Xi's Liaoning Visit - Wang-Rubio Call - Zhang Youxia & He Weidong Stress Combat Readiness - Deep Dive: Chinese Scholars Discuss China's Role as 'Defender of the International Order'
Before we get to today’s edition, let me cover some of the big reports from the weekend. First, Saturday’s front page was dedicated to Xi Jinping’s visit to Liaoning ahead of the Spring Festival. Xi was accompanied by Liaoning Party Secretary Hao Peng and Governor Li Lecheng. Xi visited Huludao, Shenyang, Benxi and other areas from January 22 to 24. Also Cai Qi and He Lifeng traveled with Xi.
First in Huludao, Xi visited Zhujiagou Village, which had suffered severe floods in August. Xinhua says:
“At the entrance to the village, Xi looked at the affected areas, asking in detail about the summer flooding and the relocation of villagers at that time, as well as the subsequent relief work. He urged local officials to ensure the villagers stay warm throughout the winter. During visits to two village households, the president inspected the structural integrity of their homes, checked their preparations for holiday celebrations, and asked whether government subsidies for rebuilding had been adequately provided. He also inquired about the villagers' main sources of income.”
Among the villagers whose home Xi visited was Wang Baowei. Wang “told the General Secretary that the new house was bright and warm, and all the New Year’s goods had been prepared. He said that everyone in the village was sincerely grateful to the Party and to the General Secretary. Xi Jinping asked him if he had any other requests or hopes, to which he replied that his hope was to live an even better life. Xi Jinping happily responded that your hopes are also our hopes. The Party and the government will always be the strong support of the masses.” 在同王宝维一家围坐一起时，王宝维告诉总书记，新房敞亮暖和，年货都办齐了，全村人发自内心感恩党、感恩总书记。习近平问他还有什么要求和希望，他说自己的希望是把生活过得更好。习近平高兴地回应他，你们的希望也就是我们的希望，党和政府永远是人民群众的强大依靠.
The next day Xi visited Shenyang, where he went to a vegetable market. As per the report, he “acknowledged the significant improvements in living conditions following a general revamping there”. He also visited a local housing community that had undergone renovation. He said that “urban renewal should be adapted to local conditions, combined with community building, everything should focus on benefiting, serving, and providing security to the people, and special attention should be paid to better caring for ‘the elderly and young children’.” 他指出，城市更新要因地制宜，同社区建设结合起来，一切着眼于便民、利民、安民，特别要更好地关心呵护“一老一小”.
Xi also visited a community service center, where there was lots of fun to be had with writing of couplets, flute performances, etc.
Later in the day, Xi visited Bensteel Group in the city of Benxi. Xi said that “the manufacturing industry must adhere to the direction of high-end, intelligent, and green development, continuously improving the technological content and added value of products. State-owned large enterprises like Bensteel should contribute more to Chinese-style modernization.” 习近平指出，制造业要坚持高端化、智能化、绿色化方向，不断提高产品科技含量和附加值，像鞍钢这样的国有大企业要为中国式现代化多作贡献.
On the final day, Xi listened to work reports from the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government. He “affirmed the achievements made in Liaoning’s various works.”
“Xi Jinping pointed out that Liaoning has a relatively complete industrial system, and must coordinate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries with the cultivation and strengthening of strategic emerging industries, accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system. Traditional industries must strengthen industrial foundation reconstruction and major technical equipment breakthroughs, continuously enhancing core competitiveness. Cultivating and strengthening strategic emerging industries focuses on strengthening the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions. The heavier the development tasks, the more attention must be paid to ecological environmental protection, promoting comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.” 习近平指出，辽宁工业体系比较完备，要统筹传统产业转型升级和战略性新兴产业培育壮大，加快建设现代化产业体系。传统产业要强化产业基础再造和重大技术装备攻关，不断提升核心竞争力。培育壮大战略性新兴产业重在强化科技创新和产业创新深度融合，因地制宜发展新质生产力。越是发展任务重，越要重视生态环境保护，推动经济社会发展全面绿色转型。
Xi Jinping stressed that the comprehensive revitalisation of northeast China ultimately depends on reform and opening up. In order to grasp the reform, it is necessary to further focus on problems, emphasize priorities, and break through difficulties, putting more effort into building a law-based government, optimizing the business environment, adhering to and implementing the ‘two unwaverings’, and improving the modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics. Now, the door of our country’s opening up is opening wider and wider. Cadres at all levels must improve their ability to think about problems, make decisions, and do work under open conditions. 习近平强调，东北全面振兴，归根到底靠改革开放。抓改革要进一步聚焦问题、突出重点、破解难点，在建设法治政府、优化营商环境、坚持和落实“两个毫不动摇”、完善中国特色现代企业制度等方面多下功夫。现在，我们国家开放的大门越开越大，各级干部要提高在开放条件下想问题、作决策、抓工作的本领.
He then talked about the need to “adhere to the integrated development of urban and rural areas, promote the construction of new urbanization with county towns as an important carrier, optimize the allocation of public resources and industrial chain layout in counties and villages, and solidly promote the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas”. 习近平指出，辽宁农业资源丰富、发展底子较好，要坚持城乡融合发展，推进以县城为重要载体的新型城镇化建设，优化县乡村公共资源配置和产业链布局，扎实推进乡村全面振兴.
He called on governments at all levels to “strengthen cultural self-confidence and the socialist spiritual civilization”. The aim is to “inspire the passion and struggle spirit of cadres and the masses for reform, innovation, and revitalization and development.” 习近平强调，推进文化自信自强，加强社会主义精神文明建设，各级都肩负重要责任。要努力提高文化原创力、推出更多精品力作，深入实施文化惠民工程，通过以文化人更好聚人心、暖民心、强信心，充分激发广大干部群众改革创新、振兴发展的激情和斗志.
The final point is about discipline. He called to “unswervingly adhere to the leadership of the Party” and to “unswervingly ensure the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.” “It is necessary to firmly grasp the political and organizational functions of the Party organizations, create and maintain a clean and upright political ecology, and educate and guide Party members and cadres to be loyal, clean and responsible at all times. We must thoroughly implement the spirit of the Central Committee’s eight-point regulations and their implementation rules, and encourage cadres at all levels to truly seek truth and be pragmatic, honest and self-disciplined.” 习近平指出，必须毫不动摇坚持党的领导，坚定不移全面从严治党。强化党组织政治功能和组织功能，营造和保持风清气正的政治生态，教育引导党员干部做到忠诚干净担当，这些任何时候都必须紧紧抓在手上。要深入贯彻中央八项规定精神及其实施细则，推动各级干部真正求真务实、廉洁自律.
Also on Saturday, the paper carried a report on Wang Yi’s call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This has been extensively covered in the press. The Chinese readout says:
“Wang Yi stated that President Xi Jinping had an important phone call with President Trump last Friday, during which a series of consensuses were reached. The development of China-US relations has reached a new critical juncture. President Xi Jinping comprehensively elaborated on China’s policy toward the US, and President Trump responded positively, expressing his expectation of maintaining a good relationship with President Xi and emphasizing that US-China cooperation could resolve many global issues. Wang Yi said that the two heads of state have set the direction and established the tone for China-US relations. Both teams must implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, maintain communication, manage differences, expand cooperation, and promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations, finding the proper way for the two countries to interact in the new era. 王毅表示，习近平主席上周五同特朗普总统举行重要通话，达成一系列共识。中美关系发展迎来新的重要节点。习近平主席全面阐述了中国的对美政策，特朗普总统予以积极回应，表示期待同习近平主席保持良好关系，强调美中合作可以解决世界上很多问题。王毅表示，两国元首为中美关系指出了方向、确立了基调。双方团队要落实好两国元首的重要共识，本着相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢的原则，保持沟通、管控分歧、拓展合作，推动中美关系稳定、健康、可持续发展，找到新时期中美两国正确相处之道.
Wang “emphasised that the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the choice of the Chinese people, and China’s development follows a clear historical logic and possesses strong internal momentum. Our goal is to enable the people to live better lives and to contribute more significantly to the world. We have no intention of surpassing or replacing anyone, but we must defend our legitimate right to development. Wang Yi articulated China’s principled stance on the Taiwan issue, demanding that the US handle it with caution. He stressed that Taiwan has been a part of China’s territory since ancient times, and China will never allow Taiwan to be separated from the country. The US has made solemn commitments to the one-China policy in the three China-US Joint Communiqués and must not breach its word/break its promise 不能背信弃义. 王毅说，中国共产党的领导是中国人民的选择，中国的发展有着清晰历史逻辑和强大内生动力，我们的目标就是让人民过上更好日子，为世界作出更大贡献。我们无意超越或取代谁，但必须捍卫自身的正当发展权利。王毅阐述了中方在台湾问题上的原则立场，要求美方务必慎重处理。王毅强调，台湾自古以来就是中国领土的一部分，我们绝不允许把台湾从中国分裂出去。美国在中美三个联合公报中就奉行一个中国政策作出了庄重承诺，不能背信弃义.
Finally, this bit caught everyone’s attention. Wang said that “major countries should act like major countries and should take on their due international responsibilities, safeguard world peace and help all countries achieve common development. He expressed hope that Rubio would conduct himself responsibly/behave well 好自为之, playing a constructive role in the future of the peoples of China and the US, as well as in maintaining global peace and stability.” 王毅表示，大国要有大国的样子，应当承担应尽国际责任，应当维护世界和平，应当帮助各国实现共同发展。希望你好自为之，为中美两国人民的未来，为世界的和平与稳定发挥建设性作用.
In the official English translation, this was reported as Wang calling on Rubio to “make the right decisions.” As Lingling Wei’s report for WSJ says, this is “an idiom that conveys a sense of caution that one should consider the consequences of one’s actions.” The report adds: “The sleight of hand shows China’s leader Xi Jinping wants to strike a balance between trying to deal with the Trump administration and maintaining his strongman posture to the Chinese public.”
The State Department’s readout was brief.
Rubio told Wang that “the Trump Administration will pursue a U.S.-PRC relationship that advances U.S. interests and puts the American people first. The Secretary also stressed the United States’ commitment to our allies in the region and serious concern over China’s coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea. The Secretary also discussed other issues of bilateral, regional, and global importance with his Chinese counterpart.”
The Chinese readout has Rubio saying that:
“The United States and China are two great nations. The U.S.-China relations are the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century and will shape the future of the world, he said. The United States is willing to engage in candid communication with China, resolve differences properly, manage bilateral relations in a mature and cautious way, jointly address global challenges and maintain world peace and stability, he said. Rubio said the United States does not support ‘Taiwan independence’ and hopes the Taiwan question can be resolved by peaceful means which are acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
On Sunday, the lead report was on Xi’s inspection tour of the PLA’s Northern Theater Command on Friday. Xi held a video call with troops from a task unit of a brigade of the Southern Theater Command Army, an on-duty team from a coastal missile regiment of the Eastern Theater Command Navy, a surface-to-air missile battalion of the Central Theater Command Air Force, a monitoring and early-warning station of the military space force, the 2nd Battalion of a transport regiment under the Zhengzhou Joint Logistic Support Center, and the officers and soldiers 3rd Duty Battalion of the Shigatse Detachment of the Tibet Armed Police Corps. Xi listened to their briefings, fully affirmed their work, and expressed warm regards to them. 随后，习近平同全军有关部队进行视频通话。南部战区陆军某旅任务分队、东部战区海军岸舰导弹某团值班分队、中部战区空军地空导弹某营、军事航天部队某监测预警站、郑州联勤保障中心汽车运输某团2营、武警西藏总队日喀则支队执勤3大队官兵整齐列队，依次向习主席报告战备值班和执行任务情况。习近平认真听取有关情况介绍，对他们的工作给予充分肯定，并向他们表示亲切慰问.
Okay, now to today’s paper.
The top story is about the top leadership wishing older comrades on the Spring Festival. The report says that “President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders have visited or entrusted others to visit retired senior officials to extend greetings ahead of the Spring Festival.” As per the report, this is what the senior comrades said:
“The old comrades expressed their gratitude, highly praised the work of the Party Central Committee over the past year, and wholeheartedly supported General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party. Everyone unanimously believed that in this key year for achieving the goals and tasks of the ‘14th Five-Year Plan’, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core united and led the whole Party, military, and people of all ethnic groups to calmly respond to changes and implement comprehensive policies, successfully completing the main economic and social development goals and tasks for the year, with Chinese-style modernization taking new solid steps. The old comrades hope that the whole Party, military, and people of all ethnic groups will unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and the Second and Third Plenums of the 20th Central Committee, deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, enhance the four consciousnesses, strengthen the four self-confidences, achieve the two safeguards, face difficulties with confidence, seek truth and be realistic, work vigorously, and strive to advance the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernisation.” 老同志们对此表示感谢，高度评价党中央过去一年的工作，对习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心衷心拥护。大家一致认为，在实现“十四五”规划目标任务的关键一年，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全党全军全国各族人民沉着应变、综合施策，顺利完成全年经济社会发展主要目标任务，中国式现代化迈出新的坚实步伐.老同志们希望全党全军全国各族人民更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻落实党的二十大和二十届二中、三中全会精神，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，满怀信心、迎难而上，求真务实、奋发有为，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业而努力奋斗.
Next, Cai Qi met with people working in the culture and science and technology domains. Li Ganjie, Li Shulei and Jiang Xinzhi accompanied Cai Qi for these visits.
The report says that he visited:
the home of Wang Meng, former Minister of Culture and recipient of the national honorary title People’s Artist
the home of Ouyang Ziyuan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and astrochemist and geochemist
the home of Liu Daxiang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and aviation power expert
Zhang Zhuoyuan, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and recipient of the national honorary title Outstanding Contributor to Economic Research
The report adds:
“Several well-known cultural figures and scientific experts expressed gratitude for the cordial care from the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, and expressed agreement with the Party Central Committee’s strategic deployment of building a strong cultural nation and strong science and technology nation. Cai Qi stated that the Third Plenum of the 20th Party Congress made systematic arrangements for comprehensively deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms, and we must deeply study and practice Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, actively promote new atmosphere and new accomplishments in propaganda, ideological and cultural work. When science and technology prosper, the nation prospers; when science and technology are strong, the country is strong. For our country to achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, it ultimately depends on high-level innovative talents. The broad masses of cultural workers and scientific and technological workers must bravely shoulder their responsibilities and missions, be determined to pioneer and innovate, integrate their personal ideals and pursuits into the cause of the Party and the country, and contribute wisdom and strength to the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.” 几位文化界知名人士和科技专家对以习近平同志为核心的党中央的亲切关怀表示感谢，对党中央建设文化强国和科技强国的决策部署表示赞同。蔡奇表示，党的二十届三中全会对全面深化文化体制机制改革作出系统部署，要深入学习实践习近平文化思想，积极推动宣传思想文化工作展现新气象新作为。科技兴则民族兴，科技强则国家强，我国要实现高水平科技自立自强，归根结底要靠高水平创新人才。广大文化工作者和科技工作者要勇担职责使命、矢志开拓创新，把个人理想和追求融入党和国家事业中，为强国建设、民族复兴伟业贡献智慧和力量.
Third, Li Qiang, along with Ding Xuexiang, met with foreign experts who have won the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award and those who are working in China. Xinhua reports:
“Noting that the world needs communication and the process of globalization is irreversible, Li said China consistently advocates strengthening international dialogue and will continue to uphold openness and inclusiveness while actively promoting international exchanges in various fields. The premier stressed that innovation requires cooperation, and as the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation deepens, scientific research has become increasingly complex and systematic, making open cooperation both a trend and an inevitable choice. China will continue to expand openness in science and technology, broaden and deepen joint research, actively participate in global technology governance, collaborate with all nations to solve practical problems and jointly address global challenges, he said. He said China's doors will always remain open to talents from all countries. The Chinese government will further optimise relevant policies, enhance service guarantees, and build more international exchange and cooperation platforms, continuously creating favourable conditions for foreign talents to work in China, said the premier.”
Page 2: There’s a report on the Central and State Organs Party Work and Discipline Inspection Work Conference, which was held in Beijing on Sunday. Cai Qi attended this meeting.
The meeting called on all departments to “study and understand” Xi’s important speeches and instructions on Party building in government organs “in a coherent manner and implement them as a whole.”
“The meeting noted that this year marks the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and efforts should be made to promote high-quality development of Party building in government organs with a spirit of reform and innovation. Continuously use the Party’s innovative theory to forge souls and unite hearts, work hard to deepen transformation, grasp the key points of learning, improve the learning mechanism, and truly learn deeply and thoroughly. Strengthen Party political construction, enhance political leadership, strengthen political experience, increase political consciousness, and strictly implement the responsibility system for ideological work. Forge strong and powerful battle fortresses, enhance the political functions and organisational functions of grassroots Party organizations, and stimulate the motivation of Party members and cadres to take responsibility and act. Consolidate the main responsibility for Party building in government organs, adhere to secretaries taking charge and managing secretaries, implement ‘one post, dual responsibilities’, strengthen work committee guidance and supervision, and construct a responsibility system with clear responsibilities, proper fulfillment, strong supervision, and precise accountability.” 会议指出，今年是“十四五”规划收官之年，要以改革创新精神推动机关党建高质量发展。持续用党的创新理论凝心铸魂，在深化转化上下功夫，把握学习重点，完善学习机制，真正学深悟透。加强党的政治建设，强化政治引领，加强政治历练，增强政治自觉，严格落实意识形态工作责任制。锻造坚强有力的战斗堡垒，增强基层党组织政治功能和组织功能，激发党员干部担当作为的动力。压实机关党建主体责任，坚持书记抓、抓书记，落实“一岗双责”，强化工委指导督促，构建明责清晰、履责到位、督责有力、考责精准的责任体系.
The meeting also called to implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CCDI.
CMC Vice chairmen Zhang Youxia and He Weidong also met with the troops ahead of the Spring Festival. Zhang visited a unit of the Information Support Force. Zhang said that:
“We must resolutely implement Chairman Xi’s decisions and deployments, focus on fighting the tough battle to achieve the centenary goal of army building, strengthen political leadership, deepen combat training and preparedness, ensure reform implementation, and strive to create a new situation in the construction of the troops.” 他强调，要坚决贯彻习主席决策部署，围绕打好实现建军一百年奋斗目标攻坚战，加强政治引领，深化练兵备战，抓好改革落地，奋力开创部队建设新局面。
Zhang “emphasized the need to truly learn, understand, believe in, and use Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, thoroughly implement the spirit of the CMC’s political work conference, continue to deepen political training, highlight the building of a strong party committee, and tightly grasp discipline rectification, strict rules, and strengthening work style, and further build a political character of obeying the Party’s command and being loyal to the Party. Zhang Youxia pointed out that we must focus on enhancing service support capability for combat readiness, strengthen coordination of war preparation and construction, promote planning breakthroughs, strongly enforce practical combat training, and accelerate integration into the system, drive the system, and empower the system. We must steadily advance the implementation of reform tasks, innovate construction management models, enrich new domain and new quality combat forces, and implement transformation and development requirements in all aspects of construction.” 张又侠强调，要真学真懂真信真用习近平强军思想，深入贯彻军委政治工作会议精神，持续深化政治整训，突出建强党委班子，把正纲纪、严规矩、砺作风抓紧实，进一步铸牢听党指挥、对党忠诚的政治品格。张又侠指出，要聚焦提升服务支撑备战打仗能力，加强战建备统筹，推动规划攻坚，狠抓实战实训，加快融入体系、驱动体系、赋能体系。要稳步推进改革任务落实，创新建设管理模式，充实新域新质作战力量，把转型发展要求落到各项建设中.
He also called to “strengthen the political and organisational functions of grassroots Party organizations, rectify formalism and bureaucracy to reduce the burden on the grassroots, and seriously investigate and deal with corruption and unhealthy practices among officers and soldiers. We must improve the risk warning and prevention mechanism, do a solid job in security and stability, and ensure high-quality development with high-level security.” 张又侠强调，要持续抓基层打基础，着重强化基层党组织政治功能和组织功能，纠治形式主义、官僚主义为基层减负，严肃查处官兵身边的腐败问题和不正之风。要健全风险预警防范机制，扎实做好安全稳定工作，以高水平安全保障高质量发展.
He Weidong visited the troops stationed in Beijing. These included an Air Force radar unit and a brigade of the transport and search and rescue aviation unit. He too stressed the importance of achieving the 100th anniversary goal of the PLA. The report adds:
He said that “the troops stationed near the capital hold a significant position and carry a heavy mission. They must unswervingly hold high the banner and forge the soul persistently apply Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the military to guide unit-building and personnel development, earnestly implement the spirit of the CMC’s Political Work Conference, deepen political training, guide officers and soldiers to deeply understand the decisive significance of the two establishments, resolutely achieve the two safeguards, implement the CMC chairman responsibility system, and ensure that the troops are loyal, pure and reliable.” 何卫东指出，部队驻守京畿，地位重要、使命重大，要坚定不移举旗铸魂，坚持不懈用习近平强军思想建连育人，扎实抓好军委政治工作会议精神贯彻落实，纵深推进政治整训，引导官兵深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，确保部队忠诚纯洁可靠。
He added that “we must concentrate on training and preparing for war, maintain a constant state of combat readiness, increase the intensity of actual combat military training, strengthen the construction of new-quality combat effectiveness, cultivate a fighting spirit of daring to fight and win, and forge combat abilities that are trustworthy, reliable, and ready for use at any time.” 何卫东强调，要聚精会神练兵备战，保持常备不懈的战备状态，加大实战化军事训练力度，加强新质战斗力建设，培育敢打必胜的战斗精神，锻造可信可靠、随时能用的实战能力.
Finally, there’s a report (English report) informing that China’s electricity consumption rose by 6.8 percent year on year in 2024, according to data released by the National Energy Administration. The total figure for the year was 9.85 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh), the data showed. During 2024, power consumption by the country's primary industries increased by 6.3 percent year on year, while that of its secondary and tertiary sectors rose by 5.1 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively. Residential power usage saw strong growth of 10.6 percent last year.
Page 4: There’s a report informing that in December, there were 33,100 violations of the spirit of the eight-point central regulations that were investigated and punished. A total of 44,334 people (including 2 provincial and ministerial officials and 79 prefecture-level officials) were criticized and educated, and 33,372 people were handed Party discipline and administrative sanctions.
Page 9: On the theory page today, there’s a full-page interview-based article making the point that China is a staunch defender of the international order. It’s not surprising that Beijing is making this argument. This will be a big part of China’s pitch to the world, given the policies that we are already witnessing from the Donald Trump administration in Washington.
In this piece, the three guests who are commenting are:
Chen Dongxiao, President of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies
Professor Zhai Kun, School of International Relations, Peking University
Wu Hao, Associate Professor of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University
My brief take: The conversation is divided into four parts. I am doing a deep dive into each of these. This was an interesting read. There is little in this conversation around China’s engagement with specific major powers or regions. This is largely about China’s broad approach to multilateral institutions, globalisation and global governance with an emphasis on morality and support for the Global South. There is, of course, sharp and thinly-veiled criticism of the US and its economic policies. Another interesting aspect of this conversation is a reaffirmation about China’s revisionist — not revolutionary — approach to multilateral institutions. This approach is only going to be further boosted with the US under Trump ceding space to Beijing at international forums and on issues of global significance, such as health and climate change. The final point that I’d like to make here is that the conversation also underscores deep anxiety about the emergence of disorder and geopolitical contestation, which are weakening institutions and presenting challenges for deal-making even on issues of shared interests.
The first bit of the conversation is around the UN and structure of the international order.
The moderator asks the speakers to describe the current international order, adding that what is the significance of abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter for maintaining the current international order?
Chen says: “The current international order is a set of international rules and its guarantee mechanisms established by countries around the world after World War II, drawing on the painful lessons of the two world wars suffered by mankind in the 20th century, based on the results of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and with the fundamental goals of maintaining world peace, promoting common development and universal human rights. The UN Charter laid the foundation for the current international order. To maintain the current international order, the first thing is to adhere to the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. As the world enters a new period of turbulence and volatility, the importance of abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter has become more prominent. Hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism are the main sources of chaos in the world today; they run counter to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. To ensure an equal and orderly process of world multi-polasization, we must jointly abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and jointly uphold the universally recognised basic norms of international relations. To ensure a process of economic globalisation that is inclusive and beneficial and to effectively respond to new challenges such as climate change, we must strengthen the authority of the United Nations and practice true multilateralism.” 陈东晓：现行国际秩序是二战后世界各国吸取20世纪人类遭受两次世界大战的惨痛教训，以世界反法西斯战争胜利成果为基础，以维护世界和平、促进共同发展及普遍人权为根本目标而建立起来的一整套国际规则及其保障机制。联合国宪章奠定了现行国际秩序的基石。维护现行国际秩序，首要的是坚持以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为基础的国际关系基本准则。世界进入新的动荡变革期，恪守联合国宪章宗旨和原则的重要意义更加突出。因为霸权主义、单边主义、保护主义是当今世界的主要乱源，与联合国宪章宗旨和原则背道而驰。要确保平等有序的世界多极化进程，就必须共同恪守联合国宪章宗旨和原则，共同坚持普遍认同的国际关系基本准则。要确保普惠包容的经济全球化进程，有效应对诸如气候变化等新挑战，就必须加强联合国权威，践行真正的多边主义。
Zhai defines the international order as comprising ‘three ones’: there is only one system in the world, that is, the international system with the United Nations at its core; there is only one order, that is, the international order based on international law; there is only one set of rules, that is, the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter has multiple meanings for maintaining the current international system. First, inclusiveness; currently, the United Nations has 193 member states, covering the vast majority of countries in the current international system. Second, legitimacy; the UN Charter must be adhered to by all UN member states. Third, baseline standard; the purposes and principles of the United Nations are the benchmark/baseline standard for ‘working together to overcome difficulties’ 同球共济. Fourth, unity; have proposals for a future new order, which underscores the urgency of adhering to the UN Charter to ensure cohesion. 翟崑：现行国际秩序是二战结束以来，尤其是冷战结束后的当下，各国应共同遵守的国际秩序，包含“三个一”：世界只有一个体系，就是以联合国为核心的国际体系；只有一个秩序，就是以国际法为基础的国际秩序；只有一套规则，就是以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为基础的国际关系基本准则。恪守联合国宪章宗旨和原则对于维护现行国际体系有多重意义：一是整体性，目前联合国有193个会员国，涵盖了当前国际体系内绝大多数国家；二是合法性，联合国宪章是所有联合国会员国必须恪守的；三是基准性，联合国宗旨和原则是“同球共济”的基准；四是归一性，很多国家对未来新秩序都有主张，这更突出了遵守联合国宪章的紧迫性.
