Significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy in Combating COVID-19 with Solidarity

Ruan Zongze

The Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is a momentous achievement of epoch-making significance in the development of New China’s diplomatic theories. It is an important system of thought that is scientific， up to date， advanced and action-oriented. Nowadays， the once-ina-century pandemic and unprecedented changes are unfolding in parallel and impacting each other， catalyzing evolution of the international configuration of powers. This profoundly attests to Xi Jinping’s accurate judgment and insightful idea that the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century， and stresses the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously threatened human public health and caused a complex global crisis. The world economy is engulfed into a deep recession and economic globalization has suffered setbacks. Governance deficit， trust deficit， development deficit， and peace deficit are all on the increase. The world is facing a major choice. Should we help each other or adopt a beggar-thy-neighbor attitude？ Should we be concerned with the rest of the world， or should we let it be and think only of ourselves？ Should we move towards multilateralism or unilateralism？

At this critical moment in history， General Secretary of the Communist Party of China （CPC） Xi Jinping presided over and commanded the overall situation， giving top priority to people’s lives and health， ensuring that China achieves major strategic results in both epidemic control and economic recovery. China successfully won the battle against the novel coronavirus and the international “political virus，” safeguarding national security and maintaining global stability. Xi Jinping has engaged in intensive head-of-state diplomacy and put forward important proposals and propositions through video appearances， phone calls and letters， which has enriched the narrative of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics， strongly promoted international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic， strengthened global governance， and fashioned the economic and social development in the post-pandemic era， making the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

Joining Hands to Fight the Pandemic and Overcome Difficulties

In the face of the pandemic， everyone is a victim. Only by respecting science， treasuring life， working together， and eliminating interference can we overcome the challenge of the pandemic. China upholds the concept of building a global community of health for all， and calls for unity in fighting the pandemic. China fully supports the World Health Organization （WHO） to play a leading role， and works with the international community to help each other and jointly fight the pandemic， writing a new chapter of solidarity and cooperation.

Putting people first and forging a great anti-epidemic spirit

The Communist Party of China represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people. The people have the greatest confidence in the party’s governance， and that represents the deepest foundation for that governance. The fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee adopted the Proposals for Formulating the 14th FiveYear Plan （2021-2025） for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. The Proposals identify people-centered development as one principle that must be followed in economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year period.1

The sudden and unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health emergency. The virus has spread faster and wider than any other since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949， and has proven to be the most difficult to contain.2 In the face of such complex and severe challenges， General Secretary Xi Jinping personally presided over and commanded the overall situation， and resolutely made critical decisions， which strengthened the confidence， pooled the energy， and pointed the direction for the Chinese people in fighting the pandemic. Under the leadership of the CPC， the whole nation has followed the general principle of “remaining confident， coming together in solidarity， adopting a sciencebased approach， and taking targeted measures，” and waged an all-out people’s war on the virus.3 In this life-and-death contest against the pandemic， the Chinese people raced against time and battled with the disease. With the fearless spirit of daring to fight and daring to win， they have molded a great spirit in combating the pandemic， which features putting people’s lives first， nationwide solidarity， a spirit of sacrifice， respecting science and a sense of mission for humanity. As Xi said， “We are willing to do whatever it takes to protect people’s lives！”4

Life is priceless and the most precious thing. To protect people’s right to life and health is to protect human rights. Whether it is an old man or a child， China treats patients equally and spares no effort in treating patients and saving lives， and quickly made major strategic achievements in the national battle against the pandemic. Xi Jinping stressed that facing the virus， we should put people and their lives first. We should mobilize all resources to make a science-based and targeted response. No case should be missed and no patient left untreated. The spread of the virus must be contained.5 This great anti-epidemic spirit is a vivid portrayal of the CPC’s philosophy of putting people first and exercising governance for the people， and is an important part of China’s future economic and social development guidelines.

China successfully won the battle against COVID-19 in a relatively short period of time. After this battle， the Chinese system has fully demonstrated its significant advantages and won the heartfelt support of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups. Under the strong and powerful CPC leadership， the Chinese people have erupted with an astonishing force of unity， fearlessness， and invincibility under the difficult circumstances，and built a great wall to protect people’s lives and health. In this big test， China has created the miracle of taking the lead in bringing COVID-19 under control， resuming work and production， and reopening school and market， and has witnessed its economic growth shift from negative to positive. It demonstrated the Chinese spirit and confidence， strengthened China’s international influence， and put China in a more proactive and advantageous position. China insists on putting people and their lives first， and consistently upholds the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. It is not only responsible for the safety and health of its own people， but is also responsible for global public health. The major achievements of the Chinese people’s hard work in the fight against the pandemic are not only China’s success， but also the world’s success， which injects strong confidence in the global fight against COVID-19.

Advocating a community of health for all， and pointing direction for international fight against the pandemic

The COVID-19 epidemic in many places around the world has seriously threatened the lives and health of people in all countries. Xi Jinping upholds the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind， actively engages in intensive head-of-state diplomacy and promotes international cooperation in the prevention and control of major infectious diseases， engendering hope in the international community to walk out of the shadow of the pandemic. Whether talking with leaders of other countries or attending international conferences， Xi Jinping emphasized that in order to maintain human health and well-being， China will work with other countries to promote the development of global public health. During a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron in March 2020， Xi Jinping proposed to “support the central role of the UN and the WHO in improving global public health governance， with a view to building a community of shared health for mankind.”6 On May 18， Xi Jinping delivered a speech via video link at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly， putting forward suggestions on strengthening epidemic prevention and control， and calling for building a community of shared health for mankind. He said， “The history of human civilization is one of fighting diseases and tiding over disasters. The virus does not respect borders. Nor is race or nationality a factor in the face of the disease. Confronted by the ravages of COVID-19， the international community has not flinched. The people of all countries have tackled the virus head on. Around the world， people have looked out for each other and pulled together as one. With love and compassion， we have forged extraordinary synergy in the fight against COVID-19.”7 The white paper “Fighting COVID-19： China in Action，” published by China’s State Council Information Office， pointed out that China is fighting the pandemic with the idea that the world is a global community of shared future. “As long as the world’s peoples can cherish hopes and dreams， can embrace the idea of a global community of shared future， and can unite in pursuit of a common goal， we will be able to overcome all our current difficulties and challenges， and build a better world for all.”8 The reason why China is actively building a global community of shared health is that all countries are interdependent and none can remain immune from a global public health threat， and therefore we have to consider our response from the perspective that we share a common future.

To promote international cooperation， Xi Jinping put forth four proposals at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit. First， we need to be resolute in fighting an all-out global war against the COVID-19 outbreak. Second， we need to make a collective response for control and treatment at the international level. Third， we need to support international organizations in playing their active roles. Fourth， we need to enhance international macro-economic policy coordination.9 The proposals emphasize the global nature of the pandemic and the urgency of international cooperation to jointly tackle the pandemic. Working together to fight the pandemic and making a collective response for control and treatment at the international level is indispensable. The G20， which was born as a response to the financial crisis， includes major economies in the world， and it is necessary for it to play a leading role in confronting the global public health crisis. Facing the oncein-a-century pandemic， it is all the more urgent and important to build a global community with a shared future. Only by cooperating and responding together can the international community overcome the pandemic and protect the common home of mankind.

As Xi Jinping emphasized， the COVID-19 outbreak is a fresh reminder that mankind rise and fall together. In the era of economic globalization， it will not be the last major emergency， and mankind will continue to be tested by various traditional and non-traditional security challenges. The international community must recognize that mankind has a shared destiny and future and must therefore look out for each other and marshal a collective response to global challenges， and “make the planet – our only home – a better place for all.”10 China’s announcement of joining the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access （COVAX） initiative is a measure to fulfill its commitment to making the vaccine an international public good， and especially in sharing it with developing countries.

Supporting the WHO’s leading role and opposing politicizing the pandemic

Virus knows no borders or races. No country can wall itself off from its impact. Only by cooperating and responding together can we overcome this pandemic. In strengthening the global fight against the pandemic and advancing international joint prevention and control， the key leadership role of the World Health Organization is indispensable. China always firmly supports the WHO in leading the global efforts. In line with an open， transparent， and responsible attitude， China maintains close cooperation with the WHO and has reported to the WHO and relevant countries and regions on the epidemic in a timely manner. China held no reservations about sharing its best practices in epidemic prevention and control as well as the treatment of patients with the WHO and the international community.

In his reply to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on March 26， 2020， Xi Jinping stated that China would continue to firmly support the WHO’s active role in leading the international cooperation against the outbreak. He once again called on all countries to support the WHO’s role at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit. The Group of 77 （G77） and China also issued a joint statement expressing their support for the WHO in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As Xi Jinping summarized later in the year at the BRICS summit， “What is important is that we put people’s lives and health first， mobilize all resources and do everything we can to protect people’s safety and well-being. It is important to step up international coordination and response， and share information and epidemic control experience to stop the virus in its tracks. It is important that we support the WHO’s crucial leadership role in this endeavor.”11 China has taken concrete actions to support the WHO in global anti-epidemic cooperation. Amid the pandemic， supporting the WHO means saving lives.

In order to win the battle against the global pandemic， China firmly opposes any words and deeds that attempt to weaken the WHO， and fights the “political virus” that politicizes and attaches a geographical label to the epidemic， or even stigmatizes a specific country. This is also the universal consensus of the international community. At the 75th session of the United Nations （UN） General Assembly， the leaders of most countries emphasized that the need to unite and cooperate， uphold multilateralism and support the WHO to play a leading role， while opposing unilateralism， protectionism， power politics， and stigmatization. China echoed the communique adopted by the Non-Aligned Movement， which supports the WHO and DirectorGeneral Tedros in performing their duties and opposes the politicization of COVID-19.

Blame-shifting will not help focus on pandemic response， but only divides the international community and jeopardizes international antiepidemic cooperation. “What has happened shows that acts of politicization， stigmatization， blame-shifting and scapegoating only serve to disrupt overall global cooperation against the virus. We need to overcome division with unity， replace bias with reason and stamp out the ‘political virus.’In this way， we will pool the maximum global synergy to beat the virus.”12 When the international community was most needed to unite to fight the pandemic， the United States insisted on pursuing unilateralism and bullying， and threatened to suspend funds for the WHO， severely restricting global epidemic prevention and control. Some people in the US sought to smear and suppress China by hyping up the pandemic， but it was not only in vain， but also delayed the opportunity for epidemic prevention and control in the US. The epidemic has not become China’s “Chernobyl moment，”but has become the “Waterloo defeat” of the US. The US has become the most severely affected country in the world， and the number of deaths from COVID-19 in the US has exceeded the country’s death toll during World War II. This once again shows that in the era of globalization， if we attempt to look on at others’ trouble or even seek benefit at the expense of others， we will eventually suffer the consequences ourselves.

Actively strengthening dialogues with major powers and promoting anti-pandemic cooperation

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 presents dizzying challenges.Whether major countries can cooperate in response is of great importance. China maintains close communication and exchanges with Russia， other BRICS countries， and European countries， and they have reached important consensus on upholding multilateralism， supporting the UN and the WHO’s leadership role， and strengthening and improving global governance.

China and Russia have supported each other in safeguarding the UN’s central role， consolidating the victory results of World War II， helping each other in fighting the pandemic， and opposing stigmatization. They have become a stable force in maintaining the international order. In the past year， Xi Jinping had five phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin， leading the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era. Xi commended the mutual support and assistance the two countries gave each other at the most trying time of the COVID-19 challenge， an endeavor which added strategic substance to China-Russia relations in the new era.13 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang cochaired the 25th regular meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin via video link. Li pointed out that the two countries have made joint efforts in upholding the international order with the United Nations as the core and championing multilateralism and free trade， which serves the interests of not only the two countries but also the world.14

The year 2020 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union （EU）. It is of strategic significance for China and the EU to strengthen cooperation to jointly respond to global challenges such as the pandemic and climate change， improve global governance， and build an open world economy together. As Xi Jinping pointed out in his phone conversation with Macron， China-EU cooperation is gaining more global and strategic significance under the new circumstances. No matter how the international situation changes， China is committed to promoting the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations and hopes that the EU will implement a positive policy towards China.15 On September 14， 2020， Xi co-hosted a China-Germany-European Union leaders’ meeting via video link with German Chancellor Angela Merkel， whose country then held the EU’s rotating presidency， President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Leaders of China， Germany and the EU exchanged in-depth views on China-EU relations and the direction and key areas for China-EU cooperation in the next stage. Xi proposed four principles the two sides should adhere to for developing China-EU relationship： peaceful coexistence， openness and cooperation， multilateralism， and dialogue and consultation.16 The principles are not only the important consensus reached between China and the EU on jointly combating the COVID-19 pandemic， but they also serve as principles for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in the post-pandemic era. China-EU relations have been given impetus by expanding cooperation areas， strengthening green partnerships and digital partnerships， and building new cooperation platforms. On December 30， 2020， leaders of China and the EU jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations on the ChinaEU bilateral investment treaty as scheduled， which would raise the level of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides and help the recovery and development of the world economy.

When the financial crisis erupted in 2008， China and the United States worked together to successfully save the world economy. However， the current pandemic has exacerbated frictions between the two countries and made China-US relations fall to the lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic ties. The anti-China forces in the US have been going against the trend of the times， scapegoating China to cover up their ineffective response to the pandemic. Their stigmatization of China and shifting of blame and responsibility has created a “political virus” that hampers global antipandemic response and economic recovery. Despite all this， China has shown deep sympathy for the American people suffering from the pandemic， and exported a large number of medical supplies to the US to help the American people tide over the difficulties. While firmly defending its national honor and dignity， China has been vigorously promoting multilateralism， safeguarding international fairness and justice， and uniting the international community to fight the pandemic and restore the economy， thus standing on the right side of history. In his congratulation to Joe Biden on election as US president， Xi Jinping expressed hope that the two sides will uphold the spirit of non-conflict， non-confrontation， mutual respect and win-win cooperation， focus on cooperation， manage differences， advance the healthy and stable development of China-US ties， and join hands with other countries and the international community to promote the noble cause of world peace and development.17 China firmly believes that the common interests of the two sides outweigh their differences. Cooperation serves the interests of the two countries and conflict can only hurt both. Cooperation is the only correct choice for China and the US.

Mankind in a New Era of Interconnectivity

The new era and new environment require new actions. In the face of the once-in-a-century global public health crisis， Xi Jinping grasps the underlying trend of human history， bears in mind the big picture of global public health security， and actively advocates the building of a community of shared health for all， thus enriching the implications of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and facilitating global efforts to defeat COVID-19 with solidarity and cooperation. By so doing， China has stood on the high ground of international morality.

Rejecting clique politics and zero-sum thinking

Since the beginning of the 21st century， the economy and technology have developed by leaps and bounds. Globalization has changed the world and brought about tremendous changes in time and space. At the same time， cross-border challenges and risks keep emerging， and the destinies of countries are closely interconnected， making it necessary for them to work together to safeguard global public health security. In fact， China’s implementation of the people-centered concept is to put human safety first.

From the perspective of the fundamental interests of human society and common security， Xi Jinping’s concept of a big global family illuminates the light of hope for international anti-pandemic cooperation. “COVID-19 reminds us that we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake.… [W]e should embrace the vision of a community with a shared future in which everyone is bound together. We should reject attempts to build blocs to keep others out and oppose a zero-sum approach. We should see each other as members of the same big family， pursue winwin cooperation， and rise above ideological disputes and not fall into the trap of ‘clash of civilizations’. More importantly， we should respect a country’s independent choice of development path and model. The world is diverse in nature， and we should turn this diversity into a constant source of inspiration driving human advancement. This will ensure that human civilizations remain colorful and diversified.”18 Global problems can only be resolved by multilateralism and the concept of community is the foundation.“Mankind has entered a new era of interconnectedness， with countries sharing intertwined interests and their future closely linked together. Global threats and global challenges require strong， global responses.”19 Unilateralism and beggar-thy-neighbor attitudes cannot bring security to any country. Only when everyone is safe can countries have their own security. Specifically， in response to the challenges of the pandemic， we must carry out international cooperation in joint prevention and control. In his meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on September 23， 2020， Xi Jinping pointed out， China firmly supports the UN system in strengthening international cooperation in COVID-19 prevention and containment. China will honor its commitment to make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good after putting them into use following the completion of vaccine development. China will contribute to the vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.20

Now that mankind is entering a new era of interconnectivity， it is all the more important for us to help each other. In order to support all countries in fighting the pandemic， China has unreservedly shared experience with all parties and provided assistance to the international community to the full extent within its capacity. It has engaged in an emergency humanitarian action on a scale unseen in the history of the People’s Republic. By striving for the resumption of work and production， China has been able to provide assistance for over 150 countries and international organizations in a timely manner， deliver a large number of medical supplies， thus saving countless lives. In so doing， China demonstrates the international humanitarian spirit and shoulders its responsibility as a major country in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Upholding international fairness and justice and improving the global governance system

The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. It is of great practical significance to strengthen and improve global governance， uphold multilateralism， safeguard the UN’s authority， and abide by the spirit of the UN Charter. COVID-19 is a major test of the governance capacity of countries； it is also a test of the global governance system.21 The spread of the pandemic reflects the urgent need for reform and improvement of the global governance system. Upholding international fairness and justice， advocating equality before the rules， adhering to the principle of wide consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits， and getting rid of the“l(fā)aw of the jungle” is the only path to improving global governance under current circumstances. As Xi Jinping stressed， “[T]he pandemic has magnified the problems of maladaptation and mismatch in the global governance system. All sides should consider how to improve it rather than trying to tearing it down and setting up another one. There is only one system in the world， that is， the UN-centered international system and there is only one set of rules， namely the basic norms of international relations based on the UN Charter.”22 When new problems and challenges keep emerging， the role of the United Nations needs to be strengthened rather than weakened， and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter need to be upheld rather than discarded. China’s statement of position is a summary and affirmation of the successful experience of the United Nations over the past half-century， and it is also an expectation for the UN to further play its central role in the future. In short， supporting the United Nations means supporting multilateralism and improving global governance. However， some countries have adopted a stance of engaging in global governance only when it suits their needs. Their withdrawal from international agreements and organizations and rejection of the WHO’s role has made global cooperation difficult. In the global battle against the pandemic， the country most vigorously practising unilateralism is precisely the country that has failed to fight the pandemic and become a negative example.

Global governance of human health has become a new mission. At present， the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is increasing by more than 600，000 every day around the world， and the number of COVID-19 deaths is increasing by tens of thousands daily. The difficulty of prevention and control of the pandemic is unprecedented. Even if there is a vaccine， victory over the virus cannot be achieved overnight. It is urgent to strengthen global coordination and cooperation. It should also be noted that the pandemic brings challenges as well as new opportunities for cooperation by increasing the urgency of improving global governance. Given the increasing risks of global issues and the prominence of non-traditional security threats in the era of globalization， there is an urgent need for collective action of the international community. Issues such as public health security， climate change， terrorism， and the widening gap between the rich and the poor all require joint action by the international community. As Xi Jinping pointed out， global governance should be based on the principle of extensive consultation， joint cooperation and shared benefits so as to ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights and opportunities and follow the same rules. The global governance system should adapt itself to evolving global political and economic dynamics， meet global challenges and embrace the underlying trend of peace， development and win-win cooperation.23 China is a committed supporter， active participant and important contributor to multilateral cooperation as witnessed in its activities in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization， the BRICS cooperation mechanism， the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the G20. The active role of these multilateral institutions is conducive to strengthening and improving global governance. China has put forward the Global Initiative on Data Security， which aims at improving global digital governance. China has also made new advances in climate governance that features cooperation and win-win solutions.

