First Seminar on International Strategic Issues hosted by Golden Bridge on Silk Road International Think Tank was held in Beijing on January 10th. Ji Peiding, Honorary Chairman of Golden Bridge on Silk Road International Think Tank, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave a keynote speech on the international changes and the current international situation. 

Ji Peiding, Honorary Chairman of Golden Bridge on Silk Road International Think Tank, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Minister Ji Peiding mainly shared the following three questions at this conference: First, the international pattern and changes in more than 70 years; second, the characteristics of the international situation in 2018 and the prospects for the international situation in 2019; third, opinions of Sino-US relations.

First, Minister Ji Peiding reviewed the changes in the international pattern for more than 70 years. The end of the Second World War laid the current international pattern. In October 1945, the United Nations organization was established and the UN Charter was enacted. The UN's mission is to be responsible for international politics and security. In July 1944, the Bretton Woods system was signed, the basic content of which is linked to the US dollar and gold, which stipulates that the currencies of the IMF member countries and the US dollar maintain a fixed exchange rate; the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are responsible for international finance. In October 1947, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was signed, and in 1995 it was renamed the WTO (World Trade Organization), which is responsible for the rules of world trade. The above three aspects are like three pillars, which constitute a framework of a large international structure. More than 70 years have passed, the world has undergone major changes, and the contrast of international forces has undergone major changes. The number of UN member states has changed from more than 50 to 193. In 1971 Nixon announced the decoupling of the dollar from gold, overthrowing the Bretton Woods system. In the comparison of international forces, the status of emerging markets and developing countries has become more prominent. In particular, the great achievements of China's 40 years of reform and opening up have had a major impact on the world. The world calls for adjustment and reform. The reasons for this change are manifold: on the one hand, because of the rise and expansion of emerging markets, and on the other, because the United States and the West are fighting for their hegemonic nature, fighting around the world. The dispute was created and the debt was high. As a major issuer of the world's major currencies, the United States does not have self-discipline and a financial crisis occurred in 2008. Due to the decline of Western power, G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, etc. appeared in this context.

In his speech, Minister Ji also analyzed the characteristics of the international situation in 2018 and looked forward to the international situation in 2019. The year of 2018 is an extraordinary year. There have been many unusual events in the world. From the time of conflict, the chaos has been raging, and the uncertainty in the situation is particularly prominent. Some events have watershed significance. This year, the US international credit rating was greatly impaired. The question that the world needs to seek answers in 2018 is: Is it continuing globalization or counter globalization? Is it to adhere to multilateralism or to unilateralism? Is it to support free trade or to engage in trade bullying? The United States’ international behavior has shown unprecedented anxiety. Because of fear of the weakening of hegemony, it has taken a new round of containment against China. Some practices have lost their rationality and resorted to whatever means. In addition, Minister Ji also pointed out that the changes in the international situation in 2018 have the following characteristics: First, the speed of international power comparison has accelerated sharply, the system dominated by the United States and the West has begun to waver, the West has fallen into an unprecedented serious system trouble, and the democratic aura they show off Already eclipsed. Second, in the international change of 2018, China's international status and influence are particularly prominent. China has occupied a moral high point on some major international issues, and world affairs cannot be separated from China's participation. China's goal is to defend its right to develop and ultimately realize the Chinese dream, but this does not mean that China will replace the US as the hegemon. Third, 2018 has passed. We have entered 2019. At present, the world is still at a crossroads. The weather vane is still unclear. In 2018, China and the United States opened a trade war. It seems that the financial war has begun.

When talking about Sino-US relations, Minister Ji Peiding said that Kissinger believes that Sino-US relations are hard to return to the past. The problem is mainly in the United States. From the US Congress to the US administration, the two major parties, whether Republican or Democratic, have the same view on China: China is the main strategic opponent of the United States. In the face of unprecedented containment and blows in the United States in 2018, China has not fallen. Needless to say, Sino-US relations are currently in a difficult period and are in a phase of stalemate. The responsibility for this situation is not in the Chinese side, it is caused by the US. The US's recent anchor target is China's manufacturing of 2025, but the core issue is that the United States cannot accept a strong Communist Party. Recently, President Trump took the initiative to speak with President Xi Jinping. President Trump issued a tweet saying that "the two sides are making progress toward the agreement." China and the United States have established diplomatic relations for 40 years, and it is not easy to develop relations until today. China hopes to sit down with the United States and negotiate friendly, but if the United States does not give up the hegemonic mentality, maliciously kills China and does not allow China to develop, the friction between China and the United States is hard to avoid. This situation may have to run through China’s rise.

China's diplomacy will usher in a new year in 2019. The Belt and Road initiative advocated by China has formed a good momentum. The Belt and Road Initiative is our important public product. In April this year, the 2nd Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit will be held again in China, and the international response is very positive. The future China will adhere to a comprehensive opening up to the outside world, and we will usher in a new period of development opportunities. Our country's future is bright and we should have enough confidence.