A high-speed train is seen in Yangshuo county, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. File photo: VCG

The implications of China's four global initiatives - the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, in my opinion, are to be understood within the conceptual Chinese idea of "all people under heaven are of one family". 

Its profound meaning is the harmonization of international relations as the most promising way of advancing unity of all nations. Without unity there will be no future with such prevailing features as peace, development, cooperation and common benefit.

It is widely known that China has for many years nourished the conceptual vision of the country's unique noble mission to contribute to the development of humankind by offering it a roadmap for building a community with shared future. After all, there is no nation in the world that does not aspire to embrace such values as peaceful development, economic progress, equality and fairness.

The challenge is to recognize that these values are to be shared with other members of the international community of civilized nations. Unfortunately, the problems that the global community faces today - confrontation, hostility, mutual suspicion, desire to strengthen one's security at the expense of the security of others, ignoring legitimate interests of neighbors and potential partners - have their roots in the lack, or in some cases absence, of commitment to advance common benefit, reject egoism and be guided by the supreme interests of the entire international family. 

Recognition of the complexity of the task brought to life China's four landmark global initiatives. In totality, the global initiatives on development, security, civilization and governance, once implemented, will become the cornerstone of a new global security architecture, more resilient and adaptable to meet the challenges and risks not only of today, but of tomorrow as well.

That the world's major powers reacted positively to China's four landmark global initiatives reflects the international prestige of President Xi Jinping and the political and economic clout of the great Chinese nation. The Chinese voice, opinion and initiatives are sought after and resonate throughout the entire planet. 

Another reason is that it is impossible to find convincing objections to the introduction into international relations of such notions as development as the foundation, security as the safeguard, civilization as the bond, and governance as the coordination mechanism.

The Chinese solutions are not theoretical. They are quite deliverable and practical. It is proven by the fact that the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity has been incorporated into multiple resolutions of the UN General Assembly, supported within the framework of the summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Central Asia plus China dialogue platform, and other prestigious international and regional forums, as well as within the framework of bilateral cooperation between China and many of its partners.

The issue of global governance is becoming more and more topical under the current alarming trends in international relations.

For those in the international community who believe in the universality and uniqueness of the UN, the Chinese concept of global governance offers a reasonable solution: strengthen the UN institutions' ability to make sure that every member of the international community is honoring obligations to act in full compliance with the goals and principles of the UN Charter. Reforming the UN is necessary within the terms acceptable to everyone, including proposed changes in composition, procedures and prerogatives of the UN Security Council.

The Chinese efforts to promote global sustainable development are demonstrated by the active and very effective implementation of the strategic Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In more than 12 years since its launch, almost all developing and some developed countries have joined the family of enthusiastic participants of the BRI.

It is a practical way to resolve pressing issues of development of transportation, transit, logistical capacities of different countries and regions. We in Kazakhstan are especially grateful to our great neighbor for consistent support of our initiative to set up the UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Now the office is functioning in Almaty and is involved in concrete projects in collaboration with international partners.

China's proactive participation in such emerging fields as artificial intelligence (AI) and cyberspace governance helps to highlight the need to work out international regulation in relation to these fields, which on one hand offer to the humankind truly revolutionary technological transformation, but on the other hand are creating unprecedented legal, moral and ethical challenges. That is why the Chinese initiative on global governance in AI cyberspace is so foresighted and timely.

For the countries of the Global South, the implementation of China's four global initiatives is the most effective way to ensure that their role in maintaining global development, security and governance will be commensurate with the growth of their economic and demographic potential. 

It is time to face new reality and reevaluate the role of the Global South countries in the world decision-making process, get rid of existing limitations. Global security and cooperation will only benefit from such reevaluation, providing the developing countries with better opportunities to offer their solutions for the problems of the world.

There is a wise Chinese proverb "A smart man changes his approach as circumstances change; a wise person alters his means as times evolve." 

I believe that the commitment of the Communist Party of China to the implementation of global initiatives on development, security, civilization and governance is an iron-clad guarantee that China will do its best to achieve in collaboration with like-minded partners the noble goal of building a peaceful, universally secure, inclusive and commonly prosperous future for the humankind. As a forward-looking, we in Kazakhstan share with China this wonderful vision and are ready to contribute to its realization.



The article is compiled in an interview with Bolat Nurgaliyev, chairman of the Board of Foreign Policy Research Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and former secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn