The Course of China’s Return to the World Stage

Throughout history, whenever China is mentioned, people invariably associate it with a splendid civilization and a great nation — a country known for peace and trustworthiness, demonstrating patience and long-term vision in safeguarding its own interests. China has no intention of disrupting the international environment, nor will it use military force to threaten other countries, because it harbors neither expansionist ambitions nor a belief in military alliances. On the contrary, China is committed to leading the world with wisdom and to becoming a model worthy of emulation.

纵观历史，每当提及中国，人们总会联想到一个灿烂的文明和伟大的国度——这是一个以和平、可信著称的国家，在维护自身利益时展现出耐心与长远眼光。中国无意破坏国际环境，也不会动用军事力量威胁他国，因为它既无扩张主义野心，也不信奉军事联盟。相反，中国致力于以智慧引领世界，并成为值得效仿的典范。

From the 20th to the 21st century, China transformed from a country suffering from colonial aggression and internal strife into an important player in the international order. Especially since the founding of the People’s Republic of China and reform and opening up, China’s economy has achieved unprecedented growth. Hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty, large-scale infrastructure projects have reshaped urban and rural landscapes, and innovation has become a cornerstone of national policy.

20世纪到21世纪，中国从一个饱受殖民侵略与内部纷争之苦的国家，转变为国际秩序中的重要角色。中华人民共和国成立尤其是改革开放以来，中国经济实现了前所未有的增长。数亿人口摆脱了贫困，大规模的基础设施建设项目重塑了城乡面貌，创新已成为国家政策的基石。

Today, China has become the world’s second-largest economy, a global manufacturing powerhouse, a leader in technological innovation, and a participant with growing influence in international diplomacy and strategy. The achievements of modern China are not only the fruits of economic reform but also the crystallization of a long history of struggle and challenge. From the unequal treaties imposed on China by Western powers in the 19th century, to the great revolution in the mid-20th century, to reform and opening up, and now to the Chinese Dream, these historical accumulations are deeply rooted in the consciousness of the nation and society. China’s discourse often revolves around two key dimensions: the historical period of China’s “century of humiliation” and the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Without considering these ideas that form the basis of China’s self-perception and its perception of the world, it is impossible to understand China’s various initiatives.

如今，中国已成为世界第二大经济体、全球制造业大国、技术创新引领者以及在国际外交与战略领域影响力日益增强的参与者。现代中国取得的成就不仅是经济改革的成果，更是一段漫长斗争与挑战史的结晶。从19世纪西方列强强加给中国的不平等条约，到20世纪中叶的伟大革命，再到改革开放，直至如今的中国梦，这些历史积淀深深植根于国家与社会的意识之中。中国的话语体系常常围绕两个关键维度展开，即中国“百年屈辱”的历史时期与中华民族伟大复兴的历史进程。若不考量这些形成中国自我认知与世界认知基础的理念，便无法理解中国的各项举措。

Since 2013, China has been committed to becoming a world power with core influence and to promoting the Sinicization of global concepts. This process relies mainly on three pillars. First, building a strong China by achieving national rejuvenation with the goal of national prosperity. Second, constructing a community with a shared future for mankind with Chinese characteristics. Third, contributing more Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to global governance.

2013年以来，中国一直致力于成为具有核心影响力的世界大国，并推动全球观念的中国化实践，这一过程主要依托三大支柱。一是通过实现以国家富强为目标的民族复兴来建设强大中国；二是构建具有中国特色的人类命运共同体；三是在全球治理中贡献更多中国智慧与中国方案。

Currently, China continues to put forward global visions, such as the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, based on moral leadership and the principles of multilateralism, dialogue, cooperation, and mutually beneficial partnerships; non-interference in internal affairs, common security, the relativity of values, soft power, developmental peace, cultural harmony, and digital dominance, which will together shape a new world order. This Chinese solution is gaining widespread recognition from countries around the world, especially those in the Global South, which aspire to a more secure and stable international order. This move will further consolidate China’s image and status as a major power in the global system. As China establishes its position as a key force in the international system, its influence will continue to expand.

当前，中国持续提出全球愿景，例如，基于道德领导力及多边主义、对话、合作与互利伙伴关系原则的人类命运共同体理念；不干涉内政、共同安全、价值观相对性、软实力、发展和平、文化和谐以及数字主导，将共同塑造一个新的世界秩序。这一中国方案正获得世界各国特别是全球南方国家的广泛认同，这些国家渴望建立更加安全稳定的国际秩序。此举将进一步巩固中国作为全球体系中重要大国的形象与地位，随着中国在国际体系中确立其关键性力量定位，中国的影响力将日益扩大。

Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China is attempting to establish a new model of globalization that differs from the Western-dominated globalization concept since the 1980s. This model demonstrates greater openness and balance, allowing countries to participate regardless of their governance forms and political ideological orientations; it focuses on infrastructure projects, highlighting its tilt toward the interests of developing countries. At the same time, thanks to the enhancement of soft power, China is continuously strengthening its cultural confidence and improving its global image.

通过共建“一带一路”倡议，中国正试图建立一种区别于20世纪80年代以来西方主导的全球化理念，推动形成新型全球化模式。这一模式展现出更高的开放度与均衡性，无论各国治理形式及政治意识形态取向如何，都能参与其中；聚焦基础设施建设项目，彰显其对发展中国家利益的倾斜。同时，得益于软实力的提升，中国不断增强其文化自信并改善全球形象。

The world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century, with intensifying regional conflicts, escalating economic and humanitarian challenges, rising cross-border crises, and a widening North-South divide. Following the three major initiatives — the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative — President Xi Jinping formally proposed the Global Governance Initiative at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” meeting held in Tianjin.

当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，地区冲突加剧、经济与人道主义挑战迭起、跨境危机不断升级、南北鸿沟持续扩大。继全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议三大倡议之后，习近平主席在天津举行的“上海合作组织+”会议上又正式提出全球治理倡议。

Today, the world stands at a historical crossroads, and the old order is no longer capable of addressing the common challenges facing humanity. In this context, China’s global vision deserves attention, not only because it originates from Chinese wisdom but also because it responds to the urgent needs of a critical moment for the destiny of mankind. Whether scholars, policymakers, or ordinary people, our common future depends to a large extent on how we understand and engage with the Chinese story — its past, present, and future.

当今世界站在历史的十字路口，旧秩序已无力应对人类面临的共同挑战。在此背景下，中国提出的全球愿景值得关注，这不仅因其源自中国智慧，更因其回应了人类命运攸关时刻的迫切需求。无论是学者、政策制定者还是普通民众，我们共同的未来在很大程度上取决于如何理解并参与中国故事——它的过去、现在与未来。

(The author is a young scholar of political science at the Arab Research Institute of the Arab League in Egypt and a young Sinologist.)

（作者系埃及阿拉伯国家联盟阿拉伯研究学院政治学青年学者、青年汉学家）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