Together through the wind and rain, the construction of a Latin China-Americ Shared Future Community: Practice and Future Prospects

The initiative of the community of future shared for humanity:

an effort for global harmonious development

The concept of “community shared future for humanity” has become a central Chinese foreign policy pillar as to international peace and security defense as the United Nations objectives and promoting economic cooperation with developing countries. The Chinese proposal emphasizes that no country will be able to achieve successes in confronting contemporary challenges, such as regional conflicts, economic inequality and climate crisis, if you insist on facing them isolatedly. International cooperation is essential for common prosperity.

I. The foundation of the three global initiatives of China

The concept of global community shared has served as the foundation for other global initiatives in China. THE Global development initiativepresented at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, on September 21, 2021, it aims to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, injecting new motritis forces for sustainable global development. There is also GLOBAL SAFETY INITIATIVEproposed during the Boao Forum, on April 21, 2022, and the Global civilization initiativepresented in a video conferencing at the high level meeting of the CCP with political parties from various countries, with the theme Path for Modernization: the responsibility of political parties, on March 15, 2023.

The Chinese proposal has been translated into concrete actions by the government. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China assumed a proactive position in maintaining international peace and security. Over the past ten years, the country has actively participated in the United Nations Peace Missions and has become one of the largest troop suppliers for the UN’s peace missions among the permanent members of the Security Council. Their forces have been highlighted to regions such as Africa and the Middle East, acting in peacekeeping operations, deminating and humanitarian assistance.

The country is also a key force in peace missions, assuming responsibilities as a large nation in the international community and being the second largest contributor to the UN quotas. In addition, China has established training centers to enable developing country troops in peace operations, sharing expertise and strengthening global conflict response capacity. This active participation reflects Chinese commitment to international stability and peaceful resolution of disputes.

Side by side with initiatives aimed at maintaining peace, the concept of shared future community materializes in economic cooperation initiatives with other countries in the world. In fact, China has played a crucial role in promoting economic development in emerging countries, especially through the belt and route (ICR) initiative.

The Cinturão and Route (ICR) initiative is composed by the Silk Rota Economic Belt and the 21st century Silk Maritime Route, launched, respectively, in September and October 2013 by President XI Jinping. ICR aims to connect its participating countries from Asia, Europe, Africa and even the Americas through infrastructure networks that promote trade and exchange of people, boosting economic development. Approximately 140 countries joined ICR, benefiting from investments in ports, railways, roads and industrial parks, promoting common development.

China has established specific banks and funds, such as the Infrastructure Investment Asian Bank (AIIB) and the Seda Route Fund, to fund projects in developing countries. These investments have been vital to nations with limited resources, supporting the construction of essential infrastructures. In addition to financial investment, China has shared technology and expertise in areas such as renewable energy, agriculture and manufacturing, helping countries modernize their economies and promote sustainable development. This cooperation is another practical manifestation of the shared future community, promoting joint growth and favoring the development of global southern countries.

Finally, the Chinese government has made two commitments in its foreign policy that are in line with the concept of “shared future community” to pursue “universal harmony” and “reform and improve the system of international governance”. The first of these is to abandon “the old path of colonialism and hegemonism.” In defense of this commitment, the Chinese government underlines that it has not caused a single war or conflict to impose its rules and values, and which is signatory to more than twenty multilateral treaties on weapons control and disarmament, including the non-village treaty of nuclear weapons. The second commitment is to “promote greater democracy in international relations and make global governance fairer and more equitable.” In practical terms, this commitment is materialized in defending the reform of some international organizations – especially from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the UN. The participation of developing countries in decision-making processes in these international organizations is to be expanded, giving them greater legitimacy and increasing their ability to fulfill their institutional objectives.

Facing the international order, President XI Jinping says: “International governance must be based on the rules and consensus achieved among all countries, rather than obeying the orders dictated by a single or a handful of countries.” China supports the growing claim of developing countries for more space in the concert of nations and translates their support into initiatives such as “BRICS+”.

II. Democratization of international relations

In addition to the defense of greater participation of developing countries in international instances, there is in Chinese diplomatic discourse the proposal to adopt more democratic methods in international negotiations. These methods of diplomatic action boil down in three words: 共商 (Gamshāng), co-construction (Galvanan) e Share (GOODE). Gamshāng (共商) means “discussion together” and highlights the importance of Extensive consultation between the parties in the search for convergence of common positions and interests. All countries must be heard and their needs considered. From a common interest, however small, a relationship that can give rise to other major projects of cooperation develops. Once an agreement has reached, the parties must “cooperate together” – this is the sense of Galvanan (共建). In other words, there must be joint contributions In order to earn mutual benefits. THE Benefit sharing (shared, GOODE) It is the essence of win-win cooperation defended by the Chinese government. The mention of this diplomatic methodology is exposed in several official documents. The idea of ​​the community of future shared for humanity emphasizes that global governance should be characterized by wide joint consultations and contributions to shared benefits, that is, “global issues must be discussed by all, governance systems built by all and the benefits of governance shared by all, so that each country is a participant, contributor and beneficiary of peace and world development”.

Gamshāng (Discussed together), Galvanan (Co-construction) e GOODE (共享) These are methods of diplomatic action that can be universally applicable and more easily accepted for not compromising or interfering with the particularities of each country. These are, therefore, methods that respect the principle of external non -intervention in external matters. The foundations for a democratization of the international system depend on the observance of those methods of diplomatic action in which all parties must participate and benefit from cooperation.

Despite advances, the implementation of the shared future community faces significant challenges. Some countries, alleging geopolitical concerns, see in this proposal a form of expansion of Chinese influence on international order. There are also those who manifest their skepticism about the implementation of the concept in concrete practices that have financial viability and are sustainable for the effective economic development of emerging countries. The ability of Chinese investment receiving countries to manage associated debt is also discussed. In addition, differences in governance systems and cultural values ​​have been used politically by competing powers to generate misunderstandings and obstacles to cooperation between China and the global southern countries.

To overcome these challenges, it is essential to strengthen international dialogue, promote transparency in common projects and ensure that initiatives truly benefit all parties involved. In addition, it is essential to defend the reform of international organizations and the democratization of international relations. While the world faces complex challenges, the view of an interconnected and cooperative global community offers a promising path. In emphasizing the importance of harmony, mutual respect and shared benefit, China invites all nations to participate in this journey towards a better future for all humanity.

But there is one aspect that would like to underline: the low understanding of foreign countries about China’s governance has been a fact used by competing powers, especially the United States, to disseminate doubt about the real intentions of China’s China government and Communist Party with the proposal of a shared future community. The purpose of these Western powers is to generate distrust about the purposes of China foreign policy based on a supposed “Chinese threat.” China has been ignored that China has had a peaceful rise and that its foreign policy is imbued with a holistic and systemic perspective because it believes that all countries are interconnected and that the future of China depends on the joint development of all countries.

The ignorance of other countries about the form of organization of Chinese society is an obstacle that needs to be overcome so that each country’s relations with China can produce mutually beneficial results more broadly and effectively. Therefore, it is time for China to explain to the world the foundations of its political system and its form of social organization. As foreigners have a better understanding of Chinese society, they will understand the meaning and potential of Chinese initiatives. The more the world understands China’s governance system, the more the “Chinese threat” theory loses its narrative strength because it does not have anchoring in reality and the more adherence and support will have the concept of shared future community.

Author:

Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, chief executive editor of China magazine today in Brazil. Professor of International Law and founding member of the BRICS Country Center of the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), and Professor of International Law at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV).