Portraying Xi as a Global Statesman - Qin Gang on China's Foreign Policy Direction - Competing on Values & Democracy - Wang Yi Briefs Emmanuel Bonne on Xi's Russia Visit - Shen Yiqin on Employment
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Friday, March 23, 2023
Page 1: Let’s begin with a long feature article telling us about Xi Jinping’s feelings for/perspective on the entire world. There’s a lot of flab in the article, and there’s a lot of picking visits, quotes and comments from Xi’s diplomatic engagements over the past decade.
So let me cut it down with a few excerpts and key arguments.
The first section essentially highlights China’s development-based diplomacy. It talks about Xi’s remarks at the high-level dialogue on development in June 2022. It quotes him as having said that:
“‘Only when people of all countries live a good life can prosperity last, security be guaranteed and human rights have a foundation’. Taking the people's heart as his heart and the interests of the world as his interests, President Xi’s approach of acting on his own, governing the country and caring for the world moved the participants. In his early years as a leading cadre at the local level, Xi Jinping once talked about his understanding of ‘cultivating one's moral character (修身), regulating the family (齐家), governing the country (治国) and bringing peace/harmony/balance to the world (平天下 píng tiān xià), he said that píng tiān xià does not imply conquering or ruling the world, but rather it implies allowing people to get rid of poverty, live and work in peace and contentment, and enjoy enough food and clothing. The world will follow your example to achieve peaceful development, use your philosophy to harmonise all nations, achieve the building of great harmony/community大同, which will be essentially achieving píng tiān xià.” “只有各国人民都过上好日子，繁荣才能持久，安全才有保障，人权才有基础。”以人民之心为心、以天下之利为利，习近平主席立身行事、治国理政、心系天下的情怀风范，令与会者动容。早年在地方担任领导干部，习近平有次谈及对“修身、齐家、治国、平天下”的理解时说：“‘平天下’不是打天下，不是统治天下，而是让老百姓摆脱贫困，安居乐业、丰衣足食。天下都以你为榜样去和平发展，用你的理念去协和万邦，实现大同，这就离‘平天下’不远了.”
The piece also highlights Xi’s views that China not only needs to create a “more favourable external environment but also strive to make greater contributions to world peace and development.” It also talks about how Xi believes that the “old path” of “colonialism and hegemonism” can no longer work. It adds that “despite the vicissitudes of the international situation, President Xi Jinping is unwavering in his determination to safeguard the fruits of peace and defend fairness and justice.” 纵使国际风云变幻，习近平主席维护和平果实、捍卫公平正义的决心坚定不移. The section ends by talking about BRI and China making contributions to global development.
Section two focuses on the importance of reserving or shelving differences. This bit made me chuckle, given how badly China’s engagement with the West, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and India have evolved over the years. “Adhering to the concept of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation, President Xi Jinping has led China to continuously weave a network of partnerships spanning the entire world.” 秉持相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系理念，习近平主席引领中国不断织密覆盖全球的伙伴关系网络.
“The new type of international relations is a major concept advocated by President Xi Jinping. It means rejecting the law of the jungle of ‘the strong preying on the weak’, the rejection of the old logic of ‘a strong country must seek hegemony’, and the transcendence of the zero-sum thinking of ‘you lose and I win’. It outlines what the ‘world/tianxia’ should look like in the eyes of the Chinese Communists, and points out the direction for how countries should get along with each other.” 新型国际关系是习近平主席倡导的重大理念，它意味着对“弱肉强食”丛林法则的否定、对“国强必霸”陈旧逻辑的摒弃、对“你输我赢”零和思维的超越，勾勒出中国共产党人心目中“天下”应有的样貌，为国与国如何相处指明方向.
Within this context, the piece talks about China’s major power diplomacy, peripheral/neighbourhood diplomacy and engagement with Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Let’s look at the language for each of these.
Major power diplomacy, including Russia, the EU and US: It says that Xi has been “committed to promoting coordination and cooperation among major powers and building a framework for relations between major powers with overall stability and balanced development.” — Comment: clearly, this has not worked out.
Neighbourhood, includes Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Central Asia: the philosophy is of “upholding the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness” because “a good neighbour is worth more than gold (好邻居金不换)”. It adds that “President Xi Jinping believes that the neighbourhood is the foundation of China’s stability, development and prosperity, and strives to promote the building of a community of destiny in the neighbourhood.” 习近平主席视周边为中国安身立命之所、发展繁荣之基，着力推动构建周边命运共同体. — Comment: Once again, just look at China’s neighbourhood. It has increasingly become more turbulent in the last decade.
Developing world, including Africa to the Middle East, from Latin America to the Pacific Island Countries. The piece says that “there are many developing countries with good stories about President Xi Jinping interacting with everyone on an equal footing and seeking common development.” The piece offers these select quotes from Xi: “The vast number of developing countries are China’s natural allies in international affairs” and “China's vote at the United Nations will always belong to developing countries” … “Guided by the correct concept of justice and shared interests and the true concept of sincerity, China has been writing a new chapter in solidarity and cooperation with developing countries.” 从非洲到中东，从拉美到太平洋岛国，众多发展中国家都流传着习近平主席同大家平等交往、共谋发展的佳话。“广大发展中国家是我国在国际事务中的天然同盟军”“中国在联合国的一票永远属于发展中国家”……以正确义利观和真实亲诚理念为指引，中国同发展中国家团结合作不断谱写新篇章. — Comment: I think this is a win for Beijing. Although there are challenges, there is no denying that its developmentalism has placed it in a much better position around the Global South in general over the past decade.
The piece includes an old quote from Robert Mugabe about China bringing “new life” to Africa. There are more such instances, but the big point being made is that China’s “circle of friends is getting bigger and bigger.”
The third section talks about promoting dialogue and mutual learning among different civilisations. The section says that in Xi’s mind the Chinese civilisation and other civilisations in the world are the fruits of human civilisation. Promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations will enrich human civilisation, enjoy a more meaningful spiritual life and create a different tomorrow.” 在习近平心中，不论是中华文明，还是世界上存在的其他文明，都是人类文明创造的成果；推动文明交流互鉴，可以丰富人类文明的色彩，让各国人民享受更富内涵的精神生活、开创更有选择的未来. Of course, it references the new Global Civilization Initiative too.
The fourth and final section argues that China is standing on the right side of history. It says that despite repeated occurrences of ‘black swan’ and ‘grey rhino’ incidents, and unilateralism and protectionism being on the rise, President Xi Jinping made a clear declaration of firm support for economic globalisation.” “黑天鹅”“灰犀牛”事件接踵而至，单边主义、保护主义逆流来势汹汹，习近平主席作出了坚定支持经济全球化的明确宣示. The section also talks about China’s climate change-related policies such as carbon-peak and neutrality, its aid to Turkey and Syria following the recent earthquake, the Saudi-Iran deal, GDI and GSI.
Next, there’s a commentary on the Global Civilization Initiative and promoting the common values of all mankind. To refresh, these values are “peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom.”
This is the second in a series. It says, given that humanity is living in a global village, “objectively, there are common interests objectively that inevitably require common values. Today, with global challenges emerging one after another, it is difficult for any country to be immune, and all countries in the world need to unite and cooperate to jointly solve the problems faced by all mankind.” It adds that the idea of the common value of all mankind condenses and summarises the basic value consensus of all mankind, draws concentric circles of values that transcend differences, highlights the greatest common denominator of people of all countries' longing for a better life, provides the values support for promoting the construction of community of shared future for mankind, injects strong spiritual power into the development of human civilisation in the right direction, and provides correct conceptual guidance for jointly building a better world.” 人类生活在同一个地球村里，越来越成为你中有我、我中有你的命运共同体，客观存在共同利益，必然要求共同价值。在全球性挑战此起彼伏的今天，任何国家都难以独善其身，世界各国需要团结合作，共同携手解决全人类面临的难题。特别是经历了世纪疫情，世界比以往任何时候都更需要站在全人类战略高度的思想引领，凝聚合力、激发动力。全人类共同价值，凝练概括了全人类的基本价值共识，勾画出超越差异分歧的价值同心圆，凸显出各国人民企盼美好生活的最大公约数，为推动构建人类命运共同体提供了价值支撑，为人类文明朝着正确方向发展注入了强大精神动力，为共同建设美好世界提供了正确理念指引.
It quotes Xi as having said that “peace and development are our common cause, fairness and justice are our common ideals, and democracy and freedom are our common pursuit.” The common values of mankind are shared at the individual, national and global levels, and embody commonalities across civilisations in terms of their connotation and realisation. Peace is the eternal aspiration of the people, like air and sunshine; development is the top priority of all countries and an important prerequisite for improving the well-being of all people; fairness and justice are the cornerstones of the international order and the moral foundation of international relations; democracy is a political ideal that human beings pursue unremittingly, and its original intention has been to implement the rule of the majority of the people; freedom is the product of the progress of human society and emphasises the realisation of the all-round development of human beings. The common values of mankind transcend differences in ideology, social systems and levels of development. They reflect an understanding of the connotation of the values of different civilisations, respect for the paths of value realisation explored by different countries, and support for the equal rights of people in different countries to pursue a happy life. They have gained increasing international appeal and influence. 习近平总书记深刻指出：“和平与发展是我们的共同事业，公平正义是我们的共同理想，民主自由是我们的共同追求.” 全人类共同价值贯通个人、国家、世界多个层面，蕴含着不同文明对价值内涵和价值实现的共通点。和平是人民的永恒期望，犹如空气和阳光；发展是各国的第一要务，是增进人类福祉的重要前提；公平、正义是国际秩序的基石，事关国际关系的道义基础；民主是人类不懈追求的政治理想，其本意是要求实行多数人的统治；自由是人类社会进步的产物，强调实现人的全面发展。全人类共同价值超越了意识形态、社会制度和发展水平差异，体现了对不同文明价值内涵的理解，体现了对不同国家探索价值实现路径的尊重，体现了对不同国家人民追求幸福生活平等权利的支持，国际感召力和影响力日益增强.
The next paragraph dismisses the idea that there is any superior civilisation, while calling for joint advocacy for the respect for the diversity of world civilizations and the promotion of the common values of all mankind, along with treating “different civilisations with equality and appreciation”.
“In today's world, multiple challenges and crises are intertwined, the world economy is struggling to recover, the development gap is widening, the ecological environment continues to deteriorate, and the Cold War mentality is still lingering, and the world is entering a new period of turbulence and change. At the same time, people of all countries have become more eager for peaceful development, more vociferous in their desire for justice, and more determined in their pursuit of democracy and freedom. It must be profoundly understood that the common values of all mankind are the common pursuit of all peoples, in line with the trend of the times of human social development and progress, and are not only the commonwealth of human civilization, but also the key to solving the problems of our time. Only by pooling the strength of all parties based on the common values of mankind, discarding ideological prejudice, respecting the diversity of civilisations, making cooperation mechanisms, ideas and policies as open and inclusive as possible, promoting the mutual understanding and affinity of all peoples of the world, and uniting the will and strength of all mankind to walk together on the path of the world, can we live in harmony, cooperate and win together, and jointly address various global challenges…” 当今世界，多重挑战和危机交织叠加，世界经济复苏艰难，发展鸿沟不断拉大，生态环境持续恶化，冷战思维阴魂不散，世界进入新的动荡变革期。同时，各国人民对和平发展的期盼更加殷切，对公平正义的呼声更加强烈，对民主自由的追求更加坚定。必须深刻认识到，全人类共同价值是各国人民的共同追求，顺应人类社会发展进步的时代潮流，既是人类文明的共同财富，也是破解当今时代难题的钥匙。只有以全人类共同价值凝聚各方力量，摒弃意识形态偏见，尊重文明多样性，最大程度增强合作机制、理念、政策的开放性和包容性，促进世界各国人民相知相亲，把全人类意志和力量凝聚起来，共行天下大道，才能和睦相处、合作共赢，共同应对各种全球性挑战，让人类命运共同体建设的阳光普照世界，推动历史车轮向着光明的目标前进.
The next paragraph says that “China is a staunch advocate and active practitioner of the common values of all mankind.” The examples cited are BRI, Chinese-style modernisation, practice of genuine multilateralism and the injection of Chinese wisdom and solutions to address global governance challenges. The article ends with this:
“On the way forward, with the promotion of building a new type of international relations as the fundamental path, the implementation of GDI, GSI and GCI as the important support, and the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom as the value pursuit, we will join hands with all countries to build a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, tolerance, cleanliness and beauty, and we will surely usher in a brighter future for human development.” 前进道路上，以推动构建新型国际关系为根本路径，以落实全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议为重要依托，以和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值为价值追求，携手各国建设持久和平、普遍安全、共同繁荣、开放包容、清洁美丽的世界，就一定能迎来人类发展更加美好的明天.
While on this subject, on Page 4, there’s a report on Li Shulei attending “The International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values” in Beijing. The report says that people from more than 100 countries, regions and international organisations participated. There were five sub-themes:
democracy and sustainable development
democracy and innovation
democracy and global governance
democracy and diversity of human civilisation
the road to democracy and modernisation
“Participants believed that democracy is the common value of all mankind, and there are various forms to achieve it. Forcibly exporting one’s own ‘democratic model’, carrying out so-called ‘democratic transformation’ in other countries, and provoking separatist confrontation are tantamount to trampling on the spirit of democracy. The coexistence of different civilisations is the path to the healthy development of human civilisation. All countries should respect the diversity of world civilisations, respect the democratic development path of other countries, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and promote the construction of a community of shared future for mankind.” 与会嘉宾认为，民主是全人类的共同价值，实现民主的形式多种多样。强制输出本国“民主模式”、对别国进行所谓“民主改造”、挑动分裂对抗，是对民主精神的践踏。不同文明共存共生才是人类文明健康发展之道，各国应当尊重世界文明多样性，尊重别国民主发展道路，加强交流互鉴，推动构建人类命运共同体.
Participants said that the Communist Party of China has proposed and developed whole-process people's democracy, and constantly transformed the value concept of people being masters of the country into scientific and effective institutional arrangements and concrete democratic practices. The people are enjoying extensive democratic rights and their democratic participation has continued to expand, gathering consensus and strength for the Chinese-style modernisation. China's path to democracy is getting wider and broader, and it has also contributed Chinese wisdom to the progress of human political civilisation. 与会嘉宾表示，中国共产党提出和发展全过程人民民主，把人民当家作主的价值理念不断转化为科学有效的制度安排和具体现实的民主实践，人民享有广泛民主权利，人民民主参与持续扩大，为中国式现代化凝聚了共识和力量。中国的民主之路越走越宽广，也为人类政治文明进步贡献了中国智慧.
Back to the front page, there is a report on Wang Huning’s engagement with the central committees of the democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. He talked about the importance of adhering to Xi’s thought and understanding the importance of the two establishments and two safeguards. He wants the “democratic parties” to “adhere to the correct political direction” and “constantly enhance their political, ideological, theoretical, and emotional identification with the Communist Party of China and Socialism with Chinese characteristics, so as to consolidate the common ideological and political foundation of multi-party cooperation.” The role for them that he outlines is one of being a “good advisor,” “good assistant/helper” and “good colleague” (好参谋、好帮手、好同事) of the CPC.
Finally, there’s the full guideline on improving the medical and health service system. I am not particularly interested in this; so I am pointing it out, but not translating.
Page 2: There are a couple of pieces on China-Russia ties. First, there’s a report with positive views from Russia on Xi’s visit.
Second, there’s a commentary basically making the point that both China and Russia are approaching their relationship from a long-term perspective. It also makes the point that the development of China-Russia relations has a bearing on global strategic stability and security, as well as the evolution of the future international order. In the face of rampant unilateralism and hegemony, it is even more important for China and Russia to consolidate and strengthen strategic coordination. China and Russia unswervingly promote the multi-polarisation of the world and the democratisation of international relations. This is needed to maintain international fairness and justice and to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
There are three reports of Chinese diplomats’ engagements.
First, Wang Yi spoke to France’s Emmanuel Bonne. Xinhua reports: “The two officials exchanged views and reached new consensus on carrying out high-level exchanges and promoting China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Wang “briefed President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia upon request, saying that it is an important visit between the two big neighbours, which was not only a trip of cooperation but also a trip of peace. The two heads of state reached a series of consensus on expanding bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to adhering to multilateralism, upholding the authority of the United Nations and jointly promoting world multi-polarisation and greater democracy in international relations, he said. Saying China continues to uphold its basic position of promoting peace talks on the Ukrainian issue, Wang noted that the joint statement issued by the two heads of state made important explanations on the issue, sent a voice of peace to the international community and demonstrated the desire for dialogue. He said that it met the common aspiration of the majority of countries and made clear the right direction for the political settlement of the crisis. The Chinese side hopes that France and other European countries would also play their due role in this regard, Wang said, adding that ceasefire, resumption of peace talks and political settlement of the crisis should become the strategic consensus between China and Europe. For his part, Bonne expressed appreciation for China's positive role in promoting peace talks. On the Ukrainian issue, France does not support camp confrontation, he said. Both France and China want a political and negotiated end to the crisis, he said, adding that France is willing to make joint efforts with China to push for a ceasefire and find a peaceful solution”
Second, Qin Gang met with his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Beijing. Xinhua says that Qin “pledged China's consistent support for Equatorial Guinea in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, safeguarding national sovereignty and opposing external interference in its internal affairs.”
“China will maintain great continuity in its policies and add stability, certainty and positive energy to the world, Qin said, adding that China's efforts to advance the modernization drive, uphold high-quality development and expand high-level opening-up will bring new development opportunities to the African nation. China is willing to synergize development strategies of both sides, deepen exchanges on governance experience and help the Equatorial Guinean side enhance its capacity for independent development, Qin said. He added that Chinese enterprises are encouraged to invest in Equatorial Guinea and that the Chinese market welcomes more products from Equatorial Guinea.”
The report adds: “The Equatorial Guinean foreign minister said China is a true friend, good brother and good partner of Equatorial Guinea and Africa, and nothing can stop them from deepening friendship and cooperation with China. He added that Equatorial Guinea firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. He said his country highly appreciates and supports China's important initiatives to promote world peace, security and development, and supports China's position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”
Next, Li Shulei and Liu Jianchao met with a visiting delegation of Spain's left-wing political parties, think tanks and media. There are separate reports in PD. The report on Liu’s meeting says that they had an “in-depth exchange of views on the development of China-EU relations, promoting the implementation of GDI, GSI and GCI, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.” The report on the meeting with Li has him saying that the “CPC attaches great importance to enhancing exchanges with Spain’s left-wing political parties. China is willing to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries as a new starting point to promote mutual learning between civilizations and people-to-people exchanges, to inject new impetus into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain.”
Also on the page is a brief report informing that ASEAN Secretary-General Gao Jinhong will be visiting China from March 24 to 29. He will also attend the Boao Forum.
Next, there’s a report (English report) on the Chinese delegation’s comments at the United Nations Water Conference. Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying made a four-point proposal.
First, efforts should be made to ensure the basic right of all people to have access to safe drinking water, especially those living in remote rural areas that are affected by poverty and drought.
Second, everyone must have a full understanding of the finiteness and irreplaceability of freshwater resources. This requires residents of the global village to jointly fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of sustainably utilizing freshwater resources, and to actively promote and realize agricultural water conservation and efficiency enhancement, industrial water conservation and emission reduction, and urban energy conservation.
Third, respect the basic rights of rivers in nature, regard rivers as life forms, construct river ethics, maintain the healthy life of rivers and realize the harmonious coexistence of people and rivers.
Fourth, facing the challenges of the intensifying global climate change and its impact, it is necessary to fully utilize the role of UN agencies and provide a platform for communication and collaboration among governments, international organizations, think tanks, social organizations and other stakeholders to participate in the global response to climate change according to their respective strengths. This will enable the gathering of wisdom and strength to address water disasters and tackle problems in such issues as water resources, water environment and water ecology.
Finally, there’s a report on the China-Cambodia Golden Dragon-2023 military drills.
Page 3: There’s a report on state councillor Shen Yiqin’s visit to Jiangsu, where she talked about the importance of adhering to the employment-first policy. Shen said that “it is necessary to comprehensively and accurately grasp the employment situation and tasks, implement detailed employment support policies, and intensify our work to ensure the realisation of the annual employment target.”
She stressed promoting high-quality and full employment through high-quality development, saying that measures should be taken to fine-tune and adjust time-limited policies on stabilising employment in a timely manner, support enterprises to maintain and increase jobs, and enhance the market's ability to create jobs. It is necessary to strengthen the employment support and guidance for college graduates, offer sound employment services to veterans, stabilise the employment of people lifted out of poverty, secure the employment of people in difficulties, and better protect the rights and interests of those in flexible employment, Shen said. She also called for the full mobilization of enterprises, human resources service agencies, social organizations and other parties to support employment. 谌贻琴强调，解决就业问题根本上要靠发展，要聚精会神抓高质量发展，以高质量发展促进高质量充分就业。要及时优化调整阶段性稳就业政策，支持企业稳岗扩岗，增强市场吸纳就业能力。要加强高校毕业生就业支持引导，做好退役军人就业服务，稳住脱贫人口务工规模，兜牢困难群体就业底线，加强灵活就业权益保障。要充分调动企业、人力资源服务机构、社会组织和各方面支持就业的积极性，形成稳就业的强大合力.
Page 6: There’s a long article by Foreign Minister Qin Gang. He writes that 10 years ago, “with the outstanding political wisdom, extraordinary theoretical courage and strong sense of mission of a Marxist politician, thinker and strategist,” Xi had proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. 今年是习近平主席提出构建人类命运共同体重大理念十周年。十年前，面对深刻的世界之变、时代之变、历史之变，习近平主席立足中国，胸怀世界，以马克思主义政治家、思想家、战略家的卓越政治智慧、非凡理论勇气、强烈使命担当，深刻思考“建设一个什么样的世界、如何建设这个世界”等重大课题，创造性提出构建人类命运共同体，在历史转折关头为世界发展指明了方向. In the decade, he says that this has been “transformed from concept to action and from vision to reality.”
In section 1, Qin talks about the evolution of the concept. He begins with Xi’s speeches that fleshed out the idea.
For instance, he talks about the layout of “adhering to dialogue and consultation, joint construction and sharing, win-win cooperation, exchange and mutual learning, and green and low carbon development. Take building a new type of international relations as our fundamental path, uphold mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and deepen and expand global partnerships featuring equality, openness and cooperation. With the common values of all mankind as the value pursuit, promote peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and promote the harmonious coexistence of different civilisations and social systems. Taking the Belt and Road Initiative as a platform of practice and adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, China’s proposal for the reform of the global governance system has been put forward. Relying on the GDI, GSI, and GCI, we are drawing the largest concentric circles for common development for the international community, seeking the greatest common denominator for universal security and working to ensure the joint prosperity of the world as a garden of civilizations. With the concept of global governance, international order, security, civilization, ecology, and human rights as rich connotations, it provides guidance and injects impetus for building a community of shared future for mankind in various fields.” 以“五个世界”为总体布局，坚持对话协商、共建共享、合作共赢、交流互鉴、绿色低碳。以推动构建新型国际关系为根本路径，秉持相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢，深化拓展平等、开放、合作的全球伙伴关系。以全人类共同价值为价值追求，弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由，促进不同文明和社会制度和谐共生。以共建“一带一路”为实践平台，坚持共商共建共享，为全球治理体系改革提供了中国方案。以全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议为重要依托，为国际社会擘画共同发展最大同心圆、寻求普遍安全最大公约数、共同繁荣世界文明百花园。以全球治理观、国际秩序观、安全观、文明观、生态观、人权观等为丰富内涵，为在各领域构建人类命运共同体提供指引、注入动力.
He then offers some examples of positive developments in terms of bilateral and multilateral relations and regional and global situations.
“At the bilateral level, China has issued action plans, joint statements or reached important consensus with more than a dozen countries, including Laos, Pakistan, Cambodia and Thailand, on building a bilateral community of shared future, setting a good example for state-to-state relations in the new era. At the regional level, the China-ASEAN and China-Central Asia communities of shared future have led the way and made remarkable achievements. The building of a community with a shared future between China and Africa, China and Arab States, China and Latin America, and China and Pacific Island Countries is moving rapidly and steadily, providing a vivid illustration of solidarity, cooperation and common progress among developing countries. 双边层面，中国同老挝、巴基斯坦、柬埔寨、泰国等十几个国家就构建双边命运共同体发表行动计划、联合声明或达成重要共识，共同打造新时代国家间关系的典范。区域层面，中国—东盟、中国—中亚命运共同体在周边先行一步，成绩斐然。中非、中阿、中拉、中国—太平洋岛国命运共同体建设蹄疾步稳，成为发展中国家团结合作、携手共进的生动写照.
The final paragraph of this section is basically a compilation of praise for Chinese diplomacy and references to how this concept of a community for shared future transcends Western international relations theories and has pointed the right direction for the improvement of global governance.
Section 2 argues that given the changes taking place in the world, this concept’s value is being more clearly demonstrated.
“Over the past decade, developments have proven the truth value and historical vision of building a community of human future from both positive and negative aspects: unipolar hegemony is still rampant, but the multi-polarization of the world is still accelerating; the world economic landscape is evolving profoundly, but economic globalisation continues to develop; security challenges are rising, but the reality of shared security has become clearer; the counter-current of confrontation between camps has risen, but the general trend of exchange and mutual appreciation of civilisations is unstoppable; international and regional conflicts and disagreements are arising from time to time, but the people of the world are more determined to work together for a better future. The tide of the world is mighty and magnificent; if you follow it, you will prosper, and if you go against it, you will perish. Any attempts to ignore the laws of history and try to transform the ocean of the world economy by retreating it into small lakes and small rivers, any attempt to turn back the wheel of history and divide and create antagonisms in an interdependent world are doomed to fail. Only by conforming to the historical trend, adhering to the concept of a community of shared future for mankind concept, closely combining our national interests with the common interests of all countries, and promoting our own development and the common development of mankind can we achieve common development and shared prosperity.” 十年来，现实从正反两方面证明了构建人类命运共同体的真理价值和历史远见：单极霸权仍在肆虐，但世界多极化仍在加速推进；世界经济格局深刻演变，但经济全球化持续发展；安全挑战不断上升，但人类安危与共的现实更加清晰；阵营对抗的逆流有所抬头，但文明交流互鉴的大势不可阻挡；国际和地区矛盾分歧不时发生，但世界人民并肩携手、共创未来的步伐更加坚定。世界潮流，浩浩荡荡，顺之则昌，逆之则亡。任何无视历史规律，把世界经济的大海退回到小湖泊、小河流的企图，任何要开历史倒车，把相互依存的世界重新割裂开来、对立起来的图谋，都注定以失败收场。只有顺应历史大势，秉持人类命运共同体理念，把本国利益与各国共同利益紧密结合，使自身发展与人类共同发展相互促进，才能实现共同发展、共享繁荣.
He then talks about how no country can alone address the challenges facing mankind or prosper as an isolated island; “those who act in self-interest/egotistical manner, adopting a zero-sum mentality; those who engage in beggar-thy-neighbour and bullying tactics; those who are unpredictable/unreliable in their policies and go back on their word/commitments; and those who help establish cliques and provoke camp confrontation will not only harm their country and their people, but also people all over the world. 搞唯我独尊、你输我赢，以邻为壑、恃强凌弱，朝令夕改、言而无信，拉帮结伙、阵营对抗，不仅会对本国和本国人民造成伤害，而且会给世界各国人民带来伤害。“Only by holding high the banner of community of shared future for mankind, adhering to the common destiny and working together with one heart and one mind, transcending conflict and confrontation with peaceful development, replacing absolute security with common security, abandoning zero-sum games with mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, replacing the clash of civilizations with exchanges and mutual learning between civilisations, and protecting the earth with green development is the right path in the world.” 只有高举人类命运共同体旗帜，坚持命运与共、和衷共济，以和平发展超越冲突对抗、以共同安全取代绝对安全、以互利共赢摒弃零和博弈、以交流互鉴防止文明冲突、以绿色发展呵护地球家园，才是人间正道.
In the next paragraph, he argues that “all countries, east, west, north and south, must adhere to equality of civilisations, mutual learning, dialogue and tolerance; they must respect each other’s history, national conditions and development paths, and achieve harmony and coexistence. In order to maintain their own hegemony, certain countries instigate contradictions and confrontations among different civilisations, races, religions, and social systems, and provoke ideological confrontation. This will only bring turmoil and disaster to the world and come back to themselves. Faced with the major choices of war and peace, chaos and governance, separation and integration, and crisis and security, only by starting from the common destiny of mankind, abandoning the theory of ‘the superiority of one’s civilisation’ and ‘the theory of clash of civilisations’ and bridging the gaps between civilisations can all countries pass on the flame of peace from generation to generation, keep the driving force for development flowing and enable the light of civilisation to continue shining.” 各国不论东西南北，都要坚持文明平等、互鉴、对话、包容，尊重彼此历史、国情和发展道路，实现美美与共、和谐共生。个别国家出于维护自身霸权需要，煽动不同文明、种族、宗教、社会制度之间的矛盾对立，挑动意识形态对抗，只会给世界带来动荡、灾难并反噬自身。面对战与和、乱与治、分与合、危与安的重大抉择，各国唯有从人类命运与共出发，摒弃“文明优越论”“文明冲突论”，搭建跨越文明隔阂的桥梁，才能让和平的薪火代代相传，让发展的动力源源不断，让文明的光芒熠熠生辉.
The last paragraph says that China does not seek hegemony and has been a responsible power. The examples for this are:
China’s UN peacekeeping participation
Gulf of Aden escorts
Participation in the P5 joint statement on preventing nuclear war
Establishment of the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund
China-Africa and China-PIC cooperation
BRI, CIIE, RCEP
Pandemic diplomacy and supply of vaccines
Humanitarian support for countries hit by disasters
Saudi-Iran Deal
The final section talks about what China will do going forward.
Insist on dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect. “We must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and respect the development path and social system independently chosen by the people of all countries. It is necessary to firmly oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and oppose the establishment of camps and exclusive cliques targeting specific countries. China is committed to developing friendly cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and promoting coordination and sound interactions among major countries. China will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence. At the same time, China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests as well as international fairness and justice.” 坚持对话协商，推动建设一个持久和平的世界。“国与国难免存在分歧和矛盾，但要在平等和相互尊重基础上开展对话合作。”要尊重各国主权和领土完整，尊重彼此核心利益和重大关切，尊重各国人民自主选择的发展道路和社会制度，坚决反对一切形式的霸权主义和强权政治，反对搞针对特定国家的阵营化和排他性小圈子。中国坚持在和平共处五项原则基础上同各国发展友好合作，促进大国协调和良性互动，永远不称霸、不扩张、不谋求势力范围，同时坚决维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，维护国际公平正义。
Adhere to co-construction and sharing and promote universal security. We should adhere to the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, attach importance to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, follow the principle of indivisibility of security, resolve differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, take a coordinated approach to safeguarding security in both traditional and non-traditional fields, share responsibility for maintaining peace, and follow the path of peaceful development. China stands firmly on the side of peace, actively participates in the formulation of global security rules, strengthens international security cooperation, engages in offering solutions to hotspot issues with Chinese characteristics, and works with all parties to implement GSI and jointly safeguard world peace and tranquillity. 坚持共建共享，推动建设一个普遍安全的世界。“人类是不可分割的安全共同体。”要坚持共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，重视各国合理安全关切，本着安全不可分割原则，通过对话协商解决国家间分歧和争端，统筹维护传统领域和非传统领域安全，共担维护和平责任，同走和平发展道路。中国坚定站在和平一边，积极参与全球安全规则制定，加强国际安全合作，践行中国特色热点问题解决之道，同各方携手落实全球安全倡议，共同守护世界和平安宁.
Adhere to win-win cooperation and promote the construction of a world of common prosperity. “We must adhere to the correct direction of economic globalisation, build an open world economy, oppose protectionism, ‘decoupling and breaking the chain’ and unilateral sanctions, oppose the generalisation of the concept of national security and politicisation and weaponization of economic and technological issues. China adheres to the basic national policy of opening to the outside world, firmly pursues a win-win opening-up strategy, promotes the high-quality development of BRI, actively implements GDI, firmly supports and helps developing countries to accelerate their development, and constantly provides new opportunities for the world through China’s own development.” 要坚持经济全球化正确方向，建设开放型世界经济，反对保护主义、“脱钩断链”、单边制裁，反对泛化国家安全概念，把经济科技问题政治化武器化。中国坚持对外开放的基本国策，坚定奉行互利共赢的开放战略，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展，积极落实全球发展倡议，坚定支持和帮助广大发展中国家加快发展，不断以中国新发展为世界提供新机遇.
Adhere to exchanges and mutual learning, and promote the construction of an open and inclusive world. In this, he talks about promoting the common values of all mankind and implementing GCI. The key argument in this is “we should not impose our own values and models on others or engage in ideological confrontation.” 要弘扬全人类共同价值，促进各国人民相知相亲，尊重世界文明多样性，以文明交流超越文明隔阂、文明互鉴超越文明冲突、文明包容超越文明优越，不将自己的价值观和模式强加于人，不搞意识形态对抗.
Adhere to green and low-carbon development. “China will unswervingly follow the path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development, take an active part in global cooperation in ecological progress, promote global ecological and environmental governance, and work together to build a planet where man and nature live in harmony, economy and environment advance in harmony, and all countries in the world develop together.” 中国将坚定不移走绿色、低碳、可持续发展之路，积极参与全球生态文明建设合作，推进全球生态环境治理，共同建设人与自然和谐共生、经济与环境协同共进、世界各国共同发展的地球家园.
Page 15: On the international page, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary marking the 20th anniversary of the US’ invasion of Iraq. It talks about how this is a reminder of the “true face of American hegemony.” Well, this was perhaps one of the worst foreign policy blunders in American history, and Beijing continues to cash in on it.
Finally, there’s a report on the sparring at the UNHRC over China’s human rights record with regard to Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. The PD report, of course, says that Chinese diplomats “resolutely responded to the smears and slanders by Western countries, and exposed and criticised the poor Western human rights record and hypocrisy.” Beijing’s rather dubious argument remains that all this criticism is “an attempt to attack and discredit China and suppress and contain China's development.”