China’s International Influence: “Chinese Opportunity Theory”

Wang Linggui

China's international influence and increasing rapidly are rewriting the process of world development in an all-round way. Recently, while foreign think tanks are wantonly hyping the concepts of "China penetration theory" and "sharp strength", the "China opportunity theory" examines the brand-new "opportunity" that China is about to bring or is bringing to the world development from a positive, positive and objective point of view. Different from the past, foreign think tanks believe that China is providing solutions to various problems facing the world today with a thinking mode and development path that is different from that of the traditional West. The changes brought about by China's development to the world have the characteristics of "structure".

I. The recent views of international public opinion on China's development are mainly as follows: First, the rise of China has become "unstoppable" and is changing the face of the world with a development path different from that of the West. Second, China's human, capital and technological capabilities give it the potential to become the world's number one economic power. Third, public opinion holds that China is actively learning from the development experiences and lessons of other countries and taking the road of pragmatic rise. Fourth, "China will not make the world 'Chinese'," facing China squarely "is becoming the mainstream view of international public opinion.

II. Foreign think tanks have a new understanding of China's international influence, and some international surveys show that China's rise has triggered a series of reactions on a global scale, especially in the view of developing countries that China's rise has brought them new economic opportunities.

"China opportunity theory" is becoming a new view of international public opinion on China's international influence, and believes that China is providing new opportunities for the development of the world: First, the opportunity of "new ideas". Second, the opportunity of "new model". Third, "new technology" opportunities. Fourth, "new investment" opportunities. Fifth, the opportunity for a "new relationship". Sixth, "new opening up" opportunities. Seventh, the opportunity for "new governance". Eighth, "new security" opportunities.

Will the G7 Group Dissolve?

Ding Yuanhong

The Group of Seven (G7) held a summit in Quebec, Canada, from June 8 to 9. At the meeting, the leaders of the seven countries had serious differences and quarrels over trade and other issues, and there was a dispute between the United States and the host country Canada over a joint statement. Trump accused Prime Minister Trudeau of cheating and said he ordered no implementation of the joint statement signed by the United States. He left early on the grounds of going to Singapore to meet with Kim Jong-un. The meeting broke up in discord. During the quarrel, French President Macron threatened Trump that if the United States was not afraid of isolation, the Group of Seven could become the Group of six without the United States. As soon as this remark comes out, does it make public opinion even more worried that the Group of Seven will really break up? In fact, Macron's alarmist words are nothing more than venting his anger at Trump, which is simply impossible to become a reality.

The essence of the current dispute between the United States and Europe on economic and trade issues lies in the uneven distribution of interests. They all want to make more profits and pay less. It is difficult to say who is right and who is wrong. However, they are noisy, no one can leave who. The G7 will also maintain the current noisy and unbroken situation. In the end, it will lead to a further decline in the international influence of the western group, which exists in name only.

To Promote Mutually-beneficial Energy Cooperation among BRICS

Wang Jiacheng

The BRICS countries are the main energy producing and consuming countries in the world. In 2015, the total energy production and consumption of the five countries were 6.9 billion tons of standard coal and 7.1 billion tons of standard coal, accounting for 35.0 per cent and 36.5 per cent of the world total, respectively. Judging from the occurrence of energy resources, the BRICS countries are the main resources of fossil energy, especially coal, and the basic resources of fossil energy account for about 30% of the world's total, of which 3-4% of the coal resources account for more than 40% of the world's total, about 6% and 20% of the oil and natural gas resources account for 8% and 25% of the world's total, and the renewable energy technology's exploitable resources account for about 38% of the world's total. In terms of the degree of assurance of resources, the reserve-production ratios of coal, oil and natural gas (in terms of production in 2015) are 106, 15 and 73 (years), respectively, compared with the world average (164,41 and 67), coal and oil are lower and natural gas is slightly higher; the degree of development and utilization of hydropower resources is 29%, lower than the world average (48%).

The situation of energy security is grim. In order to ensure a reasonable increase in consumption, it is necessary to focus on strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of oil and natural gas.

With the advantages of resources, in order to deal with global climate change, it is necessary to actively open up mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of high-quality utilization of coal.

The task of energy conservation and emission reduction is urgent, and efforts should be made to "double reduce" intensity, and mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of clean and low-carbon technology development needs to be strengthened.

