Multipolarity Archives - Friends of Socialist China

“In China, I saw the future”

In the following article, Zhou Lin reports on the Mingde Strategic Dialogue (2026), held at Beijing’s Renmin University on October 11, themed “Resilience and Vitality: New Opportunities China’s Development Brings to the World”. This capped a visit by a delegation of more than 20 former political leaders and renowned scholars from 10 countries – Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain, Canada, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia and the United States – to Shanghai, Xinyu in Jiangxi province, and Wenzhou in Zhejiang province. They held in-depth discussions on such topics as China’s high-quality development and global economic growth, improving global economic governance, safeguarding the stability of industrial and supply chains, and AI-enabled industrial innovation, and arrived at conclusions that stand in sharp contrast to the “Peak China” narrative.

George Galloway, former British MP and leader of the Workers Party of Britain, said that he was deeply impressed by the high-end “hand-tearable steel” produced by Xinyu Iron & Steel, just 0.08 millimetres thick. “The steel they make there is so thin that a person can tear it apart by hand,” he said. “China is in a leading position in many industrial fields, a lead that is arguably almost unsurpassable.” In his view, while many European countries are experiencing social disorder or changes of government, China is one of the few places in the world today enjoying stability and prosperity. The West’s labelling of Chinese exports as “overcapacity,” together with its tariff barriers, is protectionism in substance – a departure from the principles of free trade.

Jennifer Shipley, former prime minister of New Zealand, attributed the resilience of the Chinese economy to long-term planning and strategic resolve. China’s economic resilience and vitality, she said, stem from its commitment to long-term planning, sustained infrastructure development, continuous scientific and technological innovation, and constant strategic adjustment in response to changing circumstances.

Mulatu Teshome, former president of Ethiopia, argued that China’s innovation in green technology, advanced manufacturing, and the digital economy has not only driven its own transformation and upgrading, but also injected new momentum into the world economy. This has created favourable conditions for Africa and other developing regions to expand trade channels and promote industrial development.

Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, said that as hegemony declines, the once US-centred international economic system is rapidly being replaced by one of neo-mercantilism, in which technology blockades, financial sanctions, and the control of key corridors have been weaponised. Rebuilding trust in supply chains and financial architecture, he argued, must rely on multipolarity and multilateralism – and mechanisms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are becoming key forces for pluralistic balance and multilateral cooperation worldwide.

The article concludes: “For the members of the foreign delegation, the visit’s deepest impression is perhaps best summed up in Galloway’s words: ‘In China, I saw the future.’”

Xiong’an Forum takes forward the Global Governance Initiative

The 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong’an), the first gathering of its kind, was held in Xiong’an New Area, Hebei province from October 23-25. Hosted by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), it was themed “Rebuilding Confidence and Cooperation: Reforming and Improving Global Governance in a Transforming World”. Nearly 400 representatives from political, strategic, academic, business, media, and youth sectors from more than 90 countries and international and regional organisations, including the United Nations, attended the opening ceremony. They included former Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari, former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Djoomart Otorbaev, former Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dăncilă, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to the forum, which was read to the opening ceremony by Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Xi noted that the world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, and the deficits in peace, development, security and governance are growing rather than diminishing. He has put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system and a better world. He called for efforts to promote the implementation of the GGI to inject more certainty and positive energy into a world of turbulence and transformation and jointly move toward a community with a shared future for humanity.

In his keynote address, Wang Yi stated that at a crucial moment a year ago, when the postwar international order faced serious challenges and global governance risked falling behind, President Xi launched the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) – a much-needed initiative that offers solutions to bridge the governance deficit and build a better future. The past year has underscored the great contemporary value of the GGI, recorded China’s growing contribution to global governance, and seen rising international expectations for China to play a bigger role.

He went on to say that the past year has underscored the great contemporary value of the GGI. It has been endorsed by more than 160 countries and international organisations. Over 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of Global Governance. Its core elements have been incorporated into the documents of multilateral fora such as the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and BRICS. Inspired by the GGI, more than 100 countries sent their representatives to the UN Security Council high-level meeting on global governance, and agreed to revitalise, reactivate and strengthen the United Nations.

Wang said: “Momentous transformations not seen in a century are unfolding before our eyes at a faster pace. While unilateralism and bullying resurge and the governance deficit widens, our world is decidedly moving toward multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations. This is the trend of our times and the trajectory of history, overwhelming and unstoppable. Humanity is woven together by intertwined interests and a shared future. We should unite as one, rise to the challenges, and take proactive, strong and persistent steps to make the GGI a full reality… Eighty-one years ago, the UN Charter officially came into force… The more turbulent our world becomes, the more important it is to recommit to the founding mission of the UN Charter, hold high the torch of multilateralism, and defend the authority of the UN. We should rally under the UN flag to build greater global consensus, better mobilise global resources, and coordinate global actions more actively.”

Every country, regardless of its size or strength, has the right to independently choose a social system and development path that suits its national conditions and meets the needs of its people – they also have the right to participate as equals, make decisions as equals, and benefit as equals in the process of global governance. All countries should stand for fairness and justice, and major countries must set an example in upholding equality, credibility, moral principles and cooperation.

Wang Yi went on to say that: “Together, we should bolster the strength of the Global South for better global governance. The rise of the Global South is the most momentous shift the world has seen since WWII; it reinforces and expands the force for good on the international stage. In keeping with this shift, the Global South must enjoy greater representation and say in international affairs. This will not only correct a historical injustice but also provide a wealth of ideas for improving global governance. The reform of the international financial system should not remain stagnant; the democracy deficit in global financial governance must be narrowed in line with the agreed time frame and road map. The reform of the UN Security Council should move in the right direction, namely increasing the representation of developing countries, making it a priority to meet Africa’s aspiration through special arrangements, and involving more small and medium-sized countries in global decision-making. The role of Global South cooperation mechanisms, such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, should be harnessed to inject more dynamism into the process of global governance reform… In today’s world, countries have been integrated into a community of intertwined interests. The imbalances brought by economic globalisation can only be resolved through development; protectionism will only make matters worse, while openness and cooperation lead to a better future… Global governance must keep pace with the rapid evolution of human society. The new frontiers – such as the deep sea, polar regions, and outer space – are the common heritage of humanity and represent the forefront of future development, yet there is a lack of governance and rules that must be addressed. We should embrace the principle of peace, sovereignty, inclusiveness and joint governance, and transform the new frontiers from arenas of zero-sum competition into areas of international cooperation. AI is advancing by leaps and bounds. We should take a people-centred approach and develop AI for the good of humanity, and evolve a governance structure based on general consensus soon, so as to make sure this frontier technology is kept under human control and benefits humanity.”

China, he went on to say, “asks all countries to work together and make relentless efforts to build a more just and equitable global governance system. In support of this goal, I wish to announce the following practical actions to be taken by China”:

China will deliver a successful APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. We will push for more outcomes around the three priorities of openness, innovation and cooperation, and work with other APEC economies toward building an Asia Pacific community and the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.
China will remain deeply engaged in advancing UN reform. We support efforts of the UN to streamline itself, improve efficiency and deliver more results.
China will encourage the Group of Friends of Global Governance to play a bigger role. We will organise more activities focusing on the nine priorities of global governance reform. We welcome more like-minded countries to join the Group and participate in its activities.
China will work for the full and effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. As one of the first States Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, China fully supports Xiamen’s bid to host the BBNJ Secretariat, which speaks to our desire to make new and important contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and the advancement of global maritime governance.
China will promote the recalibration of global human rights governance. The goal is to place the right to development high on the multilateral human rights agenda.
China will issue a Position Paper on Strengthening Outer Space Governance. We would like to see the rules of outer space governance keep pace with exploration, reflect broad participation, and benefit all countries.
China will issue a Progress Report on the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All. We will systematically review the cooperation outcomes, practical experience and specific cases since the Action Plan was launched two years ago, and push for deeper and more substantive international cooperation on AI.
China will establish a Global Governance Research Centre. With a focus on the major theoretical and practical issues in global governance, it will become a platform for high-quality research, release the Global Governance Index, and compile annual reports, so as to provide academic insights and intellectual support for the reform and improvement of global governance.

Wang Yi also held a bilateral meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih on the sidelines of the forum’s opening. He said that China believes that peace is of primary importance for ending the refugee crisis. China does its utmost to advance the settlement of global hotspot issues and takes an active part in UN peacekeeping operations. China holds that development is the foundation for improving the conditions of refugees. China has provided a large amount of humanitarian assistance and support to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, creating conditions for addressing the refugee issue at its root.

Barham Salih thanked China for its long-term and firm support for the cause of the United Nations and the work of the UNHCR. He stated that China is a great country that commands considerable respect on the international stage and has long played an important role in peacekeeping, international mediation and promoting development. With the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reaching a record high and conflicts and violence presenting a worrying picture, closer cooperation with China is vital for UNHCR to address these challenges. The UNHCR looks forward to building a close partnership with China, pursuing people-centred cooperation, and jointly addressing the refugee challenge under the framework of the GGI.

In an October 23 commentary article, the Xinhua News Agency wrote that: “The Global South should not remain a passive recipient of rules shaped by others. It must have a greater say in setting the global agenda and shaping international rules. Improving the representation of developing countries in global governance institutions is not a concession by the West, but a necessary adjustment to make the system more inclusive, representative and effective…

“Fairer representation, however, is only part of the answer. Global governance must also be judged by whether it improves people’s wellbeing and delivers tangible results. International cooperation should serve ordinary people, and commitments made at the global level must translate into practical progress on the ground.

“These principles are central to the GGI, which sets out five core concepts: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practising multilateralism, advocating a people-centred approach, and focusing on taking real actions.”

It concluded: “By giving all countries a greater voice, putting people at the centre and turning commitments into concrete results, the global community can build a system tailored to better meet challenges of our time.”

As part of institutionalising the Xiong’an Forum and carrying forward its work, CPIFA has established an international expert advisory committee. Our co-editor Keith Bennett, who attended the forum, is one of the eight people invited to join this committee and who participated in its initial discussion.

Lula’s re-election brings continuity to China-Brazil ties, fresh momentum for Global South cooperation

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured a historic fourth term as President of Brazil, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro in the second round of the presidential election on October 25 with 51.78 percent of the vote – the first time in Brazil’s history that a candidate has overturned a first-round deficit to win the runoff.

This is a victory of enormous international significance. A Bolsonaro presidency would have been a major step forward for the Trump administration’s agenda of continental hegemony – its “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. Flávio Bolsonaro had openly offered Brazil to Washington as the “solution” to its dependence on China for critical minerals and pledged that the US would be Brazil’s primary commercial, political and security partner. As Francisco Dominguez has recently argued, Latin America finds itself caught between James Monroe and Zhou Enlai; Brazil’s voters have chosen sovereignty.

Lula’s re-election means continuity for one of the pillars of BRICS and the Global South, and for Brazil’s commitment to building a multipolar world. It also brings stability and predictability to the China-Brazil relationship. As the following article from Global Times notes, bilateral trade reached a record US$143.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026, and Chinese experts see significant potential for expanding cooperation in green and low-carbon development, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and aerospace. The two countries are also expected to continue coordinating on reform of the UN and WTO, global debt restructuring and climate negotiations – helping to ensure, in the words of Pan Deng, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Region Law Center at the China University of Political Science and Law, that global governance “better reflects the concerns and development needs of emerging economies”.

Francisco Dominguez: Latin America – between James Monroe and Zhou Enlai

In the following article, Dr Francisco Dominguez, Secretary of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, argues that Latin America is caught between two diametrically opposed global forces: US imperialism, whose drive for regional hegemony traces back to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, and the China-led effort to build a multipolar world grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence formulated by Zhou Enlai.

Francisco charts the extraordinary growth of China-Latin America relations – from total trade of US$1.8 billion in 1990 to US$565 billion in 2025 – along with Chinese investment in infrastructure, energy and manufacturing, and China’s sustained support for Cuba in the face of an ever-tighter US blockade.

He contrasts this win-win cooperation with the Trump administration’s “Monroe Corollary”, which so far has involved the kidnapping of President Maduro, the militarisation of the hemisphere, the US-led “Shield of the Americas” coalition, and open threats against Mexico and Cuba, as voiced by Trump at the UN General Assembly and denounced there by Mia Mottley, Bruno Rodríguez and Lula.

China, Francisco concludes, offers Latin America “the normalisation of choice” – and the prospect of a region where sovereignty, development and social progress can flourish. Hence his rallying cry: “Down with Monroe and up with Zhou Enlai!”

Ben Chacko: Is China’s foreign policy good enough?

We are pleased to republish this review by Ben Chacko, editor of the Morning Star, of China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World: Changes unseen in a century, edited by Friends of Socialist China co-editors Keith Bennett and Carlos Martinez and published by Praxis Press.

Ben describes the book as “a necessary – and consistently carefully argued – corrective to the scaremongering about China which dominates the Western media and goes unchallenged far too often on the Western left”. He stresses that the book is not just about China, but about how we respond to the decline of US imperialism, and he takes aim at those who spin a “neither Washington nor Beijing” narrative based on the idea of the US-China dynamic as an example of inter-imperialist rivalry.

Highlighting contributions by Andrew Murray, Danny Haiphong and Torkil Lauesen, the review concludes that a socialist country presenting a viable alternative to US supremacy is “arguably the biggest challenge to world imperialism since the Russian Revolution”, and that this is “a book that should sit on every anti-imperialist bookshelf”.

The book is available from Praxis Press in paperback and as an ePub.

China, Brazil, and the building of socialism in the 21st century

During a recent visit to Brazil, Friends of Socialist China co-editor Carlos Martinez was interviewed by Flora Villela of Brasil de Fato in Belo Horizonte, where he was taking part in the debate “China and Socialism in the Global Geopolitical Dispute”, organised by the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST).

In the interview, Carlos makes the case for the socialist character of contemporary China; discusses Western media stereotypes and what democracy actually means in Britain and in China; sets out the transition from a US-led imperialist system towards a multipolar world; and addresses what China can and cannot do in defence of countries under attack by the US, as well as the wars in Iran and Ukraine.

We are pleased to reproduce an English translation of the interview, which first appeared in Portuguese in Brasil de Fato.

China and the construction of socialism in the 21st century: expert discusses conflicts and prospects

Author, researcher and activist Carlos Martinez defends the socialist character of contemporary China

By Flora Villela

We are living through one of the most tense moments in global geopolitics: not since the Second World War has the planet seen a period with so many simultaneous armed conflicts and wars.

At the centre of these challenges are military arbitrariness and economic policies imposed on various countries by the world’s greatest power – the United States; new technologies represent civilisational challenges for every nation; authoritarianism is regaining ground and eroding democracies; and the conflicts threaten to produce economic crises that would generate widespread poverty.

Despite this scenario, China continues to emerge as the world’s new economic power, following, by all indications, a path centred on peace. And the defence of multilateralism as a solution to the crisis is gaining strength, particularly in the so-called Global South. Nonetheless, “there is a whole campaign of defamation, a propaganda war in an attempt to win public support for increasingly hostile policies towards China, which at the moment take the form of a Cold War with tariffs, semiconductor restrictions, sanctions and unilateral, coercive economic measures”, argues Carlos Martinez.

A co-editor of the Friends of Socialist China website, an author, researcher and activist, Martinez has written the books The East Is Still Red: Chinese Socialism in the 21st Century and The End of the Beginning: Lessons from the Soviet Collapse. His work focuses on dispelling what he considers an “enormous misunderstanding in relation to China”.

“Even on the left, there is an assumption that China is just another capitalist country and that the conflict between the US and China is an example of imperialist rivalry or the so-called ‘Thucydides Trap’. So in my work I try to explain the true nature of China and of Chinese socialism, and at the same time to counter anti-China propaganda”, he explains.

During a visit to Belo Horizonte to take part in the debate “China and Socialism in the Global Geopolitical Dispute”, the author spoke to Brasil de Fato MG. In the interview, we discussed the conflicts under way around the world, the role of Brazil and of this year’s elections, the dispute over global hegemony, and the path of multilateralism and peace.

“It will be a long and painful process towards our post-imperialist world, but I believe that in the end humanity will get there”, says Martinez.

John Ross: What’s behind the positive Xi–Trump summit?

In a recent interview on India & Global Left, British economist John Ross, senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, discusses the significance of Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States. In his view, the summit was positive mainly for what did not happen: Washington launched no new attack on China. The relative stability between the two countries reflects not goodwill but China’s strength – after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs ran into China’s counter-measures on rare earths, the US switched to going after other targets.

That approach, John argues, has largely failed. The attempted “reverse Kissinger” to detach Russia from China has gone nowhere; Cuba has not buckled under the oil blockade; and in the war on Iran, “this is a fifteen-round contest and we’re probably up to about round five – but so far Iran’s won all five of the rounds.”

He characterises the New Cold War as, to an extent, the reverse of the first one. The Soviet Union was a military equal of the US but never an economic one, so Washington shifted the contest onto economic terrain. Today China is outgrowing the US and leading in EVs, batteries, drones, biotech and parts of AI, so the US seeks to shift the contest onto military terrain – hence the encouragement of German and Japanese rearmament, the military pressure on Venezuela, Cuba and Iran, and the attempts to stir up trouble in the South China Sea.

The interview also covers the security picture in East Asia, Europe’s self-defeating subordination to Washington, and why the Global South will keep trading with China regardless.

John will be among the speakers at the Socialist China Conference in London on Saturday 3 October. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

China isn’t imperialist – here’s the proof

Is China simply another imperialist power, differing from the US only in degree? It’s a claim heard increasingly often on the left, from the Communist Party of Greece to Jacobin. This video sets out why that claim doesn’t survive scrutiny.

Working from Lenin’s classical definition of imperialism, Carlos Martinez examines whether China exhibits the super-exploitation of foreign labour that has always been imperialism’s economic core – and finds the opposite: China has been on the receiving end of value extraction by Western capital, not a source of it. The video looks at the real record of the Belt and Road Initiative against the “debt trap” accusation, at China’s strikingly peaceful military record since 1949, and at whether the underlying class dynamics of Chinese society could ever produce an imperialist foreign policy. And it closes by asking what China’s promotion of a multipolar world order means for the long-term prospects of overcoming imperialism altogether.

The video is based on Carlos’s chapter in the newly-released book China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World, co-edited by Keith Bennett and Carlos Martinez, available now from Praxis Press.

Han Zheng at the UN: China will join hands with all other countries to make the world a better place

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) general debate was held in New York, September 22–28.

Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China addressed the assembly on September 26.

Having referred to the four major global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, starting with the Global Development Initiative, proposed five years ago at the 76th session, Han said:

“At a time when countries of the world find their future so closely linked, more and more of them want to join hands to shoulder the historic mission of addressing difficulties and challenges, and advancing the well-being of all humanity.”

With this in mind, he proposed four steps:

We should safeguard the postwar international order and foster lasting peace based on common security. The world wants peace, not war. We should turn into action the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and reject the Cold War mindset and bloc confrontation. We should settle differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation and oppose unilateral military actions that violate the UN Charter and circumvent Security Council authorisation. Major countries shoulder special responsibilities for safeguarding international peace and security, and they should take the lead in complying with rules, upholding rule of law and doing what’s right.

He added: “China calls for advancing the governance of the West Bank and the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza in accordance with the principle of the Palestinians governing Palestine… China urges the relevant country to immediately stop using threat of force against Cuba and immediately and completely lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba.”

We should address the global development predicament and promote prosperity for all through openness and cooperation. It is important to give priority to key areas including poverty reduction, food security and energy transition, step up resource input, and increase support for countries in the Global South. Developed countries should honour their commitment to development financing and climate financing. Facing a new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, especially the dynamic development of artificial intelligence, we should take a people-centred approach and develop AI for the positive and for good, narrow the digital divide, and promote development that is universally beneficial.
We should advance exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations and rebuild unity and mutual trust through communication and dialogue. We should reject ideological prejudice and respect the development paths and social systems decided on independently by the people of all countries. We should deepen the sharing of governance practices and jointly explore ways to tackle challenges facing our times.
We should stay committed to multilateralism and take steps to safeguard fairness and justice. Multilateralism is the choice made by humanity after going through scourges, and fairness and justice are the joint pursuit of the people of all countries. China holds that all countries, big or small, are equal members of the international community, and that world affairs should be handled by all through consultation, and rule of law, fairness and justice in international affairs should be jointly upheld. The UN should effectively address global challenges including climate change and public health security, improve governance rules in such areas as cyberspace, outer space and polar regions, and truly increase the representation and voice of the Global South.

Noting that it was on October 25, 1971, that the General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, by which the UNGA decided to restore all the rights of the People’s Republic of China in the UN and recognise the representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN, Han continued:

“Over the past 55 years, China has been a stabilising force in times of volatility. China is firmly committed to pursuing peaceful development and has the best track record on peace and security among major countries. It is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. It also took the initiative that led to the issuance of the first joint statement of the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states on preventing nuclear war. China has been a main engine driving common development. China has created two miracles at home, namely, fast economic growth and long-term social stability, and it has, over many years, contributed around 30 percent to global growth. China has joined hands with more than three fourths of the countries in the world in pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, it has mobilised over 23 billion US dollars and carried out more than 2,000 projects under the Global Development Initiative, and it has granted zero-tariff status to all the African countries and least developed countries having diplomatic relations with it to empower the Global South in pursuing modernisation. China has been a progressive force in an era of change. China has always spoken up for the Global South, stood up for the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and continued to work toward a more just and equitable global governance system. In October, China will host the Global Governance Forum in the Xiong’an New Area. You are welcome to attend the forum and join the discussion about the way forward in global governance.”

He concluded: “China will join hands with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity and make the world a better place for all of us.”

Xi meets Trump – two visions collide

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the United States of America from September 23 to 25 at the invitation of President Donald J. Trump. It was his first state visit to the country since September 2015, during the Barack Obama administration, and follows President Trump’s state visit to China in May this year.

On the eve of the visit, the Morning Star published an editorial, arguing that this visit “could scarcely come at a more critical moment”, with:

Two already-disastrous wars threatening to spin out of control, in Ukraine and in the Gulf
Alarm mounting at the dangers posed by artificial intelligence
Growing levels of debt threatening to deepen problems in the global capitalist economy
The menace of climate change developing apace

All of these crises, the paper argues, “are rooted in the workings of imperialism today, in the dynamics for its ceaseless drive for capital accumulation on a global scale, its search for the greatest possible profit through international competition and coercion.”

Furthermore: “In Trump this failing system has an appropriate, if highly dangerous, lead representative. His actions, animated both by a bullying ‘America First’ aggression and a drive for personal and financial self-aggrandisement, have made every aspect of the threats facing the world worse.

“Yet for all his bluster and military adventures, Trump approaches his summit with Xi as the weaker party in some respects.”

Among the reasons for this are that: “In contrast to Trump, Beijing continues to uphold international law and the authority of the United Nations — thin defences against the depredations of imperialism but a base to build on rather than an edifice to be torn down…

“Xi also leads a cohesive society developing apace along almost every indicator of human well-being. Trump’s US by contrast is choking on its own divisions, including rampant racism, the removal of all restraints on private and corporate greed and the negation of the rights notionally provided for under the constitution.”

From this, the paper concludes: “Because of this it is, alas, unlikely that the meeting will lead to any great breakthroughs on major issues… Ultimately, the meeting between Xi and Trump is a meeting of a plausible future for the international order and a dystopian present. Xi and the Communist Party of China he leads bear much of the hopes of the world in the present crisis.”

Review: China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World

We are very pleased to publish the detailed review below by Dr Francisco Dominguez of the recently published ‘China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World: Changes unseen in a century’, edited by Keith Bennett and Carlos Martinez. Francisco is one of the foremost anti-imperialist scholars and activists in Britain. Originally a political refugee from Pinochet’s Chile, he was the head of the Research Group on Latin America at Middlesex University and is the National Secretary of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and an executive committee member of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.

Francisco goes through the book chapter by chapter and concludes that it is “a book that is a must read”.

It was launched online on 20 September and is available from socialistbooks.com. The discount code CHINA35 gives 35 percent off all titles from the publishers Praxis Press until the end of the year.

Three features define the contours that this book seeks to scrutinise in its examination of China’s foreign policy. The first is the proposition that “the world is presently witnessing changes unseen in a century”, whose pace and scale have intensified dramatically. The second concerns the transformation of China’s foreign policy, hitherto moulded by the principle of “hide our capacities and bide our time” and the practice of “being good at maintaining a low profile”, but now “replaced by a more assertive and proactive strategy” aimed at promoting the interests of the Global South, advancing peace and common security, and pursuing a more just world order. The third is an exploration of the historical roots and theoretical foundations of China’s foreign policy. This is quite an undertaking for a group of nine intellectual cadres, each addressing specific dimensions of China’s foreign policy, which has itself become a crucial factor in the ongoing “changes unseen in a century”.

The images on the book’s cover provide an intriguing foretaste of its content. The first depicts the 1955 Bandung Conference, at which the then Third World—represented by 29 participating countries, and still largely confined to aspirational declarations—expressed its desire for a “more just world system”, free from colonial oppression and founded upon respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. The conference also featured Zhou Enlai’s proposal, on behalf of the recently founded People’s Republic of China, of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

China at the UN: peace, development, and fairness

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is holding its 81st annual general debate in New York, September 22–28.

Referring to this, the Chinese newspaper Global Times published an editorial commentary on 20 September, which starkly contrasted the two very different world views that will contend at this global gathering:

“What should the world expect to hear? Gaza’s children weeping, small island states crying for help, the Global South demanding development and fairness.”

Referring to the heavy restrictions placed on the Iranian delegation attending the meeting and the outright denial of visas to delegates from Palestine, it notes:

“Iran is right: Attendance is a legal right, not a favour. By extension, peace is a right, development is a right, and so is not being left behind in the AI era. This is the fair word China will speak. If delegates can enter the UN hall only at the host’s discretion, confined by travel limits and a compressed delegation [as in the case of Iran], then international law and the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the UN are already hollowed out… Harder still: Between the two states at war, Israel is admitted while Palestinian representatives are shut out for taking its war with Israel to international courts. Yet in Gaza’s ruins, families still search for remains, and the blood of women and children remains wet.”

China, it continues, demands an immediate cease-fire, humanitarian access, an end to annexation and a two-state solution. “No cease-fire, no development. No justice, no lasting ceasefire.”

Turning to the issue of climate change, it argues that developed nations must fulfill their climate finance promises. “China is planting trees, installing solar power panels and promoting electric vehicles at scale, sharing technology with its Southern partners because, in the face of the climate crisis, we are all in the same boat.”

Likewise, “China advocates ‘AI for good and for all’, promoting it as a shared resource through open-source initiatives and capacity building, so that African doctors, Southeast Asian teachers and Latin American farmers can all benefit. China seeks no AI hegemony; it simply hopes no child misses out on the future because of where they were born.”

China, it concludes, is ready to stand with all countries that cherish peace and pursue development.

Launching “China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World”

On 20 September, Friends of Socialist China and the International Manifesto Group, together with Praxis Press, Manifesto Press and the Critical Theory Workshop, held an online launch for the newly-released China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World: Changes Unseen in a Century. Edited by Keith Bennett and Carlos Martinez, the book brings together nine essays on the history, theory and practice of China’s foreign relations. Chaired by Carlos, the launch heard from contributors Andrew Murray, Danny Haiphong, Mick Dunford, Jenny Clegg, Torkil Lauesen, Ken Hammond and Keith.

The full video of the event is embedded below, and each contribution is also available as a separate video, linked in the text that follows.

A case study in Iran

Carlos opened the launch by explaining why the book was put together. The US-Israeli war on Iran, he argued, is not only an attack on a country Washington and Tel Aviv happen to dislike, but part of a desperate campaign to arrest the whole process of multipolarity. It has failed: Iran’s sovereignty is intact and its strategic relationship with both China and Russia has deepened.

China’s conduct in the war, Carlos suggested, provides a case study for the book’s key arguments. Beijing condemned the aggression from the outset, continued buying the bulk of Iran’s oil in defiance of US sanctions, vetoed Security Council resolutions designed to legitimise the war, and worked persistently with regional countries – most notably Pakistan – towards a ceasefire and negotiated solution. That combination of material solidarity and an unwavering insistence on peace and the UN Charter is what the book sets out to explain: a foreign policy that is “neither the menacing expansionism imagined by the China hawks, nor the timid inadequacy lamented by parts of the Western left”.

Not a Cold War re-run

Andrew Murray, political correspondent of the Morning Star, argued that China’s rise cannot be understood without its corollary, the decay of the United States. After all, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the financial crash of 2008, had little to do with China. Only now, with US decline and China’s growing weight combined, has the contradiction between imperialism and a Global South in which China plays a leading part clearly become the main contradiction in world politics.

This is not a simple re-run of the Cold War. The Soviet Union faced a far more powerful array of forces, and the mass national liberation and labour movements of that era do not exist in the same form today. Washington has moved from hoping for the incremental restoration of capitalism in China towards military and strategic encirclement, of which AUKUS is but one symptom.

On the charge that China is imperialist, Andrew commended Carlos’s polemic with Greg Godels and offered the historian Victor Kiernan’s definition of imperialism as “coercion exerted abroad, by one means or another, to extort profits above what simple commercial exchange can procure”. That coercive element, he said, is “something which is entirely absent from China’s conduct of international affairs and business”.

Can China save the world?

In the following review of China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World, Dirk Nimmegeers describes the collection as an “intriguing, enjoyable read, aimed at a diverse readership”. The review gives an overview of each of the ten chapters – from the historical and theoretical framing provided by the editors, through contributions by Ken Hammond, Andrew Murray, Jenny Clegg, Danny Haiphong, Cheng Enfu, Torkil Lauesen and Michael Dunford, to Carlos Martinez’s closing chapter on the Four Global Initiatives.

This review first appeared, in Dutch, on Chinasquare.be, and has been machine translated.

Note: there will be an online book launch for the book – hosted by Friends of Socialist China together with the International Manifesto Group, Praxis Press, Manifesto Press and the Critical Theory Workshop – on Sunday 20 September at 4pm Britain (5pm Western Europe, 11am US Eastern), at which seven of the book’s contributors will speak.

At present, ‘the world is undergoing changes the likes of which have not been seen for a century’. This is a well-known statement by the Chinese leader Xi Jinping. According to Keith Bennett and Carlos Martinez, it is becoming clearer every day that Xi is right. They point, to name but a few signs, to the course of the war against Iran, or the rise of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Furthermore, the editors of Friends of Socialist China note that China has adapted its foreign policy to this reality, shifting from a low profile approach to a more assertive and proactive strategy. When they asked seven other eminent specialists for their analysis of China’s foreign policy, the editors therefore decided to give the collection a subtitle that echoes Xi’s vision. China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World: Changes unseen in a century was published by Praxis Press at the end of August.

The book contains analyses of what China represents in geopolitical terms today. The authors are well-established and experienced academics and journalists. They provide answers to questions on this subject, which is of the utmost importance for the future of the world – questions that preoccupy many readers, particularly those on the progressive and left-wing spectrum. What is the historical background to Chinese foreign policy, and how will it evolve? On what principles and theories is it based? How does practice relate to propaganda? Is China a new imperialist power? Is its international policy ‘good enough’ for a country that calls itself socialist? And what does China’s rise mean for the Global South, for the prospects of peace and for the long-term struggle to establish a more just world order?

Trump and Xi: two views on international relations

With a second summit this year between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump expected to take place in Washington DC before the end of September, the US newspaper People’s World recently carried an article by veteran activist David Cavendish setting out the two leaders’ divergent views on international relations.

He notes that we have recently “seen how the leadership of the United States government, bogged down in a war that it cannot win, is spewing threats and insults against countries, both ‘friend’ and ‘foe’.”

He notes a number of statements by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, for example on X: “Today, in that same spirit, we are launching an economic onslaught against Iran’s financial connections around the globe. Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime.”

“At the same time”, he adds, “the president announced on his social media site that he will continue to use the military option, with attacks on targets in southern Iran. ‘If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!’

“The president’s language, to say the least, is stark and speaks in a tone rarely heard in international affairs. One can make all types of analyses as to what motivates Trump, but one thing is clear: He is an extreme example of US imperialistic policies followed since the Spanish-American War.” (1898)

Noting China’s refusal to acquiesce in Trump’s campaign, he writes, “that was not just because of some minor technicality, but because the basis of Chinese foreign economic policy is, in most respects, the complete opposite of that of the United States.”

In this regard he draws attention to an editorial in Global Times, which states: “If the US cannot even rally its own allies, it certainly cannot expect to boss China around. China has consistently opposed unilateral bullying and long-arm jurisdiction—not because China is Iran’s largest trading partner and maintains long-standing friendly relations with Iran, but because once this US logic is accepted, international trade would no longer be normal exchanges between nations. Instead, it would devolve into an absurd situation where the US unilaterally sets the rules and the flow of all goods must be approved by the US.”

Noting how President Xi Jinping had recently stated, at the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, that all countries need to build “an equal and orderly multipolar world,” one that “should ensure equal rights, equal opportunities and equal rules for all countries, regardless of their size, strength and wealth,” he concludes:

“That is the stark choice facing the people of our planet. On the one hand, we have the neo-barbarism of the Trump administration. On the other, a new set of international relations based on equality, fairness, and peace. The choice is clear.”

BRICS Summit reaches consensus and affirms support for Palestine and Cuba

The 18th Summit of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, meeting in the Indian capital, New Delhi, over September 12-13 adopted a joint declaration at the conclusion of its first session held in the afternoon of September 12.

The detailed 140-point declaration addresses a huge range of issues. Considering the sharp differences presently existing among some BRICS member countries, most notably Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the unanimous adoption by all the full members of BRICS may be said to represent not least a considerable achievement on the part of Indian diplomacy, with, according to numerous media reports, its diplomats working intensively to secure consensus and agreement among all parties in the days leading up to the summit.

The Xinhua News Agency reports that the declaration, which is entitled, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflects a commitment to inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism, calling for international and regional peace and security, and underscoring sustainable and inclusive global economic growth as well as strengthening cultural and people-to-people cooperation.

Acknowledging the historical lineage of this key agency of Global South cooperation, the declaration notes: “We recall the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia that proclaimed general principles, including equality, independence, non-intervention, and mutual benefit. We stress that the Bandung Spirit serves as a reference in the pursuit of a fairer, more inclusive, and representative multilateral system.”

Considering not least the positions and actions in the recent period of India and the United Arab Emirates, one positive and welcome development is the relatively principled stand taken by the declaration on the Palestinian and related issues. It states:

“We take note of the adoption of UNSC Resolution 2803. We call for the implementation of the relevant UNGA and UNSC Resolutions and urge all parties to ensure the maintenance of ceasefire and full and unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip. In this context, we express deep concern on the continued violence in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement of October 2025. We call for halting any policies aimed at forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza Strip and express concern regarding arrangements that may prejudice the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and legitimise or prolong occupation.

“We reaffirm that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means and depends on the fulfilment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the rights to self-determination and return. We affirm the need for adequate representation of Palestine in all relevant international organisations, including multilateral financial institutions, and access to their resources. We reaffirm our support for the State of Palestine’s full membership in the UN in the context of the unwavering commitment to the two-state solution, in accordance with international law, including relevant UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative, that includes the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within the internationally recognised 1967 borders, which included the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in order to achieve the vision of two States living side by side, in peace and security.

“We express our firm opposition to the forced displacement, temporary or permanent, under any pretext, of any of the Palestinian population from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as any geographic or demographic changes to the territory of the Gaza Strip. We reiterate that international law and international judicial bodies demand the end of the illegal occupation and the immediate cessation of all practices that undermine legal norms and obstruct a just and lasting peace.

“We reiterate our grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza. We call for adherence to international law, in particular to international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and condemn all their violations, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects, including healthcare facilities and other civilian infrastructure, as well as the unlawful obstruction of humanitarian access. We also condemn attempts to politicise or militarise humanitarian assistance. We reassert our steadfast support for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and stress the need to fully respect the mandate, bestowed on it by the UNGA, for the provision of basic services to Palestine refugees in its five fields of operations. We call on all relevant parties to respect their obligations under international law and act with utmost restraint and to avoid escalatory actions and provocative declarations. We note, in this regard, the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the legal proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel, which, inter alia, reaffirmed Israel’s legal obligation to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

“We reject any unilateral measures that seek to alter the legal and historical status of occupied Jerusalem. We urge full respect for the sanctity of all religious sites and holy places in the city and for the rights of all to access and to observe their religious rites without hinderance.

“We welcome the ceasefire in Lebanon and call on all parties to strictly adhere to its terms and to fully implement UNSC Resolution 1701. We condemn the continued violations of the ceasefire and of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. We call on Israel to respect the terms agreed with the Lebanese government and to withdraw its occupying forces from all of the Lebanese territories, in which they remain.

“We highlight the vital role played by United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and agree it is imperative to ensure the safety, security, and freedom of movement of all UN personnel and equipment, as well as to respect the integrity of UN premises. We condemn all attacks against UNIFIL installations and personnel and emphasise that such attacks are a violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006). We also extend our deepest condolences for the loss of four Indonesian as well as other peacekeepers serving under UNIFIL and express solidarity with all Troop Contributing Countries affected. We express our condemnation of the incidents that led to these fatalities and reiterate that the safety and security of UN peacekeepers are non-negotiable. We underscore the importance of respecting the role and mandate of UNIFIL in supporting the Government of Lebanon and in creating space for a political solution. In this regard, we call for those responsible for these attacks to be held accountable and further call on all parties to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UNIFIL personnel and assets, as well as the inviolability of UN premises.”

The declaration also declares its support for Cuba, stating: “Underlining the character of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, built on mutual respect, peaceful settlement of disputes and non-intervention, we express deep concern on the situation relating to Cuba due to the tightening of unilateral blockade measures against the country, their adverse effects on the Cuban economy, energy supplies and the worrying humanitarian impact on the Cuban people. In this regard, we reiterate the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial measures against Cuba in accordance with UNGA Resolution A/RES/80/4.”

It concludes by extending full support to China for its BRICS Chairship in 2027 and the holding of the XIX BRICS Summit in China.

Xi Jinping sets out plans for BRICS to stand on the right side of history

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 18th Summit of the BRICS cooperation mechanism held in the Indian capital New Delhi from September 12 to 13 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President Xi attended the first session of the summit on the afternoon of September 12. Chaired by Prime Minister Modi, it was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Khaled bin Mohamed, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, and others.

Xi Jinping delivered a statement entitled “Jointly Shouldering the Responsibility of the Times and Striving to Be a Pioneering Force”.

He pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation. Over the past two decades, BRICS has been growing with strong vigour and vitality and has become the most influential cooperation platform in today’s world for emerging markets and developing countries. These are 20 years of self-reliance and self-strengthening. BRICS countries have actively explored development paths suited to respective national conditions and set a fine example of emerging markets and developing countries seeking strength through unity. These are 20 years of standing together through wind and rain. Hand in hand BRICS countries have tackled the global financial crisis, the COVID pandemic, climate change and other challenges, and resolutely defended the common interests of the Global South, providing the world with stability and positive energy.

President Xi stressed that, today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world. The Global South is gaining strength, and the trend toward a multipolar world is unstoppable. At the same time, unilateralism and power politics are surging against the tide, lashing at multilateralism and the international order. The deficits in peace, development, security and governance keep growing. BRICS must stand firmly on the right side of history, strive to be a pioneer of our times, steer the international order in a direction that is more just and equitable, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

In this regard he put forward four points:

BRICS should be a pioneer in advancing innovation-driven development. BRICS countries must keep the initiative firmly in their hands, strengthen cooperation in the field of AI, encourage open source, openness, collaboration and sharing, and break new ground and scale new heights in practical cooperation.
BRICS should be a pioneer in upholding peace and stability. We should act on the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, oppose the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, and oppose violation of other countries’ sovereignty or interference in other countries’ internal affairs. We should participate constructively in the settlement of hotspot issues and make BRICS’ unique contribution to addressing both the symptoms and root causes.
BRICS should be a pioneer in facilitating mutual learning between civilisations. We should promote the common values of humanity, and advocate exchange, mutual learning and harmonious coexistence between civilisations. We should hold the BRICS People-to-People Exchange Forum to share experience on national governance and build up positive energy for stable state-to-state relations.
BRICS should be a pioneer in reforming and improving global governance. BRICS should align with the trend toward greater democracy in international relations, work toward a more just and equitable global governance system, and uphold the authority of the United Nations.

