A 'community of common destiny' is needed: Summit

Editor's note: Leaders from think tanks and the fields of politics and business from many countries have gathered for the 4th Global Think Tank Summit being held in Beijing from Friday to Saturday. The following is an open letter from the organizer of the event, the China Center for International Economic Exchanges:

The 4th Global Think Tank Summit, under the theme "Global Sustainable Development: New Path After 2015", provides an open platform for an equal exchange of ideas among think tanks from around the world.

Think tanks are institutions to conduct intensive research, especially in the areas of technology, social or political strategy. At the summit, they will discuss new challenges in how the global economy can develop sustainably.

Fifteen years ago, the United Nations set its pioneering Millennium Development Goals that appeal for mankind to be a "community of common destiny". The eight goals were established to eradicate extreme poverty, achieve universal primary education and promote gender equality. One of the goals is to develop a global partnership for development.

With developing countries prioritizing economic development and socioeconomic improvements, the UN's development agenda should continue to be focused on the world's poorest groups of people.

The spirit of the UN's MDGs should continue to be carried forward and poverty alleviation should be defined as the priority.

Supervision on the implementation of internationallevel tasks should be strengthened, with priority given to reviewing how the commitments are fulfilled in government development support, technology transfers and capacity building.

All countries should be encouraged to include a post-2015 development agenda into their national development strategies. All countries should also be given sufficient policy leeway and flexibility.

The coordinating role of the UN should promote a concerted effort from all nations and to promote international cooperation in development.

China, as the world's secondlargest economy and the largest developing nation, has met the UN's MDGs since they were established 15 years ago. Currently, it is comprehensively coordinating and promoting economic, political, cultural and social development as well as the development of an ecological civilization according to a State policy called the "Four Comprehensives", which calls for building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, governing the nation by law and strictly governing the Communist Party of China on a deeply comprehensive level.

China is in the process of turning its gains from reforms into advanced economic development and socioeconomic benefits. It is striving to finish building a moderately prosperous society by the year 2020. It is also promoting globally sustainable development among nations from around the world in order for all to reap bonuses from reforms and peaceful development.

So far, the world has not been able to fully shrug off the global financial crisis. Major economies are not working along the same path of economic development. The global economic revival is lacking major driving forces and there are many uncertainties.

Problems in ecological, informational, public and economic security as well as terrorism are all very real. These challenges are seriously impeding the smooth implementation of a global sustainable development strategy.

It is a positive sign that governments, social organizations and business communities across all countries have begun to take action in jointly dealing with global challenges, while think tanks from all countries have also actively contributed their wisdom by offering advice and suggestions. The China Center for International Economic Exchanges is dedicated to studying global economic and strategic issues, initiating international exchanges, promoting international cooperation and providing consultative services.

We are willing to join our peers from around the world in realizing a "Global Think Tank Summit" mechanism to fully and effectively exchange ideas, share truths and wisdom, commonly promote global sustainable development and make new contributions to build a "community of common destiny" and realize peaceful development and cooperation.

The CCIEE wishes the 4th Global Think Tank Summit great success and we hope new progress is made in the cause for global sustainable development.

(China Daily 06/26/2015 page15)