BRICS cooperation has entered the second "Golden decade", adapted to the new situation of economic and social development, and put forward new requirements for mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of energy. Proceeding from the actual situation, the basic trend of energy development in the BRICS countries is that the demand for energy increases, the contradiction between structural production and demand highlights, and the pressure on energy conservation and emission reduction increases. In order to ensure energy security and achieve green economic and social development, it is necessary to give full play to the advantages of various countries in the strategic deployment of strengthening international energy cooperation in an all-round way. We will strengthen mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation in the fields of oil and gas exploration and development, high-quality utilization of coal, energy conservation and emission reduction, and transformation to new green and low-carbon energy, so as to promote the overall coordinated and sustainable development of energy, environment, economy and society. China is the largest energy consumption, import and CO2 emission country in the BRICS countries and even in the world. Under the current environment of global economic integration, the basic policy of China's energy development is to build a safe, economic, clean and modern energy coordinated development system based on domestic, diversified development, conservation priority, environmental protection, science and technology, and international cooperation. China attaches importance to practical cooperation in the energy field of the BRICS countries, strengthens macro-policy coordination and docking of development strategies, promotes the "BRICS +" cooperation model based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, and builds an open and pluralistic network of development partners. We will join hands to promote the formation of a community with a shared future for mankind and a community of interests.

A Unique Endowment by SCOs to Global Governance

Yu Sui

According to the press release of the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the "Qingdao Summit"), which ended on June 10, the leaders of the member states discussed the top priority for the next development of the SCO "in the context of increasingly prominent international political and world economic contradictions". The Sino-Russian joint statement on June 8 also pointed out: "there are a high incidence of conflicts in the world today, the intensification of geopolitical contradictions, the compression of space for constructive cooperation, and the rise of economic protectionism."

This judgment of the current international situation means how onerous the task of global governance is. In theory, global governance is aimed at the common management of global affairs in accordance with the trend of world multipolarization and economic globalization. Global governance involves all aspects, particularly in the areas of security, the economy and the humanities. These three are precisely the most concerned and remarkable aspects of the SCO.

Security is the foundation of survival. At the beginning of its establishment, the SCO resolved the border issue between its member states, which first laid the security cornerstone for common and coordinated participation in global governance.

The economy is the material link. Economy is the most direct embodiment of national interests. Economic cooperation within the SCO has always been carried out in an orderly manner. Although there are some difficulties and weaknesses that need to be overcome, the trade protectionism that leads to contradictions and conflicts is incompatible with the SCO.

Humanity is the spiritual pillar. In particular, it is concerned with how to deal with the differences between civilizations, including historical traditions, cultural origins, religious beliefs and so on. Based on their belief in respecting different civilizations and through close people-to-people exchanges, the founding member states of the SCO have deepened mutual understanding and support among the peoples of all countries, especially among young people.

From this, we can draw the following understanding: the development of the SCO itself and global governance are two sides of the same body; global governance is the mission of all countries, and SCO member states are at the forefront; global governance needs to be led by the United Nations, and the SCO is the effective help of the United Nations; the SCO's unique contribution to global governance is still being carried forward and will go down in the annals of history forever.

Review and Reflection: 15 Years of Strategic Partnership Between China and ASEAN

Lu Jianren

2018 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and ASEAN. Since the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN in 1991, the two sides have experienced 27 years of ups and downs and complex changes in the international environment, withstood the test of time and become good neighbors, friends and strategic partners. In 2017, ASEAN celebrated its 50th birthday, and in 2018, China ushered in the 40th anniversary of its reform and opening up. Both sides are in the important historical node of carrying forward the past and opening up the future, and the relationship between the two sides will also enter a new period of development.

I. The context of the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and ASEAN

Fifteen years ago, China and ASEAN formed a strategic partnership, not overnight, but the result of a long period of mutual understanding, understanding and joint efforts. From the establishment of the dialogue relationship between the two sides in 1991 to the upgrading to a strategic partnership in 2003, it has roughly gone through two important stages:

1991-1996: establishment of comprehensive dialogue relations.

1997-2002: establishing good-neighborly relations of mutual trust.

II. Some thoughts on the further development of China-ASEAN relations

China-ASEAN relations have gone through a full 27 years. At present, bilateral relations are entering a mature period from a growing period. How will they develop in the future? It can be expected that the two sides will continue to maintain good-neighborly and friendly relations and will further enhance such relations. The mutual understanding between the two sides will be deeper, and the ways and means of handling the relationship will also be more mature. Because the history of exchanges over the past 27 years has proved that maintaining a close relationship of good-neighborliness and friendship is beneficial to both sides. On the contrary, to damage relations with each other is to harm their own interests. So, how should we promote the development of bilateral relations in the future? Here, the author puts forward some superficial thoughts:

First, deepen political mutual trust.

Second, strengthen capacity cooperation under the "Belt and Road Initiative" initiative.

Third, strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Fourth, promote subregional cooperation.

Fifth, build version 2.0 of China-ASEAN relations.

Looking to the future, the relations between China and ASEAN have a bright future, even if there are small twists and turns, it will be difficult to shake the foundation, and the good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two sides will rise to a new height.