China is a Staunch Force for Regional Stability,

 Development and Prosperity

I. The precious long-term stability and development in East-Asia

As change and disorder interwines in our world, peace and development is encountering unprecedented challenges. With the prolonged Ukraine crisis, the resurging conflicts in the Middle East, the slow economic recovery, non-traditional risks become more and more prominent. Despite this, our East-Asia has generally maintained stable development, standing out as an oasis in a turbulent world. People watched the success of East Aisa, and wondered the reason behind it. In my view, there are the following factors.

Firstly, countries in East Asia prioritize development and adhere to mutually beneficial cooperation. According to World Bank statistics, from 2000 to 2022, the economy of the East Asia and Pacific region had been growing by 5.06% annually, compared to the world’s average of 3.07% during the same period. This figure shows why this region is referred to as the world’s growth center in the 21 century. The primary factor behind East Asia’s economic success is the emphasis on development commonly found top on the governments’ agenda in this region. From the “Japanese Economic Miracle” to the “Four Asian Tigers” and "Tiger Cub Economies" of Southeast Asia, and the “Reform and Opening-up” of China, the fundamental goal that East Asian governments and peoples have always pursued is development. The official enactment of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in January 2022 highlighted the strong commitment of countries in this region to development cooperation, and it also foretells a future of even closer cooperative relationships in the region.

Secondly, countries in this region cherish the peaceful environment, always respect each other, and make decisions through mutual consultation and accommodation. East Asian countries have suffered colonial rule and foreign invasion, thus people deeply understand the value of peace. Of course, there were conflicts in this region during the Cold War, but ever since countries got rid of the manipulations of foreign powers, the flames of war has never been seen again. That’s not because we don’t have disputes or differences, but that we follow the rule of peaceful coexistence. No matter what problems we face, we insist on solving them through equal consultation and negotiation rather than by force. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. The Bandung Spirit of unity and friendship has taken roots and blossomed in East Asian countries’ diplomatic practices, and will be carried forward in future international relations.

Thirdly, we have industrious and friendly peoples and diverse and inclusive cultures in East Asia. The land shapes its people. People have been relying on agriculture to make a living since ancient times. The East Asian mode and relations of production nurtures the East Asian virtues, including traditional thoughts of respecting diversity and coexisting in harmony. The region’s success of peaceful development in the past decades is to a great extent the result of these fine virtues and philosophiess. Since modern times, western civilization has dominated the world for 200 years, and has made its historical contributions. But in the 2020s, the Western concepts of the law of jungle and winner-takes-all no longer match the needs of today. On the contrary, the traditional East Asian culture could provide the exact answers we need now for a better world.

Fourthly, China’s development provides unseen opportunities to countries in this region. Since the reform and opening up in 1978, China created a development miracle by maintaining a 9.4% average GDP growth rate for 40 consecutive years. This miracle owed both to Chinese people’s diligence, and its integration into the world economic circulation at the same time. Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries carried out industrial structure adjustment, and have been deeply engaging with China’s reform and opening up from the beginning. They contributed to and profited from China’s development at the time. Nowadays, China has become more developed and contributed more than 30% to world economic growth for more than a decade. Being both a manufacturing giant and a major market, China provides unprecedented driving force for East Asian countries’ development.

II. Severe challenges East Asia faces now

East Asia has enjoyed peaceful development lasting for decades, just like an oasis in the desert of conflicting and turbulent international situation. But according to some new developments in recent years, the favorable circumstances in this region may deteriorate. East Asia, the oasis of peaceful development, faces the risk of being trampled and vandalized.

Firstly, trade protectionism has been rising around the world. The World Trade Organization is the authority for promoting international free trade and settling trade disputes, but its Appellate Body has been paralyzed because the appointment of new judges have been blocked for 63 times by a certain major country. Some countries abuse the concept of national security, and disturb global industrial and supply chains intentionally, benefiting themselves at the expense of others. The problems of protectionism has gone beyond bilateral to multilateral scope and the harm will inevitably spread to East Asian countries.

Secondly, the regional economic cooperation mechanism with ASEAN at its center is at risk of being disturbed. Some country out of the region is attempting to draw exclusive small circles led by themselves, and build “small yard, high fense" which may unnecessarily disturb regional trade.

Thirdly, we are increasingly vulnerable amid the difficulty to maintain sovereignty in the finance market. International capital is flowing in and out in a rapid pace. The changes of interest rate of a certain country seems to be its own affair, however it could lead to extreme ups and downs for other economies. For some developing countries, their decades of accumulated national wealth could be swept away.

Fourthly, the region faces the risk of cold war and bloc confrontation as the United States pursues a containing policy towards China. The US claims that it doesn’t seek conflicts or a new cold war, but its so-called Indo-pacific Strategy, QUAD, AUKUS and Indo-pacific Economic Framework all exclude China and even target against China. The US make use of the issues of territory, sovereignty and maritime rights and interests to sow discords in an vain attempt to cause conflicts between China and some countries. Recently the US stationed Typhon mid-range missile system in the Philippines, putting regional countries and the coastal region of China under direct threat of its weapons. The US also breaks its own promise and support the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence” and causes tension across the Taiwan Strait. All actions including such above by the US are undermining regional security in a way never seen before.

III.Chinese Development and Chinese Position

The Chinese economy has continued its stable and sound performance, with GDP increasing 5.2 percent for the last year and 5.3 percent for the first quarter of this year. Now the global economy is facing downward pressure and China is no exception. But the Chinese economy has the advantages of strong economic foundation, resilience and potential. The outlook for the economy is bright.

China adheres to the fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and firmly pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening-up at a higher standard. Being the main trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions around the world, China actively carries out “Belt and Road” cooperation under the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. China is establishing new institutions for an open economy at a higher level, establishing 22 domestic free trade pilot zones and the Hainan Island Free Trade Port, and implementing more preferential arrangements in trades and investment than the relevant provisions of WTO stipulate. President Xi Jinping said that China stands ready to open its doors even wider to embrace the world and share its development outcomes with the world.

China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. China has always been committed to safeguarding world peace and promoting global common prosperity and development. Facing the current chaotic international situation, President Xi Jinping proposed the important concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and moreover proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative. He said that all countries in the world were on a big ship with a common destiny. Only by working together and helping each other can we sail through the stormy waves and towards a bright future. That is China’s answer to the question of the world and the era.

China’s development is to bring Chinese people a better life and the country more prosperity. We will not compete with others for hegemony, because being a hegemon is not honorable at all. China’s development is beneficial to all countries. It is a strategic misjudgment to regard China’s development as a threat, and it is a more unwise choice to contain China’s development.

China holds highly the banner of peace, development and cooperation, advocates an equal and orderly multi-polar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and opposes bloc confrontation and decoupling.

China will work with regional countries, stay true to the original aspiration of good-neighborliness and friendship, maintain strategic mutual trust, adhere to unity and cooperation, work together to respond to the risks and challenges faced by the region, protect and build the common home of all countries in our region, and make Asia’s contribution to world peace and development.