VISION TO ACTION

Xi first presented the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind to the world during his visit to Russia in 2013. Since then, he has expounded the idea on multiple occasions.

During his speech at the UN Office in Geneva in 2017, Xi placed priority on partnership, security, growth, inter-civilization exchanges and a sound ecosystem in building such a community.

"The fact that President Xi Jinping came out with such a vision is to be greeted and saluted because it is a very positive attitude towards the future and towards multilateralism and cooperation" said Jean-Jacques de Dardel, former Swiss ambassador to China who had accompanied Xi during his visit to Switzerland five years ago told Xinhua recently in a virtual interview.

Reflecting the hope of people from all countries for a better world, the notion has been enriched to include building a shared future with neighboring countries, with Asia-Pacific partners, with African and Latin American countries, and building a maritime shared future, a shared future in cyberspace and a community of common health for mankind.

"Today, the concept has developed into a comprehensive system of scientific theories, which constitutes an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy," Zhang Qingmin, professor and chair of the Department of Diplomacy at Peking University, said recently.

Through contributing to the global COVID-19 response among others, China has been transforming the concept into action.

As the first country to propose the COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good and to advocate global vaccine cooperation, China has provided over 2 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and organizations by the end of 2021, demonstrating its sense of responsibility as a major country.

China, alongside more than 30 countries, also launched an Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation, to promote the fair distribution of vaccines and enhance vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.

"This is extremely important that China makes this contribution to as many countries as it can. I understand that the very latest figures are: for every two vaccines that have been used in China, one vaccine has been exported or given away," said Martin Jacques, a well-known scholar and political commentator.

In the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, China set the example of how a major country can lead in the building of a better world for all mankind, said Herman Tiu Laurel, founder of Philippine BRICS Strategic Studies.