On the Inheritance and Innovation of the Discourse System of the World Order with Chinese Characteristics

Qiu Huafei＊

On the Inheritance and Innovation of the Discourse System of the World Order with Chinese Characteristics

Qiu Huafei＊

The Chinese Dream is a unique discourse expression, correlating with reasonable and positive dreams as well as good wishes for people throughout the world. The Chinese Dream helps the people of the world understand that China will make greater contributions to the peaceful development of mankind and to the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity (Qian, Huang & Li, 2015). General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the realization of national rejuvenation and the Chinese Dream depends on a peaceful international environment,“Without peace, neither China nor the world can achieve smooth development, and with a lack of development, neither China nor the world can enjoy lasting peace.”He stressed that,“The realization of the‘Chinese dream’will benefit not only the Chinese people but also the people of the world (Xi, 2015, p.274).”The evolution of the discourse expression from“peaceful rise”to“peaceful development”and to“Chinese Dream”presents to the world the wisdom of the Chinese people. The realization of the Chinese Dream will make contributions to the maintenance of world peace and the construction of a win-win world political and economic order.

Chinese Dream; discourse; inheritance; innovation

The discourse system of the world order with Chinese characteristics is the combination of Marxist theory and traditional Chinese culture, and of China’s understanding of the contemporary world and China’s diplomatic practice. The discourse expression of international relations in Marxist theory is differentfrom that of liberalism, realism, and constructivism in western international politics. Marxist theory includes not only the basic theories of Marx and Engels, but also the theories of its successors, like the theories of Lenin, Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao (Li, 2008, p.2).

The idea and strategy of building a new world order put forward by the Central Committee of the CPC with Xi Jinping at the core established the foundation for developing the discourse system of the world order with Chinese characteristics. The views and methods of Marxist thinkers such as Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao Zedong, in particular the ideas like “a community of shared destiny,” “building a new model of major-country relationships,” “the Belt and Road Initiative,” “forging sound relations through the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness,” and the “New Security Concept” by General Secretary Xi Jinping are important components in the construction of the discourse system of the world order with Chinese characteristics and an important practice of Marxism in China.

1. Inheritance of the discourse system

By prejudging what kind of new world the proletarian parties of all countries should strive for, Marx and Engels put forward a number of requirements and pointed the way for the proletarian party to respond to changes in the international situation. According to the Marxist point of view, in the context of peace and justice, the new world order that the proletariat is committed to maintaining should have the following characteristics: (1)Ensure independence of each nation; independence is the foundation of all international cooperation.①Collected Works of Marx and Engels: Volume 35. (1971). Beijing: People’s Publishing House. p. 262.(2) Take morality and justice as the highest standard.②Selected Works of Marx and Engels: Volume 2. (1995). Beijing: People’s Publishing House. p. 607.(3) Build the new world under the principle of international peace. Marx and Engels believe that the socialists of all countries are peace-lovers; the proletarian parties of all countries should strive for peace at all costs and the union of the working classes all over the world will abolish all wars. The future in Marxism is totally different from that in the bourgeois era. It has been pointed out that from the old world of economic poverty and political inequality was rising a new world, and the international principle of this new world would be peace. Peace and tranquility will come true in the new world after the abolishment of private ownership and the system of exploitation.③Selected Works of Marx and Engels: Volume 2. (1995). Beijing: People’s Publishing House. p. 19.(4) Take the “community of free individuals” as the main body. It has been pointed out in The Communist Manifesto that “In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all.”④Selected Works of Marx and Engels: Volume 2. (1995). Beijing: People’s Publishing House. p. 294.When the function of the government as a tool for internal control disappears, so will its function as a tool for external oppression. Countries will be replaced by the “community of free individuals,” and the relationships of equality and mutual benefit will be established.

Theoretically, the construction of Major-Country Diplomacy with Chinese characteristics originates from the concept of world order in Marxist theory. It is essential for us to apply the scientific analysis method of Marxist theory to the practice of the construction of Major-Country Diplomacy and build the discourse system of world order with Chinesecharacteristics. The new type of international relationship featuring “win-win cooperation”proposed by President Xi Jinping is the inheritance and innovation of Marxist peace and justice. In the context of building a community of shared destiny, China proposed to build a new international political and economic order, which provides the world with the idea of global governance.

Lenin inherited and developed the principles of Marxist international relations and put forward the international strategic thinking that the socialist countries and capitalist countries would exist together. He pointed out that “the present world is—people live in a country, and each country exists in the system made up of many countries.”“Countries are closely linked to one another through economic activities.”①Lenin Collected Works: Volume 42. (1987). Beijing: People's Publishing House, p. 40; Lenin Collected Works: Volume 40. (1986). Beijing: People's Publishing House, p. 62.On the peaceful coexistence of socialism and capitalism, Lenin argued that the basis for peaceful coexistence is the common economic relationship of the world. The peaceful coexistence of the two different social systems, socialism and capitalism, benefits both sides, and its realistic basis is the common economic relationship of the world (Sun, 2008). Lenin pointed out that the common economic relationship of the world is a power that surpasses any desire, will, or decision of any hostile government or class, and it is this relationship that forces them to have economic and trade exchanges with us.②Lenin Collected Works: Volume 40. (1986). Beijing: People’s Publishing House, p. 332.And it is also necessary for socialist Russia to introduce capital, advanced equipment, management experience and science and technology from foreign capitalist countries to speed up the socialist construction. It is the shared interest in the common economic relationship of the world that provides the realistic basis for the peaceful coexistence of socialism and capitalism. The concept of building a community of shared destiny proposed by President Xi Jinping is a new development of Lenin’s idea.

In the 1970s, Mao Zedong put forward the “three worlds” theory after long-term observation of the international situation during the two decades after the war, and after objective and in-depth analysis of the overall situation of international struggles and the development of various basic contradictions and political forces in the world.③Mao Zedong Collected Works: Volume 8. (1999). Beijing: People’s Publishing House, pp. 441-442.The strategic division of the “three worlds” is based on the status of countries in international political and economic relations (Xie, 2004, p. 281). The division of the“three worlds” was the first time that Chinese leaders had viewed the world from a global perspective and sought to establish a new model of interaction with the world. In the 1980s, under the two major themes of peace and development, Deng Xiaoping put forward the idea of establishing a new international political order and a new international economic order.④Deng Xiaoping's Anthology: Volume 3. (2008). Beijing: People’s Publishing House, pp.282-283.The former is to create a peaceful international environment and promote the development of the world, and the latter is conducive to promoting the world economic development, narrowing the gap between the North and the South, thus contributing to the realization of world peace. Therefore, the two are inseparable. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core inherited and developed the international strategic thinking of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping in the process of advancing China’s constructive participation in global governance. Based on the international environment in which multi-polarization keeps evolving, the CPC Central Committee innovatively put forward a diplomaticstrategy, proposal and discourse, different from that of the great powers of the western countries. China has provided wisdom and discourse with Chinese characteristics from the theoretical and practical aspects for the construction of the international rules and norms that will benefit world peace and security and for the building of a fair and reasonable world order.

