"Turning the Vision of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind into Action, and Turning the Vision into Reality" is an important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping on August 22, 2023, at the closing ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is included in Volume V of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. This important document systematically addresses the major question of "how to turn the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind into action and reality," connecting the three dimensions of development, security, and civilization through the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. It serves as a guiding document for the Communist Party of China in the new era, demonstrating its global vision, leading global governance, and promoting the building of a better world. A thorough study of this document is of great significance for deeply understanding the theoretical character and practical orientation of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and for accurately grasping the strategic layout of China's diplomacy in the new era.

The Vision of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind Has Transformed from a Chinese Initiative into a Global Consensus

On March 23, 2013, during his speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, General Secretary Xi Jinping first proposed the concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind." On January 18, 2017, in his speech Working Together to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, he systematically elaborated on this proposition for the era. Subsequently, General Secretary Xi Jinping has expounded on this concept on many occasions, continuously enriching its connotations and extensions. On August 22, 2023, in his important speech at the closing ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in Johannesburg, he clearly articulated the imperative of the times: "turning the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind into action, and turning the vision into reality." This came exactly ten years after the concept was first proposed. Over these ten years, this vision has evolved from a Chinese initiative into a global consensus, moving from the UN podium into international documents. In this important document, the focus of discussion advances from "why it is needed" to "how to realize it," progressing from answering "what kind of world to build" to answering "how to build this world," achieving a landmark theoretical leap with significant value.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that humanity achieved remarkable progress in economic development and social progress over the past decades precisely because "we learned lessons from two world wars and the Cold War, followed the historical trend of economic globalization, and embarked on the right path of open development and win-win cooperation." On this basis, he profoundly explained that today's world is "a community with a shared future where all rise and fall together." What people of all countries yearn for is "not a 'new Cold War' or exclusive 'small blocs,' but a world of lasting peace and universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and clean and beautiful. This is the logic of history and the trend of the times." This closely links the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" with the objective laws of human societal development and the common aspirations of people worldwide, giving it a solid theoretical foundation and profound historical basis.

This important document also systematically unfolds the grand vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind into a tripartite framework supported by development, security, and civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping made systematic elaborations around "promoting common development and prosperity," "striving for universal security," and "upholding exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations," aligning them respectively with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. Common development addresses the fundamental material basis for people's pursuit of a happy life; universal security addresses the prerequisite guarantee for lasting peace and stability in the world; and mutual learning among civilizations addresses the issue of deep-seated value identification for harmonious coexistence between different systems and cultures. These three aspects are interconnected and indispensable. Without common development, the community with a shared future for mankind lacks a solid material foundation; without universal security, development gains are difficult to consolidate; without mutual learning among civilizations, international cooperation cannot form a lasting spiritual bond. Thus, it organically unifies the "community with a shared future for mankind" with development, security, and civilization, completing the theoretical leap from a normative concept to a strategic blueprint.
Inspiring Emerging Markets and Developing Countries to Write Their Own Chapters in the Historical Process of Global Modernization

General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech at the closing ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum was addressed to the business communities of BRICS countries, but also to developing countries and the entire international community. At a "critical juncture" questioning the direction of the world, it provided a clear direction for the international community with a distinct action-oriented approach and acute problem awareness, injecting certainty into a turbulent and changing world.

"In today's world, the collective rise of emerging market and developing countries, represented by BRICS nations, is fundamentally reshaping the global landscape." The current shift in the balance of global power towards multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations is not someone's designed vision but an objective process already underway. Having emerged from the historical mire of colonialism, endured immense hardships, and made tremendous sacrifices to achieve national independence, emerging market countries are now collectively ascending onto the center of the world stage. Their significance lies not in challenging or replacing anyone, but in steering the international order towards a more just and equitable direction.

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the gathering of BRICS countries with over 50 other nations in South Africa "is not about picking sides or engaging in bloc confrontation, but about creating a big pattern of peaceful development." This important statement is highly pertinent to the current reality. Currently, unilateralism, protectionism, and acts of bullying and hegemonism continue to disrupt world peace and development. Some countries are keen on forming exclusive "small circles," attempting to drag the world back into camp-based division. General Secretary Xi Jinping's remarks draw two clear boundaries for "BRICS Plus" cooperation – distinguishing it both from the historical path of great-power rivalry and from Cold War-style bloc confrontation. Instead, it focuses on expanding cooperation based on equal treatment and creating opportunities through mutually beneficial outcomes.
Every country has the right to develop, and every people have the freedom to pursue a happy life. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "We hope that developing countries can explore new paths towards modernization based on their own national conditions and by drawing on the fine achievements of human civilization." This important statement affirms the legitimacy of developing countries pursuing modernization. He further emphasized, "Chinese modernization has created a new form of human civilization, presenting a new picture of modernization." The most profound insight from the successful experience of Chinese modernization is that modernization does not equate to Westernization. Every country can take an independent development path rooted in its own civilizational heritage and national conditions. For countries that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their independence, Chinese modernization offers crucial methodological inspiration, encouraging them to write their own chapters in the historical process of global modernization.

China Will Provide Greater Space for World Economic Growth and International Business Cooperation

In this important document, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly called for "turning the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind into action, and turning the vision into reality." This important statement connects the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" with concrete actions, providing the international community with clear and feasible practical guidance.

First, regarding common development, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed accelerating the implementation of the Global Development Initiative. He emphasized promoting a path of common development for the international community, revitalizing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, strengthening global development momentum, comprehensively advancing WTO reform, addressing common challenges, and improving the well-being of people in all countries.

Second, concerning universal security, he called for ensuring the Global Security Initiative takes root. He emphasized upholding a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, advocating dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win outcomes over zero-sum games, working together to build a security community.
Finally, regarding mutual learning among civilizations, he welcomed active participation by all countries in the Global Civilization Initiative. He stressed promoting the diversity of world civilizations, carrying forward the common values of humanity, enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, breaking down barriers to communication, and passing on the torch of human civilization. These deployments translate the vision of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" into actionable international public goods and cooperative practices, represented by initiatives like the GDI, GSI, and GCI.

General Secretary Xi Jinping stated that China firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. China has no genes for seeking hegemony or impulses for great-power competition. It firmly stands on the right side of history and adheres to the principle that "a just cause should be pursued for the common good." Currently, China is advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, adhering to high-quality development, firmly promoting high-standard opening up, continuously optimizing the business environment, advancing ecological civilization construction, and fostering a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. Over the past decade, China has contributed an average of over 30% to global economic growth annually. China remains a vital opportunity for world development. As its 1.4 billion people advance towards modernization as a whole, China will undoubtedly provide even greater space for world economic growth and international business cooperation. This solemn commitment and sustained practice stand as the most powerful testament to "turning the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind into action, and turning the vision into reality." (Looking into the New Era)