In 1953, when New China had just established a foothold in the East of the world, a diplomatic concept called the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence", like spring breeze and rain, set off from Beijing, passed through New Delhi, and finally drifted to the vast world of the Bandung Conference.
At that time, China used the twenty-four words "mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence". It declares to the world that an ancient civilization has the deepest desire for international order in the process of modernization transformation.
This is not only a rhetoric used in diplomacy, but also a philosophical concept of human behavior derived from the accumulation of five thousand years of civilization. It does not pursue hegemony, but seeks common survival and development. It does not advocate outward expansion, but focuses on restraint and restraint inward.
In the days to come, this principle will be like a tenacious red line, connecting every step of China's interactions with the world. From the initial friendly interactions with India and Myanmar, it later became the basic norm of international relations that developing countries jointly uphold. Behind it, there is a cultural confidence as thick as a city and as long as a mountain and river.
The mind of a thousand-year-old ancient capital: from Beijing to international hub
Looking back at the city of Beijing, starting from the beacon tower in Jicheng, to the grand planning shown by the Yuan Dynasty, and then the majesty of the Forbidden City in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, every city brick is engraved with the memory of external exchanges.
Although the Silk Road is far away, mutual learning among civilizations has never stopped.
The spring thunder sounded at the time of reform and opening up. This spring thunder not only awakened the vitality of economic construction, but also made this city, an ancient capital, once again become the focus and punctuation mark of the world's attention.
Since the "One Belt, One Road" initiative was spread to the world from the Great Hall of the People, it is no longer a simple business road connection, but has infused the ancient capital's openness of "it's a pleasure to have friends from afar" into the organizational structure of modern international cooperation.
The Beijing skyline is changing, and the rhythm of life in the Hutongs has changed. However, the tolerance of "harmony without difference" has never changed.
It appears in the light show of every APEC summit, and is also integrated into the applause when the AIIB is launched. With its unique historical depth, this city assumes the important task of promoting changes in the global governance system, making the flag of multilateralism whirring in the wind of the new era.
Integration of the Jiangnan Water Town: Echoes of the Times that embrace all rivers
Going south along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, we came to another land full of spiritual energy.
Shanghai has been the window that opened up the commercial port for trade in modern times. Its inner essence flows with the blood of connecting China and foreign countries.
It started when Xu Guangqi began to observe the world, and went through the roar of machines from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau. This place has always been the frontier of the collision and integration of Eastern and Western civilizations.
At present, under this situation, when China is actively participating in global climate change negotiations and promoting the concept of green development, the Huangpu River where Shanghai is located has become an important stage for international climate governance dialogue.
There is not only a steel forest composed of skyscrapers here, but also the Eastern wisdom of "Tao follows nature" contained in Jiangnan gardens.
From hosting the World Expo to taking the lead in establishing an international science and technology innovation organization, Shanghai is transforming the city spirit of "embracing all rivers and pursuing excellence" into pragmatic actions to participate in global governance.
It shows the world that China's opening up is not a temporary measure, but an inevitable choice based on profound cultural heritage. It is based on equality and mutual benefit, and it is a response to global challenges with other countries, just like the Huangpu River flowing into the East China Sea, and ultimately heading towards the common future of mankind.
The Responsibility of Lingnan Hot Land: Pioneer and New Mission of Reform and Opening Up
Turning my attention towards the southern country, under the arcade of Guangzhou, amid the aroma of morning tea, the pragmatism and tolerance of the thousand-year-old commercial city permeated the air.
As one of the key starting points of the Maritime Silk Road, this place has been a place where merchants gathered and cultures blended since ancient times.
The spring breeze of reform and opening up has made this land glow with unprecedented vitality.
From the window of the Canton Fair to the development blueprint drawn by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou has always been at the forefront of China's integration into the world.
It deeply understands the core essence of "mutual benefit and win-win" and is not only an actor focusing on economic cooperation, but also a communicator who vigorously promotes cultural exchanges.
When my country proposes to build a community with a shared future for mankind and actively participates in poverty reduction on an international scale and the supply of global public goods such as vaccine research and development, Guangzhou relies on its own strong industrial basic conditions and humanitarian spirit to contribute "Guangdong's wisdom" to the construction of infrastructure and medical assistance to less developed countries.
The tidal phenomenon in the Pearl River seems to be telling how a commercial port with an ancient history integrates its own prosperity into the symphony of global development, and uses practical actions to explain the contemporary significance of "sharing beauty".
Starting from the red wall of the Forbidden City, extending to the bright lights of Lujiazui, and then reaching the colorful sunset at the Pearl River Estuary, every life-like breath emitted by Chinese cities maintains the same frequency as the world.
Behind this, there is the vitality of the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" that has become increasingly fresh over time, and there is a dialectical and unified relationship between independence and openness and tolerance.
Today's China is by no means just an acceptor of international rules. Instead, it relies on the cultural heritage accumulated over five thousand years as its foundation and relies on the development practices of the new era as a writing tool to splash its pen and ink on the picture of global governance.
Whether it is promoting the transformation of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, contributing China's solutions to the global challenge of climate change, or contributing China's solutions to eradicating poverty, this effort is deeply rooted in the pursuit of "harmony" and the yearning for "sameness."
The memories retained by the city and the country's progress eventually converged into an unstoppable torrent, rushing towards a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive distant place, witnessing the rebirth and new birth of an ancient civilization in the wave of globalization.
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