In the 1990s, Jiang Zemin proposed to establish a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order, promote the democratization of international relations, respect the diversity of the world and ensure the harmonious coexistence and mutual respect of all countries in the context of world multi-polarization and economic globalization.①Jiang Zemin's Anthology: Volume 3. (2006). Beijing: People's Publishing House, pp.473-474.After entering the 21st century, confronting the complex changes in the international environment, the Central Committee stated in the report of the 17th National Congress of the CPC that, “We will promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction,” and proposed that “People of all countries should work together to promote the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.”It was stressed that, “China will continue to take an active part in multilateral affairs, undertake the corresponding international obligations, and play a constructive role (Hu, 2007).” The historical trend of peace, development and cooperation has provided an unprecedented opportunity for peaceful and harmonious coexistence among people of all countries, and made it possible for the building of a harmonious world. At the 60th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Hu Jintao (2005) proposed that countries all over the world work together to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. The concept of “harmonious world” is a new development in the new situation of the international strategy and diplomatic thought based on the party’s three generations of leadership and peaceful diplomacy. To promote the building of a harmonious world is an inevitable requirement of adhering to the path of peaceful development and an important condition for the realization of peaceful development.②People’s Daily, 2006-08-24.In the practice of governing the country, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, considering the overall domestic and international situation, put forward the Chinese Dream, proposed to constructively participate in global governance, emphasized the building of new relations among the major powers and the importance of building a community of shared destiny. We will promote the establishment of a new pattern of neighborhood diplomacy with Chinese characteristics through the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and the building of a new security concept of winwin cooperation based on common, cooperative, comprehensive and sustainable security, propose a Chinese solution to human security, and enhance the consciousness of the discourse with Chinese characteristics.

2. The cultural inheriting of the discourse system

Discourse is the carrier of ideas and culture. The diplomatic strategy of Chinese leaders is deeply rooted in the traditional Chinese culture, which is China’s most profound soft power. The construction of a new type of international relations with the core of win-win cooperation is the combination of the Chinese culture of “harmony,” the embodiment of the essence of Confucianism, the model of the ideaof “amity” and “symbiosis and coexistence,” and the great practice of carrying forward traditional culture and taking the road of peaceful progress.

Harmony is the primary value and the essence of Chinese culture. It is the most perfect embodiment of the life of Chinese culture. The consciousness of harmony in traditional Chinese culture is manifested in two aspects. The first is the “unity of heaven and man,” namely harmony between man and nature, and the second is “the doctrine of the mean,” with its focus on interpersonal relationships, the doctrine of the mean advocates harmony between people, and between man and society. The unity of heaven and man recognizes harmony between man and nature and opposes their separation. The doctrine of the mean advises us to avoid extremes in order to avoid opposition and conflict. The consciousness of harmony, which values “harmony” and “moderation,”is conducive to resolving contradictions in modern society and maintaining social stability.

Chinese culture is closely linked to the history of the Chinese nation. The major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics is inseparable from the traditional Chinese culture like “Hua Xia” (an old name for China), “Tian Xia” (the world), “Hua Yi ZhiBian” (Cultural distinction between the Han and other nationalities), “Xie He Wan Bang” (harmony and amity), “harmony without uniformity,” and“the unification of China.” The idea of building a community of shared destiny put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping highlights the important features of the interrelationships between Chinese culture and world civilizations, embodies the cultural origin of the diplomatic strategy of Chinese leadership, and shows a kind of cultural confidence. The construction of the discourse system of the world order with Chinese characteristics is the inheritance and innovation of Marxism and Mao Zedong’s strategic thinking, Deng Xiaoping’s international strategic theory, Jiang Zemin’s diplomatic thought and Hu Jintao’s harmonious world theory.

3. Theoretical innovation of the discourse system

3.1 The concept of a community of shared destiny

Xi Jinping’s idea of a community of shared destiny is an innovative inheritance of “harmony,”the essence of traditional Chinese culture, and it embodies China’s diplomatic norms of “peace,”“harmony” and “cooperation.” The community of shared destiny advocates tolerance and mutual learning; different systems, different civilizations should learn from one another, deepening mutual trust, understanding and integration of both sides in cultural exchanges so as to enhance their respective cultural vitality. Today, human beings not only face the challenges of the traditional and non-traditional security, but also a human survival crisis. The idea of a community of shared destiny is not only the product of the excellent traditional Chinese culture, but also the creative development of Chinese diplomacy theory from Xi Jinping’s practice of global governance. It is of great significance for the building of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping not only clarified the common values of “peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom,” but also stressed the importance of interdependence and solidarity among countries. All countries should inherit and carry forward the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, promote the building of new international relations with win-win cooperation as the core, and build a community of shared destiny (Xi, 2015). This is the common aspiration and dream of the Chinese people and the people of the world. We should take into account the reasonable concerns of other countries when safeguarding and pursuing our national security and interests, and promote thecommon development of all countries in the pursuit of our national development. This global value, which includes a rational and harmonious concept of security, a win-win concept of justice and benefit and a new concept of civilization of mutual tolerance and understanding, is in line with the idea of building a new type of international relationship. The essence and purpose of the idea of a community of shared destiny is win-win cooperation which carries the lofty ideal and unremitting pursuit of China to build a better world (Jin, 2014). In an interdependent world, there should be a mutually restricted framework between the major power centers and a multilateral approach to deal with world affairs. Facing with different values and demands of different countries, we should consider the long-term interests of the whole human race rather than short-term domestic political needs when making policies. The discourse of a community of shared destiny represents the aspirations of the people of the world for peace, democracy, justice, security, and development.

3.2 The connotations of the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness

Diplomacy with neighboring countries is the primary goal of diplomatic strategy, and is conducive to the realization of our “Two Centenary Goals”and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The basic policy of China’s neighbouring diplomacy proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping is that we will build good neighborly relationships and partnerships with the neighboring countries, create an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborly environment, and highlight the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness (Xi, 2015, p. 297). Originating from traditional Chinese culture and strategic thinking, the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness highlights the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture and reflects China’s new international values. Amity emphasizes the amicable relationships between neighboring countries, reflecting the intimacy in geography, culture and people-to-people bonds between China and neighboring countries. Sincerity means trustworthiness and honesty, reflecting China’s attitude to the neighboring countries. Mutual benefit emphasizes the correct concept of justice and benefit. Inclusiveness reflects the pursuit of harmonious coexistence despite the cultural differences between countries and regions. These four words reflect the correlative thinking and interactive ethics in traditional Chinese culture, and embody the Chinese nation’s pursuit of harmonious coexistence and peaceful development (Xing, 2014).

Xi Jinping pointed out that we should cooperate with neighboring countries on the principle of mutual benefit, more closely weave a network of common interests, and enhance the integration of the interests of both sides to a higher level, so that the neighboring countries can benefit from our development and vice verse. We should advocate the idea of tolerance, stress that the Asia-Pacific Region is big enough to accommodate the common development of us all, and promote regional cooperation with a more open mind and a more positive attitude (Xi, 2015). The concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness will help construct the policy system of neighboring diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and the Trinity diplomatic strategy of “power-interestrighteousness,” promote the organic combination of the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the Belt and Road Initiative, and make main breakthroughs in Southeast Asia (Lu & Xu, 2015). It provides suggestions for the construction of peripheral security with Chinese characteristics.

Amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness is a new interpretation of China’s peripheral diplomacy, and the principle of China’s diplomatic activities in the new international situation, where neighboring countries worry about the rise of China. It explains concisely and clearly that the neighboringcountries are close neighbors, intimate friends, and emphasizes that we will treat people with sincerity and honesty. In the cooperation with neighboring countries, China will take into account the interests and concern of the neighboring countries in the pursuit of mutual benefit, so that these countries can share the benefit of development with China; in handling the relationships with and disputes between neighboring countries, China should embrace different views and demands with tolerance (Sun, 2015). Therefore, the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness embodies the deep cultural connotation of the discourse of world order with Chinese characteristics.

