The Peace Summit 2023 and Leadership Conference is being held on May 2-6, 2023, in Seoul, Korea. The Summit series is a flagship program of the Universal Peace Federation. The Summit 2023 and Leadership Conference theme is "Contemporary Challenges to Global Order: Toward a World Culture of Peace."
There is a growing awareness among opinion leaders worldwide of the urgent need for innovative vision and bold leadership to resolve the critical issues of our time. With this in mind, the Summit 2023 and Leadership Conference brings together high-level leaders whose individual and collective experience, wisdom, and insight are essential for building a world of mutual understanding, sustainable peace, and prosperity for all.
Choy So-yuk, Hong Kong Deputy to the National People's Congress of People's Republic of China, was also invited to speak at the Summit 2023 and Leadership Conference, and the following is the full text of her speech:
Your Excellencies Heads of Government,
Your Excellencies Heads of International Organizations,
Distinguished Guests,
Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am greatly honored to have received an invitation to speak to you all.
Today, I want to start by sharing with you about my neighbor in my hometown. As we all know, in early February of this year, the Syrian-Turkish border region was struck by the most devastating earthquake in over a century. Shortly after the earthquake, Jianfeng You, my neighbor, volunteered at his own expense to lead the Blue Leopard rescue team from China's Fujian Province to go to the disaster-stricken area to aid in the rescue efforts. This is a typical example of how the Chinese people are willing to help those to whom they have no relation. This compassionate and helpful mindset stems from the heart, and is also nourished by the deep roots of Chinese civilization and traditional culture.
China is a nation of multiple ethnic groups, and Chinese civilization has always sought harmony in diversity. The solidarity of all ethnic groups is derived from respect for cultural diversity, mutual economic interdependence, emotional affinity, and the intrinsic drive of the Chinese to pursue unity and harmony. This is what makes the Chinese civilization so inclusive and cohesive.
The world is a global community consisting of multiple ethnicities and races. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forth the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Over the past decade, this has become a core value of the Chinese government and people, as well as a new direction for China's foreign policy. Recently, China promoted the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. And during his recent visit to China, French President Macron reached consensus with China on many international issues and pledged to work together to promote world peace.
Xi Jinping has said: "As the term suggests, a community with a shared future for mankind means that the future of every nation and country is interlocked. We are in the same boat and we should stick together, share weal and woe, and endeavor to build this planet of ours into a single harmonious unit, turning people's longing for a better life into a reality." As a Chinese, I strongly support this concept,and I hope that through today’s meeting, this vision can be better understood around the world. From my perspective,
1. The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind contains the essence of China's traditional cultural values. This includes harmony between man and nature, striving to achieve universal peace, and the concept of the world as one family. It includes putting righteousness first and upholding justice while pursuing shared interests. It can lead to a world of universal harmony characterized by material prosperity, moral elevation, and social equity and justice.
2. This concept provides direction and guidance for the fate and destiny of humanity. In international relations, China supports dialogue and consultation, working together for mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and low-carbon development. As a major country, China has a strong sense of responsibility to integrate its development with world development. Therefore, in 2021 and 2022, China proposed the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, calling for the establishment of a global community of development and a human community of security, and has demonstrated its willingness to work through international relationships to implement this.
3. A global community with a shared future represents a world at peace. China remains firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace. China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, big or small, as well as the development paths and social systems chosen by their people. China stands firmly against all forms of hegemonism and power politics, the Cold War mentality, interference in other countries' internal affairs, and double standards in international matters. China adheres to a defensive national defense policy and will never seek hegemony. Regarding the economy, China pursues an open strategy of mutual benefit and adheres to the course of economic globalization. China opposes protectionism, unilateral sanctions, and maximum-pressure tactics. It is committed to supporting other developing countries in accelerating development.
4. China also takes an active part in reforming and developing the global governance system. China actively safeguards the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the principles of the UN Charter. China is actively involved in setting global rules in global trade, economy, security, carbon emissions, and other areas; works to promote international security cooperation; and takes an active part in UN peacekeeping operations.
5. Finally, let us consider China's role in Asia. As China has become the world's second-largest economy, its economic growth has benefited the world, especially China's neighbors. Asia is now a thriving region and a significant engine driving the global economy. However, Asian countries need to strengthen mutual trust and regional security cooperation further; collaborate to deal with non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism, transnational crimes, environmental security, cyber security, energy and resource security, and major natural disasters. We need to prevent certain countries with malicious intentions from driving a wedge between us, creating conflicts and tensions, and exploiting regional disputes for their own interests.
Dear friends, I am glad to see that the agenda of today's meeting is in accordance with China's vision of building “a community with a shared future for mankind." I hope we can use this opportunity to work together to promoteworld peace and development, andcontribute to the progress of human civilization.
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