On November 21, Ambassador Lu Kang attended the third China Forum hosted by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), and delivered his opening remarks. Ambassador Lu elaborated the significance of Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative(GSI) in today’s world, incorporating the implications of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and China’s foreign policy. Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, founder of FPCI, and almost 20 Chinese and Indonesian professors and scholars attended the forum. 

The full text of Ambassador Lu Kang’s remarks is as follows:

Good morning. It is great pleasure to attend the third China Forum. Even with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FPCI has overcome all the difficulties and  held successfully two China Forums, which have provided us great opportunity and an important channel of view-exchanging and wisdom-inspiring, in order to better understand China, and promote China-Indonesia relations. At the outset, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to FPCI, and wish the well organized third China Forum a complete success.

The theme of this Forum is about the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI). Given the circumstances in the world, I believe it is timely and necessary for us to carry out in-depth discussion on this topic.

As we can see, the COVID-19 pandemic still drags on with cases surging here and there. The world economy is getting more fragile. The geopolitical environment remains tense. Global governance is seriously inadequate. Food and energy crises are compounded with one another. All this poses formidable challenges to our development. Meanwhile, the world continues to move toward multi-polarity; economic globalization is deepening, and our societies are becoming increasingly digitized and culturally diversified. Indeed, countries are becoming ever more interconnected and interdependent, and people are even more eager for all countries to promote cooperation and pursue progress.

As pointed out by President Xi Jinping at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October,  “although this is an era fraught with challenges, it is also an era brimming with hope”, “the world has once again reached a crossroads in history, and its future course will be decided by all the world’s peoples”. How can we keep pace with the trend of history, and meet the call of our times? The CPC came up with its answer at the 20th National Congress, during which the new central leadership was elected with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, and strategic plans were made to build a socialist modern country in an all-round way and promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way with Chinese-style modernization. At the Congress, the CPC stated solemnly to the world, that “China has always been committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and it is dedicated to promoting a human community with a shared future”. When meeting with journalists from both home and abroad, President Xi Jinping further underscored that, on the journey ahead, “we will work with all other peoples to champion humanity’s common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, to promote global peace and prosperity, and to keep pursuing a human community with a shared future”.

The CPC 20th National Congress once again indicates that, China has maintained consistency and stability of its foreign policy, and  China develops itself with its own strength. China's development strengthens the forces for peace, enhances the strength of developing countries, and will bring important opportunities and tangible benefits to countries around the world, and make greater contributions to the development and progress of humanity. Facing the current world situation, China will respond to uncertainties of the external environment with its own certainties, counteract instability of the international situation with the stability of its domestic and foreign policies; it will strive to provide sustainable impetus for global recovery through high-quality development and high-standard opening up, and work relentlessly for world peace and development in a responsible way.

Ladies and gentlemen,  

At the CPC 20th National Congress, President Xi jinping particularly emphasized that, “building a human community with a shared future is the way forward for all the world’s peoples. Only when all countries pursue the cause of common good, live in harmony, and engage in cooperation for mutual benefit will there be sustained prosperity and guaranteed security. It is in this spirit that China has put forward the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and it stands ready to work with the international community to put these two initiatives into action”. As I understand it, the GDI and the GSI are vivid examples of putting into practice the idea of building human community with a share future, and the two initiatives should, and are fully able to play important role in solving global issues, and advancing the noble cause of human peace and development.  

The GDI is aimed at fostering international consensus on promoting development, cultivating new drivers for global development, and facilitating common development and progress of all countries. It corresponds with the Uinted Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and echoes the long-term objective and immediate needs of common development of the world, so is broadly welcomed and supported by the international community. Since the GDI was proposed a year ago, positive progress has been made in implementation. 100-plus countries and international organizations expressed explicit support to the initiative, and more than 60 countries, including Indonesia, have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI. To accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda, President Xi Jinping chaired the High-level Dialogue on Global Development last June, and announced major steps to implement the GDI, including creating a Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, increasing input in the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, and setting up a global development promotion center. President Jokowi also attended the High-level Dialogue. As follow-up, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the GDI last September, and announced more and further steps, such as releasing the first list of projects in the GDI project pool, with priority projectd proposed by Indonesia included, as well as advancing the Food Production Enhancement Action, moving forward the Global Clean Energy Cooperation Partnership. During the G20 Bali Summit,  China has submitted 15 projects to the “G20 Action for Strong and Inclusive Recovery”, and has participated in five other projects within this framework.

The GSI is aimed at making up the deficits in world peace, and coping with international security challenges. It clearly answers the question of our times, that what is the security initiative the world needs? and how could countries achieve common security? The GSI is highly praised by the international community, saying it corresponds with the urgent need to maintain world peace and prevent conflicts and wars, follows the common pursuit of multilateralism and solidarity, and responses to the expectation of peoples to overcome difficulties and build a beautiful world in the post-pandemic era. In its part, China stands ready to work with all parties, to champion the spirit of the UN Charter, act on the principle of indivisible security, uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, advocate the resolution of conflicts through negotiation and settlement of disputes through consultation, and support all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises.  

Ladies and gentleman,  

Thanks to the hard work of Indonesia in its chairmanship of G20, important outcome has been realized at the Bali Summit. Leaders of G20 member states have reaffirm their commitment to cooperate once again, to address serious global economic challenges. It is the common responsibility of G20 members, as well as common aspiration of the peoples. To follow up, it is crucial for all parties to deliver on their commitment. It is imperative that all countries embrace the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and advocate peace, development, and win-win cooperation. All countries should replace division with unity, confrontation with cooperation, and exclusion with inclusiveness. 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.

Both China and Indonesia are major developing countries, as well as important members of this region. China-Indonesia relations are of strategic significance, and have far-reaching impacts regionally and globally. The two countries have similar philosophies and common interests in upholding the real multilateralism, and building community with a shared future for mankind, and shoulder the common responsibility in maintaining peace regional, and promoting development and prosperity in the world. We 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. Last July, President Jokowi paid a successful visit to China. The two Presidents agreed to strive for a general direction of building the China-Indonesia community with a shared future. It was also agreed that, both sides will materialize benchmark projects to implement the GDI at the bilateral and regional levels, and promote collaboration of the GDI key areas and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) priority areas; both sides will continue to strengthen multilateralism. Indonesia takes note of the GSI and stands ready to work with the Chinese side in ensuring peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy. During the G20 Bali Summit last, the two Presidents  met face to face again, and agreed that the two sides will strive towards building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future. It was also agreed that, the two sides attach great importance to the cooperation for sustainable development, including under the framework of the GDI; and the two sides will enhance communication and explore efforts in potential cooperation on the GSI. The important consensus reached by the two leaders has injected new and strong impetus to the development of China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as pointed out the direction for the implementation of the GDI and the GSI.

As Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, I am always ready to work with all walks of life of this country, to strengthen in-depth collaboration of the GDI and GSI with various strategies of Indonesia, and to come up with more cooperation measures and foster more fruits, so as to make even greater contribution to peace and development regionally and globally, together with wisdom of the East, and strength of Asia. In this regard, I look forward to learning from your valuable insights.      

Thank you!