Excerpt of Prof. Giancarlo Elia Valori’s prolusion for the LX Anniversary of the International Politics Department of Peking University and the 20th Anniversary of the Faculty of International Relations Building, in Beijing on 18 Dec. 2024.
The Growing Strategic Role of Developing Countries in the World Geopolitical Balance and President XI JINPING’s Concrete Support for the Social, Economic, Fiscal and Financial Development of the BRICS States – China-Europe Relations
President Xi Jinping has consistently argued that strengthening strategic partnership to promote changes in global governance is at the core of the BRICS project, emphasizing the responsibility of BRICS to respond to common challenges and create a better future.
For my part, I am confident that BRICS cooperation will continue to develop and bring more security, stability and positive energy to the world. It is an important force in shaping the international landscape.
Moreover, the vigorous development of the BRICS countries has been giving impetus to peace and development in the world for years, and has become an important force in shaping the international model. It should also be noted that as far as the current war events are concerned, no BRICS country has been the protagonist of provocations against third countries.
The BRICS countries have always upheld the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. This not only promotes development to a new level, but is also the source of their growing influence in the world.
President Xi Jinping has always reiterated that the BRICS countries will always uphold international fairness and justice, advocate justice on major international and regional issues, and strengthen the voice and influence of those countries that imperialism has tried and is trying to take away from them.
The People’s Republic of China is to be commended for its outstanding leadership in promoting inclusive development and supporting the BRICS cooperation mechanism, which has become increasingly influential in the international arena and an important tool for amplifying the voices of developing countries. In doing so, it resolves major international and regional issues in an equitable manner and provides a solid platform for improving global governance.
BRICS cooperation systems are different from some international mechanisms led by Western powers, providing coordination and assistance to developing and emerging countries with the advantages of diversity and flexibility.
President Xi Jinping has always insisted that development is an inalienable right of all countries, not a “patent” for a few countries to sell to the “unfortunate” by extracting what little they have. The BRICS countries are on the road to revitalization and oppose decoupling and disconnection through economic coercion and the blackmail of war.
In the face of the complex and serious international situation and the difficulties and challenges faced by developing countries, it is imperative for the BRICS countries to continue to strengthen each other in the various fields of economics, trade, finance, political security and cultural exchanges as well as focus on practical cooperation, especially in areas such as digital economy, green development and supply chain.
Furthermore, building on the satellite remote sensing cooperation mechanism, the BRICS countries are – in this regard – exploring the creation of a common platform to provide data support for the development of agriculture, ecology, disaster mitigation and other fields in various countries.
Another key step that President Xi Jinping has been addressing for years is for the BRICS countries to further expand cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, especially in those countries that lag behind in this area and automatically become victims of the stronger states in this field.
Strengthening cooperation between the BRICS media will also be of great benefit to comprehensively report on important bilateral or multilateral topics. It can not only promote mutual understanding between people from different countries, but also help build bridges for the exchange of civilisations and mutual learning.
BRICS trade and initiatives are benefiting most emerging economies and developing countries. The BRICS cooperation mechanism promotes the democratisation of international relations and fosters unity, friendship and prosperity. This cooperation mechanism is a clear example of the efforts to build a community with a shared future for humanity.
The BRICS countries have always been advocates and practitioners of independent foreign policies on major international issues, insisting on proceeding on the merits of the issue itself, saying what is right and what is not, without abandoning their own principles, and not succumbing to external pressures, not wanting to be the vassals, or worse still: the serfs of other countries. The BRICS countries have a broad consensus and common goals. No matter how the international situation changes, the original intention of cooperation and common aspirations will not change.
President Xi Jinping emphasised that BRICS cooperation is at that critical stage where contradictions inherited from the past are being inherited, to open up a future where they are eliminated.
It is necessary to grasp the general trend, to pave the way, to adhere to the original intention of strengthening the BRICS through unity and cooperation in all fields, to promote high quality partnerships, reform global governance in a more just and reasonable direction and inject more certainty, stability and justice in the world.
It is the task of the BRICS to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and promote mutual learning between civilisations. The different development paths are how the world should be. Human history will not end with one civilization or system. The BRICS support the peaceful coexistence and harmonious symbiosis of different civilisations; respect the paths of modernisation chosen independently by each country; and oppose ideological opposition, institutional confrontation and the ‘clash of civilizations’.
Relations between China and Europe
In 2025, China and the European Union will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The People’s Republic of China, as evidenced by the statements and actions of President Xi Jinping, senior state cadres and the Communist Party of China, is willing to work with the EU to seize this opportunity to further consolidate the stable and positive momentum of their relationship. This would enhance strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation, and make a greater contribution to improving the welfare of the people on the ground, so that both sides have more opportunities to promote overall peace and development.
History and practice have repeatedly shown that China and Europe, as continental units with a long tradition of developing the greatest state forms in human history: the Chinese Empire and the Roman Empire, have an interest in maintaining good relations and strengthening practical cooperation.
All this is aimed not only at furthering their respective development, but also, and first and foremost, at promoting world prosperity and stability, so as to jointly respond to global challenges. Today, changes in the world are accelerating and serious international and regional issues are emerging one after another. Promoting the healthy, stable and sustainable development of Sino-European relations is not only the responsibility of the two sides, but is what the international community expects.
The People’s Republic of China has always regarded Europe as an important direction of its diplomacy and a key partner in promoting Chinese-style modernization. At the same time, the People’s Republic of China is also an important partner for Europe as a function of carrying out new studies on energy and green transformation, as well as promoting peace and development together.
It is hoped that the EU institutions will give due consideration to the development of the People’s Republic of China without blackmailing conditions and/or threats from across the Atlantic, and formulate an objective and rational policy toward the country. On the other hand, the European Union has always positively assessed the development achievements of the People’s Republic of China in recent years and attached great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Beijing; and in return, Brussels hopes to strengthen exchanges and dialogues with Beijing at all levels and in all fields, deepen mutual understanding and expand mutually beneficial cooperation and improve the welfare of the citizens who make up such geopolitical entities.
The Eurasian Union hopes to resolve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation and promote the development of economic and trade relations. The Eurasian Union is very much striving for strategic independence – although it must be subject to certain political and military obligations that condition its independence, which I have addressed elsewhere. The European Union is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with the People’s Republic of China, especially in international multilateral affairs, and to respond together to global challenges such as climate change – one of the greatest long-term problems facing our planet.
Author: Giancarlo Elia Valori – Honorable de l’Académie des Sciences de l’Institut de France, Honorary Professor at the Peking University.