There are two contrasting models in today's world: multi-polar cooperation and peace versus world domination and war.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, April 1, 2014. [Xinhua] |
During Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent historic visit to Europe, China and EU agreed to deepen their partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization. China's leaders have always considered peace and development to be the overriding issues in today's world.
China's rise is peaceful. Its pursuit of peace is rooted in its national character. China has never engaged in colonialism or aggression. It maintains no military bases abroad. It pursues a foreign policy of friendship with all countries, large or small, strong or weak. It always seeks settlement of disputes through peaceful negotiations.
It is well known that China's strong economy is serving as a key driver for global economic growth. To make economic growth sustainable, China is to change tack and rebalance its economy. It has unveiled a 60-point reform blueprint which focuses on the economic system, with the aim of letting the market play a key role in resource allocation.
Reform is comprehensive in that it also covers the political system, society and culture, with the aim of improving governance, social justice and fairness, for the benefit of the population.
China has also launched a campaign to promote its core socialist values: prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity and friendship.
In contrast, there is America's predatory capitalism. In pursuit of super profits, Wall Street gave the world the financial crisis of 2008, whose impact is still being felt in many parts of the world.
More important, there is what some have called "Cheneyism" after former Vice President Dick Cheney. In a nutshell, it is permanent U.S. domination of the world. First, there is eternal U.S. military dominance as articulated in "Draft Defense Planning Guidance" devised by Cheney's subordinates I. Lewis Libby, Paul Wolfowitz and Zalmay Khalilzad in 1992 when he was Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush.