Each nation has evolved, often over centuries, with its own history, institutions, traditions, ways of living and philosophy. Such evolution has not taken place in a vacuum but through a process of exchange and learning from other parts of the world. Yet each nation has developed its own characteristics.

 

Mutual learning has over the centuries enabled societies to develop and flourish. Despite that, the receiving societies retained their own characteristics, with innovation and integration often creating new achievements but without one society being dominated by the other.

 

The outcomes have been harsh in cases where societies lacked or didn't have mutual respect. The enslavement of the African peoples, the Holocaust, the Opium Wars all display one commonality: an aggressive lack of respect based on an assumption of a superiority of one set of people over others. In contrast, exchanges and learning based on the recognition of the worth of the other has produced enduring benefits.

 

In discussions on human rights and different societies adopting different approaches, there are no discernible benefits from confrontation. Turning a discussion into an argument to prove one approach is superior to the others goes against the whole idea of human rights.

 

A discussion based on mutual respect allows all parties to understand why different societies adopted different approaches to human rights. The difference in the governance of human affairs across countries suggests one society's policy is unlikely to apply to another, especially if the latter has different priorities, traditions, history and culture. The purpose of discussion should be to learn from one another, to share experiences and to understand one another, not to promote division between peoples.

 

 

 

 

A true global partnership necessitates replacing charity with some form of deliberate international governance. A global partnership to achieve all the Sustainable Development Goals would benefit the peoples of all countries, both rich and poor.

 

There is considerable agreement on the necessity of structural reforms to initiate inclusive global governance and disrupt the cabal of governments and business interests that have largely ruled the world since 1945. The locus of power must be returned to a strengthened United Nations, ultimately with an elected General Assembly with power to legislate in the interest of "we the people", not "we the peoples".

 

The Bretton Woods organizations — the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization — need reform since the existing voting pattern perpetuate historic power imbalances. Yet few expect substantive reform to be accomplished soon, because the purpose of the reform is to reduce the influence of the world's most powerful countries that have framed, and benefited most from, global governance for more than 75 years.

 

A global development that might make institutional change more feasible is the rise of China. Western neo-realists see China's growing influence raising the prospect of cold or hot wars. However, taken at face value, something neo-realists would never do, China's remarks on development and global governance chime well. In fact, the changes suggested by China are necessary for the realization of the SDGs by 2030.

 

On development, China joins many in recognizing that it is important to resolve the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, and make development more balanced, coordinated and inclusive. It acknowledges the need to strengthen people's capacity for development and to create a development paradigm where its outcome benefits every person in every country more directly and fairly.

 

And on global governance, China prioritizes peaceful development and the welfare of all humanity and speaks to solidarity and cooperation with people around the world and to the need to uphold international equity and justice.

 

It is resolutely opposed to hegemony and power politics and calls for more inclusive global governance, more effective multilateral mechanisms, and more active regional cooperation. It emphasizes that to build a community with a shared future for mankind is not to replace one system or civilization with another. Instead, it is about countries with different social systems, ideologies, histories, cultures and levels of development coming together for shared interests, shared rights and shared responsibilities in global affairs, and creating the greatest synergy for building a better world.

 

 

 

 

China has proposed a new way to promote the right to digital development through technological development. For capacity building, China puts emphasis on technological empowerment rather than output. It believes that even the digitally least-developed countries should enjoy the right to equitable digital development.

 

For instance, at the meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2021, President Xi Jinping announced that China will help African countries in implementing 10 digital economy projects, build a China-Africa satellite remote sensing application cooperation center, and support the construction of China-Africa joint research institutes, and innovation-oriented scientific and technological cooperation centers.

 

The Chinese government and digital technology companies have been working together to ensure all the countries enjoy the right to digital development, promote the concept of inclusive digital society, and bring digital dividends to all.

 

Chinese high-tech companies are using digital technology to promote digital education, build a digital environment, and develop digital healthcare systems. Huawei alone has helped 18 countries and 22 nature reserves to improve resource management and biodiversity conservation, and promote digital education in many countries.

 

Thanks to such efforts, many developing countries can avail of quality healthcare, education and environmental resources, and have already made outstanding contributions to promoting the right to digital development.