An annual gathering of business people and government representatives from the Asia Pacific region at the Boao Forum for Asia in China’s Hainan Island, is always an occasion to gain a perspective on economic and other developments. Since the beginning of his term as General Secretary, China’s President Xi Jinping also greets the delegates in an address to the assembly. The theme of this year’s Forum is “A World in Change: Join Hands To Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation."And in this year of major tensions between China and the U.S. and the economic disruption caused by the world pandemic, President Xi presented a pathway forward for the region and the world, based on cooperation and mutual respect between nations and not on unilateral decisions of individual countries that want to “make the rules.” [http://en.people.cn/n3/2021/0420/c90000-9841049.html]
Observing that this is the 20th anniversary of the Boao Forum for Asia, Xi referenced the development of China in that period, which has helped boost development in China and beyond. “Now, the combined forces of changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century have brought the world into a phase of fluidity and transformation,” Xi said. “Instability and uncertainty are clearly on the rise. Humanity is facing growing governance deficit, trust deficit, development deficit, and peace deficit. Much remains to be done to achieve universal security and common development.” The question now was, which way should humanity travel to secure the future for the coming generations, he asked.
He then listed steps to be taken to bring mankind on the path to progress. First, there should be consultation on an equal footing to create a future of shared benefits. Second, there was a need for openness and innovation. Third, he called for solidarity and cooperation of health and security. And fourth, he sought for a commitment to justice “to create a future of mutual respect and mutual learning.” The COVID-19 pandemic has made it all the more clear to people around the world that we must reject the cold-war and zero-sum mentality and oppose a new “Cold War and ideological confrontation in whatever forms,” Xi said. “In state-to-state relations, the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual trust must be put front and center.” “Bossing others around or meddling in others’ internal affairs would not get one any support,” he said with an unmistakable reference to the policy of the Biden Administration.
