Today, the world is faced with intertwined changes and turbulence. Global changes unseen in a century are gathering speed. International political disputes and geopolitical conflicts flare up. The Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict drag on. As a result, the global landscape for development and security gets increasingly complicated and world economic growth lacks momentum. At the historical crossroads, the topic “where is humanity going” remains a big problem to all countries in the world.

Amid those global changes unseen in a century, Chinese President Xi Jinping, with ultimate care about the future of humanity, reaffirmed China’s willingness to work with all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs held from 27th to 28th December, 2023.

As the core tenet of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, building a community with a shared future for mankind provides a Chinese solution to the questions of what kind of world we should build and how to build it. It reflects the Chinese Communists’ worldview, perception of order, and values. In summary, in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the goal is to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security, and shared prosperity so as to make the people’s aspiration for a better life a reality. The pathway is promoting global governance that features extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits. The guiding principle is to apply the common values of humanity. The basic underpinning lies in building a new type of international relations. The strategic guidance comes from the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. The platform for action is high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind accords with the common aspiration of people in all countries and points the direction for the progress of world civilizations. Ten years on, it has developed from a Chinese initiative to an international consensus, from a promising vision to substantive actions. The Belt and Road initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative have taken root and borne fruits, bringing prosperity and stability to the world and creating substantive benefits for the people. Over the past ten years, China and Vanuatu, under the guidance of building a community with a shared future for mankind, have also achieved fruitful results in cooperation and exchanges.

First, we treat each other with sincerity, fully respect each other’ s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, support each other to independently choose development paths suitable for our own national conditions and continuously deepen political mutual trust between the two countries. As a result, China-Vanuatu relations have become a model of mutual respect, solidarity and coordination between developing countries.

Second, we pursue win-win results and mutual benefits. We signed the Belt and Road Cooperation Plan, jointly drawing a blueprint for China-Vanuatu cooperation in all fields. Vanuatu landmark complexes, such as the Prime Minister’s Office Building, the National Convention Center, Korman Stadium and infrastructure projects, including Tanna road, Malekula road and Luganville International Wharf are contributing to Vanuatu’s development in respective fields, significantly improving the sense of gain and happiness of Ni-Vanuatu people. To further promote Vanuatu high-quality organic products to the Chinese market, China has invited Vanuatu to participate in the China International Import Expo for six consecutive years. In addition, China made utmost efforts to support Vanuatu in COVID-19 prevention and control. Several China medical teams have served in Vanuatu. Ark Peace medical ship has visited Vanuatu three times. All those efforts contribute to the building of a community of health between the two countries.

Third, we uphold the principle of openness and inclusiveness and constantly promote people-to-people exchanges between our two countries. Over the past years, Ni-Vanuatu students pursued their studies in China, and Ni-Vanuatu officials and people got professional training on special economic zone development and agriculture, etc, becoming the bridge connecting China-Vanuatu friendship. Chinese teachers have been teaching Chinese at the Confucius classroom and schools in Vanuatu for a long time. Foshan Arts Group has visited Vanuatu several times to present performances. Frequent exchanges at all levels and in different fields are becoming increasingly close. All those deepen our understanding of the common ground shared by Chinese Culture and Vanuatu culture.

New year ushers in new hopes. China-Vanuatu cooperation has entered a brand new year. Standing at the new starting point, China will continue to, under the guidance of building a community with a shared future for mankind, proactively advance the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative and strive for more fruitful results for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in Vanuatu so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and their peoples. China is also ready to work together with Vanuatu to enhance communication and coordination on both international and regional issues, champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and address global challenges, including climate change so as to better maintain world peace and stability.