China has made remarkable achievements in its development since it adopted the reform and opening-up policies more than three decades ago. What kind of a world China seeks to build in the 21st century has become a major question of interest to all other countries as well as a key issue China needs to address in its diplomatic strategy.

In September 2005, President Hu Jintao gave a comprehensive account of the concept of "building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity" at the summit marking the UN's 60th anniversary. At the third summit of BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) not long ago, he once again called on countries to work together to create a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. Building a harmonious world has become a new vision for China's diplomatic theory. It has ushered in a new era for China's diplomacy, in which China will stick to peaceful development while contributing to world harmony.

A comprehensive vision

The harmonious world concept represents a systematic elaboration given by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the prospects of the world's development--an issue of long-term and fundamental importance. It marks a major innovation in China's diplomatic theory. The concept consists of the following viewpoints:

It advocates a new international order centering on opposition to hegemony and power politics and the promotion of democracy in international relations. All countries should respect each other, consult with each other on an equal footing, adhere to a multilateral approach, abide by international law and universally recognized norms of international relations and contribute to the establishment of a more fair and equitable international political and economic order.

The concept advocates a new outlook on development characterized by a narrowed gap between the South and the North, development in a scientific way and common development for all. Countries should strengthen cooperation, complement each other with respective advantages, work together to advance economic globalization in the direction of balanced development, shared benefits and win-win progress, take good care of the Earth--the only home of human beings — and make the 21st century the century of. development for everyone.

The notion of a harmonious world calls for a new concept of civilization featuring respect for the world's diversity and strengthened dialogue between different cultures. Countries with different civilizations should learn from, instead of deliberately rejecting, each other. They should draw on each other's strengths through competition and comparison, pursue joint development by seeking common ground while shelving differences and work in concert to promote the development and progress of human civilization.

The concept of a harmonious world also advocates a new security concept based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. Countries should abandon Cold War thinking, resolve international disputes through dialogue, consultation and other peaceful means, preserve the authority of the UN Security Council and ensure security for all.

The concept of a harmonious world demonstrates continuity, inclusiveness and development orientation. It has integrated reasonable thoughts of different countries on the development of society, while focusing on the international community's common interests. It advocates a step-by-step approach to promoting the reform of the UN and other international institutions and systems. Respect for different countries' social systems, development models, development stages and the diversity of civilizations is the precondition to the establishment of a harmonious world. The international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations serve as a guarantee. While using the approaches of dialogue and cooperation, countries should stick to the principles of mutual benefit and win-win results. They should also work for world harmony by means of innovations in international systems and integration into the new world order with the aim of achieving lasting peace and common prosperity. They should strengthen exchanges and deepen relations with the rest of the world in order to advance the interests and shared benefits of mankind.

A harmonious world does not mean a world without differences or a utopia where there are no disputes or conflicts. Instead, it underlines the coexistence of different cultures and the effective settlement of disputes and conflicts. A harmonious world is able to remain peaceful and stable for a long time, with an increasing number of countries reaping the rewards of development.

Theoretical origins

The concept of a harmonious world has answered the questions what banner China should hold, what road it should take and what goals it should achieve in its diplomacy. It shows China will always hold the banner of peace, development and cooperation, follow the road of peaceful development and work to create a better future for mankind along with other countries. Theoretically, the concept has the following origins:

China's 5,000-year-old history and culture. Harmony is an important part of traditional Chinese culture. The concept of a harmonious world has incorporated the most essential elements of the culture of harmony, such as a world view emphasizing unity between man and heaven, a value system stressing harmony in diversity, an inclusive spirit hailing virtue and commitment, a way of life adhering to the Golden Mean. The concept calls on countries to broaden agreements, narrow differences and jointly promote the progress of mankind.

Marxist views on harmony. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels approached the concept of harmony from the perspective of scientific socialism. They defined future society as a society where conflicts between man and nature and among people are truly resolved. They also advocated independence of nations and the principles of ethics and justice in international relations. Their arguments laid the groundwork for the concept of a harmonious world.

Chinese leaders' diplomatic thought. Three generations of leaders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin at the core promoted the establishment of a new international economic and political order and democracy in international relations in keeping with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The concept of a harmonious world is a theoretical achievement made by the three generations of the CPC central leadership as they kept abreast of the times while showing continuity in their policies. The concept adheres to the diplomatic principles China has always advocated such as independence, peace, cooperation, seeking common ground while shelving differences, equality and justice, while underlining the consistency of the fundamental interests of people in different countries. It puts forward a long-term goal for the development of the world. It shows the broadening and deepening international strategic vision of the CPC and the Chinese Government as well as their global consciousness and awareness of China being a major world player.

The universally recognized international law and norms of international relations represented by the UN Charter. The UN Charter provides for all member states to enjoy equal sovereignty. It says members should "practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors" and cooperate with each other to solve international economic, social and cultural issues as well as issues concerning mankind's well-being. The concept of a harmonious world has incorporated the principles of equality, tolerance, cooperation and coordination enshrined in the UN Charter. It calls for efforts to strengthen the authority and role of international organizations with the UN at the core. It conforms to the trend of strengthening rule of law in the international community.

Building a harmonious world is an inevitable requirement of implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development. The Scientific Outlook on Development is an important guiding principle for China's economic and social development. As it applies the Scientific Outlook on Development, China will pursue harmony and development at home, build a harmonious society and strike a balance between reform, development and stability. On the international stage, it will pursue peace and cooperation, adhere to a path of development that is peaceful, open, cooperative and harmonious. The concept of a harmonious world extends China's pursuit of comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development to achieving lasting peace and common prosperity for the world. It is bound to play an important role in the development of the civilization of mankind.

Distinct features

The concept of a harmonious world is a scientific theory with these three characteristics:

Up-to-date. Since the beginning of the 21st century, peace, development and cooperation have become the trends of the times. The future of world multi-polarity has become more certain as economic globalization deepens. Global problems such as climate change, environmental degradation and terrorism have grown more prominent. The fundamental interests of different countries have become increasingly interwoven. The concept of a harmonious world focuses on lasting peace and shared development for the world as well as the common interests of mankind. It pursues the shared interests and common security of all countries instead of the interests of a single country and unilateral security as touted by neo-realism. It calls for peaceful dialogue and democratic consultation instead of dependence on hegemony as advocated by neo-liberalism. Unlike constructivism, which believes international relations are primarily determined by shared ideas, the harmonious world concept calls on the international community to work together to promote world harmony in an incremental way. The concept reflects the changes of the times as it conforms to the trend of the times, the progress of human civilization and the fundamental interests of all nations.

Strategic importance. A series of major events with global influence took place in the first decade of the 21st century, such as September 11 terrorist attacks, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the global financial crisis and the European sovereign debt crisis, ushering the world into a crucial period of paradigm changes and transitions. Against this backdrop, the CPC Central Committee, with Hu Jintao as its general secretary, grasped the themes of the times and put forward the harmonious world concept. The concept clarifies the goals and means of establishing a fair and equitable international political and economic order. It offers theoretical guidance for the international community's efforts to forge consensus and strengthen cooperation while seeking to establish a new world order. It will have profound implications for the progress of mankind.

Practicality. The concept of a harmonious world is based on both historical and contemporary reasons. Historically, peace between nations, friendship between people and harmony between man and nature has long been the shared values of the East and West as well as the eternal pursuits of mankind. Currently, the international balance of power is shifting toward equilibrium, the reform of the international political and economic governance systems is deepening, and dialogue between different cultures is strengthening. Mankind's shared interests are increasing and far outweigh disputes and conflicts. It is the common aspiration of all nations and the trend of world development to increase dialogue, tolerance and cooperation, and reduce confrontation, exclusion and disputes. In this sense, the notion of a harmonious world is not only necessary but also feasible.

Bright prospects

The concept of a harmonious world is a strategic guiding principle for China's diplomacy. While outlining the direction of China's peaceful development, it has created bright prospects for the world.

The concept sets ambitious targets for China's peaceful development. Sticking to the path of peaceful development is a strategic decision taken by the Chinese Government and people in light of the trend of the times and their fundamental interests. It is the only correct choice for China to realize development and national renaissance. The harmonious world concept shows the world China's peaceful development does not serve only its own interests but aims to achieve lasting peace and common prosperity for the world. With the guidance of this concept, China has taken an active part in the development of the G20 mechanism and the reform of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as a constructive player in the reform of the global economic governance system. It has also participated in international efforts to cope with the global financial crisis. Its contribution to world economic growth is greater than any other country, making it an engine driving the world's common development.

China has facilitated dialogue between different cultures by hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai as well as cultural years and festivals with many countries. It has helped safeguard regional and international peace by working for a solution to hot-spot issues such as the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and taking part in international cooperation to combat terrorism and piracy. It has contributed to the settlement of various global issues, as evidenced by its undertaking of responsibilities in addressing climate change and achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals. With the concept of a harmonious world, China's peaceful development has become an important part of the progress of mankind. The concept has enhanced the vitality and influence of China's peaceful development path and made the path wider and more promising.

The harmonious world concept has injected impetus to the harmonious development of the world. China is not only an advocate of but also a contributor to world harmony. In recent years, China has been committed to building a harmonious Asia by fostering an Asian spirit in the region and promoting East Asian integration with ASEAN Plus One and ASEAN Plus Three as its main channel. It insists on addressing disputes with neighboring countries over sovereignty and maritime rights through negotiations. It has expanded cultural exchanges with Asian countries and engaged in cooperation and dialogue with countries outside the region on Asian affairs with an open attitude.

At the opening ceremony of the 2011 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, President Hu Jintao called for joint efforts to build a "harmonious Asia," sparking a positive response from forum participants. Thanks to the efforts of China and other Asian countries, Asia has transformed from a war-torn and conflict-ridden region with excessive dependence on other regions, into a stable continent with increasing coordination between countries and a strengthened capacity to seek self-development. China has taken the initiative in building a harmonious Asia as part of its efforts to promote world harmony. A harmonious Asia will present important opportunities for the materialization of the vision of a harmonious world.