China's vision of global governance for addressing common challenges

Trucks wait to load containers at a container terminal in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, March 28, 2022. In the first three quarters, China's GDP increased 3 per cent year on year, 0.5 percentage points faster than that in the first half of 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data.

Common development

Over the past decade, China has seen remarkable growth, with its GDP rising from 53.9 trillion yuan (7.58 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2012 to 114.4 trillion yuan (16.09 trillion dollars) in 2021. And the world's second-largest economy has taken on a more significant role on the world stage.

China is also making relentless efforts to promote common development worldwide. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) it proposed in 2013 endeavors to share its development dividends with other countries through infrastructure connectivity.

Through the end of 2021, the total volume in the trade of goods between China and countries along the BRI routes amounted to nearly 11 trillion U.S. dollars.

"Infrastructure development plays an important role in propelling economic growth. China has made unremitting efforts in this regard through Belt and Road cooperation and other initiatives," Xi elaborated on his thinking behind the initiative at the 16th G20 Leaders' Summit.

"Through the BRI, it has therefore brought new thinking about development -- from being mere loan recipients to actual projects on the ground that bring development through trade and enterprises," said James M. Njihia, dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, University of Nairobi.

In September last year, Xi put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the general debate of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. During the High-level Dialogue on Global Development in June of this year, he elaborated on the steps China will take under the GDI to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including deepening global cooperation on poverty reduction, building capacity for food production and supply, and promoting clean energy partnerships.

"The holistic Global Development Initiative is a valued contribution to addressing common challenges and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In addition to the two initiatives, China has been sharing opportunities with the world. These include launching the China International Import Expo, establishing pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation, bringing into force the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and applying for the membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Data from the World Bank showed that during the 2013-2021 period, China's contribution to global economic growth averaged 38.6 percent, higher than that of the Group of Seven countries combined.

China's proposals for common development exemplify a correct understanding of global issues and a focus on collective progress, said Farhad Javanbakht Kheirabadi, a China scholar at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran.

Chinese peacekeepers clear the ruins of the port explosions in Beirut, Lebanon, Sept. 30, 2020. [Photo by Zhao Wenhuan/Xinhua]

One community

In the face of the lingering pandemic, mounting geopolitical tensions and rising protectionism and unilateralism, global development is suffering setbacks.

The latest Human Development Report, released by the UN Development Programme in September, showed that nine out of 10 countries fell backwards in human development due to multiple crises, including the North-South gap, technological divides and insufficient climate action.

While urging developed countries to fulfil their climate promise, China has been helping developing countries enhance their adaptability through South-South cooperation.

So far, China has offered other developing countries 2 billion yuan (276 million dollars) for climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as equipment such as microsatellites and drones used for natural disaster monitoring and warning.

Meanwhile, China has delivered global public goods where needed. To narrow the "immunization gap" exposed in the pandemic, China and other BRICS countries inaugurated a vaccine research and development centre to make vaccines accessible and affordable for developing countries.

The countries have also provided development experience and technology to the Global South. For example, China is helping many African countries, such as Mozambique, develop modern agriculture with the help of the China-developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and unmanned equipment.

At the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in June, Xi once again called on the world to "promote extensive consultation and joint contribution to deliver shared benefits" to ensure that "all countries enjoy equal rights, follow the rules as equals, and share equal opportunities."

"Despite changes in an evolving global environment, the historical trend of openness and development will not reverse course," Xi said, and called for rising to challenge and forging ahead with resolve toward the goal of building a human community with a shared future.

In the eyes of Algerian Ambassador to China Hassane Rabehi, China's proposals "are noble ones because they are in the interest of the whole mankind" and inspire all countries to collaborate to "sustain peace and stability in the world and work together for the common interest."