3.3 The discourse expression of New Security Concept

Security is crucial for the international environment of peace and development. At the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), President Xi Jinping pointed out that we should actively promote a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security strategy for Asia, be innovative in our safety concepts, set up a new framework for regional security and cooperation, and jointly build a shared and win-win road for Asian security (Xi, 2015). The common, comprehensive, cooperative, sustainable security concept is to respect and protect every country. President Xi Jinping stressed the universality, equality and inclusiveness of security, and put forward the idea that development is the greatest security (Xi, 2015). The New Security Concept provides a strategic guarantee for the construction of an international order with Chinese characteristics. Like the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the 1950s, the New Security Concept will gradually become a new discourse in international relations. In fact, “The threat to China and the region around is not the unresolved territorial disputes, but the ‘old’ or the ‘zero-sum’ understanding of security in countries like the United States. This understanding encourages China’s neighbors to focus on the disputes rather than economic growth and integration. Territorial disputes are considered as central issues and neighboring countries in Southeast Asia are provided with political and military support, thus these countries are encouraged to challenge China rather than focus on the positive aspects of China’s rise (David, 2014).” According to this logic, the U.S. Asia-Pacific Rebalancing strategy has posed a challenge to the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region. ASEAN countries are increasingly concerned about China’s rise, and this concern is closely related to the U.S. Asia Pacific Rebalancing strategy. In order to consolidate the surrounding environment conducive to its own peaceful development, China needs to adhere to the core idea of the New Security Concept, promote the common understanding of the principle of mutual benefit and justice and interest, actively eliminate ASEAN’s strategic concerns about China, constantly expand the awareness of the community of shared interest, responsibility, and destiny, and gradually go beyond the security dilemma between China and ASEAN, so that the relationship between the two sides can return to the track of inclusive cooperation (Zhang, 2014).The New Security Concept has a strong discourse appeal. It can help China and ASEAN resolve the security dilemma, and seek to build an effective mechanism to ensure the long-term stability of the security and cooperation between China and ASEAN.

As an important part of the overall security of the country, the New Security Concept will create a better environment for regional comprehensive management of safety. In the new situation, the Asian countries should explore the establishment of regional security architecture. President Xi Jinping stressed that, “When responding to challenges of traditional and non-traditional security,” countriesshould “respect each other, build consensus, and accommodate each other’s comfort levels.”①Xi Jinping proposed that“the‘Asian way’is mutual respect, consensus, and accommodate the comfort of each country. People’s Daily, 2015-03-29.The New Security Concept is based on common interests and is the extension of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence by China in the 1950s. Its essence is to go beyond unilateral security and seek common security with win-win cooperation. The people of the Asian countries have the ability and wisdom to promote peace and stability in Asia through cooperation, to contribute to world peace and security, and to promote the establishment of a just and equitable new international order.

4. Practice support for innovation of discourse system

4.1 Building the new model of major-country relationship featuring win-win cooperation

Building a new model of major-country relationship is an important practice of Xi Jinping’s idea of world order with Chinese characteristics. Great changes have taken place in the power structure of the contemporary world. First, the world is becoming increasingly polarized both in the distribution of power between countries and in the development model. Second, the status of emerging countries is rising, especially that of the BRIC countries, who are putting forward new global values in the showcase of international leadership. Third, the influence of non-traditional security on contemporary international relations is greatly enhanced. The construction of new relations between major powers reflects the characteristics of the change of power in the contemporary international political situation. Xi Jinping concisely put forward the construction of new model of major-country relationship featuring no conflicts, no confrontations, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation.

