ABSTRACT
In Chapter 6, Gerhard Stahl asserts that the G20 can and should be used by China and Europe as a platform for global cooperation. The West must understand that a world dominated economically by the United States and Europe has come to an end. The development of a globalized economy over the past 40 years has shifted the center of gravity toward Asia, creating a closely interconnected world. Mutual dependence in the economic, financial, and technological spheres mandates increased cooperation. But now we are facing a new question: How can strategic partnerships be developed in an international environment marked by military and geopolitical conflict, technological competition, and demands for protectionism? Russian aggression against Ukraine has undermined trust in international rules and vitiated long-standing economic relationships, leading certain politicians in America and elsewhere to advocate an alliance of democracies against authoritarian regimes. This, however, is a dangerous path to take, one that presages inter-bloc confrontation, dueling economic and technological regimes, and even a decline in global living standards. By collaborating within the framework of the G20, Beijing and Brussels can rebuild international trust and contribute to an innovative, interconnected, inclusive, and sustainable world order.
