The Current International Situation and Our Responsibilities -- New Year Message for 2025 from the International Cooperation Center Joint Council (ICC)

Distinguished leaders and colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Dear Friends,

Today, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Changes in the globe, in our times and in history are unfolding in ways unprecedented. The new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is deepening, the Global South is rising at an accelerated pace, and the international balance of power is through intensive adjustments. Reform of the global governance system has become a common call of the vast majority of countries. Meanwhile, with the international situation being turbulent and intertwined, the trend of anti-globalization on the rise, unilateralism and protectionism significantly increasing, geopolitical confrontations prolongation and global issues intensifying, the world has entered a new period of transformation, and humanity once again stands at a crossroad in history. Over the years, the International Cooperation Center (ICC) has made strategic judgments at key junctures, promoted the continuous opening up of new horizons for China's major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It has forged ahead with vigor in practice, adhering to the principles of grasping the general trend, shouldering great responsibilities, and following the right path. It has held high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and resolutely promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, creating a favorable external environment for China's further comprehensive deepening of reform and advancement of modernization with Chinese characteristics, and made important contributions to maintaining world peace and development.

President Xi Jinping stressed that understanding the general trend of world development and keeping up with the times is an extremely important and ever-renewing subject. From the perspective of a broad view to see the world trend, the interaction between China and the world is presenting significant and progressive developments and changes. The key to these major and positive advancements lies in identifying and grasping the relationship between the primary and secondary contradictions, as well as the primary and secondary aspects of contradiction in today's world pattern. Seizing the primary contradiction and the primary aspect of the contradiction, and distinguishing between the primary and secondary helps China's diplomacy to formulate correct strategies and tactics by prioritizing the resolution of the primary contradiction and the primary aspect of the contradiction, thereby driving the resolution of other contradictions and taking the strategic initiative in the overall situation. Through analyzing the interrelationship and interaction between primary and secondary contradictions, as well as the primary and secondary aspects of contradictions, we can deeply study how to foster new opportunities and open up new horizons in promoting the transformation between contradictions and their opposites. The ICC has long been engaged in forward-looking and strategic research on international issues, focusing on the overall process of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, identifying the principal contradictions within it, and researching effective strategies to address these contradictions. Through continuously accumulating positive results in the overall process, it maintains and enhances the strategic initiative position conducive to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the changing international landscape.

The world today is in a period of great development, transformation and adjustment. The balance of international power is becoming more even, and the international system and order are undergoing profound changes. Among them, the relations among major countries are the decisive factors in the evolution of the international pattern and the direction of the world system. Against the backdrop of the profound adjustment of the international system, it is an inevitable trend to build a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at its core, and this trend is irreversible. Twenty years ago, the ICC was jointly initiated by key research institutions in the fields of philosophy, social sciences, and foreign affairs and diplomacy in China. It serves as a window for China to scientifically assess the changes in the international situation and world pattern, accurately grasp the new historical position of China's development, and conduct foreign exchanges and international cooperation. In recent years, the ICC has closely followed the dynamics of global changes, leveraging its cross-ministerial coordination mechanism, forward-looking research advantages, and rich experience in crisis management. It is dedicated to strategic research on world politics, world economy, multilateral affairs, and international peace studies. It conducts research and exchange work on a series of major issues related to China's international cooperation with countries and regions around the world, and has produced a series of high-level research results with significant influence both domestically and abroad. Up to now, the ICC has maintained regular exchanges with high-level officials from over 60 countries and regions as well as international organizations, and plays an important role in China's “1.5-track” and "second-track" diplomacy.

In the new year, the ICC will continue to focus on strengthening research on international issues and serving the overall national interests. We sincerely hope that relevant leaders, colleagues and experts will continue to support the ICC’s work as always. We warmly welcome political leaders from all over the world, diplomatic envoys and people from different background at home and abroad to engage in dialogue and exchanges with us to make greater contributions to furthering China's reform and opening up, to friendship and cooperation between China and foreign countries, and to world peace and prosperity!

Best wishes for the New Year!

International Cooperation Center Joint Council 

January 1, 2025