Responding to Global Challenges and Promoting a Multipolar World Order

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Eighty years ago, human civilization suffered an unprecedented catastrophe in the flames of war. Countries with different systems, cultures, and levels of development transcended differences, united and collaborated, built the World Anti-Fascist Alliance, achieved a great victory, promoted the establishment of a new type of international order centered on the United Nations and based on sovereign equality and peaceful development, and opened a new era for world politics and the development of civilization. Eighty years later today, the international order built on the spirit of the anti-fascist war faces a new round of severe challenges. Against the backdrop of the profound adjustment of the current international landscape, promoting world multipolarity and strengthening institutional equality and cooperative governance have become realistic choices for responding to global challenges.

2025年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年。80年前，人类文明在战火中遭受前所未有的浩劫，不同制度、文化与发展水平的国家超越分歧、团结协作，构建起世界反法西斯同盟，取得伟大胜利，推动以联合国为核心、以主权平等与和平发展为基础的新型国际秩序的建立，开启了世界政治与文明发展的新纪元。80年后的今天，以反法西斯战争精神为基础构建起来的国际秩序面临新一轮严峻挑战。在当前国际格局深刻调整的背景下，推动世界多极化、加强制度平等与合作共治，已成为应对全球性挑战的现实选择。

The Experience of International Cooperation in the Anti-Fascist War

反法西斯战争中的国际合作经验

Chinese civilization has since ancient times emphasized "harmony in diversity," [1]1 "Harmony in diversity" (和而不同) is a classical Confucian concept from the Analects, advocating unity without uniformity. holding that difference is not the source of opposition but the foundation for coexistence and common progress. Throughout the history of ancient China's international relations, the concept of "bringing harmony to all nations" [2]2 "Bringing harmony to all nations" (协和万邦) is a phrase from the ancient Chinese classic *Shangshu* (Book of Documents), describing the ideal of peaceful international relations. ran through the governance practices of the tributary system and regional order. This political philosophy, which emphasizes mutual respect, tolerance of difference, and harmonious coexistence, not only nourished the construction of regional order in ancient China but also demonstrated strong vitality during the global crises of the 20th century, becoming an important civilizational fulcrum for countries to join hands in addressing the challenges of war.

中华文明自古强调“和而不同”，主张差异不是对立的源头，而是共存共进的基础。纵观中国古代的国际交往史，“协和万邦”的理念贯穿于朝贡体系和区域秩序的治理实践。这种强调互尊、容异、协和共处的政治哲学，不仅滋养了中国古代的区域秩序构建，也在20世纪全球性危机中展现出强大生命力，成为各国携手应对战争挑战的重要文明支点。

World War II was a global conflict of unprecedented scale in human history. In this great war concerning the fate of humanity, countries with vastly different systems, diverse cultures, and varying levels of development transcended ideological and interest boundaries to form a world anti-fascist united front. On the Eastern battlefield, the Communist Party of China advocated the establishment of a national united front against Japanese aggression, [3]3 The national united front against Japanese aggression was a policy of the Chinese Communist Party during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) to unite all anti-Japanese forces, including the Kuomintang. where different political forces united to resist the enemy, pinning down the main forces of Japan through a protracted war, and making an important contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

第二次世界大战是人类历史上规模空前的全球性冲突。在这场关乎人类命运的大战中，制度迥异、文化多元、发展水平不同的国家超越意识形态与利益界限，形成世界反法西斯统一战线。在东方战场，中国共产党倡导建立抗日民族统一战线，不同政治力量团结抗敌，以持久战牵制日本主力，为世界反法西斯战争胜利作出重要贡献。

At the same time, China coordinated operations with major allied countries such as the Soviet Union, the United States, and Britain, and united with Asian, African, and Latin American countries to jointly build an international alliance spanning civilizations, systems, and geographies. Inspired by the just cause, countries carried out strategic coordination, broke through the barriers of traditional national interests, and demonstrated the real possibility of common struggle for human society at a critical juncture.

与此同时，中国与苏联、美国、英国等主要同盟国协同作战，联合亚非拉国家，共同构建起横跨文明、制度与地理的国际联盟。各国在正义目标的感召下开展战略协同，突破传统国家利益的藩篱，展现了人类社会在重大关头实现共同抗争的现实可能。

In 1945, the historic meeting of Soviet and American troops on the Elbe River was not only an important node of victory in the war but also symbolized the spirit of unity forged among countries with different systems amidst the ruins of war. On the American continent, far from the main battlefield, Latin American countries also actively responded. In 1942, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the Axis powers, becoming the first Latin American country to declare war on Germany. This series of actions reflected the global breadth of the anti-fascist war and the universality of the consensus on justice.

1945年，苏美两国军队在易北河的历史性会师，不仅是战争胜利的重要节点，更象征着制度不同的国家在战火废墟中铸就的团结精神。在远离主战场的美洲大陆，拉美国家也积极响应。1942年，墨西哥与轴心国断交，成为第一个对德宣战的拉美国家。这一系列行动，体现了反法西斯战争的全球广度与正义共识的普遍性。

History teaches us that differences in system and diversity of culture are not insurmountable obstacles. As long as there is a common understanding of justice and a willingness to cooperate, effective international coordination mechanisms can be built. It was precisely by virtue of this spirit of unity that transcended differences that human society won that victory which determined the future direction. This valuable experience of cross-system and cross-civilization cooperation laid a solid foundation for the establishment of the principles of multilateralism and cooperative governance in the post-war international order.

历史昭示我们，制度差异、文化多样并非无法逾越的障碍。只要有基于共同的正义认知与合作意愿，就能构建起有效的国际协作机制。正是凭借这种超越分歧的团结精神，人类社会赢得了那场决定未来走向的胜利。这一跨制度、跨文明合作的宝贵经验，为战后国际秩序中多边主义和合作共治原则的确立奠定了坚实基础。

The Establishment of the Principle of Multilateralism

多边主义原则的确立

World War II led people to deeply reflect on the roots of war, forming a consensus that "peace cannot rely solely on the balance of power; it must be based on institutional co-governance." Although the concept of multilateral cooperation had been explored since the 19th century, its true institutionalization and legal establishment on a global scale were marked by the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945. As the cornerstone of the post-war international order, the UN Charter established basic principles such as sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes, collective security, and multilateral cooperation, marking the formal establishment of the modern multilateral order.

第二次世界大战使人们深刻反思战争根源，形成“和平不能仅靠权力制衡，必须依托制度共治”的共识。多边合作理念虽在19世纪以来已有探索，但真正在全球范围内实现制度化与法律确立，则以1945年《联合国宪章》的签署为标志。作为战后国际秩序的基石，《联合国宪章》确立了主权平等、和平解决争端、集体安全与多边合作等基本原则，标志着现代多边主义秩序的正式确立。

The signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945, for the first time on a global scale, established the principle of "sovereign equality" in a legally binding form, endowing this concept with substantive institutional support and a foundation for international practice. The Charter established the basic principle of "sovereign equality of all its Members," and in particular, the mechanism of "one vote per country" in the General Assembly gave small and medium-sized countries, for the first time, substantive participation rights at the institutional level. From institutional design to the implementation of principles, multilateralism was transformed from a concept into a concrete mechanism, forming the core pillar of the post-war international order.

1945年《联合国宪章》的签署，首次在全球范围内以具有法律约束力的形式确立“主权平等”原则，赋予这一理念实质性的制度支撑与国际实践基础。宪章确立“各会员国主权平等”之基本原则，特别是大会“每国一票”的机制，使中小国家首次在制度层面获得实质性参与权。从制度设计到原则落实，多边主义由理念转化为具体机制，构成战后国际秩序的核心支柱。

On this basis, a series of multilateral institutions, such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the World Health Organization, were successively established, playing key roles in areas such as global trade, nuclear safety, and public health, providing guarantees and support for the independent development and institutional integration of developing countries, and demonstrating the institutional supply capacity of the multilateral system.