International significance of China’s new development paradigm

While the world is exploring the path forward and searching for a way to revive the world economy in the post-pandemic era， the international community is paying close attention to how China views this and how it responds. Xi Jinping is active in introducing China’s new development paradigm proposed by the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee， demonstrating the blueprint for China’s future development， explaining to the world the international significance of China’s development， and enhancing international understanding of China’s development path. China will scientifically grasp the new development stage， firmly implement the new development concept， and actively build a new development paradigm， whereby domestic and foreign markets can boost each other with the domestic market as the mainstay. This has increased the transparency and predictability of China’s foreign policy， and will give the international community more reassurance. On November 19， 2020， President Xi Jinping attended the APEC CEO Dialogues in Beijing via video link and delivered a keynote speech entitled “Fostering a New Development Paradigm and Pursuing Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation.” He expounded on the in-depth considerations for fostering a new development paradigm and providing a strong impetus for the world economic recovery. “China is already deeply integrated into the global economy and the international system. By fostering a new development paradigm， we are not pursuing a closed-door circulation， but open and mutually reinforcing domestic and international circulations.”24 As the largest trading partner of more than 130 countries， China supports a transparent， open， inclusive， non-discriminatory， rules-based multilateral trading system represented by the World Trade Organization. In the same speech， Xi pointed out that openness enables a country to move forward， while seclusion holds it back. “In today’s world where economic globalization has become an irreversible trend， no country can develop itself by keeping its doors closed.… We will not reverse course or run against the historical trend by ‘decoupling’ or forming a small circle to keep others out.”25 China’s above-mentioned policy stance announcements are conducive to eliminating misunderstandings and it is clearly and firmly stated that China’s new development paradigm is a high-quality， institutional opening-up under the new situation， aimed at achieving mutual benefit， win-win outcomes and common development.

China has made active efforts to deepen its partnerships with neighboring countries and build closer regional cooperation. Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic， the Asia-Pacific economy experienced negative growth for the first time in the past 30 years in 2020， with increasing downside pressure. In response， China has taken more proactive actions to accelerate the pace of Asia-Pacific regional cooperation. Even if disrupted by the pandemic， China firmly advocates the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness， innovation-driven growth， greater connectivity， and mutually beneficial cooperation. “We need to accelerate innovation-driven growth， enhance regional connectivity， and realize inclusive and sustainable development. Step by step， we can surely turn our vision into reality and deliver a better life for people in the region.”26 In fact， a strategy to “elevate the free trade zones and building a high-standard free trade area network with global reach” was highlighted in the Proposals for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan.27 At the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo， Xi Jinping further indicated： “China stands ready to conclude high-standard free trade agreements with more countries in the world. We will work for the early signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership （RCEP）.”28 China’s subsequent official signing of the RCEP marks the birth of the world’s largest free trade bloc featuring the largest population， the most diverse membership and the greatest development potential. This is a vote of confidence in multilateralism and a milestone in the process of East Asian regional economic integration. It will consolidate the important position of the Asia-Pacific region in the global economic and trade landscape. The free trade relationship between China and Japan within the RCEP framework will also facilitate the establishment of a China-Japan-Korea free trade area. In addition， China indicated that it will consider favorably joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership （CPTPP）. This decision is bound to further inject strong impetus into Asia-Pacific regional integration and create greater development space for Asia-Pacific cooperation. China’s new development paradigm will integrate China’s interests more closely with the interests of the international community. In other words， China’s opportunity is the world’s opportunity， and missing China means missing the future.

China as a Provider of International Public Goods

The once-in-a-century pandemic has proven the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind， and solidarity and cooperation are the powerful weapons to overcome the pandemic. How to balance epidemic prevention and control with economic recovery and how to help developing countries with their economic and social development in the post-pandemic era is still a severe test and requires the collaboration of the international community. China has stepped up quickly， successfully controlled the epidemic， reversed its economic downturn， and made major contributions to international anti-pandemic efforts and economic recovery. It has given hope to the international community and inspired people to overcome the difficulties together.

Enhancing confidence in defeating the virus

As the pandemic continues to spread around the world， a pessimistic mood is growing. Some people have proposed to overcome the pandemic through “herd immunity” and some have even raised a white flag in surrender to the virus. Whether it is “herd immunity” or capitulationism， it shows total indifference to the value of life， and is tantamount to a massacre. In the United States， the novel coronavirus， which has been out of control，has taken over 400，000 lives. The disaster is more man-made than natural. The US leader knew the dangers of the virus from the very beginning， but has deliberately played down and even concealed the truth and misled the people， missing the best opportunity to prevent and control the epidemic. In his book Rage， American journalist Bob Woodward revealed that then US President Donald Trump， who had been portraying the epidemic as just another flu， knew the coronavirus was deadlier than the flu from the very beginning， but concealed the truth and deliberately played down the threat of the epidemic. Under the eyes of the international community， the United States staged a major humanitarian disaster that could have been avoided. However， politicians have been shifting blames and ignoring the lives of the people. This is a great irony for a country based on the belief that “all men are created equal.”

In history， human beings have confronted pandemics many times， and the international community has reached wide-ranging consensus in fighting major epidemics such as AIDS， Ebola， avian influenza and H1N1 influenza， that solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the virus. In the big test of the COVID-19 pandemic， China was initially faced with a closed-book exam. However， after arduous struggles， it successfully contained the epidemic in a relatively short period of time， showing that the virus can be overcome anyway. It is a huge and valuable encouragement to the international community and is of great significance to global epidemic prevention and control.

Xi Jinping has emphasized on various international occasions the need to build confidence and determination in overcoming the pandemic， and encouraged the international community to bravely shoulder responsibilities with solidarity and collaboration. He pointed out at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly， “The baton of history has been passed to our generation， and we must make the right choice， a choice worthy of the people’s trust and of our times.”29 He stressed at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit， “At such a moment， it is imperative for the international community to strengthen confidence， act with unity and work together in a collective response. We must comprehensively step up international cooperation and foster greater synergy so that humanity as a whole could win the battle against such a major infectious disease.”30 He said at the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo，“The COVID-19 pandemic has added to the instability and uncertainty facing the world economy. However， looking back on history， humanity has always been able to forge ahead despite risks， disasters， and headwinds， and humanity shall and will continue to stride forward.”31 And he stated at the 12th BRICS Summit， “We remain convinced that the theme of our times， peace and development， has not changed， and that the trend toward multipolarity and economic globalization cannot be turned around. We must keep people’s welfare close to heart and pursue the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. Through concrete actions， we will contribute our share to making the world a better place for everyone.”32

The above-mentioned forceful speeches by Xi Jinping demonstrate China’s spirit of never retreating， never giving up， and marching ahead with courage when facing difficulties and challenges. Through its widely recognized practical actions， China has encouraged the international community to overcome the pandemic. As Russian President Vladimir Putin said， China sets a good example for other countries of how to successfully contain COVID-19.33 The outbreak of COVID-19 has proven the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind in an unconventional way. As long as we help each other， we will be able to overcome it.

Scientifically coordinating epidemic control and achieving green economic recovery

At present， countries around the world are facing the dilemma between epidemic control and economic restart. If we lift restrictions too early， the epidemic will probably rebound， which delays both epidemic control and economic recovery. Such examples are not uncommon in the United States and Europe. In the era of interconnectivity， the destinies of people are interdependent， and the performance of epidemic control and economic recovery of any country will surely affect others. As Xi Jinping pointed out，“This pandemic once again shows that the interests of all countries are closely interwoven and that mankind shares a common stake. Indeed， our world is an indivisible community with a shared future. To beat the virus and promote global recovery， we in the international community must close ranks and jointly respond to this crisis and meet the test.”34

China lays emphasis on both epidemic control and economic recovery. It has accumulated valuable experience in scientifically coordinating regular epidemic control with economic and social development. China has worked to ensure stability in employment， finance， foreign trade， foreign investment， domestic investment， and market expectations， and maintain job security， basic living needs， operations of market entities， food and energy security， stable industrial and supply chains， and the normal functioning of primarylevel governments. Together with the new development paradigm of “dual circulation” of domestic and international markets， they embody China’s strategic thinking of accurately recognizing and proactively seeking changes， and show its strong recuperation capabilities and vigorous vitality. The fact that China can take the lead in turning its economy from negative to positive in a relatively short time is a major benefit to the recovery of the world economy. China’s win-win strategy of opening-up will provide a strong impetus for global economic recovery.

China has the world’s most complete and largest industrial system， strong production capacity， and complete supporting capabilities. It has a fast-growing and enormous domestic market and is willing to share it with the world. In the more than 10 years after the financial crisis， China has accounted for more than 30 percent of world economic growth. In the postpandemic era， China will once again become an important engine of the world economy. According to forecast by the International Monetary Fund， the world’s economy would shrink by 4.4 percent while China’s GDP would grow by 1.9 percent in 2020， making it the only major economy expected to grow. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development projected that China would contribute more than 30 percent of the world’s economic recovery. Driven by China’s strong economic rebound， the global economy is expected to return to its pre-pandemic level by the end of 2021.

While effectively preventing and containing the virus， China will continue to facilitate transnational business by launching more fast tracks and green lanes for the exchange of personnel and goods. It will ensure the secure and smooth operation of its industrial and supply chains and help other countries resume production and restart economy. In particular， the new development paradigm will enable China to fully unlock its market potential and create greater demand， as the continuous development of China’s economy and the Chinese people’s pursuit of a better life means higher quality and upgrading of consumption. “This will create more demand for a greater variety of quality products， technologies and services from across the world，”Xi Jinping said at the the 2020 APEC CEO Dialogues， “I am confident that the steady unleashing of the China market potential will create vast business possibilities for other countries， and this will create stronger impetus for maintaining stable growth of the global economy.”35

The once-in-a-century pandemic has triggered a deep reflection on the relationship between man and nature. To ensure mankind’s health， it is necessary to take this relationship into account. In the post-pandemic era，green development and green recovery are the key to success， and building a clean and beautiful world is an important issue. In this sense， not only is mankind a community with a shared future， but man and nature are also a community with a shared future. In the face of global challenges such as health， environment， climate change and food security， we must properly handle the relationship between man and nature， and work to establish harmonious and interdependent relations between the two. China’s new development concept and new development paradigm focus on green and sustainable development. China will scale up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures. It aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060， making contributions to the sustainable development of mankind.36 In his statement at the Climate Ambition Summit， Xi Jinping said， “We need to boost confidence and pursue a new approach to climate governance that highlights green recovery. It is important to encourage green， low-carbon ways of life and production， and seek development opportunities and impetus from green development.”37 Therefore， China actively advocates and promotes cooperation in global climate governance to jointly build a clean and beautiful home on the earth.

Leaving no one behind in epidemic control and development

The essence of building a community of shared health for mankind is the concept of safety for all. As the world’s largest developing country， China attaches great importance to and calls for helping other developing countries in epidemic control and economic recovery， strengthening their ability to fight the pandemic， and overcoming difficulties together. The COVID-19 pandemic has plunged hundreds of millions of people into extreme poverty. If the situation continues to worsen， there will be even more poor people. According to findings released by the United Nations Development Program， severe long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could push an additional 207 million people into extreme poverty on top of the current pandemic trajectory， bringing the total to over 1 billion by 2030.38 Therefore， eliminating the global development deficit remains an arduous task. It is necessary to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development， invest more resources in poverty reduction， education， health and infrastructure construction， and establish more equitable and balanced global development partnerships. In the foreseeable future， strengthening epidemic prevention and control， restarting the economy， and increasing employment will remain the priority agendas of all countries. It is worth mentioning that the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative has lifted more than 7 million people out of extreme poverty. Now， under the premise of joint epidemic control， it is of great significance to ensure that relevant projects continue to operate， which can help countries along the routes to ensure employment and increase income. Despite the pandemic， the number of China-Europe freight trains has increased. By November 5， 2020， the China-Europe Railway Express had run 10，180 cargo trips， exceeding the number of total trips in 2019， and had transported 927，000 twenty-foot equivalent units of cargo， up 54 percent year-on-year. The round-trip comprehensive load factor had reached 98.3 percent. With continuous expansion of the transportation network， the Railway Express had reached 92 cities in 21 European countries. Since 2020， nearly 8 million pieces of medical supplies totaling more than 60，000 metric tons have been transported via the Express. As a life channel in China-Europe anti-pandemic cooperation， the Railway Express has played an important role in maintaining smooth logistics and stable supplies between the two sides amid COVID-19.39 China has signed 201 Belt and Road cooperation documents with 138 countries and 31 international organizations.40 In his APEC CEO Dialogues speech in November 2020， Xi Jinping vowed to make the Belt and Road a model of cooperation， health， recovery and growth.41

China has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled. All the impoverished rural population according to the current poverty standard have been taken out of poverty， effectively solving China’s absolute poverty problem. This is a great feat in human history and has important reference value for developing countries. Combating poverty and fighting the pandemic are both important agendas for solidarity and cooperation between China and other developing countries. Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries. China and Africa have been helping each other and strengthening cooperation in the anti-pandemic battle. At the China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 held via video in June 2020， leaders of China and African countries decided to work together to fight the pandemic and build a China-Africa community of health for all. At the summit， Xi Jinping called for commitment to fighting COVID-19 together， to enhancing China-Africa cooperation， to upholding multilateralism， and to taking China-Africa friendship forward. Within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation， China will cancel the debt of relevant African countries in the form of interest-free government loans that are due to mature by the end of 2020.42 Only by enabling developing countries to achieve faster and better development can the imbalance in global development be truly resolved and a better world be built. This is not only a historical summary of the development of China-Africa relations，but also the guiding ideology for China-Africa cooperation in fighting the pandemic and restoring economic development. Whether in prosperity or adversity， friendship has always been the mainstay of China-Africa relations. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Previously， China’s generous assistance to Africa in fighting major infectious diseases such as malaria， cholera and Ebola was praised by African countries. After the outbreak of COVID-19， African countries have extended valuable help to China， continuing the story of China and Africa sharing a common destiny. The Joint Statement of the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 reiterated opposition to the politicization and stigmatization of the virus and shows the spirit of working in solidarity and collaboration between China and Africa. China will share vaccines with other countries， and African and other developing countries will be among the first to benefit. China will work to make vaccines a global public good accessible and affordable to people around the world. With its own national vaccine R&D center， China will work with other BRICS countries both online and offline to advance collective vaccine research and trials， set up plants， authorize production and recognize each other’s standards.43 China is fighting side by side with other developing countries and has strengthened the consciousness of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Conclusion

As the leader of a major country， Xi Jinping， with his insight into the world situation and foresight， has proposed the building of a community with a shared future for mankind to solve the challenges of profound changes unseen in a century， thus finding new opportunities in crisis and opening up new prospects amid changes. Since entering the new era， China has withstood various challenges， cracked hard nuts and made achievements of historic significance. The CPC Central Committee， in its important judgment on the current situation and major tasks， has pointed out the necessity to coordinate the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the major global changes unseen in a century. It has also called for a deep understanding of the new features and requirements brought about by the changing major contradictions in Chinese society as well as the new contradictions created by the complex international environment. In the face of unilateralism and bullyism， China has firmly supported multilateralism， defended the purposes and principles of the UN Charter， and upheld the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. Amid the global turbulence， China has served as an anchor of stability.

The virus is still spreading around the world， and preventing and controlling the virus remains challenging， complicated and difficult. This crisis is not the only crisis experienced by human society， let alone the last one. It is necessary to put the current pandemic under control， sum up the experience gained， and take precautions for the future. Xi Jinping has put forward new initiatives and expounded new propositions on epidemic prevention and control， economic recovery， support for multilateralism， improvement of global governance， and building a global community of health for all. These initiatives and propositions have promoted the harmonious coexistence of man and nature， and effectively enhanced China’s international voice and strengthened China’s soft power. The Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy sets the direction and provides a source of strength for the Chinese people to forge ahead， blaze new trails and win. Holding high the banner of peace， development， cooperation and mutual benefit， China will continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind， create a good external environment for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation， and make greater contributions to world peace and prosperity.

1 “Proposals for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan （2021-2025） for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035，” State Council of the People’s Republic of China， November 3， 2020， http：//www.gov.cn/xinwen/2020-11/03/content_5556991.htm.

2 The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China， “Fighting COVID-19： China in Action，” Xinhua， June 7， 2020， http：//www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/07/c_139120424.htm.

3 Ibid.

4 “Xi Jinping’s Remarks at the Commendation Conference for National Response to COVID-19，” People’s Daily， September 9， 2020.

5 “Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， September 22， 2020， https：//www.fmprc. gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1817766.shtml.

6 “President Xi Sends Message of Sympathy to President Emmanuel Macron of France，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， March 22， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1759390.shtml.

7 “Speech by President Xi Jinping at the Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly，” Xinhua， May 18， 2020， http：//www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/18/c_139067018.htm.

8 The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China， “Fighting COVID-19： China in Action.”

9 “Working Together to Defeat the COVID-19 Outbreak： Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， March 26， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/ mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1761899.shtml.

10 “President Xi Speaks to UN Secretary General on the Phone，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， March 13， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1755477.shtml.

11 “Fighting COVID-19 in Solidarity and Advancing BRICS Cooperation Through Concerted Efforts： Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping at the 12th BRICS Summit，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， November17， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceun/eng/zgyw/t1833112.htm.

12 “Fighting COVID-19 in Solidarity and Advancing BRICS Cooperation Through Concerted Efforts： Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping at the 12th BRICS Summit.”

13 “President Xi Jinping Speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Phone，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， July 8， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1796531.shtml.

14 “Premier Li Keqiang and His Russian Counterpart Mikhail Mishustin Co-chair the 25th Regular Meeting with Han Zheng’s Presence，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， December 3， 2020， https：// www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1837804.shtml.

15 “Xi Jinping Speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Phone， The Two Leaders Reach Important Consensus on China-France Cooperation in the Next Stage，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， December 11， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1839386.shtml.

16 “Xi Jinping Co-hosts Meeting with German and European Union （EU） Leaders，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， September 15， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1815597.shtml.

17 “Xi Congratulates Biden on Election as U.S. President，” Xinhua， November 25， 2020， http：//www. xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/25/c_139542636.htm.

18 “Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.”

19 “Remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping at High-Level Meeting to Commemorate 75th UN Anniversary，” Xinhua， September 22， 2020， http：//www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-09/22/c_139385948. htm.

20 “Xi Jinping Meets with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， September 23， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1817874.shtml.

21 “Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.”

22 “Xi Jinping Meets with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.”

23 “Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.”

24 “Fostering a New Development Paradigm and Pursuing Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation： Keynote Address by Xi Jinping at the APEC CEO Dialogues，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， November 19， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1833641.shtml.

25 Ibid.

26 “Fostering a New Development Paradigm and Pursuing Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation： Keynote Address by Xi Jinping at the APEC CEO Dialogues.”

27 “Proposals for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan （2021-2025） for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.”

28 “Keynote Speech by President Xi Jinping at Opening Ceremony of 3rd China International Import Expo，” Xinhua， November 4， 2020， http：//www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/04/c_139491170.htm.

29 “Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.”

30 “Working Together to Defeat the COVID-19 Outbreak： Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping at the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit.”

31 “Keynote Speech by President Xi Jinping at Opening Ceremony of 3rd China International Import Expo.”

32 “Fighting COVID-19 in Solidarity and Advancing BRICS Cooperation Through Concerted Efforts： Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping at the 12th BRICS Summit.”

33 “Putin： China Sets Good Example to Defeat Epidemic for Other Countries，” Sina， November 17， 2020， https：//mil.news.sina.com.cn/2020-11-17/doc-iiznezxs2363131.shtml.

34 “Fostering a New Development Paradigm and Pursuing Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation： Keynote Address by Xi Jinping at the APEC CEO Dialogues.”

35 “Fostering a New Development Paradigm and Pursuing Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation： Keynote Address by Xi Jinping at the APEC CEO Dialogues.”

36 “Fighting COVID-19 in Solidarity and Advancing BRICS Cooperation Through Concerted Efforts： Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping at the 12th BRICS Summit.”

37 “Building on Past Achievements and Launching a New Journey for Global Climate Actions： Statement by H.E. Xi Jinping at the Climate Ambition Summit，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， December 12， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1839779.shtml.

38 “COVID-19 Could Push the Number of People Living in Extreme Poverty to Over 1 Billion by 2030， Says UNDP Study，” UNDP， December 3， 2020， https：//www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/ news/2020/COVID-19_could_push_extreme_poverty_over_1_billion_people_2030.html.

39 “National Development and Reform Commission Making Efforts to Improve Capacity of China-Europe Freight Trains，” ChinaNet， November 17， 2020， http：//finance.china.com.cn/news/20201117/5433538.shtml.

40 “China Has Signed 201 Belt and Road Cooperation Documents with 138 Countries and 31 International Organizations，” Xinhua， November 17， 2020， http：//www.xinhuanet.com/world/2020-11/17/c_1126752050. htm.

41 “Fostering a New Development Paradigm and Pursuing Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation： Keynote Address by Xi Jinping at the APEC CEO Dialogues.”

42 “Defeating COVID-19 with Solidarity and Cooperation： Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19，” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China， June 17， 2020， https：//www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/zyjh_665391/t1789559.shtml.

43 “Fighting COVID-19 in Solidarity and Advancing BRICS Cooperation Through Concerted Efforts： Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping at the 12th BRICS Summit.”