On December 31, the Sunstar published an article by Consul General Zhang Zhen titled “Time tries truth”.

Here is the full text:

Dec. 30 is Rizal Day. Dr. José Rizal had a vision for an independent, free and enlightened Philippines, and it still resonates over a century later after he sacrificed his life. Many Filipinos take this day not only as a public holiday, but a moment to look back and reflect. 

As an old Chinese saying goes, from the mirror we learn about ourselves，from the past we learn about the future. In 2024, the world witnessed further transformation and instability, marked by protracted and intensified geopolitical conflicts. 

Building a community with a shared future for mankind is an important vision put forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which shows the world a bright prospect of peace, security, prosperity and progress. It has become a great enterprise joined by various parties. 

In the course of 2024, a growing number of countries have pitched in to build a community with a shared future. New progresses have been achieved between China and countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, opening up new vistas of harmonious coexistence between different civilizations. What's worth mentioning in particular is that Chinese and African leaders have agreed to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, giving expression to the shared desire of the 2.8 billion Chinese and Africans to pursue common development in greater solidarity.

Regional cooperation in 2024, which China has been participating in and advancing, is brimming with strong vitality. The China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations have been substantially concluded. The China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express opened. The intergovernmental agreement on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project was signed. Important progress has been made in key projects such as the China-Vietnam cross-border railway, the China-Mongolia cross-border railway, the China-Singapore Land-Sea New Corridor and Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link, etc.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind also reflects the relentless pursuit of a fair world. At the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, President Xi Jinping comprehensively and systematically elaborated China's vision on global governance, offering insights and solutions from the perspective of long-term historical evolution and from the height of the shared future of all humanity.

With the joint efforts of China and other countries, the notion of humanity sharing a common future has been written into multiple resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations (U.N.) and multilateral documents, and the goal of building community with a shared future has been established in various fields such as cybersecurity, climate change, and health.

The three major Global Initiatives proposed by China  have been accelerated. To date, 82 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, 119 countries and international organizations have given support to the Global Security Initiative, and the 78th U.N. General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by China to establish an International Day of Dialogue among Civilizations.

China has actively worked for the restoration of world peace and endeavored to save human lives. China and Brazil jointly issued the six-point consensus on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. China pushed for the adoption of the first resolution by the Security Council on a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitated the reconciliation dialogue and the signing of the Beijing Declaration by various Palestinian factions, and delivered multiple batches of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

China has mediated peace in northern Myanmar, supported Afghanistan in building an inclusive political framework, made consistent efforts to promote the political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue, and will continue to help Syria maintain its sovereignty and restore stability. China and Indian agreed to step up strategic communication, safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas.

China and ASEAN countries are advancing negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, actively conducting practical maritime cooperation, and jointly safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea. All countries need to bear in mind that the only right way to safeguard national security is to uphold strategic independence, good-neighborliness and friendship, and peaceful development. Asia is in need of peace and prosperity, not Mid-Range Capability missile system or confrontation.

China upholds true multilateralism, stands on the right side of history, and promotes common progress. China strives to provide opportunities for world development with its modernization.It has stood for dialogue and partnership rather than confrontation and alliance, fostered major-country dynamics featuring overall stability and balanced development, and worked with its neighbors for an amicable and harmonious home in Asia.

We are ushering into a new year. The changes of the world, the changes of the times, and the changes in history are unfolding unprecedentedly. Looking ahead, what shall we do? What choices our countries will make? All will determine the course of our times. Wish year 2025 bring us more lights despite the clouds of more uncertainties and instability in the international landscape. Time tries truth!

Original link：https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/tell-it-to-sunstar-time-tries-truth