Taking the building of new relations between China and America as an example, Xi Jinping stressed that in the face of the objective needs of rapid development of economic globalization and the shared destiny of countries in the world, China and the United States should also be able to take a new path that is different from that of the great powers in history, and that the relationship of winwin cooperation between China and America can contribute to world stability and peace (Xi, 2015, p. 297). Xi Jinping draws on the experience and lessons of the process of modern and contemporary international relations, emphasizes the importance of building a new relationship between China and the United States, and maintaining a strategic interdependence between China and the United States. Concerning the “Thucydides Trap” which claims that there must be conflicts between the rising powers and the established powers, he points out that,“There is no ‘Thucydides Trap’ in the world, but if there are repeated strategic misjudgments between the big powers, they may bring the ‘Thucydides Trap’ to themselves.”②Xi Jinping Published an Important Speech on Sino-US Relations in Seattle. People’s Daily, 2015-09-23.The construction of the new model of major-country relations is a criticism of the traditional theory of great power relations. To build a new major-country relationship, China and the United States must first achieve and maintain strategic stability, because only when the major power relations are constructed on the basis of strategic stability can mutual respect and win-win cooperation come true. According to the practice of the great power diplomacy, China and the United States can jointly cope with the international financial crisis, climate change and other issues under the framework of the “new model of major-country relationship.”The two countries can cooperate and coordinate onhot issues like the Korean nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue, Afghanistan issue and the Internet security issue. China and the United States can also play an important role in promoting the establishment of a nuclear security system through the G20 summit, and support the promotion of the construction and reform of the international system. The China-U.S. Joint Presidential Statement on Climate Change and the China-U.S. Joint Statement on Nuclear Security Cooperation published in the fourth session of the nuclear security summit in Washington in April, 2016 further indicates that China and the United States are promoting understanding and communications in international affairs through equal dialogue, and are strengthening coordination and cooperation on global issues. Nuclear security cooperation has become a new bright spot in Sino-US relations.

4.2 Constructive participation in global governance

China’s participation in global affairs today is unprecedented in both content and form. In the face of the challenges of globalization and multi-polarization, countries need to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, and security especially to speed the establishment of a global governance mechanism. China is gradually entering the center of global governance. The success of the G20 summit in Hangzhou shows the unique role of China’s constructive participation in global governance and China’s solutions to the issues of global governance have attracted international attention.

Since 2015, General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed China’s participation in global governance. China is promoting the establishment of a more just and equitable global governance system, the democratization of international relations, the establishment of new international relations featuring win-win cooperation, and the construction of a community of shared destiny and is actively seeking international cooperation in global governance through a multilateral mechanism in the international arena. This is the new development of the overall layout of China’s diplomacy, and is conducive to China’s development. Xi Jinping stressed that China will adhere to democracy, win-win cooperation, and actively participate in global governance. No matter how the international situation changes, we must always adhere to peaceful development, winwin cooperation, pursue peace and cooperation, oppose war and confrontation, and take into account the reasonable concerns of other countries when pursuing our own interests. Xi Jinping pointed out that, “The destiny of the world must be in the control of the people of all countries, and affairs within sovereignty should be handled by its own government and people, and affairs concerning the world should be resolved through consultation among governments and the people of the world. This is the democratic principle of dealing with international affairs, and the international community should abide by it” (Xi, 2015, p. 323). Today, with the increasing global problems, we should strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and formulate international rules to govern the world through consultation among members of the international community. This is embodied in the following three aspects:

First, speed the process of global political governance. Xi Jinping pointed out that, “In today’s world, any country, no matter how powerful it is, cannot manage the world and govern the international community alone” (Xi, 2015, p.328). Today, with the increasing global problems, we should strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and formulate international rules to govern the world through consultation among members of the international community. Xi Jinping’s thought of world order under rules and regulations surpass the thinking mode that world situations promoted by “poles.”

Second, we must build a global economic andfinancial governance mechanism. Xi Jinping (2015) advocated to promote the reform of the international economic and financial system through innovation, improve the global governance mechanism, and strengthen the role of multilateralism. Facing the evolution of the world’s economic situation, global economic governance needs to keep pace with the times. The global economic governance should be based on equality, better reflect the new reality of the world’s economic structure, increase the representation and voice of the emerging and developing countries, and ensure that all countries can enjoy equal rights and equal opportunities under equal rules regarding international economic cooperation. Xi Jinping stressed that global economic governance should embrace openness in concept, policy, and mechanism. Global economic governance should be driven by cooperation while global challenges need a global response, and cooperation is an inevitable choice. Global economic governance should be a mechanism of sharing and participation, encourage the sharing of interests and win-win prospects, instead of seeking dominance or a winnertakes-all results.①A New Starting Point for the Development of China and a New Blueprint for Global Growth–Xi Jinping’s Speech at the Opening Ceremony in the G20 Industry and Commerce Summit. People’s Daily, 2016-09-04.

