The three-day, 10-nation 6^th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also simply known as Forum Macao, will start this upcoming Sunday. 

Initiated by the Central People’s Government in October 2003 and organised by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in conjunction with a number of Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) whose membership of the organisation now stands at nine, Forum Macao has grown into Macau’s most important tool to strengthen its role as a service platform for commercial, economic and even cultural relations between China and the Portuguese-speaking world. It also has elevated the status of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) on the world stage of international relations. 

The conference, which will be held at Forum Macao’s Service Platform Complex on the peninsula, will be attended by ministerial-level officials from the central government and the nine countries from four continents (Africa, Asia, Europe and South America) that have Portuguese as their official language.

Due to the three-year COVID-19 pandemic and schedule issues, the last Ministerial Conference, supposed to be held every three years, took place in Macau back in October 2016.

The local Permanent Secretariat is headed by its Secretary-General Ji Xianzheng, a career diplomat and expert in commercial diplomacy, who took up his current post in January 2022. However, the forum has meanwhile extended its initially trade-focused aims to multicultural understanding among its member states as well.

In November last year, Macau-based Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa, addressing a local forum on civilisations’ mutual learning between China and PSCs, stressed efforts to explore the cultural commonalities between China and the PSCs, mobilise various forces to form a broad synergy, and actively support and assist the MSAR government and various sectors of civil society in expanding foreign exchanges and cooperation.

Forum Macao’s nine PSCs include Brazil, South America’s economic powerhouse, one of the world’s major economic powers, and one of the nine BRICS members. Concerning global governance issues, the future development of the Global South in particular, President Xi Jinping and his Brazilian counterpart Luis Inácio Lula da Silva are seeing eye to eye. The forum also includes two of Africa’s emerging major economies – Angola and Mozambique, and it also includes EU member Portugal and five relatively small countries which, however, are rich in a wide range of natural resources: Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Timor-Leste (East Timor), São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cabo Verde (Cape Verde).

The nine Portuguese-speaking countries have a population of 290 million. Including China, Forum Macao’s 10 member states account for around one-fifth of the world population.

Forum Macao is one of two international dialogue and cooperation bodies initiated by China involving a group of countries speaking the same language. The other one is the China–Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF), the formal dialogue entity between China and the Arab League established in 2004. The Arab League has 22 members. Arabic has 380 million native speakers. 

China, the world’s number-two economy after the US and before Germany, has set up several other forums for its international relations, such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and, most importantly, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), which held its inaugural meeting in Beijing in 2017 with the participation of over 130 countries and 70 international organisations. China has become the world’s prime mover of international forums benefitting global governance, economic development, multicultural understanding, and poverty alleviation. 

China’s network of globe-spanning forums can only be thoroughly understood by going over its concept of developing a Global Community of Shared Future with a fine-tooth comb. 

That’s what I did while preparing this editorial. I pored over the English version of the about 14,260-word white paper titled “A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Action”, published by the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in September last year. I had read summaries of the full text over the past few months, but as one of my editor-mentors back in the 1980s in Hong Kong urged me more than once while preparing an article involving an important political document: “Read the whole text first, twice!” His advice was spot on. 

White paper 

Anyone genuinely interested in China’s foreign policy should read the white paper’s full text of “A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Action”, which is available online.*

Apart from its preface and conclusion the white paper consists of the following five chapters: Humanity at a Crossroads; An Answer to the Call of the Times and a Blueprint for the Future; Deep Roots in History and Cultural Traditions; Direction and Path; China’s Action and Contribution. 

The preface starts with these three thought-provoking sentences: “In the universe there is only one Earth, the shared home of humanity. “Unfortunately, this planet on which we rely for our subsistence is facing immense and unprecedented crises, both known and unknown, both foreseeable and unforeseeable. 

“Whether human civilisation can survive these has become an existential issue that must be squarely faced.” 

Blueprint for a better world 

The white paper, which I would describe as a comprehensive blueprint for a better world, underlines that President Xi first raised the vision of a global community of shared future when addressing the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2023. Officially, the text has been released as a “white paper to introduce the theoretical base, practice and development of a global community of a shared future”. 

The white paper states that “the vision of a global community of shared future bears in mind the wellbeing of all humanity”.

Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy 

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry last month that “building a community with a shared future for mankind is the core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. 

“It is China’s solution to the question of what kind of world to build and how to build it. 

“President Xi Jinping has stressed many times that humanity lives in the same global village and travels in the same boat. 

“Facing various global challenges coming our way, countries should rise above their differences in history, culture, geography and system, and work together to protect the Earth, the only inhabitable planet for us all, and make it a better place.”**

Within the framework of the concept the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI) “have taken root and borne fruit,” the white paper stressed.

Humanity at a Crossroads 

The “Humanity at a Crossroads” chapter underlines that “interdependence is the prevailing trend throughout history” and that “globalisation has improved the allocation of production factors worldwide.”

It also lists four global challenges calling for a global response to the world’s growing peace deficit, its ballooning development deficit, glaring security deficit, and governance deficit “becoming more severe”. 

According to the white paper, China categorically rejects the notion that “might makes right” and insists that it “remains committed to friendly cooperation with other countries, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, in order to advance democracy in international relations.”

This year marks the 70^th anniversary of the famed Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, jointly proposed by China, India and Myanmar (then still known as Burma) in 1954, calling for the mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The five principles have become one of the salient initiatives in the history of international relations. 

The white paper does, of course, reject international relations’ “zero-sum game in which one wins by causing others to lose,” saying that the notion “is doomed to fail”. 

‘New features’ of global governance 

Regarding the “new features” of global governance, the white paper lists five aims that ought to be met – openness and inclusiveness; equity and justice; harmonious coexistence; diversity and mutual learning; unity and cooperation.

The white paper also highlights China’s five-point proposal for building a global community of shared future in the areas of partnerships, security environment, development, inter-civilisation exchanges, and ecosystem, namely by building partnerships in which countries treat each other as equals; creating a security environment featuring fairness, justice, joint efforts, and shared interests; promoting open, innovative and inclusive development that benefits all; increasing inter-civilisation exchanges to promote harmony, inclusiveness, and respect for differences; and building an ecosystem that puts Mother Nature and green development first. 

Moreover, the white paper lists five “clear goals” in order to draw a “clearer blueprint” for the future of humanity by building a world of lasting peace through dialogue and consultation; a world of common security for all through joint efforts; a world of common prosperity through win-win cooperation; an open and inclusive world through exchanges and mutual learning; and making our world clean and beautiful by pursuing green and low-carbon development.

Harmony between humanity and nature 

The white paper also reaffirms the timeless advice that “we must follow the philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature and observance of the laws of nature and pursue a path of sustainable development, so that everyone is able to enjoy a starry sky, lush mountains and fragrant flowers.” 

Pointing out that the concept of a global community of shared future has deep roots in China’s profound cultural heritage and its unique experience of modernisation, the white paper emphasises that “harmony is the core concept of Chinese culture”, “the Chinese nation believes that all nations together are one community, and “the Chinese nation champions universal benevolence.” 

The white paper reaffirms that the Chinese nation acts on the belief that humans are part of nature and follows the old adage: ‘Fish with a line but not with a net; when fowling, do not aim at a roosting bird.”

Globalisation is irreversible 

On the world’s economic development front, the white paper calls for the need to “press ahead with a new type of economic globalisation by accepting that “economic globalisation is an irreversible trend of global development” and rejecting the “win-or-lose”, “winner-takes-all” mindset. 

China, according to the white paper, is adamant that “promoting a new type of economic globalisation is essential for building a global community of shared future.” 

Citing its experience gained during five millennia of continuous civilisation, the white paper states that “history tells us that for a country to develop and prosper, it must understand and follow the trend of global development; otherwise it will be abandoned by history,” adding that “the world needs peace, just like a human being needs air and living things need sunshine.” 

Derisking creates new risks 

Concerning current issues affecting the world economy, the white paper warns that “some people overstate the need to ‘reduce dependence’ and ‘derisk’, which is essentially creating new risks. Risk prevention and cooperation are not mutually contradictory, whereas non-cooperation is the biggest risk and non-development is the biggest threat to security. Pursuing de-sinicisation in the name of derisking and reducing dependence undermines opportunities, cooperation, stability, and development.”

The white paper diplomatically refrains from naming the perceived culprits. 

It admits that “building a global community of shared future requires practising true multilateralism.” 

And it also calls for promoting the common values of humanity, pointing out that “China understands that different civilisations have different understandings of the nature of these values, and respects the efforts of people in different countries to explore their own development paths. 

“It goes beyond the narrow historical limitations of the so-called universal values, and promotes the common values of humanity embedded in Chinese civilisation. 

It is my long-held view, perhaps also due to my four-decade-long living and working experience in China, that universal values, whatever they are supposed to mean, only make sense when seen within a specific cultural, political, economic, societal and even religious context. Without the context they are existing in, universal values are just slogans – apart from the fact that in world politics it is nonsensical to restrict one’s amity in international relations to those who “share” supposedly one’s own values. What governments ought to do is to learn from the huge diversity of values influencing different cultures, socio-political and judicial systems. 

Democracy is not Coca-Cola 

Besides, according to the white paper, China insists there is no single model of democracy that is universally applicable, far less a superior one. 

“Democracy is not Coca-Cola, tasting [almost] the same across the world as the syrup is [originally] produced in one single country. Democracy is not an ornament, but a solution to real problems.”

The white paper describes the Belt and Road Initiative as a “vivid example of building a global community of shared future…, and initiative for economic cooperation, not for geopolitical or military alliances.” 

I suppose that the initiative is the most far-reaching one ever launched by a single country in the history of international relations. 

Blue economy 

The white paper also underlines that “faced with increasingly complex maritime issues, China has proposed to form a maritime community of shared future and has always been committed to peaceful resolution of territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests disputes through dialogue and consultation. 

“China has signed and fully and effectively implemented the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea with ASEAN countries, and continues to advance consultations on the code of conduct in the South China Sea. “China has proposed to jointly build a blue economy partnership and strengthen maritime connectivity. It adheres to the path of pursuing joint development while setting aside disputes, and actively explores joint resource development with maritime neighbors at sea,” the white paper states. 

All of the 10 Forum Macao members are coastal states and, I am sure, all of them are interested in the blue economy development. Even tiny Macau, which hosts the Forum’s permanent secretariat, is working on developing its blue economy. The potential of blue economy development could, I am convinced, become a new driver of further cooperation between China and the world’s Portuguese-speaking world. 

Need to adapt to changing times 

Realistically, the white paper concludes that “all good principles should adapt to changing times in order to remain relevant,” adding that in order to realise the goal of establishing a global community of shared future requires “confidence and determination, a broad mind and a global vision, and a sense of responsibility, and a will to act”. 

Last but not least, the white paper concludes that “our journey will be a lengthy one and arduous one, successes and setbacks await us, but hopes abound.” 

With regard to Forum Macao’s upcoming ministerial conference, I would expect its delegates to peruse the numerous policy principles and cherish the many pieces of advice that the white paper offers. 

And, as all meaningful undertakings, Forum Macao, which marked its 20^th anniversary last year, should adapt to changing times in order to remain relevant. I wish the 10 participating countries’ representatives a fruitful conference resulting in concrete action on multiple fronts, based on Forum Macao’s organic relationship with the concept of developing a global community of shared future. 

– Harald Brüning 

*http://www.scio.gov.cn/zfbps/zfbps_2279/202309/t20230926_771260.html 

**https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/zxxx_662805/202403/t20240308_11256416.html