Concept of shared future for mankind 'gaining support'

The Chinese proposal to build a community of a shared future for mankind - first floated by President Xi Jinping in 2013 - has born fruit and is poised to rise above partisan differences, according to political leaders and scholars on the sidelines of a high-level dialogue between world political parties in Beijing.

In his keynote speech on Friday at the opening ceremony of the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, Xi - who is general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China - reiterated that the world's largest political party will continue to explore the social development of mankind through its own practice, and share its experience with other countries.

Citing ongoing global participation in the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said the idea of building a community of a shared future for mankind has been translated into concrete action.

"I'm delighted to see that friendly cooperation between China and other countries is expanding, and that the concept of a future is gaining more support," he said.

Xi's keynote address on Friday framed the agenda for efforts to build a shared community - a concept he has mentioned more than 100 times in speeches over the past few years - said Wang Yajun, assistant minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, during a panel discussion on Saturday.

Exchanges with world political parties have been held in high esteem by the CPC since its birth in 1921, Wang said.

"For the community to grow and prosper, political parties around the world need to shoulder their responsibility, contribute their wisdom and set a course in the right direction," Wang said.

Despite their differences, political parties share the mission of serving the people, said Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party of Thailand and the country's former prime minister. The Beijing dialogue is a reminder of the global pursuit of prosperity and peace at a time when the pains of the wealth gap, a deteriorating environment and compromised security are being felt worldwide, he said.

Political parties must face up to the pressing need for regional and global solutions rather than touting nationalism to voters, Abhisit said.

Yuba Raj Chaulagain, secretary of the International Department of the Communist Party of Nepal, said Xi's speech was important for the present global situation, given the challenges of climate change and cross-border terrorism. It provided a solution for those challenges, he said. "If there are conflicts in one particular country or area of the world, they can spread," he said. "They have to be suppressed by the combined force of the present powers of the world."

Wang Fan, vice-president of China Foreign Affairs University, said a community of a shared future for mankind is about promoting interests, dealing with threats and sharing responsibility. The CPC cannot make it happen all by itself, he said. "Effective, constructive cooperation between world political parties is a necessity," he said.

An Baijie contributed to this story.

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