The recently held G20 Bali Summit carried a variety of unprecedented factors. It took place during a tumultuous time in human history. The G20 was set from the beginning to deal with issues of recovery from health and economic pandemics. The G20 Summit also had to deal with undercurrents of tendencies towards unilateralism at the expense of multilateralism, threats to world peace and issues of climate change.
The G20 Bali Summit was framed on three main pillars as proposed by the host country, Indonesia: global health architecture, sustainable energy transition, and digital transformation.
Through these pillars, Indonesia aimed to continue leading on ensuring equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, promoting sustainable and inclusive economic development through participation of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and digital economy.
Most notable and a takeaway from the G20 Bali Summit was the steadfast stance taken by China in the show of its resoluteness to finding solutions to the current global crisis. Under the theme of “Working Together to Meet the Challenges of Our Times and Build a Better Future” President Xi Jinping pointed out that the summit was convened at a time of momentous changes not seen in a century, changes that were consequential to the world and to history.
Taking the helm and building new heights of strategic mutual trust, Xi's presence at the G20 Bali Summit is the first overseas visit by China's top leader since the 20th CPC (Communist Party of China) National Congress.
Xi was resolute in stating that all countries should join hands together to answer the question of our times — “what is wrong with this world, what we should do about it” — so as to tide over difficulties and create a better future together. He pointed out that the geopolitical environment remained tense. Global governance was seriously inadequate. Various crises were compounded with one another.
Xi stressed that all G20 members should take the responsibility inherent in being major international and regional players, and should lead by example in promoting development of all nations, improving the well-being for the whole mankind, and advancing progress of the entire world.
Xi underscored the need to make global development more inclusive. He stressed that solidarity was strength, but division led nowhere. Living in the same global village, we should stand with each other in the face of risks and challenges. Drawing ideological lines or promoting group politics and bloc confrontation will only divide the world, and hinder global development and human progress. With human civilization already in the 21st century, the Cold War mentality has long been outdated.
He went on to state that what the world needed was to join hands together and elevate win-win co-operation to new heights. Countries should respect each other, seek common grounds while reserving differences, live together in peace, and promote an open world economy. No one should engage in beggar-thy-neighbour practices, building “a small yard with high fences”, or creating closed and exclusive clubs.
The G20 should stay committed to its founding purpose of unity and co-operation, carry forward the spirit of solidarity, and uphold the principle of consensus. Division and confrontation serve no one’s interest. Only solidarity and common development is the right choice to make.
Xi emphasised the need to make global development beneficial to all. Development is real only when all countries develop together. Prosperity and stability cannot be possible in a world where the rich become richer while the poor are made poorer. Every nation aspires for a better life, and modernisation is not a privilege reserved for any single country.
Frontrunners in development should sincerely help others develop, and provide more global public goods. All major countries should perform their due responsibilities, and do their best for the cause of global development. China has proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), established the Global Development and South-South Co-operation Fund, and will increase its funding for the China-UN Peace and Development Fund. It is working with 100-plus countries and international organisations on the GDI, thus providing new impetus for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The speech by Xi reflected continued efforts towards a building a community of shared future where China is ready to share its successes with the rest of the world.
On the sidelines of the G20 Bali Summit, Xi and President Cyril Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting and reached broad consensus, which is of great significance to leading the co-operation among developing countries, especially China-Africa co-operation. China is ready to work with South Africa to speed up the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state.
Both leaders aimed to deepen co-ordination and co-operation under the G20, BRICS, the UN and other multilateral mechanisms, inject new impetus into the building of China-South Africa and China-Africa community with a shared future for mankind.
Xi noted that China had all along viewed its relations with South Africa from a strategic height, and stood ready to consolidate political mutual trust and promote even greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership with South Africa. He gave an outline on the 20th CPC National Congress and its major results as being in tandem with the entire project of a prosperous and harmonious world of shared prosperity.
Ramaphosa took the occasion to extend congratulations to Xi on his re-election as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and on the full success of the 20th CPC National Congress. Ramaphosa stated that South Africa had found in China an important strategic partner, and that South Africa would continue to firmly support the one-China principle. South Africa was ready to actively participate in Belt and Road co-operation, and hopes to enhance co-ordination and co-operation with China under the BRICS and other multilateral frameworks.
The meeting between the two heads of state this time has brought bilateral relations to a climax and raised the strategic mutual trust between China and South Africa to a new height. The China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership is facing new historical opportunities in the post-pandemic era.
Next year, China and South Africa will celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and South Africa will host the BRICS Summit.
Xi pointed out that the G20 should provide developing countries with necessary support in production, collection, storage, funding and technology. China has put forward the International Co-operation Initiative on Global Food Security in the G20, and looks forward to deepening co-operation with all parties in this regard.
In conclusion, Xi stated that the recently held 20th National Congress of the CPC had laid out the goals, tasks and guiding policies for the cause of the Party and the country in the next five years and beyond. China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development, stay committed to deepening reform and opening-up, and stay committed to promoting national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernisation.
A China marching toward modernisation will bring more opportunities to the world, inject stronger momentum for international co-operation, and make greater contribution to human progress.
Paul Tembe is a Sinologist and founder of SELE Encounters.