There must be a cure, not just a therapy, President Xi Jinping at UN 75. The statement depicts the understanding of global affairs by China. President Xi also unambiguously declared UN as central point for multilateralism without any discrimination on the basis of economic status pr religion or ethnicity. He also stressed on the importance of equality and denounced the bossy behavior by any country. It is widely debated by experts that President Xi’s speech is blueprint of China’s vision of global order. Thus, it is considered as the contour setting speech. The speech is also considered a departure from the past and China is looking into new means of active engagement and presents itself as reliable country at global level. Besides, China will not take bullying anymore, as it is clear from the statement of Chinese permanent representative to UN, he said to USA, enough is enough.
However, China, wants a global order, which is based on the principle of equality, cooperation not bullying or one country or group of countries centric. For that purpose, China is asking for the changes, for a long time within UN and global system. China is staunch supporter of reforms and keeping the UN and Global system intact. President Xi Jinping echoed the same sentiments at UN 75. President Xi’s emphasize on the centrality of UN and sustaining of global system is based on the hard facts and figures. For example, World Bank produced a report which highlight the growth of economic linkages and development. According to report the world GDP increased from US$ 1.37 trillion in 1960 to US$ 87.7 trillion in 2019. The share of global trade to GDP increased from 25.72 percent in 1960 to 60.4 percent in 2019. Per capita income also observed a substantial increase it reached at US$ 11428 in 2019 from US$ 452 in 1960s. The per capita income increased despite the rapid growth of population.
Pakistan will also have to devise tools and policies, which can help to convert the CPEC as flagship project of Eco-civilization
Despite all these indictors, world is still facing humongous problems like food security, poverty, conflicts and in-equality. World is also facing existential threat from environmental degradation and climate change, which is result of blind following of capitalism-based development model. President Xi identified that the reasons of problems are in-equality, losing appetite for cooperation and country specific and centric approach. The approach is dangerous for the future of global order and UN system and planet earth. Hence, the world needs to move forward and look for better options of development and prosperity.
President Xi suggested four major interventions for the UN. First, UN must stand firm on justice. No one should be allowed to exploit the system in its favor. Everyone should be treated equally and given the equal respect, irrespective of their development status. Second, UN must uphold rule of law. No one should act as bullying others and institutions must be prime in decision making and implementation. Third, cooperation must be promoted by UN and UN should play a leading role. It is key to sustain the global order and fight the major problems of world. However, the cooperation must be based on equality and no one should be preferred over other. Fourth, UN must promote real actions and come out of mode of talks only. It should also speed up work and take real actions to combat the non-traditions problems like climate change, pandemics poverty, food insecurity and environmental degradation etc.
China is not only talking; China is leading by example; it is taking real actions. Domestically, it has adopted the concepts of shared prosperity, eco-civilization to tackle issues of environmental degradation and climate change and is promoting prosperity. Although, China is working on environment and climate change for a long time but now it is working to transform economy and social life on the concepts of Eco-civilization. Poverty is another area; which President Xi always keep at the heart of every intervention. China has also launched multiple initiatives to work with global community like Belt and Route Initiative, Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, Shanghai Cooperation organization etc.
China has also created a good number of regional forums like Forum on China- Africa Cooperation (2000), China-ASEAN Cooperation Mechanism (2003), China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (2004), China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum (2006), Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (2015), China-CEEC “17+1 cooperation. These all initiatives are based on the concept of equality, cooperation and mutual respect irrespective of development status.
In the context of changing world and emerging role of China, Pakistan being close ally of China (iron brother) will have to look for new instruments of engagement, which can meet and satisfy the future needs of Pakistan. It is necessity of time as Pakistan is already facing problems from West due to brotherhood with China along with other reasons. It is good to note that Pakistan has already started to refine its policy of engagement. On diplomatic front, Prime Minister Imran Khan has the tone by saying, “Pakistan is ready to cooperate for peace not for conflict”. It would be good if Pakistan two more world “the development and prosperity” The addition of words will make the stance of Pakistan comprehensive and it will perfect depiction ofreal intensions of country.
However, on economic front Pakistan needs to work with dedication and will have to show firm commitment, as Pakistan is facing multiple challenges. Although China has extended the hand of cooperationin the form of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) but there is need to work more. Pakistan will have to build the capacity of its system to meet the requirements of huge project of CPEC. Pakistan will also have to devise tools and policies, which can help to convert the CPEC as flagship project of Eco-civilization. Although, Pakistan is already working on environment extensively but these efforts are not enough. Pakistan needs to be mindful that only plantation will not help to counter environmental and climatic challenges. Pakistan needs to transform the economy and CPEC according to the roles of Eco-civilization. Pakistan can get cooperation from China, as China is firmly committed to the concept and doing everything to promote and implement it.
Lastly, Pakistan needs to learn from China one specifically, “how keep silence and move hands”. It will help to transform the whole culture of work and will help to meet the demands of future.
The writer is Director, Asia Study Center SDPI