China's diplomacy provides certainty

The world is becoming increasingly volatile. Certainty is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. The constancy of China's endeavor to promote the building of a community with a shared future is therefore a bright spot in dark times.

"We will unswervingly stand on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, and will stabilize an uncertain world with China's certainty." That was the core message China's senior diplomat delivered in his meeting with the media on the sidelines of the annual gathering of the country's top legislature and top advisory body in Beijing on Friday.

In his remarks, Foreign Minister Wang Yi touched upon China's relations with not only all the other major powers, but also other stakeholders, both individual and collective.

He also expounded on China's stance on such burning issues as the Ukraine crisis, as well as regional tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan question.

It is under the guidance of the head-of-state diplomacy that China has promoted its positive engagement on different fronts. China's propositions for fostering peace and stability, especially the major ideas and initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, are increasingly supported by the international community.

Wang's meeting with the media came the day after European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday for a special council on defense, due to the United States' about-face in its stance on the Ukraine crisis. That same day, Hamas brushed off Washington's "last warning" that it immediately return all hostages, alive or dead, reiterating that it will only do so in exchange for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution of both issues is at a critical juncture. So too are the world trade situation, the global endeavors to combat climate change, and countries' attempts to design a global governance system for artificial intelligence.

This worrying state of affairs is due to the lack of a strong consensus on and effective concerted efforts to address these issues, which can be attributed to the rise of unilateralism, protectionism and hegemony that results in a beggar-thy-neighbor situation at a time when what the world needs is just the opposite.

Although it is not a lone voice in the wilderness, China as a major country is committed to fulfilling its global responsibility and contributing to world peace, stability and common development, and it has been persistent in calling for a just, fair and inclusive world order. It has constantly sought to expand equal, open and cooperative global partnerships, proposed solutions with Chinese characteristics to address the challenges, and strived to boost the unity and capabilities of the Global South, so that developing countries have their due say in global affairs.

At the same time, China has had to minimize the uncertainties and risks in its development environment, which pose complex challenges to its core interests, not least the pressure tactics of the global hegemon aimed at suppressing its development.

In doing so, the country has demonstrated, as Wang said, that "extreme pressure, threats, and blackmail" cannot shake the unity of 1.4 billion Chinese people "nor can they stop the historical pace of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation".

China has undoubtedly played a positive role in responding to various global challenges and solving burning issues, and this has been recognized and endorsed by the world.

That China has been and will continue to be a constructive force actively promoting global common development should be beyond dispute. As well as being an advocate for change, China has acted as a catalyst, with the success of the Chinese modernization path providing tangible dividends for the world, especially in the form of public goods, such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

By continually expanding its high-level opening-up, China will be able to share with other countries the broad opportunities created by its modernization reforms.

The choices made by countries, especially major powers, will determine the direction of the times and affect people everywhere.

As Wang made clear, China will steadfastly strive to safeguard the multilateral free trade system, create an open, inclusive and nondiscriminatory international cooperation environment, and promote inclusive economic globalization.

If all countries choose to work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity on the one and only planet that is our shared home, it will bring the certainty of brighter days ahead for all.