在此基础上，一系列多边机构如关贸总协定、国际原子能机构、世界卫生组织等相继建立，分别在全球贸易、核安全、公共卫生等领域发挥关键作用，为发展中国家的独立发展与制度融入提供了保障与支持，彰显了多边主义体系的制度供给能力。

However, the construction of the post-war order was not smooth sailing. The Cold War pattern exacerbated the complexity of multilateral practice. In 1951, the San Francisco Peace Conference, as an important negotiation platform for the peace treaty with Japan, did not invite Chinese representatives to participate, and the Soviet Union refused to attend in protest against the Western-dominated post-war order. This situation led to widespread doubts about the legitimacy and representativeness of the San Francisco Peace Conference and the Treaty of San Francisco, which failed to fully embody the sovereign equality and international justice advocated by the UN Charter. Furthermore, the conference bypassed the United Nations framework and was dominated by individual major powers, deviating from the basic principles of multilateral consultation and collective security.

然而，战后秩序的建构并非一帆风顺，冷战格局加剧了多边主义实践的复杂性。1951年，旧金山和会作为对日和约的重要谈判平台，却未邀请中国代表参加，苏联因抗议西方主导战后秩序而拒绝出席。这一局面导致旧金山和会及《旧金山和约》在合法性与代表性上备受质疑，未能充分体现《联合国宪章》倡导的主权平等与国际正义。此外，该会议绕开联合国框架，由个别大国主导召开，也背离了多边协商与集体安全的基本原则。

History warns us that once institutional deviations become entrenched, they evolve into structural injustice, endangering the fairness and stability of global governance. China has always adhered to respect for and maintenance of historical truth, emphasizing that the principles of justice cannot be distorted or eroded. Promoting world multipolarity and building an international order based on equal consultation, institutional parity, mutual respect, and mutually beneficial cooperation is a faithful inheritance of the spirit of history and a powerful response to current unilateralism and the global governance deficit.

历史警示我们，制度上的偏差一旦固化，便会演变为结构性不公，危及全球治理的公平与稳定。中国始终秉持对历史真相的尊重与维护，强调正义原则不可被歪曲或侵蚀。推动世界多极化，构建基于平等协商、制度对等、相互尊重与合作共赢的国际秩序，是对历史精神的忠实传承，也是对当前单边主义和全球治理赤字的有力回应。

From the "Unity of Many" to "Global Co-Governance"

从“合众之义”走向“天下共治”

During World War II, countries with different systems, cultures, and stages of development came together for a common goal, coalescing into the "unity of many" [4]4 "Unity of many" (合众之义) is a phrase coined by the author, playing on the Chinese name for the United States (美国, literally "beautiful country") and the classical concept of "righteousness" (义). against fascism. This political solidarity became the historical starting point for global collaboration. Today, facing the reality of multilateralism under assault and the deep restructuring of global governance, it is necessary for countries to transform the spirit of wartime solidarity into a consensus for peacetime institution-building, promoting the realization of the institutional vision of "global co-governance." [5]5 "Global co-governance" (天下共治) is a modern adaptation of the ancient Chinese concept of "all under heaven" (天下), implying a shared global order.

第二次世界大战期间，制度、文化、发展阶段各异的国家为了共同目标走到一起，凝聚起反法西斯的“合众之义”。这种政治团结成为全球协作的历史起点。今天，面对多边主义遭遇冲击、全球治理深度重构的现实，各国有必要将战时团结的精神转化为和平时期制度建设的共识，推动实现“天下共治”的制度愿景。

Currently, the trend towards multipolarity is accelerating, reflecting not only profound changes in the global governance system but also the diversification of power structures and development paths among countries. Countries represented by the BRICS nations, such as China, India, Brazil, and South Africa, are continuously enhancing their institutional participation capabilities, driving the collective rise of the "Global South." At the same time, a growing number of developing countries adhere to an independent and autonomous stance, displaying an open, inclusive, and win-win diplomatic posture, which is an important manifestation of the concept of "harmony in diversity" in international practice. In addition to emerging economies, the European Union and its member states are continuously enhancing their global institutional influence through institutional innovation, agenda-setting, and strategic autonomy, promoting the evolution of the world structure from unipolarity to multipolarity.

当前，多极化趋势加速演进，不仅反映出全球治理体系的深刻变革，也体现出国家间权力结构与发展路径的多元化。以中国、印度、巴西、南非等为代表的金砖国家不断提升制度参与能力，带动“全球南方”国家集体力量崛起。与此同时，越来越多的发展中国家坚持独立自主立场，展现出开放包容、合作共赢的外交姿态，成为“和而不同”理念在国际实践中的重要体现。除新兴经济体外，欧盟及其成员国通过制度创新、议题引领和战略自主不断增强全球制度影响力，推动世界格局由单极向多极演进。

In terms of institutional supply, China actively promotes the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, advocates extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Global issues such as digital governance, climate change, and food security are increasingly becoming governance priorities, reflecting the trend of the international community seeking consensus and coordination amidst diversity, and also providing sustained institutional momentum for multipolarity. Against this backdrop, major developing countries and traditional powers are deepening cooperation, actively participating in the construction of global governance mechanisms, and steadily advancing the global governance system towards a more just and reasonable direction, with diverse agendas and multi-track rules.

在制度供给方面，中国积极推进共建“一带一路”，倡导共商共建共享，致力于构建人类命运共同体。数字治理、气候变化、粮食安全等全球性议题日益成为治理重点，体现出国际社会在多样性中寻求共识与协同的趋势，也为多极化提供了持续的制度动能。在这一背景下，发展中大国与传统力量加深合作，积极参与全球治理机制建设，推动全球治理体系朝着更加公正合理、议题多元且规则多轨的发展方向稳步迈进。

"Harmony in diversity" not only embodies Eastern political wisdom but also provides a new path choice for global cooperation under multipolar conditions. Major developing countries, by enhancing their autonomy and institutional innovation, and traditional powers, by reforming mechanisms and balancing responsibilities, jointly participate in the optimization and adjustment of the global governance system, building an inclusive, pragmatic, and sustainable governance structure.

“和而不同”不仅体现了东方政治智慧，也为多极化条件下全球合作提供了新的路径选择。发展中大国通过增强自主性与制度创新，传统强国通过改革机制与平衡责任，共同参与全球治理体系的优化调整，共建包容、务实、可持续的治理格局。

Promoting world multipolarization is by no means about weakening the interests of any single country, but about breaking the shackles of unilateralism and establishing a global order that is more fair, just, cooperative, and mutually beneficial. We should use solemn historical memories to inspire the conviction for peace, and respond to the challenges of the times with steadfast institutional construction. [6]6 “风云变幻” (fēngyún biànhuàn) is a four-character idiom meaning “turbulent and changing winds and clouds,” used here to describe a period of rapid and unpredictable change in the international situation. An era of turbulent change calls for joint progress, collaborative construction and governance, and the sharing of peace, security, and prosperity. This is both a profound tribute to history and a solemn commitment to the future of all humanity.

推动世界多极化，绝非削弱任何一国利益，而是要打破单边主义桎梏，建立更加公平、正义、合作、共赢的全球秩序。我们应以庄严的历史记忆激发和平信念，以坚定的制度建设回应时代挑战。风云变幻的时代呼唤携手共进，协力建设与治理，共享和平、安全与繁荣，这既是对历史的深切致敬，也是对全人类未来的郑重承诺。

(The author is a research fellow at the Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者系中国社会科学院近代史研究所研究员）

Online editor: Tong Xin

网络编辑：同心