among civilizations and win-win cooperation among countries.

As Wang stressed, countries need to work together to build a future of peace and tranquility. "Greater solidarity and cooperation of the international community is not a choice, but a must." To this end, he called on countries to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and settle disputes through dialogue, resolve differences through consultation, and enhance security through cooperation. In a rebuke to the US and some of its allies, he said that major countries, in particular, should lead by example, calling on them to pursue the greater good, rise above bloc confrontation with a broad vision for mutual prosperity, and serve as propellers for world solidarity and anchors for world peace.

Presenting China's prescription for the world's ills, he said that countries need to adhere to a people-centered development philosophy and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, so as to deliver the fruits of development to all people and ensure common prosperity for all countries. And he cautioned that "a winner-takes-all approach is a sure way to lose the whole game", and adopting a "small yard with high fences" approach will only "imprison the builder and tear the world apart".

He reaffirmed China's principled position as a responsible member of the international community — in which "all countries, regardless of their size and strength, are equal members" — emphasizing the need to defend the integrity of the UN system and strengthen the authority of UN international rule of law and to reject the law of the jungle where the strong bully the weak. China is now going all out to realize its goal of becoming a modern socialist country in all respects. In this endeavor, it will undoubtedly create new opportunities for world peace and development, and provide ways in which countries can join hands to implement the Pact for the Future, aimed at building a better world for all, which was adopted at the summit.