Centenary a good time to reflect on global solidarity

It is fitting to congratulate the Communist Party of China on the 100th anniversary of its founding. The Party has been the key pillar for building modern China and for all the significant achievements made by China and the Chinese people over this period.

Snapshots of the site of the First National Congress of the CPC in Shanghai or the Red Boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province－two places where the CPC began its journey－are a great reminder of the leadership, vision and persistence demonstrated by the CPC and the Chinese people over the past 100 years.

From a small party with a few dozen members, the CPC has grown to be the world's largest ruling political party, with more than 95 million members today.

One can see the global perspective evident in President Xi Jinping's words elaborating on his vision of "innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development", China's pursuit of "common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security", its promoting of "open and inclusive cooperation for win-win outcomes", its championing of "equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations", and its following "the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration in engaging in global governance".

Global governance is facing complex challenges, Xi said, adding that the international order is at a crucial crossroads and the fundamental question is whether multilateralism or unilateralism will prevail.

The current international order is not perfect, but it does not need to be destroyed to build a new one. It needs to be reformed and improved. President Xi has called on all nations to shoulder their responsibilities, initiate constructive dialogue, uphold the principle of seeking common ground while allowing the existence of differences, and contribute more positive energy to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

These thoughts show the great understanding of the many important underlying facts and trends, clearly showing what happened and what are the key issues to be addressed to create our shared future in the context of overall global challenges.

The world is undergoing changes unseen in modern history. Facing global threats such as the novel coronavirus, climate change and environmental pollution, no country can manage alone or stand aside.

All countries need to coordinate their efforts to counter the risks and challenges and transform the global governance system so that it is fairer and more reasonable.

This is the reason why we collectively need leadership to forge global social inclusiveness and guide us toward a future in which all humankind will be able to enjoy the achievements of human progress.

We should ask ourselves, from great powers to small developing nations, whether we will put an end to the human race by being divided along ideological, national, religious or racial lines, or be united as one in search of a shared future and societies through more dialogue, respect, learning and understanding.

China's role in this endeavor is inevitable and indispensable.

The 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC is the perfect time to reflect on these global challenges and draw the necessary lessons for building a community with a shared future for mankind, and for pursuing a new sustainable development pattern and mutual learning among countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the challenges to realizing social inclusion and the pressing need for the rejuvenation of multilateralism.

But it is crucial to understand that it cannot be disentangled from other shared existential risks such as climate change, poverty and inequality, nuclear threats and artificial intelligence misuse, as well as uncontrollability, alienation, undemocratic practices and discrimination, demagoguery and populism, chauvinism, racism and, ultimately, violence.

Our intention should not be to rebuild the pre-pandemic era that we wanted to change anyway. Ideological differences were more and more used as a cover for conflicts between exclusivity, inequality and segregation forces on one side and inclusive, equitable and shared societies on the other.

We have to collectively promote cooperation. This requires shared leadership, vision, values and responsibility based on trust, transparency, justice and knowledge.

Inequality, exclusion, injustice and institutional weaknesses are among the main reasons that people all over the world are lacking prosperity.

We should never forget that we are all different, as people and as nations, but at the same time we should not ignore the fact that there is much that brings us together.

That is why our shared mission should be putting the world on the path toward a shared future for the well-being of people today and of future generations. That necessitates more inclusive, environmentally sensitive policies and approaches based on upholding the dignity of every individual in peace and harmony, while enhancing the ability of all parts of society to express their aspirations and their needs, in a spirit of solidarity and collective action.

It is of great importance, coming from a country such as Bosnia and Herzegovina－where history teaches us that there is no prosperous future if we do not work together in shared societies united in our diversities－to understand that we cannot differentiate based on the size of our populations or economy.

In my discussions with colleagues from China, I have experienced collective wisdom that we can share today. It is not only one big consolidated and clear picture of our recent history and guidelines for the time ahead, but also a message to all of us that if there are committed, hardworking people who share a vision, values, passion, persistence and partnership, then our common goals and dreams may become reality.

In my understanding, the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind is a logical consequence of Chinese culture.

Let us use the first CPC centennial anniversary as a collective reminder of the need to create a global alliance of like-minded people, with the shared dream of a world that is a more peaceful and prosperous place.

The author is a former prime minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina.