By Yao Yao, Director of Research, China Public Diplomacy Association, Director of National Soft Power Research Center, China Foreign Affairs University
On April 28, the 5th foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was held in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
The theme, "Dialogue for Safety" encouraged all parties to have in-depth exchange of views on issues including the Asian security situation and anti-terrorism efforts.
Asia, the anchor of Chinese life, has vast territory, multiple civilizations with complicated cross-border relations. In May 2014, the 4th CICA Summit was held in Shanghai.
Xi had elaborated on common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concepts for Asia, which had received warm applause from the audience.
Chinese medicine also offers a similar principle on holistic thinking. Asian security concepts emphasize a comprehensive strategy; treating issues from the incidental and fundamental aspects.
The peace tree would not grow in barren lands. The fruits of development could not be obtained in battle flames.
Development offers the greatest security for China and a master key for solving regional security challenges. Current uncertainties in the international economic environment remain an issue of common concern.
Some developed countries have dealt with an economic crisis via a quantitative easier monetary measure, while most developing countries continue to face dire economic hardships.
Especially in Asia, weak infrastructure in some countries, insufficient industrial capacity to absorb employment, and incapability of issuing more currency have caused high unemployment rates that have triggered political and security problems.
In January 2016, during Xi's speech at the Arab League Headquarters, he spoke about the Middle East as fertile lands. Unfortunately, the same lands have endured many wars and conflicts. The key solution would be to accelerate development.
Additionally, Beijing promote peaceful dialogue, welcomes all parties to join a circle of friends under "the One Belt, One Road initiative" as partners for mutual benefits.
Middle East countries should construct their industrial infrastructures, use tangible initiatives to ensure long-term development that can eliminate the root causes of war and regional conflicts.
The Chinese manage social organizations with ethical values. Asian security concepts adopt the same approach that highlights reciprocity to all parties. Asian countries share a long history, along with many ethnic groups, diversity in languages and cultures.
Asians aspire to enjoy a world in uniformity to encourage harmony despite differences. Unanimity is set on a basis of variety, while similarity by seeking common ground and putting aside differences. Hence, harmony can be achieved.
The harmony with various differences, according traditional thinking, has determined how relevant countries would show mutual understanding in regards to dealing with conflicts. The so-called absolute security for one state benefiting another states’ national security should be forbidden.
In February 2016, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing is willing to discuss with all parties to promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula with a truce-to-peace mechanism running in parallel.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has carried out nuclear weapon tests and violated United Nations Security Council (UNSCR) resolutions. Pyongyang should pay the price, but all parties should not give up on efforts to resume talks that would encourage peace and stability of the peninsula.
Seoul announced its foreign minister is to visit Beijing to attend CICA for the first time. Accordingly, Asian security concepts have a powerful appeal. For thousands of years, China and Asian countries have shared a continuous history within a cultural context.
CICA could re-activate the cultural context to reflect a sense of community, featured in oriental traditions aiming to reconcile the interests of groups, harmonize states' relations and protect all creatures of the world. A new community-oriented world outlook may seem strange for Western countries, but not for Asians.
( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )
Panview offers an alternative angle on China and the rest of the world through the analyses and opinions of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.
