On June 30, H.E. Ambassador Ouyang Yujing's written article titled "Implementing the Global Security Initiative, Jointly Building a World for Lasting Peace and Universal Security" has been published on Malaysia's mainstream media such as Sin Chew Daily, Oriental Daily News, The Star, and Malaysiakini. The article touches on the rich connotation of the Global Security Initiative and hopes for a peaceful, stable future. Full text as follows:
These days, Malaysian friends are celebrating Hari Raya Haji with relatives and friends. Crowds are seen in shopping malls and busy streets. However, in other parts of the world, regional security hot spots keep flaring up, regional conflicts and disturbances are frequent, various traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, posing great challenges to each countries’ development and regional stability. Moreover, certain countries, out of their own interests, are obsessed with unilateralism, hegemonism and power politics, which cast heavy shadow over the world order.
“Peace, like air and sunshine, is hardly noticeable. But none of us can live without it.” In the face of a turbulent world, bearing in mind the shared well-being of mankind, Present Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative in his keynote speech delivered at the ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, contributing China’s prescription to addressing global security deficit. The GSI chimes with the shared aspiration of the international community for peace, security and development. That’s why the GSI has received positive response around the world once it was put forward. As of today, nearly 90 countries and international organizations have appreciated and supported the GSI. The GSI has clearly incorporated more than 30 bilateral and multilateral documents on exchanges between China and relevant countries and organizations. The appeal, influence and ability to inspire of the GSI has been enhanced.
On the GSI’s first Anniversary, China officially released The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, which provides a practical “guideline” for all parties to better understand the contents of GSI and chart the course for cooperation. The Concept Paper further clarifies the core concepts and principles of the GSI: the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security provides conceptual guidance; respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is the basic premise; abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is a primary benchmark; taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously is an important principle, peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation is a must choice; and maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains is an inherent requirement. These six commitments are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, and are an organic whole of dialectical unity, which will be a correct and effective guidance for reforming the global security governance system, resolving the security dilemma faced by humanity, and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
The Concept Paper lays out 20 priorities and 5 platforms and mechanisms of cooperation, all highly action-oriented: we need to uphold the UN’s central role in security governance and jointly practice true multilateralism; we need to promote coordination and sound interactions among major countries, seek common ground while reserving differences, and manage disputes; we need to stick to the overall direction of promoting peace talk, facilitate peaceful settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue; we need to take a coordinated approach to addressing traditional and non-traditional security threats, jointly improve the global security governance system and capacity building; we need to strike a balance between development and security, and enhance sustainable security through sustainable development.
China is not only the initiator of GSI, but also an active force in implementing this initiative. At present, China remains the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the Security Council, the only country in the world that undertakes to follow a path of peaceful development in its constitution, and the only one among the five nuclear-weapon states that has pledged “no first use” of nuclear weapons. As for international and regional issues, China has proposed a four-point proposal on the settlement of the Palestinian question, a five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East. As the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis reaches its one-year mark, China released China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, which provides a comprehensive, systematic, and feasible approach to settling the Ukraine crisis. With the concerted efforts of all parties concerned, Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks in Beijing. Both sides agreed to resume diplomatic relations. This milestone event once again shows China’s responsibility.
The 21st century is the Asia-Pacific century. Asia-pacific region is growing to be the anchor for world peace, the powerhouse for global growth and the new pacesetter for international cooperation. The peace and stability of Asia-Pacific doesn’t come easily and should be all the more cherished. An ancient Chinese philosopher observed,“Stability brings a country prosperity while instability leads a country to poverty.” Security is the precondition for development. Without peace, development and prosperity are out of the question, like water without source and a tree without roots. China will work with Malaysia and other countries in the region, jointly put forward and implement the GSI, address various traditional and non-traditional security threats hand by hand, so as to safeguard peace and stability of the region and the whole world.