Multilateralism Paves Way for Global Governance, Recovery

On January 25, President Xi Jinping delivered a special address titled “Let the Torch of Multilateralism Light up Humanity’s Way Forward” at the World Economic Forum, in which he provided four solutions to the problems facing the international community. He made clear that the way out is upholding multilateralism and building a community with a shared future for mankind, and expressed China’s readiness to work together with the international community. At such a historical turning point, President Xi’s special address pointed out the root causes of the current global dilemma, expounded the importance of multilateralism, provided China’s solutions and roadmap for global governance and economic recovery, and further showed the way of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Troubled world calls for multilateralism

Four years ago, President Xi delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2017 World Economic Forum titled “Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind”. In the speech, he refuted claims that blamed all problems and challenges in global development on economic globalization, and stated although economic globalization is a “double-edged sword”, countries have both the responsibility and capacity to amplify its positive impacts and eliminate its negative consequences. Global development over the past four years has confirmed President Xi’s judgement.

The world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. The international balance of power continues witnessing profound changes, waves of technological revolution have further swept the world, and the international system, international order and relations between major powers are also undergoing profound changes. In the past four years, populism, anti-globalization, and de-globalization upsurged. Some countries promoted unilateralism and protectionism to maintain their hegemony, tried to cut off the global industrial, supply, and value chains, and launched “wars” in trade, tariffs, and technology. These policies have severely disrupted the stability and effectiveness of global norms and values, further worsening tensions in world politics and economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest public health crisis facing mankind since World War II. China put people’ lives above everything else, and has taken the lead in controlling the virus and resuming work and production. However, a certain country, rather than work together to fight against the virus, withdrew from the World Health Organization, impeding multilateral cooperation in controlling the virus worldwide. The pandemic pushed the global economy into a severe recession, and is one of the direct causes of the current world economic situation.

Obviously, economic globalization is not the main cause of the current global economic and political dilemmas. President Xi put forward four solutions in his speech, which include to step up macroeconomic policy coordination, to abandon ideological prejudices, to close the divide between developed and developing countries, and to come together against global challenges and jointly create a better future for humanity. These proposals provide the international community with Chinese insight regarding the current situation.

To address the world’s problems, multilateralism is indispensable. As President Xi said, “No global problem can be solved by any one country alone. There must be global action, global response, and global cooperation.” However, some countries rely on their national strength and resort to unilateralism, and have become a huge threat to global governance. Such countries should listen to the voices of the rest of the world, and change their approach to global governance.

Multilateralism is the only way of global governance 。 President Xi pointed out in his speech that the way out of the present quagmire is upholding multilateralism and building a community with a shared future for mankind. To better carry out multilateralism, he advocated that we should stay committed to openness and inclusiveness instead of closeness and exclusion; to international law and international rules instead of seeking one’s own supremacy; to consultation and cooperation instead of conflict and confrontation; to keeping up with times instead of rejecting change.

Multilateralism is an open pathway. Some countries seek spheres of influence or form cliques. Such conducts are not multilateralism. A few countries impede other countries’ development under the guise of free trade deals, which run counter to the concept of free trade. Nor is this multilateralism.

Multilateralism is based on international law. The UN Charter is recognized by all member countries as the cornerstone of global governance. Some countries disregarded the sovereignty principles of the UN Charter, implemented unilateralism, and intervened other countries’ internal affairs. Their withdrawals from international organizations and treaties and imposing of sanctions on multilateral institutions have greatly damaged the efficacy of global governance, and will eventually lead to confusion and confrontation in global values.

Multilateralism is non-confrontational. The essence of multilateralism is international cooperation. Some countries and politicians set up the so-called multilateral regimes based on Cold War thinking as tools to contain, sanction, and suppress other countries. This is not multilateralism.

Multilateralism advances with the times, and the reform of multilateral institutions should be also promoted timely. Developing countries should have more say in reform of the United Nations, and the reform of the IMF should also focus on enhancing the voices of emerging economies.

China’ contribution in proposing and implementing multilateralism

China is a supporter and advocator of multilateralism and has made important contributions to safeguard the principles of multilateralism. President Xi put forward China’s propositions on implementing multilateralism: China will continue to take an active part in international cooperation on COVID-19; China will continue to implement a win-win strategy of opening-up; China will continue to promote sustainable development; China will continue to advance science, technology and innovation; China will continue to promote a new type of international relations. China’s efforts infuse more impetus into global governance and economic recovery.

In the past four years, China has hosted a series of multilateral meetings such as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Shanghai Cooperation Qingdao Summit, and 2018 Beijing Summit of the FOCAC. China stands firmly on protecting the multilateral trading system and safeguarding the leading role of the WHO in the global fight against the pandemic. China has suspended the repayment of the debts due between May 2020 and the end of 2020 owed by the poorest countries, and helped these countries to address development problems in the pandemic era. China made commitment on CO2 emissions that aims to have CO2 emissions peak by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This shows China’s sense of responsibility as a major country in global climate change governance.

Four years ago, President Xi said, “no difficulty, however daunting, will stop mankind from advancing.” After four years, in the face of multiple world crises, President Xi proposes to let the torch of multilateralism light up humanity’s way forward. We believe that more and more countries and people will rally under the torch of multilateralism, and work together to build a community with a shared future.

Contributed by Liu Xinghua, Nankai University, Tianjin

Translated by Ren Meiqi