A Better World for All

Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the lofty goal of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and the core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised in his 2024 New Year message that China will work closely with the international community for the common good of humanity, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make the world a better place for all.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind is a Chinese plan for what kind of world to build and how to build it. It originates from Chinese ancient philosophical thought “supreme harmony,” and expresses Chinese people’s yearning and pursuit for an ideal world of peace and prosperity over thousands of years.

Promoting multipolarity

Building a community with a shared future for mankind calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world. A multipolar world is one in which all countries, big or small, are treated as equals. A multipolar world is one in which hegemonism and power politics are rejected, monopoly of a few countries over interactions affairs is rejected, and democracy is truly promoted in international relations. A multipolar world shall be orderly, and observe the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and practice true multilateralism. 

China and Africa are both important forces in safeguarding international fairness and justice. China always supports the idea of African solutions for African problems, and supports African countries and the African Union in playing a greater and more active role in the global governance system. China took the lead in supporting AU’s G20 membership. China is willing to continue to work closely with Africa to jointly improve global governance.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind calls for inclusive economic globalisation. Economic globalisation should address the development imbalances between and within countries resulting from the global allocation of resources. We should work together to make the “cake” of economic globalisation bigger and share it equitably, so as to achieve mutual benefits and common prosperity. 

Economic globalisation should also be inclusive, supporting all countries to take a path of development in line with their own national conditions and opposing all forms of unilateralism and protectionism. China will unreservedly continue to share its experience of Chinese path to modernisation with Africa, support African countries in exploring the cause of independent modernisation, and provide new opportunities for Africa through its development. China will continue to promote synergies between the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiatives together with AU’s Agenda 2063, as well as the development strategies of African countries, in order to support Africa in achieving sustainable development.

A reliable partner

In 2013, President Xi Jinping visited Africa on his first overseas trip after assuming the presidency, and put forward the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and to take the right approach to friendship and interests in developing China-Africa relations, stressing that “China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future.” In 2018, President Xi Jinping formally proposed “building an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future” at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, which was unanimously endorsed by African leaders. 

China-Africa community with a shared future is the earliest idea of a regional community with a shared future. It has pioneered the practice of a community with a shared future, promoted the building of a community with a shared future in multiple dimensions, and revealed the bright prospect of a community with a shared future for mankind. Under the joint leadership and promotion of President Xi Jinping and African leaders, China-Africa relations have entered a new era of building an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future, which has become a model for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

As a resounding brand of China-Africa cooperation, FOCAC plays an important role in promoting the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future and has become a banner to lead international cooperation with Africa and promote South-South cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China has been deeply synergised with the AU’s Agenda 2063. China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for several consecutive years. Large-scale infrastructure projects such as railways, highways, ports and electric power, which China aided or participated in, have continuously benefitted the African people. Flagship projects such as the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway and the African CDC Headquarters have greatly helped improve African people’s livelihood and already become monuments of China-Africa friendship. 

China has always been the most reliable partner of African countries, from coping with natural disasters together to fully implementing the G20 debt relief initiative, and from improving health and reducing poverty to digital innovation and green development. The next FOCAC meeting will be held in Beijing in September. Leaders of China and African members of the Forum will get together to discuss China-Africa cooperation in the new era.

Standing at a new historical starting point, under the strategic guidance of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, with building a community with a shared future for mankind as ultimate goal, extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits as cooperation principle, China will work with Africa to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, embrace challenges and achieve common prosperity to usher in bright future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress for the world.

The author is Head of Mission of China to the African Union.

This article was first published in Ethiopian News Agency, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, and Capital.