Yue Xiaoyong: Unity, Multilateralism and Cooperation for Global Peace and Common Prosperity

----Presentation at the Round Table Meeting at 2020 TRT World Forum in Turkey and also as Written Paper

By Dr. Yue Xiaoyong，Senior Researcher and Director of The Center for Global Studies at RUC in China

On Dec. 2nd, 2020, Dr. Yue Xiaoyong，former Ambassador to Jordan, Qatar and Ireland, also Senior Researcher and Director of The Center for Global Studies at RUC in China, attended and spoke at The Round Table Discussion Meeting in the 2020 TRT World Forum. The theme of the Forum this year is “Shifting Dynamics: The International Order in a Post-Pandemic World,” with the round table discussion focusing on issues concerning “Great Power Competition in the Balkans”.

In his presentation and discussion exchanges, Dr. Yue emphasis firstly that China facing all the dramatic changes and challenges in the world situation, still holds that the major trend in the global international environment is till that of peace, development and cooperation. Secondly, Chinese leadership in the ruling party CCP and the government remains insisting all along and will do in future that China will continue to go along Peaceful Development Path, to maintain peace and promote common development with the rest of the world, to build together with all the partners and friends a community of shared future for the whole humanity based on the international order founded upon the UN Charter and international law. Thirdly, China attaches great importance to a stable and constructive relations and cooperation with countries in Europe and European Union. Dr. Yue meanwhile stressed that China shall believe that EU is a major player both in the international arena and in Europe, will play an even more important role in the years to come.

Yue elaborated, as he quoted speech and document delivered at the fifth plenary session of the 19th National Congress of the CCP central committee, that personally he believes we China take still a cautious optimistic view on the main trends of global situation and affirms the major trends in the world conditions are still for peace, development and cooperation, and at the same time there are negative factors growing against globalization like protectionism, unilateralism, populism or even hegemonism in some big country, especially from some forces of the United States. International society needs very much be on guard against those “isms” and power politics, especially against bullyism and deeds irresponsible for multilateral efforts to enhance world governess in conformity with UN Charter through dialogue on mutual respect and cooperation. Therefore , in looking into the situation in all regions as in Europe or the Balkans from China’s perspective, all those Cold War mentality should be casted away and we continue to see opportunities to develop good partnership and win-win cooperation in the region.  

China has been and will always be, Dr. Yue expounded, a constructive international force for peace，stability, security and development, a positive power for strengthen multilateralism for mutual beneficial cooperation. The new “14th Five Year Plan” in economic and social development in China as proposed recently by the Central Committee of CPC in the Fifth plenary session of the 19th National Congress will give the world a great new opportunity for common prosperity in the years to come, as China will certainly share its opportunities in her new phase of opening up and reform with fresh and great growth plan by tap the potential of her domestic market and go on with reaching out with the rest of the world.

China takes a very optimistic view on our relationship with Europe in general and with countries in Balkan region in particular, Yue said. After decades of development efforts of both China and the Balkan nations, there have laid out very good foundation for our bilateral relations with deeper mutual understanding and great future in store. Our cooperation and mutual support and assistance ever since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic is a very good example, and current on-going cooperation through our join efforts in Belt and Road Initiative with our cooperation in recovery from shock of the pandemic for our economy are further evidence of our strong ties for common development and prosperity, which will certain also helpful for stability and self-reliance development in the region. Through dialogues on equal footing, both sides also need to make greater efforts to narrow differences and focus on common interests for better, great cooperation in future.

After general election, Dr. Yue mentioned, former Vice-president Joe Biden has successfully been elected as new President of the US. President Xi Jinping has sent congratulation message to him. It is hoped that the new US Administration will work with China and the rest of the world to unite for the battle against the pandemic and global peace and development, through dialogue and cooperation, to bring more stability and hope to the world and tackle better with challenges facing all mankind. Many people believe that a stable, coordinated and cooperative China-US relations are conducive to both of our two nations and to Europe and the rest of the world.

We in China also like to develop a stable and healthy relations with all big players, including the US and EU，which both have great influence on the future of humanity. Both China and Europe need also to work together to strengthen multilateralism in international arena, promote peace and common development, and keep opposed to unilateralism through dialogue and better communication on all levels. Unity is the key. China is determined to go on to strengthen our ties with Europe and Middle East countries, as we see many countries sent speakers to this Forum and also present in our round table discussion, to speed our talk with European Union partners on bilateral investment treaty which is expected to conclude by the end of this year, support unity and integration among European nations, and together to contribute to tackling challenges facing the global community, climate change, fighting the pandemic, improving public health, guarding against nuclear proliferation, hunger and poverty lifting, economic recovery and growth pushing, cyber-security, to name a few. Yue strongly believe that relationship between China and the Balkan states as well as European Union will see a new growth in many major fields bringing wonderful blessing to peoples of both sides.