On December 23, at the 2024 Global Times Annual Conference with the theme of "Chinese-style Modernization, Breaking the Century-old Changes", experts and scholars discussed the topic of "Development, Security and Civilization: The World Mind of Chinese-style Modernization".
Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing University of Foreign Chinese, said that when we propose Chinese-style modernization, we are actually trying to solve a problemIt is to solve the problem of what we want at a moment of rapid change in the current international orderWhat can we offer the world?There will be fierce games in the process. For example, in the eyes of the leaders of the existing international order, we are a "destructive force", but Chinese modernization is obviously creative and constructive, and we need to constantly reflect the constructiveness through conceptual innovation and policy practice, find a reasonable balance between breaking and standing, and find the optimal solution for the change of the world pattern and the shift of order in the midst of a century of changes.
In this process, we must not only properly handle relations with major countries, but also with small and medium-sized countries, non-state actors, and even the world. Cui Hongjian said that the changes in today's international order and pattern are full of many contradictory phenomena, such as the concentration of power and the competition between major powers on the one handOn the other hand, there is power differentiation and multi-dimensional games. When the world order develops in the direction of multipolarization or pluralism, a lot of uncertain forces will be released, "so our eyes are not only on the big powers, it is difficult to say that when Sino-US relations are good, China's external environment will improve sharply, and the road ahead of Chinese-style modernization will be smooth immediately." ”
Cui Hongjian stressed: We have publicly stated that we do not seek confrontation, but focus on cooperation and control competition. We adhere to the principle of "partnership and non-alignment", but some countries must be aligned. Therefore, "there will be a long-term game between the partners". He believes that in the future, our relations with major Western countries will be a process of "balancing, imbalance, and rebalancing." In the case of grasping this law, how to use the law of transformation at different stages to win more windows of opportunity to solve our own problems is a strategy worth thinking about to grasp the overall situation of internal and external situations and solve internal and external problems and contradictions in a concentrated manner under the proposition of Chinese-style modernization.
Cui Hongjian also said that Chinese-style modernization is a proposition that embodies both universality and individuality. But the principle of reasonable advantage needs to be maintained between the two. If only diversity or individuality are emphasized, the result can be the fragmentation of the international community. For example, in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, there has been a divergent trend in the international community not to accept the binary opposition of "black and white", but in order to cease the fire and stop the war, the international community needs to continue to build consensus and reduce differences. We are exploring a position that is in line with both the common interests of the world and our own national interests, and although we will face great pressure and difficulties, as long as we maintain sober judgment and strategic determination, and show greater patience, we will be able to truly stand firm on our position and eventually make it the consensus of the majority of members of the international community.