Building a new type of international relations in the process of multi-polarization

In March 2013, President Xi delivered a speech at the Moscow Institute of International Relations and first proposed the important concept of "building a new type of international relations", emphasizing that the century-long transformation has brought new opportunities for the development of multipolarity to the world. Multiple power centers have begun to rise rapidly, emerging market countries have demonstrated greater economic vitality, and they are playing an increasingly important role on the international stage.

China's distinctive diplomacy on a global scale aims to promote the establishment of a new type of international relations characterized by mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation. This is complementary to the multi-polarization we advocate. It is not about group confrontation or vicious competition, but rather respecting the diversity and multiplicity of the world, and ensuring that all countries have equal opportunities for development.

The progress and problems encountered in multipolarization

Multipolarity generally refers to a trend where multiple countries and groups of countries with significant influence on international relations interact and coexist peacefully. The emergence of multiple power centers globally is an objective reflection of the distribution of political power among major forces as the world progresses to a certain stage. The emergence and development of multipolarity is not accidental; it is a realistic choice for the advancement of human society and a prominent feature of the evolution of the future international landscape. 

The academic community generally believes that the process of multipolarity worldwide began in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, the world was still in the bipolar structure of confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II, but the vast number of third-world countries had begun to seek independence and autonomy. The national liberation movements in Asia, Africa and Latin America were flourishing, and the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77, and other organizations emerged. By the 1990s, with the end of the Cold War, the bipolar structure was declared over, and the pace of world multipolarization began to accelerate.

Entering the 21st century, the trend of world multipolarity has become increasingly evident. Under the influence and impetus of the new round of technological revolution, information technologies represented by the Internet, big data and artificial intelligence have become increasingly widespread, completely changing the interaction patterns between countries and among the general public, and also largely overturning the original international power balance. The "Great Transformation" emphasized by Chinese leaders, which is particularly prominent, is the collective rise of emerging market countries and developing countries. The world is no longer dominated by a few developed countries. This is an external manifestation of multipolarity. Data shows that when the "BRICS" concept was proposed in 2001, the combined GDP of the BRICS countries (excluding South Africa) was 2.7 trillion US dollars, accounting for only 8% of the global economy. In 2021, the combined GDP of the BRICS five countries had reached 24.5 trillion US dollars, accounting for approximately 24% of the global economy, and contributing more than 50% to global economic growth. Currently, the economic total of emerging market countries and developing countries accounts for nearly 40% of the world's total. The change in the economic landscape, when reflected in world politics and international relations, is that developing countries strive for more say and autonomy. This is precisely the essence of multipolarity.

However, not all international forces welcome the process of a multipolar world. During the Cold War, the United States, as the global economic hegemon, took measures to suppress rapidly developing economies (such as Japan) in order to maintain its dominant position. Since these countries belonged to the Western camp, the US's actions were not subject to more questioning and challenges. The new forces that emerged after the Cold War came more from non-Western countries. They not only sought independence in the economy but also pursued autonomy in politics and even security. The Group of Twenty (G20), formed in 1999, marked the beginning of developing countries jointly determining the rules of international economic activities with developed countries. The global financial crisis that originated in the United States in 2008 made the international community further realize the harm of a unipolar world to the global economy, accelerating the transfer and formation of new power centers. However, the complex changes in the international situation, especially the continuous escalation of major power games, along with the emergence of the pandemic and the outbreak of regional conflicts, have changed the trend of the international landscape to some extent. Western countries led by the United States took the opportunity to carry out unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction", seeking to continue strengthening the international system that was favorable to themselves. After Biden took office, the United States even tried to strengthen NATO's geopolitical function by luring traditional allies and took various measures to contain competitors, attempting to maintain its global hegemonic position for a long time. The multipolarization process thus faces a long and difficult road.

China, in line with the trend of multi-polarity in the world, advocates that all countries resolve international disputes through dialogue and consultation, uphold the international order based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promote the improvement of the global governance system, and actively contribute to world peace and development.

The value of building a new type of international relations in this era

From the perspective of modern world history, significant changes in international relations occur at the beginning of each century. The old patterns are disrupted in turmoil or even wars, and new patterns gradually take shape, thereby establishing a relatively stable international system. In the early 17th century, the "Thirty Years' War" broke out in Europe, establishing the Westphalian system based on the principle of balance of power, which promoted the formation and development of international law. In the early 19th century, as the Napoleonic Empire spanning Europe collapsed, the Vienna system featuring coordination among major powers emerged. The establishment of the Vienna system is regarded as the academic sign of the birth of "international relations", but this system centered on Europe and excluded the vast Asian and African countries with splendid ancient civilizations. Let's look at the situation in the 20th century. After World War I, the Versailles-Washington system was formed, which concealed many contradictions and was thus unstable. After the victory of the October Revolution in Russia, the world's first socialist country, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, was born, opening a new era in human history. It was not until the formation of the Yalta system after World War II that the world entered a relatively peaceful development stage. However, the soon emergence of the Cold War Iron Curtain divided the world into two opposing camps, and after the end of the Cold War, the world entered a new period of turmoil and transformation.

The new type of international relations aims to change the existing unreasonable international order, namely the outdated system dominated by the West and characterized by power politics. Although the current international relations have granted relatively sufficient space to sovereign states as the main actors, the West has used its powerful strength to establish an international system that it can dominate, reinforcing its own values and paving the way for power politics and hegemonism. Within the framework of the existing international system and order, Western developed countries often, by leveraging their advantages in technology, culture, public opinion, rule-making, etc., obtain unbalanced benefits that are favorable to themselves when handling relations with developing countries. To some extent, although there are multilateral frameworks in today's world, true multilateralism and win-win cooperation are needed.

In the speech delivered at the Moscow Institute of International Relations in 2013, Chairman Xi Jinping believes that in the face of the profound changes in the international situation and the objective need for all countries to work together, all countries should jointly promote the establishment of a new type of international relations centered on win-win cooperation. The reason why this new type of international relations is "new" is that it not only discards the outdated concepts and thinking for handling international relations, but also is based on the new practices brought about by the progress of the world and the times, and conforms to the new trend of the world moving towards common prosperity. 

With their far-sighted vision that transcends the times, Chinese leaders have profoundly summarized historical experiences. They not only proposed new cooperation concepts but also actively promoted new cooperation models, and have actively practiced the concept of a new type of international relations in practice. President Xi’s "Belt and Road Initiative" proposed in 2013 is the most important public good that China has contributed to the world. This initiative advocates strengthening global connectivity and building a global partnership network to achieve global common prosperity and development.

To build a new type of international relations and a healthy global governance system, we need to go beyond traditional international political thinking, deeply summarize historical experiences, and redefine the behavioral norms of international law subjects. First, we should establish new trust relationships among countries, enhance communication and exchanges at all levels, strive to build a stable cooperation framework, and avoid unnecessary confrontation and vicious competition. Secondly, we should explore new cooperation models, and take a new path of state-to-state interaction that involves dialogue rather than confrontation, and partnership rather than alliance. China and Russia, as well as Central Asian countries, have continuously enhanced strategic partnerships and clearly defined the new principle of "lasting friendship". Third, we should establish new development concepts, abandon the influence of the Cold War mentality and power politics, and promote the realization of openness and inclusiveness by all countries, creating a favorable development environment. Fourth, we should create new interaction mechanisms. The reason why China and its neighboring countries have been able to establish stable and friendly relations is due to the "close, sincere, friendly and inclusive" policy, and various cooperation and negotiation mechanisms have also made significant contributions. 

Promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind is a distinct banner of China's diplomacy in the new era. On the international stage, China actively promotes the building of a community with a shared future at the regional, bilateral and global levels.

The relationship between China and Russia can develop into a model of a new type of international relations.

As two neighboring major countries, China and Russia have achieved smooth resolution of historical issues through all-round cooperation, fostering good neighborly relations. They have also continuously deepened political trust, leveraging the strategic leading role of the heads of state diplomacy, and actively expanded practical cooperation in bilateral and multilateral fields. They have successfully found a global approach for major powers to treat each other sincerely and engage in equal and mutually beneficial relations, setting an exemplary model for new types of international relations. Facing the century-long transformation and the mutual stimulation of major power competition, the new era comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Russia demonstrates strong resilience. It not only benefits the development of both countries and the well-being of their people, but also contributes to the improvement of global and regional governance through cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS mechanism, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.   (Author: Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)