The next question is about the challenges of implementing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter because the work of the UN “is sometimes obstructed by unilateralism, hegemonism and power politics. A few countries advocate for a so-called ‘rules-based international order’, which has caused serious harm to the effectiveness and authority of the United Nations. In the current international context, how does China support and strengthen the role of the UN as the core platform of multilateralism?
Wu Hao doesn’t really answer the question. Wu calls the UN Charter the ‘textbook’ of fairness and justice, saying that it must be implemented and one must remember the original aspirations.
The moderator then reminds us that “this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. President Xi Jinping has pointed out: ‘Our predecessors gathered wisdom from all parties to formulate the UN Charter, laid the cornerstone of the modern international order, and established the basic norms of contemporary international relations’. As one of the anti-fascist allies with the largest casualties in World War II and the first founding member to sign the UN Charter, China has always regarded defending the authority of the United Nations and maintaining the post-World War II international order as its sacred duty.”
In response, Zhai says that “as the core platform of multilateralism, the United Nations has never stopped facing challenges. The logic of multilateralism is to serve the interests of the majority of countries, which inevitably stands in opposition to unilateralism and hegemonism. Therefore, the UN needs to advocate and maintain true multilateralism. China has explored a set of systematic measures: first, resolutely supporting and defending the UN, clearly proposing the aforementioned ‘three ones’; second, increasing its contributions to UN funding, supporting UN peacekeeping operations, promoting South-South cooperation, and strengthening the ‘Global South’, thereby making multilateral forces more balanced; third, continuously launch global governance initiatives and putting them into practice.” 翟崑：联合国作为多边主义的核心平台，遭遇的挑战从未停止过。多边主义的逻辑是为大多数国家利益服务，这势必与单边主义、霸权主义等对立。因此，联合国需要倡导并维护真正的多边主义。中国已经探索出一套系统性举措：一是坚定维护和支持联合国，明确提出上面提到的“三个一”的主张；二是不断增加联合国会费分担，支持联合国维和行动，推进南南合作，壮大“全球南方”，使得多边力量更加平衡；三是不断推出全球治理的倡议并付诸实践.
Chen adds that one of the most significant aspects of China’s support for the UN is that its “financial contribution to the United Nations has continued to increase over the past decade. China has become the second largest contributor to the United Nations dues and peacekeeping contributions, and will bear more than 20% of the United Nations’ regular budget expenditures between 2025 and 2027.” Wu adds that “China is the largest contributor of troops to peacekeeping operations among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.” 陈东晓：中国支持并强化联合国作为多边主义核心平台作用最显著的例子之一，是10多年来中国对联合国的财政贡献持续增加，成为联合国会费和维和摊款第二大出资国，2025至2027年间将承担联合国超过20%的常规预算开支。吴浩：另一个视角：中国是联合国安理会常任理事国中第一大维和行动出兵国。今年是中国军队参加联合国维和行动35周年.
The next question is on international agreements.
Chen says that “In the face of the United States beginning a new round of withdrawing from UN mechanisms, China has taken concrete actions to firmly support the United Nations and other organizations in playing a greater role in international affairs. For example, China strictly fulfills its obligations of the NPT and is the only one among the five nuclear-weapon states to pledge unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and regions.” 陈东晓：面对美国开始新一轮退出联合国机制，中国以实际行动坚定支持联合国等在国际事务上发挥更大作用。比如，中国严格履行《不扩散核武器条约》，也是五个核武器国家中唯一承诺无条件不对无核武器国家及地区使用或威胁使用核武器的国家。(Note: I guess Chen hasn’t heard about the Pakistani and North Korean nuclear programmes.)
Wu talks about the Paris climate accord, linking it personally to Xi Jinping, as a means of demonstrating commitment at the highest level. “In 2016, President Xi Jinping personally deposited the legal instruments of China’s ratification of the Paris Agreement…”, he stresses.
The second part of the conversation is around China’s call for “equal and orderly world multi-polarisation”. This implies “insisting on the equality of all countries, big and small, opposing hegemony and power politics, and effectively promoting the democratisation of international relations.” 倡导平等有序的世界多极化，就是坚持大小国家一律平等，反对霸权主义和强权政治，切实推进国际关系民主化.
The moderator asks that “at present, the international community is increasingly concerned about the ‘cooperation deficit’ and ‘order deficit’.” He also talks about the discussions around a new Cold War and balance of power.
Zhai argues that the current situation with geo-political contestation becoming evident and explicit, prevailing deficit in global governance, major power relations ‘polarization’, and international situation ‘volatility’ pose significant challenges to the process of world multipolarization. First, there is the inversion of cause and effect, wherein the geopolitical drivers of global disorder are attributed to be the product of ‘the rise of the East and decline of the West’ and the impact of ‘Global South’ countries challenging the Western-dominated order. Second, there is a neglect of the role of multipolar forces; for instance, the Eurasia Group’s 2025 global risk forecast highlights a ‘G0’ world, implying a ‘poleless/leaderless world’. Third, it results in coordination difficulties among multipolar forces, impacting the achievement of substantive consultation results within the multilateral framework by countries that are considered to be multipolar forces. 翟崑：如您所述，当前地缘政治“显性化”、全球治理“赤字化”、大国关系“对立化”、国际形势“动荡化”，给世界多极化进程造成很大挑战。一是倒果为因，认为目前全球秩序动荡的地缘政治动力源自“东升西降”，“全球南方”国家冲击了西方国家主导的秩序；二是忽略多极力量的作用，比如欧亚集团发布的2025年全球风险的头条就是“G0”世界，意为“无极世界”；三是导致多极之间的协调困难，影响被认为是多极力量的国家在多边框架内形成实质性磋商成果。
Chen adds that “unity and cooperation are the only correct choices for maintaining international order stability and addressing global challenges. Currently, the ‘new Cold War’ mentality and hegemonic practices primarily damage international cooperation and mutual trust, exacerbating the risk of bloc confrontations in the international community, harming global partnerships, and making trust-building mechanisms difficult to establish. Cooperation requires all parties to balance their own national interests with the legitimate demands of other countries to achieve mutual benefits. Excessive pursuit of self-interest or blind pursuit of absolute security will inevitably lead to a decline in the willingness to cooperate, and the ‘cooperation deficit’ will become more prominent. While some countries may appear to gain short-term benefits on specific issues, they ultimately will fall into a cycle of isolation and confrontation. In order to maintain their dominance in international affairs, hegemonic countries often use means such as interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and creating divisions. This not only worsens the regional and international security situation but also makes the process of world multi-polarization unstable. Hegemonic countries are guided by the desire to maintain monopoly interests and absolute security, and adopt the utilitarian and opportunistic principles of ‘use when it suits you, and abandon if it doesn’t’ for international rules and order, resulting in the existing international order facing a crisis of collapse.” 陈东晓：团结与合作是维护国际秩序稳定及应对全球性挑战的唯一正确选择。当前，“新冷战”思维与霸权行径带来的问题首先是对国际合作与互信的严重破坏，加剧国际社会陷入阵营对抗的风险，致使全球伙伴关系受损，互信机制难以构建。合作要求各方在追求本国利益的同时照顾到其他国家的合理诉求，实现共赢。过度追求自身利益或一味追求绝对安全必然导致合作意愿下降，“合作赤字”凸显，一些国家看似能在特定议题上短期获利，但最终将陷入封闭对抗的循环中。霸权主义国家为维系国际事务主导权，常常采用干涉内政、制造分裂等手段，这不仅恶化了地区与国际安全形势，更使世界多极化进程动荡不安。霸权主义国家以维护垄断利益和绝对安全为导向，对国际秩序与规则采取“合则用，不合则弃”的功利主义和机会主义原则，导致现有国际秩序面临瓦解危机.
The next question that the moderator asks is what are China’s considerations when actively advocating for equal and orderly world multi-polarisation? What specific measures have been taken? What does it mean for maintaining the current international order? In asking this, the moderator also offered a quote from Henry Kissinger. I am mentioning, since Kissinger gets referenced in one of the responses below too.
In response, Wu stresses the principle of sovereign equality as being fundamental.
Zhai adds that “as I understand it, the general direction of the world order is the result of a multitude of forces and is joint governance based on multipolarity. This is an assessment based on the superposition of three facts. Western countries can no longer constructively promote the building of world order. Acknowledging and accepting the role of ‘multipolar’ countries in world order is a historical trend. Second, countries called ‘multipolar’ will inevitably play a major role in the evolution of the world order as Kissinger had expected. Third, the expansion of the BRICS and the emergence of the concept of ‘Global South’ show that China actively advocates equal and orderly world multipolarity. This is not to exclude the ‘old poles’ and to win over ‘new poles’, but about calling for global governance of global issues by multipolar forces, including both old and new poles. This is fundamentally different from the old order and a watershed in history.” 翟崑：我理解，世界秩序的总方向是多种合力的结果，是多极化基础上的共同治理。这是在三层事实叠加基础上的判断：一是西方国家已经不能再建设性地推进世界秩序构建了，承认并接纳“多极们”在世界秩序中发挥作用是历史趋势；二是被称为“多极”的国家，必然会如基辛格所料，在世界秩序演进中发挥重大作用；三是金砖扩员以及“全球南方”概念问世，说明中国积极倡导平等有序的世界多极化，不是排斥“旧极”，拉拢“新极”，而是号召包括新旧极在内的多极对全球性问题共同治理。这是与旧秩序的根本不同，是历史的分水岭. (Note: This is really interesting. The argument is not about replacing the West but about accommodating Chinese interests. It is essentially a case for spheres of influence although couched in rather inclusive language.)
The next question that the moderator asks is about the Global South and China’s advocacy around the Global South. Chen responds by saying that “China is a natural member of the ‘Global South’ and has always promoted openness, inclusiveness and cooperation in the ‘Global South’. He then points to GSI, GCI and BRI. He says that the “global governance concept advocated by China has won widespread response from the countries of the Global South, and has effectively promoted the process of world multi-polarisation and democratisation of international relations.”
The third part of the conversation is on the theme of inclusive economic globalisation. The moderator asks: “How does inclusive economic globalisation reflect the voice of the Global South countries and embody the interests of the Global South countries? What role has China played in it? What specific measures have been taken?” In asking this question the moderator also talked about the North-South gap, presenting this data point: “during the COVID-19 pandemic, the G7 received a total of $280 billion in funds from the International Monetary Fund, while some of the least developed countries with a population far exceeding that of the G7 received only about $8 billion in total.” (Note: Such disparity is, of course, unconscionable.) 主持人：当前，全球南北差距、复苏分化等问题更加突出。比如，联合国指出，新冠疫情期间，七国集团从国际货币基金组织获得总计相当于2800亿美元的资金，而人口远超七国集团的一些最不发达国家获得的资助总计只有约80亿美元。普惠包容的经济全球化，就是顺应各国尤其是“全球南方”国家的普遍要求，解决好资源全球配置造成的国家间和各国内部发展失衡问题。普惠包容的经济全球化是如何反映“全球南方”国家呼声、体现“全球南方”国家利益的？中国在其中发挥了怎样的作用？采取了哪些具体措施?
Wu says that inclusive economic globalisation “is about supporting each country to independently and autonomously find a development path that suits their own national conditions, opposing the monotonisation/homogenisation of development models, rejecting all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, promoting the liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment, maintaining the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, and preserving the vitality and momentum of global economic growth.” 包容的经济全球化，是要支持各国独立自主走出符合自身国情的发展道路，反对发展模式的单一化，摒弃各种形式的单边主义和保护主义，促进贸易和投资自由化便利化，维护全球产业链供应链稳定畅通，保持全球经济增长活力与动力.
The moderator then asks about BRI and GDI. Chen says that GDI has “gathered consensus among all parties, promoted North-South dialogue and South-South cooperation, and has been supported and participated by more than 100 countries and multiple international organizations, including the United Nations.” 陈东晓：是的，全球发展倡议凝聚各方共识，推动南北对话与南南合作，得到100多个国家及包括联合国在内的多个国际组织的支持和参与。
The next bit is interesting:
Moderator: Faced with the shadow of protectionism, and with some countries frequently advocating for ‘decoupling’ and ‘building walls’, how has China continued to adhere to and maintain the rules and systems of trade liberalisation and multilateral trading system that have been fully proven to be correct and effective in practice, and constantly innovated, improved and developed, and worked to build an open world economic system? 主持人：面对保护主义阴云，面对某些国家动辄“脱钩”“筑墙”，中国是如何继续坚持和维护已经被实践充分证明是正确有效的贸易自由化、多边贸易体制等规则体制，并不断创新、完善和发展，努力建设开放型世界经济体系的？
Wu outlines four points. First, maintaining the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core: since joining the WTO in December 2001, China has fully fulfilled its WTO commitments, unswervingly expanded opening up, and continued to promote the liberalisation and facilitation of global trade and investment. Second, accelerating the implementation of the free trade zone strategy and steadily expanding institutional opening up. China has built and operated 22 free trade pilot zones. Third, focusing on expanding the global high-standard free trade zone network. China has signed 23 free trade agreements with 30 countries and regions, and has implemented the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with high quality. Fourth, holding events like the China International Import Expo to inject new impetus into the open world economy. 吴浩：我认为可从四个角度看，一是维护以世贸组织为核心的多边贸易体制，中国2001年12月加入世贸组织以来，全面履行入世承诺，坚定不移扩大开放，持续推进全球贸易投资自由化便利化；二是加快实施自由贸易区战略，稳步扩大制度型开放，中国已建设运行22个自贸试验区；三是着力扩大面向全球的高标准自由贸易区网络，中国已经与30个国家和地区签署了23个自贸协定，高质量实施《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》等；四是举办进博会等，为开放型世界经济注入新动能.
Zhai says that China’s approach has been to maintain integrity while seeking innovation. This has two meanings. One is to uphold integrity and make innovations within the existing international system and multilateral mechanisms. The most typical example is China’s accession to the WTO and its efforts to promote the reform of the WTO, as well as to innovate rules and standards that better meet the development needs of the Global South countries. The other is to uphold integrity and make innovations outside the existing international system and multilateral mechanisms. Currently, multilateral mechanisms and institutions face challenges such as development stagnation and institutional dilemmas. Building an open global economic system requires multilateral mechanisms that can adapt to new characteristics, solve new problems, and promote new developments. China has excelled in this aspect, for example, by initiating the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund, and others. 翟崑：通过对中国建设开放型世界经济体系的长期观察，我认为可以理解为“守正创新”。这有两层含义，一是在现有国际体系和多边机制内的守正创新。最典型的例子就是中国加入世贸组织并推进世贸组织的改革，创新更多更符合“全球南方”国家发展需求的规则和标准等。另一个是在现有国际体系和多边机制之外的守正创新。目前的多边机制和多边机构一定程度上面临发展乏力、制度困境等难题。建设开放型世界经济体系，需要一些能适应新特点、解决新问题、推动新发展的多边机制。中国在这方面表现突出，比如发起成立亚投行、丝路基金等.
Moderator: The Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference pointed out that inclusive economic globalisation ‘must the attempt to roll back globalisation and abuse the concept of security, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, firmly promote trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, overcome the structural problems hindering the healthy development of the world economy, and make economic globalisation more open, inclusive, universally beneficial and balanced’. How should one interpret the concepts of being open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all? What is the significance of the value concepts demonstrated by these four ‘keywords’ for maintaining the current international order? 主持人：中央外事工作会议指出，普惠包容的经济全球化“要坚决反对逆全球化、泛安全化，反对各种形式的单边主义、保护主义，坚定促进贸易和投资自由化便利化，破解阻碍世界经济健康发展的结构性难题，推动经济全球化朝着更加开放、包容、普惠、均衡的方向发展”。如何理解开放、包容、普惠、均衡？这四个“关键词”所展示的价值理念对于维护现行国际秩序有着什么样的意义？
Chen says: The current world economic order is facing severe challenges of anti-globalisation and pan-securitisation. Advocating the construction of an open world economic system and promoting economic globalisation in a more open, inclusive, balanced and universally beneficial direction are important international public goods provided by China. Openness aims to deepen international division of labor and cooperation, so that commodities, services, capital, technology, personnel, data and other factors can flow and be allocated more freely, conveniently and in an orderly manner on a global scale, thereby promoting the deep integration and development of the economies of countries around the world. Inclusiveness means recognizing the differences in history, culture, social systems and development level among countries around the world, respecting the development paths and models chosen independently by countries, abandoning discriminatory and exclusive standards and rules, and achieving common development. Universally beneficial emphasises that the fruits of economic globalization should benefit more countries around the world, especially the Global South countries, so that different countries, classes and people can participate in and share the fruits of economic and social development, and achieve mutual benefit and common prosperity. Balanced entails being committed to alleviating the imbalance of development between countries and within countries caused by differences in resource endowments and unfair global resource allocation, as well as addressing the balance between economic growth, social development and environmental protection among countries, and promoting the coordinated development of the world economy. These four ‘keywords’ reflect the value pursuit in the era of economic globalization and are of great significance to promoting human progress. In sum, openness has injected a steady stream of strength into human progress, inclusiveness has promoted international cooperation and mutual trust, universally beneficial has turned the promise of not leaving anyone or any country behind into reality, and balanced has continuously improved the fairness and sustainability of world economic development. 陈东晓：当今世界经济秩序正面临逆全球化与泛安全化的严峻挑战。倡导构建开放型世界经济体系，推动经济全球化朝着更加开放、包容、普惠、均衡的方向发展，是我国提供的重要国际公共产品。开放，旨在深化国际分工与合作，使商品、服务、资本、技术、人员、数据等要素在全球范围内更加自由便利及有序地流动与配置，从而推动世界各国经济深度融合与发展。包容，意味着承认世界各国在历史、文化、社会制度及发展水平等方面的差异，尊重各国自主选择的发展道路与模式，摒弃歧视性、排他性的标准与规则，实现共同发展。普惠，着重强调经济全球化的成果应更多惠及世界各国尤其是“全球南方”国家，让不同国家、阶层与人群都能参与并共享经济社会发展成果，实现互利共赢与共同繁荣。均衡，是致力于缓解因资源禀赋差异和资源全球配置不公平导致的国家间及各国内部发展失衡问题，以及解决各国在经济增长、社会发展、环境保护之间的平衡问题，推动世界经济协调发展。这四个“关键词”体现了经济全球化时代的价值追求，对推动人类进步有重大意义。概括讲，开放为人类进步注入了源源不断的动力，包容促进了国际合作与互信，普惠将不让任何一人、一国掉队的承诺转化为现实，均衡持续提升世界经济发展的公平性与可持续性.
Wu Hao added: “As mentioned earlier, equal multipolarity and orderly multipolarity correspond in a certain sense to ‘democracy’ and ‘justice’ among the common values of humanity. Universally beneficial economic globalisation and inclusive economic globalisation correspond in a certain sense to ‘fairness’ and ‘freedom’ among the common values of humanity. Additionally, openness and peace, balance and development are each a dialectically unified organic whole: peace is the prerequisite for openness, balance is the ideal state of development. Promoting economic globalisation toward a more open, inclusive, universally beneficial, and balanced direction, achieving equal and orderly world multi-polarisation—openness, inclusiveness, universal benefit, balance, equality, and order truly interpret the connotations of the common values of humanity of ‘peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, freedom’, and serve as a ‘fixed star/guide/stabilising force’ 定盘星 for the current international order.” 吴浩：诚如前述，平等的多极化和有序的多极化，在一定意义上对应着全人类共同价值中的“民主”和“正义”。此外，开放与和平、均衡与发展各是一组辩证统一的有机体：和平是开放的先决条件，均衡是发展的理想状态。推动经济全球化朝着更加开放、包容、普惠、均衡的方向发展，实现平等有序的世界多极化——开放、包容、普惠、均衡、平等、有序真真切切地诠释了全人类共同价值“和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由”的内涵，对现行国际秩序有着“定盘星”的作用.
The fourth and final part of the conversation is around the reform of the global governance system. In this the moderator makes the point that Xi has said that “promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind is not to replace one system with another, nor is it to replace one civilisation with another, but rather about countries with different social systems, different ideologies, different historical cultures, and different development levels sharing interests, rights, and responsibilities in international affairs, forming the greatest common denominator for jointly building a better world.” 主持人：习近平主席强调：“推动构建人类命运共同体，不是以一种制度代替另一种制度，不是以一种文明代替另一种文明，而是不同社会制度、不同意识形态、不同历史文化、不同发展水平的国家在国际事务中利益共生、权利共享、责任共担，形成共建美好世界的最大公约数.”
Chen responds by saying that “strengthening and reforming the global governance system is an objective requirement for the development and progress of human society. In the face of global challenges, especially when some countries wield the big stick of unilateralism and protectionism, the global governance system can only be strengthened, not weakened. At the same time, the global governance system must also reflect the changes in the world economic landscape, developing in a more just and reasonable direction. For a long time, some important international organizations have been dominated by a small number of developed countries, and the legitimate interests and demands of Global South countries have not been fully reflected. For this reason, China advocates true multilateralism, advocates increasing the representation and voice of Global South countries, and advocates respecting the cultural traditions and developmental stage differences of various countries, promoting the establishment of a more fair, reasonable, and effective international rules system.” 陈东晓：加强和改革全球治理体系是人类社会发展进步的客观要求。面对全球性挑战，特别是一些国家挥舞单边主义、保护主义大棒，全球治理体系只能加强，不能削弱。同时，全球治理体系也要反映世界经济格局发展变化，朝着更加公正合理的方向发展。长期以来，一些重要国际组织被少数发达国家所主导，“全球南方”国家的正当利益诉求得不到充分体现。为此，中国倡导真正的多边主义，主张增加“全球南方”国家的代表性和话语权，并倡导尊重各国文化传统及发展阶段差异，推动建立更加公平、合理、有效的国际规则体系.
The moderator then chimes in to say that “the starting point and end goal of China’s participation in and promotion of the reform of the global governance system is to continuously enhance the inclusiveness, legitimacy and effectiveness of the global governance system on the basis of adhering to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter”. 主持人：这样看，无论是推动改革包括布雷顿森林体系在内的国际经济金融体系，还是推动建立扩大金砖机制等多边机制，中国参与和推动全球治理体系变革的出发点和落脚点是在坚持联合国宪章宗旨和原则基础上，不断增强全球治理体系的包容性、合法性和有效性。
In response, Wu Hao outlines four points about China’s approach to global governance.
“First, it takes the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind as its value guide, advocating that all countries jointly discuss global affairs, jointly build governance systems, and jointly share governance results. Second, it focuses on the most prominent development, security, and civilizational issues in the world today, and provides international public goods represented by the ‘three major global initiatives’. Third, it takes the high-quality joint construction of BRI as a practical platform, continuously expanding the scope of cooperation, innovating cooperation models, and achieving fruitful results. Fourth, it provides new aspects to global governance system reform, proposing concepts such as building a community of common health for mankind and a community of life between humans and nature, which have become new highlights in the reform of the global governance system.” 吴浩：在我看来，中国参与和推动全球治理体系变革有这样几个特征：一是以人类命运共同体理念为价值引领，主张各国共同商议全球事务、共同建设治理体系、共同分享治理成果；二是聚焦当今世界最为突出的发展、安全、文明的议题，提供以“三大全球倡议”为代表的国际公共产品；三是以高质量共建“一带一路”为实践平台，不断拓展合作领域、创新合作模式，并取得丰硕成果；四是赋予全球治理体系变革新的内容，提出的构建人类卫生健康共同体、人与自然生命共同体等理念，成为全球治理体系变革的新亮点.
Finally, the moderator asks that given that the reform of the global governance system is at a historical turning point, going forward, how can China further play the role of a responsible major country, firmly safeguard the current international order, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction?
Chen responds: In the future, the world will face an increase in instability, uncertainty, and unpredictable factors. To further demonstrate the role of a responsible major power, China must adhere to true multilateralism, maintain the United Nations' core position and leading role in international affairs, promote the practical adherence to the UN Charter's purposes and principles, support reasonable UN reform, and make the UN better adapt to changes in the international situation. It is essential to practice a global governance approach based on consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, push for reforms in the global governance system, deepen and expand global partnerships, strengthen important platforms and mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the ‘G77 and China’, and unite the consensus and efforts of the Global South countries. It is essential to proactively take the lead in rule-making, ensuring that rules fully reflect the interests and demands of the vast developing countries. It is essential to continuously enhance comprehensive national strength, consolidate capabilities and foundations, continuously release the dividends of Chinese-style modernization, and provide a solid material foundation for playing a greater role in global governance. 陈东晓：未来，世界面临的不稳定、不确定和难预料因素将进一步增加。进一步彰显负责任大国作用，中国要坚持真正的多边主义，维护联合国在国际事务中的核心地位和主导作用，推动联合国宪章宗旨和原则得到切实遵循，支持联合国进行合理改革，使联合国更好地适应国际形势变化。要践行共商共建共享的全球治理观，推动全球治理体系改革，深化拓展全球伙伴关系，加强上海合作组织、“77国集团和中国”等重要平台和机制，凝聚“全球南方”国家共识和合力。要主动引领规则制定，使规则能够充分反映广大发展中国家的利益和诉求。要持续增强综合国力，夯实能力和基础，不断释放中国式现代化的红利，为在全球治理中发挥更大作用提供坚实的物质基础。
Zhai ends by saying that “a just and reasonable international order can bring a good external environment to the greatest majority of people globally…The Pact for the Future adopted at the UN’s Summit of the Future in September 2024 shows that countries can unite to reshape a multilateral system that serves all people and all nations. China will join hands with all parties to recall the original intention of the establishment of the UN, firmly maintain the UN's authority and role, advocate for equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalisation, and build a solid foundation for world peace and development. In this sense, China maintains the current international order and also shapes the future international order.” 翟崑：公正合理的国际秩序可以给全球最大多数的人带来良好的外部环境。诗人海子的诗，很能说明这种世界人民的所愿：“从明天起，做一个幸福的人……面朝大海，春暖花开。”这可能是良好的全球治理给每个人带来的理想图景。在去年9月联合国未来峰会通过的《未来契约》，显示出各国可以团结起来，重塑一个为所有人和所有国家服务的多边体系。中国将携手各方重温联合国成立初心，坚定维护联合国权威和作用，倡导平等有序的世界多极化、普惠包容的经济全球化，筑牢世界和平与发展之基。从这个意义上说，中国维护现行国际秩序，也是塑造未来国际秩序.