"The greatest ideal is to create a world truly shared by all," Chinese President Xi Jinping said five years ago in his debut at the solemn UN General Assembly Hall, citing an ancient adage that reflects the defining world view ingrained in China's millennia-old civilization.
Upholding that ideal, Xi expounded his concept of and approach to building a community with a shared future for mankind, his flagship vision on how to guide humanity through the various common challenges toward a better future.
Five years later, Xi's vision is gaining more relevance and importance. As the United Nations celebrates its 75th anniversary, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, with COVID-19, the gravest global public health crisis since the 1918 influenza pandemic, having intensified both centrifugal undercurrents that are pulling the world apart and centripetal forces that are strengthening global solidarity and cohesion.
At such a momentous juncture, Xi is to appear once again on the most prestigious international platform, attending a series of virtual UN high-level meetings in the coming days and presenting China's answers to the fundamental questions hanging over the world.
COMMON VALUES
When he visited the UN headquarters in the fall of 2015, Xi brought a gift for the United Nations' 70th birthday -- "Zun of Peace," a red bronze bottle decorated by traditional Chinese auspicious patterns.
It shows the aspiration and faith of the Chinese people in seeking peace, development, cooperation and win-win results, which are also spirits of the UN Charter, Xi explained.
"The Zun of Peace embodies the close relations and shared values of China and the United Nations," said then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when receiving the gift on behalf of the world body.
The great importance Xi attaches to the United Nations has been consistently demonstrated in practice. Over the years, he has visited the UN Office at Geneva and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris, and met on various occasions with UN leaders. In May, he addressed the World Health Assembly via video link. Many of his important thoughts on global governance were delivered through these UN rostrums.
"Peace, development, equality, justice, democracy and freedom are common values of all mankind and the lofty goals of the United Nations," Xi said under the dome of the General Assembly Hall in 2015.
Hanging high behind him was a huge golden UN emblem showing a world map inscribed in a wreath consisting of crossed olive branches, which carries the organization's vision for a world free of war, hunger or injustice.
"Yet these goals are far from being achieved; therefore we must continue our endeavors," he told the 193-member General Assembly.
