Subscribe to EIR Online

FROM EIR DAILY ALERT


Xi Slams Zero-Sum Clash of Civilizations, Urges Win-Win Just New International Order

June 10, 2018 (EIRNS)—After citing Confucius at the outset, Chinese President Xi Jinping used his keynote address to June 8-9 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit to emphasize that

“the Shanghai Spirit, a creative vision transcending outdated concepts such as clash of civilizations, Cold War and zero-sum mentality, has opened a new page in the history of international relations and gained increasing endorsement of the international community.”

He said that “the pursuit of cooperation for mutual benefit represents a surging trend,” and further:

“While we keep hearing such rhetoric as the clash of civilizations or the superiority of one civilization over another, it is the diversity of civilizations that sustains human progress. Indeed, mutual learning between different cultures is a shared aspiration of all peoples.... We should reject the Cold War mentality and confrontation between blocs and oppose the practices of seeking absolute security of oneself at the expense of others, so as to achieve security of all.

“We should champion equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations. It is important that we overcome cultural misunderstanding, clash and supremacy through exchanges, mutual learning and coexistence.”

Xi then turned to specific proposals for the SCO, including that China would set up a new, $4.7 billion special lending facility within the SCO Inter-Bank Consortium, to foster development in the SCO nations. He said that “the Shanghai Spirit is our shared asset” which can guide the group to “build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity. To this end, I would like to propose the following:

  1. “Respect each other’s choice of development paths ... boost harmony and unity by seeking common ground and setting aside differences.”

  2. “Combat ‘three evil forces’ of terrorism, separatism and extremism [and] enhance cooperation on defense security.”

  3. “Build a powerful engine to achieve common development and prosperity. We should increase complementarity of our respective development strategies, continue to advance the Belt and Road cooperation under the principle of delivering shared benefits through extensive consultation and joint contribution, accelerate regional trade facilitation, and step up the implementation of the Agreement on International Road Transport Facilitation and other cooperation documents. China will welcome all parties to the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November this year. The Chinese government supports building a demonstration area in Qingdao for China-SCO local economic and trade cooperation, and will set up a committee of legal services for SCO member states to provide legal support for business cooperation....”

  4. Xi supported ongoing programs such as “the youth exchange camp, and secure solid progress in cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, tourism, health, disaster relief and media.” He also said that “China offers to provide meteorological services to all parties using its Fengyun-2 weather satellites.”

  5. By engaging in dialogue with the IMF and the World Bank and other international financial institutions, we can contribute our share to resolving hotspot issues and improving global governance.”

Back to top

clear
clear
clear