Dec 3, 2022
“Thailand – China Community with a Shared Future” was highlighted in the title of the the Joint Statement between the two countries for the maiden visit of President XI Jin Ping to the kingdom on November 19.
It was also discussed in a recent strategic research seminar by scholars from Thailand and China (graph above). What is the meaning and significance of “Community with a Shared Future”? Prof. Dr. Tang Zhimin, Director of CASPIM, shared
his perspective: “Community with a Shared Future” was first put forward by president Xi Jin Ping in an address at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in March 2013: “It is a world where countries are linked with and dependent on one another at a level never seen before. Mankind, by living in the same global village, has increasingly emerged as a community with a shared future in which everyone has in himself a little bit of others.” In a nutshell, the vision of “Community with a Shared Future” may be summarized as “to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity”, supported by an agenda in 5 areas: 1) internationalpolitics; 2) global security; 3) economic globalization; 4) environmental protection and 5)cultural exchange:
In international politics, “respect each other, discuss issues as equals, reject the Cold War mentality and power politics”, “communication instead of confrontation”, and “partnership instead of antagonistic blocs”; In global security, “settle disputes through dialogue and resolve differences through discussion”, “coordinate responses to traditional and non-traditional threats”, and “combat terrorism in all its forms”.
In economic globalization, “liberalize and facilitate trade and investment”, and “open, inclusive, and balanced economic globalization”; In environmental protection, “cooperate to tackle climate change”, and “green development”; In cultural exchange, “respect the diversity of civilizations”, “replace mistrust with exchange, clashes with mutual learning, and a false sense of superiority with coexistence”.
“Community with a Shared Future” is thus a world view of China which signifies its ambition to become not only a participant and beneficiary, but also a contributor and architect of the globalization. It is a discourse of harmony and a rebuff against dividing the humanity based on ideology and political regime.
Nevertheless, there is still a long journey for this world view be widely accepted by the international community, especially USA and its western allies. However, on the early days of November this year, the United Nations General Assembly First Committee has included in its three resolutions the notion of “a community of shared future for humankind”, in a vote supported by more than 100 member. This is the sixth consecutive time that the notion has been included in First Committee resolutions.
The vision of shared future should be backed by actions. President Xi’s visit brought 5 new agreements: 1) Joint Action Plan on Thai-Chinese Strategic Cooperation 2022-2026; 2) Thai-Chinese Cooperation Plan for Jointly Promoting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road; 3) MOU on cooperation in e-commerce between the Thai and Chinese ministries of commerce; 4) MoU on cooperation in academia, science and technology between Thailand’s MHESI and China’s Academy of Sciences; and 5) MoU on establishing a working group on investment and economic cooperation between Thailand’s Ministry of Industry and China’s Ministry of Commerce.