EXPLAINING CHINA’S POSITION

At three major multilateral events in November， the 12th BRICS Summit， the 27th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation （APEC） Economic Leaders Meeting and the 15th Group of 20 （G20） Leaders Summit， President Xi Jinping explained Chinas new development policy and propositions for global economic recovery following the impact of the novel coronavirus disease（COVID-19） pandemic. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefed the state media on them. This is an edited version of his interview：

These three multilateral events were held as the world is coping with the pandemic of a century， a serious global economic recession and a series of turbulences and changes. President Xi Jinping propelled the international community to coordinate COVID-19 control and prevention with economic and social development， cooperate to shape the postpandemic international order， and strengthen global economic governance to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

He put forth 23 important initiatives， proposals and measures， elaborated on Chinas new development paradigm and sent a clear signal that China will pursue high-quality development while continuing to further open up to the outside world.

Solidarity against COVID-19

With COVID-19 still raging around the world， Xi called for upholding the concept of peoplecentered development and putting people and life first. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons in fighting COVID-19 and all countries should replace differences with solidarity， eliminate prejudice with rationality， and work together.

He called on all parties to support the leading role of the World Health Organization （WHO） in the combat， strengthen joint prevention and control and telemedicine， and share the experience of using digital technology in fighting COVID-19 and achieving economic recovery. An international recognition mechanism for health codes should be built and a global firewall built against the pandemic jointly.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccines， he reaffirmed that China will continue to support and participate in international cooperation， share its achievements with others， particularly developing countries， and work to make vaccines a global public good accessible and affordable to people around the world.

China has set up a BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Center to advance collective vaccine research and trials， authorize production and recognize each others standards among the five-member organization of Brazil， Russia， India， China and South Africa. Xi proposed a BRICS symposium on traditional medicine to explore its role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

He also reiterated support for the WHObacked COVAX Facility， the global alliance to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Economic recovery solutions

Affected by the pandemic， the world economy is on the brink of recession. International trade and investment has shrunk considerably， the flow of goods and personnel has been impeded， and the global industrial and supply chains have been impacted. This year， the incidence of global extreme poverty will increase， for the first time in 20 years.

Xi， referring to Chinas successful efforts in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development， and taking the lead in resuming work and production and reviving economic growth， put forward a package of solutions to facilitate global economic recovery. His four keywords were openness， innovation， inclusiveness and green.

Open development. Using the pandemic to pursue de-globalization will hurt the common interests of all. The international community should stand firm on building an open world economy， uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization （WTO） at its core， and reject the abuse of the national security concept for protectionist purpose.

The principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries should be followed， poverty alleviation and development should be promoted through trade， and developing countries should be helped to better integrate into the global market. Coordination on macroeconomic policy should be strengthened， cross-border flow of people and goods facilitated， and safety and smoothness of industrial and supply chains ensured. Trade liberalization for important medical supplies should be promoted and tariffs and barriers removed.

Innovative development. The digital economy is the direction of future development and innovation is its wing. Digitalization should be leveraged to facilitate poverty alleviation， more digital channels should be provided to help vulnerable groups get out of poverty， and the digital gap among different areas should be eliminated.

All parties should leverage the new business forms and models triggered by the pandemic， increase investment in the development of digital infrastructure， strengthen cooperation in scientific and technological innovation， and unleash the potential of the digital economy.

This proposal was the consensus of the G20 and written into its declaration for the first time. It is also reflected in the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040， APECs new blueprint after the first one in 1996.

Inclusive development. The international community should place the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the heart of international development cooperation and make poverty eradication a primary goal， so that more resources are channeled to poverty reduction， education， health and infrastructure development.

Comprehensive and balanced policies should be adopted to implement the G20 Emergency Response Packages to Facilitate the Recovery of Developing Countries From COVID-19， providing developing countries with necessary financing support and promoting infrastructure and connectivity construction.

Xi also spoke about the actions taken by China to promote inclusive development and implement the G20s Debt Service Suspension Initiative that offers to temporarily suspend the government-to-government debt repayments of 73 countries. He stressed that China will help other developing countries to pull through the difficulties with practical steps by leveraging its own strengths， so that its development benefits a wider group of people.

Green development. Global warming will not stop due to COVID-19. To tackle climate change， the international community must never relax efforts. All parties need to implement the Paris Agreement， stick to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities， and provide more help to developing countries， particularly the small island developing states.

Xi described the initiatives to be taken by China to further curtail the production and use of non-essential， disposable plastic goods， as well as the ban on illegal trade in wildlife. China will keep its promise on scaling up its nationally determined contributions for greenhouse gas reduction.

Global economic governance

COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses of the global economic governance system. A key task for the G20 is to step up coordination to promote strong， sustainable， balanced and inclusive growth of the world economy. Xi expounded Chinas propositions on global economic governance at the G20 Summit.

The guiding ideas. Based on the principle of extensive consultation， joint contribution and shared benefits for guiding global governance， he proposed to uphold multilateralism， pursue openness and inclusiveness， promote mutually beneficial cooperation and keep pace with the times. He called on the international community to support the UNs authority and standing， follow the purposes and principles of its charter， uphold the international order underpinned by international law， and support the UN in more effectively building global consensus， mobilizing global resources and coordinating global actions.

Improving rules and mechanisms. It should be ensured that the rules-based multilateral trading system is transparent， non-discriminatory， open and inclusive. The effectiveness and authority of the WTO should be enhanced， and free trade promoted. It is es- sential to uphold fair competition， and protect the development rights， interests and space of developing countries.

Efforts are needed to continue the reform of the international financial system， conclude the International Monetary Funds （IMF） 16th General Review of Quotas on schedule and expand the role of the special drawing rights （SDRs）. The SDRs are the IMFs supplementary foreign exchange reserve assets， which include the renminbi. The global financial safety net should be buttressed， and the representation and voice of developing countries raised.

A higher premium upon the digital economy. Digital governance is new to global economic governance， and there are many gaps to fill up. To address concerns on data security， digital divide， personal privacy and ethics， countries should adopt people-centered and facts-based policies to encourage innovation and build trust， support the UNs leadership role in this field， and work together to foster an open， fair， just and non-discriminatory environment for building the digital economy.

China may， on the basis of the Global Initiative on Data Security， join other parties in discussing and formulating rules on global digital governance. The initiative was launched by China in September to govern the collection and use of data by the government as well as the private sector. It will support increased dialogue on artificial intelligence and discuss developing the standards and principles for central bank digital currencies with an open and accommodating attitude.

BRICS cooperation

The BRICS cooperation embodies the call of developing countries to build a more just and reasonable international order. Xi made it clear at the BRICS Summit that member countries must uphold multilateralism， safeguard the UNcentered international system， and oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction.

It is important that countries respect each others choices of social system， economic model and development path consistent with their national conditions. Global development partnerships that are more equal and balanced， and prioritize peoples livelihood should be fostered.

China is engaging in international cooperation on COVID-19 vaccine research and development. Chinese companies are working with their Russian and Brazilian partners on phase-three clinical trials of vaccines， and China is prepared to work with South Africa and India as well. China will consider providing vaccines to BRICS countries where there is a need.

To overcome the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy， BRICS countries promoted cooperation with three main drivers—the economy， politics and security， and people-to-people exchanges. Xi recognized these efforts and proposed a series of initiatives.

He pointed out that BRICS countries need to deepen practical economic and trade cooperation， push ahead their partnership on the new industrial revolution， implement the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025， and accelerate negotiations for the New Development Banks membership expansion.

The BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution innovation center will be opened in Xiamen， Fujian Province in southeast China， and the BRICS Seminar on Governance and the BRICS Civil Forum will be held via video link. Xi also proposed a BRICS Women Innovation Competition under the framework of the BRICS Women Business Alliance.

Asia-Pacific community

The Asia-Pacific region， the worlds most dynamic and promising economy， has increasingly become the hope for global recovery and development.

Xi said the region should， based on the new starting point of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040， uphold multilateralism， maintain regional peace and stability， and advance regional economic integration to build the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific at an early date.

Member economies need to implement the APEC Connectivity Blueprint to facilitate the smooth， safe and orderly flow of people， goods， capital and data and achieve seamless connectedness， and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness， innovationdriven growth， greater connectivity， and mutually beneficial cooperation.

He emphasized that China welcomes the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and will favorably consider joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

New development pattern

The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in October adopted recommendations for the 14th Five-Year Plan （2021-25） and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. They call for accelerating a new development paradigm with the domestic market as the mainstay and domestic and international markets reinforcing each other.

During the three meetings， Xi explained the reason for the new development pattern， its characteristics and implications for the world at large.

The new pattern is a strategic decision made based on the current stage and conditions of development in China and with full consideration given to economic globalization and changes in the external environment. The main purpose is to expand domestic demand as a strategic priority， largely promoting scientific and technological innovation， and deepening reform to provide a more lasting driving force for Chinas long-term economic development and a stable world economic recovery.

China is already deeply integrated into the global economy and the international system and will not reverse course or run against the historical trend by decoupling or forming a small circle to keep others out. The new development pattern does not pursue a closed-door circulation， but better connectivity between domestic and international markets， a new system of open economy of higher standards， and wider， broader and deeper opening up.

China will also continue to pursue highquality Belt and Road cooperation with its partners， contributing to global cooperation， public health security， recovery and growth.