Third is to improve the global security governance mechanism. With the profound changes in the global governance system, traditional security threats and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, so it is the trend to strengthen global governance and promote reform in the global governance system. At the Washington Nuclear Security Summit, Xi Jinping stressed that strengthening the international nuclear safety system is the basic prerequisite for the healthy development of the nuclear energy industry, and also an important link in promoting global security governance, building new international relations and perfecting the world order.②Strengthening the International Nuclear Security System to Promote Global Nuclear Security Governance - President Xi Jinping’s Speech at the Washington Nuclear Security Summit. People’s Daily, 2016-04-03.China is actively participating in global economic governance and the supply of public goods, improving the institutional discourse rights of developing countries in global governance, building a broader community of shared interests, and promoting the benign construction of international structures and the balance of international forces.

4.3 Action of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative is an economic discourse representation, cultural discourse representation and security discourse representation of the international order with Chinese characteristics. For the sake of their own interests, countries along the Belt and Road participate in or respond to the Initiative at different levels, serving as a driving force for the phased development of the plan. The biggest challenge now is that countries have different perceptions of the Belt and Road Initiative, making it hard to push forward the measures. An effective measure to solve the problem is to build a cooperation mechanism for the Belt and Road Initiative. The cooperation mechanism should consist of a series of implied or explicit principles, norms, rules and decision-making procedures, and a consensus in the field of international relations should be reached among the countries (Stephen, 1991, pp.495-538). The state is the creator of the mechanism, but should also be restricted by the mechanism. The principles in the mechanism reflect the state’s ideas and beliefs. Whether countries along can reach a consensus on the rules and norms of the cooperation mechanism of the Belt and Road Initiative and the extent to which these rules and regulations are observed and recognized by these countries is related to the process and effect of the Belt and Road Initiative.

We should make full use of the existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the regional functions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, promote the building of cooperation platforms for the Belt and Road Initiative in China and Central Asian countries, and further enhance the cohesion and action of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization through the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. We should take advantage of the opportunity of the 25th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations to promote bilateral cooperation in constructing infrastructure, upgrading the FTA, marine economic and cultural exchanges, combine the development strategy of China with the blueprint for the development of ASEAN, ASEAN projects and enterprises, and the mechanism and platform for cooperation among ASEAN countries, and expand the preliminary results of the Belt and Road Initiative. We should make use of the 16+1 mechanism launched between China and the CEE in 2012, and integrate the Belt and Road Initiative into the European economic circle. With more and more European countries participating in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, the European Union will coordinate the relationship between its member states, and eventually the European Union will gradually become a stakeholder of the Belt and Road Initiative.①Why Is“the Belt and Road Initiative”Important for the EU. Japan: Diplomat, 2015-04-09. See also Reference, 2015-06-05.

The Belt and Road Initiative brings a strong force into the good vision of jointly building a more prosperous Asia. In Northeast Asia, China and South Korea have decided to promote the strategic connections in four areas: China and Mongolia have agreed to connect the “Silk Road” and the“Prairie Road;” Russia, Mongolia and China have reached an important consensus on the construction of the economic corridor and signed the Mid-term Roadmap for Development of Trilateral Cooperation between China, Russia and Mongolia; Southeast Asia, Indonesia and China have agreed to speed up the connection of bilateral development; China and Vietnam have intensified consultations on the cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative and “Two Corridors and One Ring;” China and Singapore are exploring the third market under the Belt and Road Initiative; “Connectivity” between China and Southeast Asia has made significant progress; the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project has been signed between China and Indonesia; highspeed railways connecting Laos and Thailand will soon be under construction; China and Vietnam are planning to build railway lines; the construction of the Pan Asian Railway network, which all countries have long been looking forward to, is being built. In South Asia, China and India have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of “the Belt and Road Initiative;” the roadmap of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has been further clarified and a large number of important projects have started; the construction of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor has achieved preliminary achievements; the Bangladesh India Myanmar economic corridor joint working group of the Quartet has been achieved, and channels connecting East and South Asia are around the corner.②Big Pattern and Great Mind –Comment on Global Coverage of the Great-power Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics Put forward by the Central Committee Headed by Comrade Xi Jinping. People’s Daily, 2016-01-26.Besides the Belt and Road Initiative, China has made significant progress in promoting the BRICS Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, promoting the integration between China and ASEAN, China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, 10 major China-Africa cooperation plans, and China-Latin American and Caribbean Countries Cooperation Plan (2015-2019). The above facts show that Chinahas already achieved initial results in participating in global governance and building a world order with Chinese characteristics. The construction of the cooperation mechanism of the Belt and Road Initiative is a complicated system project and it needs not only mutual coordination, communications, and agreements, but also the construction of a community of shared interests and destinies among the stakeholders of the Belt and Road Initiative. Countries along the “road” should be fully aware of the significance of the Belt and Road Initiative in improving the regional economic environment. Strengthening infrastructure construction is the key to improving investment structure and “connectivity”in finance and trade. The coordination of the Belt and Road Initiative is a long-term process that cannot be achieved overnight. As the initiator of the Belt and Road Initiative, China should explain to other countries the long-term strategic significance of the Initiative. The Initiative will bring opportunities to countries along the road and provide a driving force for the construction of a just and equitable international economic order.

Trans-Asian Railway

5. Conclusion

The ideological and theoretical bases of the construction of the discourse system of the world order with Chinese characteristics are as follows: Marx and Engels’ idea of opposing hegemonies and power politics, and persisting in peace and justice; Lenin’s theory of peaceful coexistence, international strategic thinking and the view of keeping up with the times; Mao Zedong’s independent foreign policy of peace; Deng Xiaoping’s international strategy for peaceful development. The discourse system of international relations with Chinese characteristics is the combination of Marxist theory of international relations with the concrete practice of China’s foreign policy, and the application of the scientific analysis methods of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory to the diplomatic practice of great power with Chinese characteristics.

The discourse system of the world order with Chinese characteristics highlights the advantages of traditional Chinese culture, which is China’s most profound soft power. The idea of constructing new international relationships featuring win-win cooperation is the embodiment of the idea of “harmony” in Chinese culture, the essence of Confucianism, a model of “amity” and“coexistence,” and a great practice of carrying forward traditional culture and following the road of peaceful rising. Xi Jinping’s Major-Country Diplomacy with Chinese characteristics is the criticism and reference to the theory of western international relations: Promoting the construction of new international relations is the best way to avoid the“Thucydides Trap,” and is also a strong criticism ofthe western realistic theory of international relations, which emphasizes power and the supremacy of national interests. Strategies, like the Major-Country Diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, peaceful development, a community with shared destiny, new great power relations featuring win-win cooperation, and the Belt and Road Initiative, have laid the foundation for a discourse promoting the construction of a just and equitable world order.

(Translator: Qian Hongnian; Editor: Xiong Xianwei)

This paper has been translated and reprinted with the permission of Tongji University Journal Social Science Section, No.6, Vol.27, 2016.

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*Qiu Huafei, professor, Tongji University.

*Foundation item: This paper belongs to the phased results of “Study on the Diplomatic Strategy of Xi Jinping’s Idea of Governing the Country,” a key project of the National Social Science Fund, (project number: 15ZD002).