May peaceful coexistence be the guiding force of world order

The debate on the architecture of the international order should focus on the responsibilities devolved to States achieving the status of the highest power: the world powers. Indeed, world powers are defined not only by the nature and scope of their interests, but also by their attitude towards global cooperation based on principles and common responsibilities arising from their actions.

China is an emerging global power pursuing its goal of building a global community of shared future by exercising restraint, responsibility and respect for the common good.

Then-Premier Zhou Enlai proposed the five principles of peaceful coexistence during a 1953 diplomatic engagement with the Indian government. A year later, in 1954, China issued two joint declarations, with India and Myanmar respectively, confirming their commitment to these five principles in the conduct of their mutual and respective relations with other Asian and Asian countries. of the world.

In 1955, at the Bandung Conference, a set of 10 principles aimed at promoting peace and cooperation, including the first five from 1953, were adopted. In 1970, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2625, which included the content of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, thus making them widely acceptable to the international community.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and their global evolution have had a considerable impact on the development of diplomatic relations between China and several countries, including the new sovereign states that gained independence from colonial rule in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The five principles remain a pillar of diplomatic relations between China and the nine Portuguese-speaking countries. Yet new connotations need to be incorporated into contemporary international relations to make these principles more effective.

Six decades later, capitalizing on the global importance of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, countries have pursued development, unity, coexistence and win-win cooperation. In this light, win-win cooperation is preferred over zero-sum games and represents a commitment to collective action with collective gains and shared values ​​and principles.

The concept of a global community with a shared future for mankind, as promoted by President Xi Jinping, is becoming a hallmark of China, as it reflects the broad common interests of all societies and sets out a vision for all major areas associated with global governance. follow. To meet our common challenges and create a better future for all, we count on culture and civilization to play their role, which is as important as that of the economy, science and technology.

China strives to build communities with a shared future in multiple forms, in multiple areas and at multiple levels.

These communities embody the spirit of the five principles of peaceful coexistence and the broader vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, as demonstrated by their practices, their participation in global initiatives, and their commercial and cultural exchanges. Given Macao's role as a platform that can contribute to the rapprochement of China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, it is possible to build a new community of destiny with the nine Portuguese-speaking countries.

The creation of such a platform will not only provide practical inspiration for building closer and stronger relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, but, more importantly, send a message to the rest of the world that it is possible to establish informal relationships. a spatial oasis of principled sovereign relations, even in the absence of contiguity of land borders, thereby fostering a new type of international relations.

The author is an associate professor at the University of Macau.