ABSTRACT

In this chapter, Zhang begins by contending that the concept of “a community of shared future for mankind” is not only the top-level design for China’s diplomacy in the new era, but also the Chinese proposal to address global challenges. The new concept inherits the fundamental principles and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, on the one hand, and provides a new approach to tackle new threats in the globalized world, on the other. He argues that the cooperation between China and the United Nations to jointly build a community of shared future for mankind is significant for the prevention of conflict. While to achieve the goal of universal peace and common development through a new type of international relations is the fundamental way to prevent conflict, the co-construction of “One Belt and One Road” will bring strong momentum for developmental peace. As the main goal and top-level design of Chinese major power diplomacy in the new era, the idea of “a community of shared future for mankind” proposed by President Xi will undoubtedly have implications for world peace and security. Yet, he concludes that the so-called Chinese idea/solution needs to be integrated with existing international principles and norms, and/or transformed into the new ones.