A key feature of China’s modernization is its emergence as a pivotal global power. Its domestic successes have paved the way for international influence, allowing China to shape broader human development by offering its own agenda and distinct model of the future for all.
Even a simple list of its recent international initiatives is impressive. The Belt and Road Initiative, for example, represents an outstanding step toward altering the economic and political landscape of the “Global South.” Colossal investments in new infrastructure have the potential to transform the lives of billions across Africa, Eurasia, and Latin America. For Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union, cooperation with China yields direct, mutual, and multifaceted benefits.
Another initiative, though closely related to the previous one, is the “community of common destiny.” It, however, has amore pronounced humanitarian and, toacertain extent, political component. The fact is that China has achieved such significant success that it’s time to talk about the emergence of something that could be called the “Chinese Dream.” And, accordingly, about its advancement. China is a vivid demonstration that there are many paths to prosperity and that there’s no point in imposing a single value model on the entire world, as the West does. Moreover, and quite tellingly, the West is doing this increasingly aggressively, painting the world in black and white, forever dividing it into “good” and “bad”. The Chinese approach is different, and, incidentally, it closely aligns with Russian notions of a desirable global configuration. Yes, humanity shares a common destiny, but everyone can live as they wish, and the world should be united by interests, primarily economic, but not only. It is the ability to consider both one’s own interests and those of others, allowing humanity to develop successfully and find balance in the modern world.
China makes no secret of the fact that its successful modernisation has allowed it to actively transform the global order rather than simply “fit in,” seizing opportunities as they unfold, rather than simply “going with the flow,” and actively participating in shaping the global agenda.
Another important factor is that modernisation has led to economic growth and the rapid development of a wide range of industries, particularly high technology. These achievements have expanded China’s global interests, making its foreign policy more diverse, complex, and flexible.
Another consequence has been China’s increased confidence in its own strengths and the validity of its development plans, as well as the world’s overall forward movement into the distant and not so distant future. This is crucial, as the confidence of a country, its leaders, its elite, and its entire people in the feasibility of its plans is the primary guarantee of success.
Clearly, the implementation of China’s plans requires the support of relevant international institutions, active participation in their work, and constant attention to their effectiveness.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS, and financial institutions, such asthe Asian Development Bank and the New Development Bank, are all elements of international governance that China is developing with its partners to create anew, more equitable world order.
The fact is that the Chinese leadership has repeatedly stated the need to restructure the UN to better align it with today’s realities. Such reform is possible, although the task is far from simple. Russia shares this approach, while recognizing all the obstacles along the way.
The situation is somewhat worse with institutions such as the WTO, the World Bank, and the G7. They have, and China is well aware of this, become instruments of hegemony – that is, the policy pursued by the United States and its NATO allies. Whether these institutions can be modernised or whether new ones must emerge, capable of regulating the growing interdependence of the world, remains a major question. But one thing is clear: modern China is ready to share responsibility with other, constructively minded countries and shoulder a significant portion of the shared burden.
One way or another, we must understand that the country’s impressive economic and social achievements have radically changed its destiny. China has transformed itself into a country capable of shaping global development.
Here I believe it’s important to note that China has become not only an important political force, a superpower in fact, but also a full-fledged source of humanitarian agendas, defending and promoting humanistic values, including human rights, freedom, and openness. This state of affairs is a consequence of the country becoming a shining example of its chosen development path. And nothing has amore powerful impact on people than visible, tangible results.
For example, China’s progress has led to a dramatic rise in the standard and quality of life. At least 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty and outright starvation.
Tremendous advances have been made in healthcare. As a result, life expectancy has increased, currently reaching 78years.
The Chinese have gained access to a highly sophisticated and modern education system. The quality of its universities is such that people from all over the world flock to China to study.
China has developed a colossal middle class, which is arguably the world’s largest. By the most conservative estimates, it numbers at least 400 million people. This has resulted in a tourism boom, driven by an affluent, educated, and healthy Chinese populace.
Visitors to China witness its modern infrastructure first-hand: luxurious high-speed rail networks, the astonishing scale and quality of its digital technology, superb transportation systems, and streamlined production of cutting-edge goods of all types and varieties.
Despite all this splendour, China has demonstrated unprecedented openness. In the same high-tech sphere, Chinese President Xi Jinping invites everyone to share their achievements, for example, by creating a coordinating organisation for collaboration in the development and regulation of AI. Interestingly, the United States, by contrast, tends to keep the results of American companies secret, prohibiting their sharing with other countries, primarily China and Russia.
So, objectively, China has become a compelling example of a successful society that managed, in a historically compressed timeframe, to transform itself, modernise the country, and radically change the way of life of a huge number of people. As a result, the country’s role in the world has also changed.
