In an era of unprecedented changes in global power dynamics, Diplomacy Talk hosts Professor Xie Tao from Beijing Foreign Studies University to explore the evolving relationship between China and the U.S. He sheds light on the complex tapestry of cultural, political, and historical factors influencing the West's wary view of China's rise. Yet, despite these complexities, he emphasizes that both China and the U.S. have pivotal roles in crafting a collaborative future while honoring their distinct responsibilities.

The following is a transcript of the interview.

Diplomacy Talk: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in March 2013, during which he presented the concept. How would you describe the world under such a vision?

Xie Tao: When the concept was first put forward 10 years ago, few at home or abroad fully grasped President Xi's lofty idea for developing human society as a whole. Then, over the past 10 years, people have gradually realized how President Xi has taken a forward-looking approach to promoting human society's peace and development and building a community with a shared future based on China's wisdom and strength from the perspective of global governance and the overall development of human society.

In fact, if you look at all the concepts and initiatives President Xi has put forward over the past 10 years, including the Belt and Road Initiative, you will find all these focus on building a community with a shared future for mankind.

So why does China promote this? Because in the era of globalization, human beings are increasingly connected in all aspects. Anything that happens in a remote corner may affect China or other countries. So human destiny is linked as never before. This requires us to consider our own interests and the common interests of other countries and the international community when dealing with international relations.

China is one of the biggest beneficiaries of globalization. Such being the case, China, as a major responsible country, should put forward concepts and make its own contribution to the common and peaceful development of human society.

On the 10th anniversary this year, many observers and political leaders around the world are reconsidering and responding to the significant contributions that the Chinese government has made over the past 10 years to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Diplomacy Talk: How does the international community see the concept, in your opinion?

Xie Tao: In developing countries, referred to as the Global South, the concept has received a wide range of positive responses. However, the West tends to view China with prejudice.

Diplomacy Talk: They also exaggerate what China has done.

Xie Tao: Yes, that happens, as you said. First, they deliberately exaggerate the difficulties and challenges China faces, which all countries may face during their development. Western nations faced similar situations when they developed, but they no longer examine themselves through that lens.

The second is ideological prejudice. China has a different political system, so when President Xi put forward the concept, Western observers were generally skeptical about what China wanted to do, aimed at, and intended to challenge.

Diplomacy Talk: Some people in the West think that the concept is a means for China to strengthen its influence and position and replace the international order and values established by the West. What do you think?

Xie Tao: Since the Opium War in 1840, the West has stubbornly perceived China as poor, backward, and vulnerable. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, and particularly since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the Chinese government has played an instrumental role in the international arena. That includes the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

President Xi's initiatives on global development, global security and global civilization signify to some people in the West that while they have enjoyed dominance for the past 100 years or so, there is now another country that has caught up and introduced a new set of values that has garnered positive responses from many developing countries.

For example, President Xi proposed the common values of humanity–peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. These, different from the so-called "universal values" advocated by the West, have made them uncomfortable and feel threatened. The West assumes that everything China does is to challenge the so-called "rules-based international order" they've established.

Actually, from China's point of view, China's development will drive other countries' development. The Chinese government is actively proposing various initiatives on almost all significant issues of global governance.

Therefore, while the West perceives China as a challenger, I think that for China, growing stronger entails shouldering more responsibilities for the international community and human society. As one of the largest countries in the world, if China fails to provide global public goods, whom else can we rely on?

Now, Western countries are facing various internal and external challenges. So at this time, if China does not step up to make a difference, and contribute its strength to global peace and development, human development may face an even greater crisis.

I believe that the West, accustomed to its dominance for over 100 years, is unwilling to face a powerful China. Now they must face a strong and dynamic China who has a different political system. This is something they cannot accept and they are reluctant to change their mindset. I believe this is the primary issue the West needs to reflect upon.

Diplomacy Talk: As you just said, China wants to make more contributions to the world with its improved strength. In fact, it is aligned with our ancient saying: "When successful, one should help the world."

Xie Tao: A philosophical principle in traditional Chinese culture suggests that as you become stronger, you should care for your neighbors and friends, near or far. Chinese Confucian culture emphasizes benevolence and fraternity, encapsulated in the concept of a harmonious world.

This idea may be difficult for Western countries to understand, as Western culture places a higher value on competition between individuals and between nations. In their view, international and interpersonal relations are seen more as a zero-sum game than a win-win relationship.

Diplomacy Talk: China and the U.S. play very important roles in the world. The population of the U.S. is more than 300 million, and China's is more than 1.4 billion. The combined population of the two countries accounts for more than one-fifth of the world's total. Their combined GDP exceeds 40% of global GDP. However, escalating tensions between the two countries in recent years could hinder the progress of building a community with a shared future for mankind. How do you see it?

Xie Tao: Yes, without a doubt. If China and the U.S. maintain a fraught relationship, world peace will be unattainable. Conversely, a good China-U.S. relationship will be conducive to global stability. In my opinion, the key to building a community with a shared future for mankind hinges on whether China and the U.S. can genuinely establish a new model of major-country relations based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

This explains why Chinese leaders have been actively working to improve China-U.S. relations over the past four years or so. However, due to the political climate in the U.S., some politicians – extreme anti-China politicians driven by electoral political ideology – keep attacking China. Consequently, relations between the two countries are now at their lowest point since then-U.S. president Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972.

Diplomacy Talk: Some people believe that the ultimate manifestation of the competition between China and the U.S. lies in the clash between the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the notion of global hegemony. Do you agree?

Xie Tao: Americans don't discuss a community with a shared future for mankind. Instead, they prefer to talk about the so-called "rules-based international order." Upon closer inspection, this is nothing more than an international system with the U.S. at its hegemonic center. If you don't follow this system of rules, you're perceived as an international rule breaker, a challenger.

However, we all understand that any set of rules reflects the particular circumstances and interests of a specific era. The world has changed dramatically. This set of rules needs to evolve, as China, and especially as the Global South in general develops.

First, it needs to become fairer. For instance, China, as the world's second-largest economy, should have a greater say in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other important financial institutions. However, for nearly two decades, the U.S. has prevented China from playing a more active role in these crucial financial systems. Faced with such unfairness, the Chinese government has repeatedly called for reforms which has been echoed by many developing countries, and some developed countries have also acknowledged the unfairness.

The American perception that China is challenging its position reveals its unwillingness to let go of its hegemonic mindset. The China-proposed concept of a community with a shared future for mankind seeks to abandon the zero-sum game and hegemonic mentality. All countries, regardless of their size or political system, are equal and should coexist peacefully.

Diplomacy Talk: Professor Xie, many countries worldwide, such as China and the U.S., have different social systems, ideologies, and levels of economic development. How do you think we can build a community with a shared future for mankind amidst such differences?

Xie Tao: As we all know, due to its special founding history, the U.S. always likes to impose its own set of values and political systems on other countries, especially developing countries. Americans consistently believe that their system is the best in the world, so they expect not only admiration for it, but also adherence to it. The world is diverse, and this means that, first, each country has its own political system, and second, we must learn to respect their differences.

Unfortunately, if you look at the history of the U.S. over the past century or so, there were many periods when the U.S. tried to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries through its economic and military hegemony, resulting in regional instability. Many countries, for instance, have been plagued with refugee crises, internal political instability, military coups, and economic depressions. In my opinion, to prevent global turbulence, we should first abandon the notion that our political system is so superior that we must impose it on other countries.

Diplomacy Talk: Professor Xie, do you think people with different religious beliefs, as well as those without a religious faith, can relate to the vision of a community with a shared future?

Xie Tao: If you are asking whether people of different religious beliefs can coexist peacefully, then the answer is yes. At least in China, we have accomplished this. However, in international relations, if you talk to some people in the West, they might dispute it, citing Huntington's clash of civilizations theory. They argue that Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity cannot coexist peacefully. Yet, in reality, throughout the human history of more than 5,000 years, Islam and Buddhism have coexisted peacefully for a substantial period, as have Christianity and Buddhism, including in China and other countries.

So why are there some problems now? I believe the root of the issue lies in the fact that some Western politicians continually exploit differences in civilizations and religions to incite conflict. They are unwilling to respect the differences in other religious beliefs or cultures. They only pay lip service to respecting diversity. Actually, they always attempt to impose their own values on others and do not respect other people's religions or cultures.

Diplomacy Talk: A community with a shared future for mankind requires the joint efforts and cooperation of all parties around the world, and it's undeniably a long-term process. What responsibilities, in your opinion, should countries around the world, especially China and the U.S., assume in this process?

Xie Tao: As the two largest economies in the world, China and the U.S. should first respect each other. Second, it's about common but differentiated responsibilities. There may be some areas where China outperforms the U.S. In such instances, China should actively take the lead, and Western countries should also encourage China to do so. They should not stand in the way when China tries to make these contributions.

Let me give you a simple example: China's poverty alleviation efforts are clearly visible for all to see. No one can deny such an objective fact. This signifies that China has extensive experience in this area, and thus, China should be allowed to take the lead.

Diplomacy Talk: Some people say that China is biting off more than it can chew when giving international assistance. Do you agree?

Xie Tao: Whether in China or the U.S., there will be some voices questioning their foreign aid policies at certain stages. When a country develops to a certain point, the international community is actually expecting its help. This means that the stronger the country, the greater the responsibility. When others are in trouble, we should actively offer help.

I don't think China is failing to manage its domestic affairs or biting more than it can chew. Rather, China, as an important member of the community with a shared future, is providing its own public goods and doing its part to contribute to the international community's development.

Diplomacy Talk: The international situation is undergoing both transformation and upheaval. We've seen the Ukraine crisis dragging on and NATO's attempts to expand eastward into the Asia-Pacific region. In this context, how do you view the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind?

Xie Tao: Now the future of mankind is increasingly intertwined. The more connected we become, the more we require global governance, necessitating countries like China and the U.S. to step up and shoulder the responsibility of global governance.

Unfortunately, in the past decade, some Western countries led by the U.S. have not made significant contributions to global governance. Instead, they have often obstructed global governance and created hurdles for countries from the Global South, such as China, to participate in global governance.

I think the past decade has actually witnessed China's important contributions to the community with a shared future for mankind. Looking ahead, we may encounter more challenges. However, I believe that with the wisdom of Chinese leaders, and China's sense of responsibility and willingness to bear global responsibilities, I am confident that the prospects of building a community with a shared future for mankind will get better and better.

Presenter: Wang Xiaohui

Producer: Li Xiaohua

Production supervisor: Zhang Liying

Editors: Zhang Ruomeng, Qi Yibin, Lyu Yiyi, Zhang Heling

Produced by "China's Diplomacy in the New Era" Website

chinadiplomacy.org.cn

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