(Transcribed from recordings, with some edits)
Starting from this session's discussion, our perspective has gradually shifted from macro international issues to grassroots practices in China, from a global outlook to micro-observations. The first three speakers from Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, shared their vivid grassroots stories, and the fourth speaker from an international organization discussed visions of internationalism. This evokes suddenly zooming in a camera lens by hundreds of times, focusing attention on minute details.
I want to use three keywords to connect China's grassroots practices with the vision of internationalism.
The first keyword is the people. From Ganzhou's practices and historical experience, we see that China's consistent goal – from revolution to building socialism and to reform and opening up, and then to the new era – has always been to enable better lives and enhanced well-being for the people. This aligns with the goal of Global South countries: pursuing development and progress while safeguarding the people's rights to survival and development.
The second keyword is unity. As the Chinese saying goes, "Unity is strength." Both the history of the Long March and Ganzhou's practices prove this truth. For Global South countries, closer unity is required to advance toward fair, just and reasonable global governance.
The third keyword is the Long March. Ganzhou is the starting point of the Red Army's Long March, where China's revolution embarked on the journey toward victory. From a broader historical perspective, the Long March is still going on in a broader sense today. Countless cities and villages including Ganzhou are striving tirelessly for modernization and common prosperity. For the Global South, it is a new Long March to achieve equal development regardless of size or strength, and to foster exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations on the basis of equality and respect. Though arduous and lengthy, it is a journey worth taking.
The Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, where I serve, is a think tank dedicated to advancing international cultural exchanges. We wish to join hands with you all to make more explorations and contributions in this grand Long March toward a community with a shared future and common prosperity.