China offers alternative model of modernization
Airfreight workers in El Salvador transport Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses received from China, on Sept. 3. Photo: CFP
SHANGHAI—Building a community of shared future for mankind is consistent with pioneering a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, said experts at a symposium in Shanghai on August 27.
The symposium, under the theme of “Promoting the Common Values of Mankind and Building a Community of Shared Future for Mankind,” was hosted by Tongji University.
“A new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization not only conforms to the general law of modernization, but also transcends Western-style modernization,” said Han Qingxiang, a professor from the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC. A new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization is one of peaceful development and win-win cooperation. Building a community of shared future for mankind is an indispensable element of pioneering a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization.
The path is new in that it sublates and surpasses the Western path of modernization, argued Yang Zengdong, deputy dean of the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University. The path adheres to people-centered development, which is different from the Western modernization path of material interest supremacy. It is also different from the instrumental rationality, capital logic, and individual supremacy of Western modernization theory.
Wu Guangming, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Tongji University, said that the multi-polarization of the world and economic globalization are undergoing profound changes. Countries are interconnected, interdependent, and have closer relations with each other. In light of a series of major topics such as how to revitalize the world economy and create a better future for mankind, the CPC, proceeding from the common interests of mankind, creatively put forward the concept of building a community of shared future for mankind. The concept has won approval and recognition from most countries.
“The concept of a community of shared future for mankind emphasizes common development, win-win cooperation, and extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits,” said Yue Kui, dean of the School of Marxism at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Building a community of shared future for mankind transcends the “zero-sum game” mentality in Western development concepts. It not only means a change in development concepts, but also changes to the world’s development paths, governance bodies, and governance rules.
Xiao Wei, a professor from the School of Marxism at Fudan University, said that the world is facing many common challenges, and the top priority now is to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. The measures taken by different countries and regions to fight the pandemic have exposed profound differences in values, which will lead to a rapid expansion of global risks and further increase the difficulty of global governance.
Zhang Xiaoming, dean of the School of Marxism at China West Normal University, pointed out that whether it be the era’s theme of peaceful development or the pursuit of fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, they fundamentally focus on how to better adhere to people-oriented development and serve the people. It is advisable for all countries to concretely and realistically reflect upon the common values of all mankind in the practice of realizing the interests of their own people.
Edited by JIANG HONG