The Chinese president added that during its arduous journey of 20 years, solidarity and cooperation have always been the source of strength for the cause of BRICS. We should continue treating each other with candour and sincerity and seeking common ground while shelving differences. China will take over the BRICS chairship next year and host the 19th BRICS Summit. The Chinese side will seize the opportunity to build consensus and work with all parties to plan for the future.

On the morning of September 13, President Xi Jinping attended Session II of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, and delivered an important statement entitled “Cementing the Foundation for BRICS Cooperation and Bolstering the Strength of the Global South”.

President Xi pointed out that this meeting is held at a time when changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world. The Global South, with its collective rise, has become a key driver of world multipolarity. At the same time, the international landscape is volatile and fraught with risks and challenges. To bring stability to the world and make it a better place, BRICS countries must seize the historical initiative, rally the Global South, be an active, stabilising and positive force in international affairs, and advance the well-being of all humanity.

He stressed that Global South countries should jointly defend the rule of law in international affairs, safeguard the basic norms of international relations including sovereign equality, noninterference in internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, and ensure that international law and international rules are applied to all, free from double standards. The international financial architecture must be reformed and improved to increase the representation and voice of developing countries. Global South countries should stay committed to a people-centred development philosophy and strive to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

President Xi pointed out that to accomplish great things and achieve major progress, the foundation of greater BRICS cooperation must be cemented. BRICS should leverage close ties with fellow emerging markets and Global South countries, uphold open cooperation for mutual benefit, safeguard stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, foster a larger integrated market, build incubators for innovation, upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging industries, and deploy future industries. He put forward five initiatives for deepening BRICS cooperation:

The open source and inclusive AI initiative. China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open source community, support cooperation in developing and applying large language models, hold specialised AI seminars and training courses, and build an open ecosystem for AI.
The trade and investment facilitation initiative. China proposes to establish a BRICS special economic zone partnership, under which countries can set up an intelligent portal, coordinate policies, and build a new frontier for open development.
The digital industry cooperation initiative. China will push for establishing a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, and conduct digital skills training, technological exchange and industrial alignment, so as to jointly enable the development of the digital economy.
The intelligent manufacturing cooperation initiative. China stands ready to assist fellow BRICS countries in building smart factories and developing standards and norms and jointly promote manufacturing transformation and upgrading.
The science and technology talent development initiative. China proposes to set up a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance for joint development of engineers and mutual recognition of competency standards.

The session was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the UAE’s Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Khaled bin Mohamed, the Brazilian and Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministers, leaders or representatives of BRICS partner countries and guest countries, and Secretary General António Guterres of the United Nations and other heads of international organisations, and was chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India and China need to contribute more positive energy to world peace, stability, development and prosperity

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in the Indian capital New Delhi on September 12. The two leaders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views and reached an important consensus that China and India should be partners.

Xi said China has always viewed and developed its relations with India from a strategic height and with a long-term perspective. He noted that he has met with Modi twice over the past two years, which had guided bilateral relations from a new start to a further improvement. China and India have different national conditions, Xi said, adding that they can draw on each other’s strengths, support one another, help each other succeed and pursue common development. Amid a turbulent international landscape, China and India, as the world’s two most populous countries and important members of the Global South, shoulder important responsibilities. They need to keep in mind the future of humanity and the well-being of peoples, work together to promote high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and contribute more positive energy to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Xi further called on China and India to draw on the political wisdom of mutual respect and understanding to overcome disruptions, urging both sides to pursue parallel progress in bilateral ties and border issues with the two tracks reinforcing each other, so as to maintain peace and tranquility in their border areas. He further said that the two countries should support each other as rotating chair of the BRICS, strengthen coordination within such multilateral frameworks as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G-20, stand together in addressing global challenges, and unequivocally uphold international fairness and justice.

Prime Minister Modi said that he has held several productive meetings with Xi, guiding India-China relations toward a positive direction, which serves the common interests of the more than 2.8 billion people of both countries. The two major civilisations of India and China have, over thousands of years, learned from each other through exchanges and moved forward hand in hand. India adheres to an independent foreign policy, and the development of its relations with China is not subject to the influence of any third party, he noted.

India thanked China for its support for its hosting of the BRICS summit and will fully support China in assuming the BRICS chairmanship next year. Modi added that India is ready to closely coordinate and cooperate with China to jointly strengthen cooperation among Global South countries, promote a more multipolar world and global economic growth, and serve as a force for stability and progress in a turbulent world.

China supports Mexico’s defence of its independence, sovereignty and security

Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Roberto Velasco Álvarez visited China from September 6-7 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The two foreign ministers held talks in Beijing on September 7.

Wang Yi said that China has always viewed and advanced China-Mexico relations from the strategic perspective of unity and cooperation among countries in the Global South. China appreciates Mexico’s long-term and firm adherence to the one-China principle and supports Mexico in maintaining its independence and autonomy, safeguarding its sovereignty and security, and opposing external interference.

Noting that China and Mexico share similar positions on many international and regional issues, Wang said China is ready to strengthen strategic coordination with Mexico on the international and multilateral stages to safeguard the respective legitimate interests of the two countries.

Velasco said the Mexican side commends the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence proposed by China and firmly adheres to the one-China principle and upholds the authority of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which restored China’s rightful seat in the world body.

The Mexican foreign minister further said that Mexico supports China in holding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which will be held in Shenzhen in November, and its playing a leading role, expressing willingness to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to jointly safeguard the international multilateral system.

The importance of Wang Yi’s strong statement in support of Mexico’s independence, security and sovereignty and in opposition to external interference has to be seen in the context of the steadily mounting bullying, aggression and threats emanating from the Trump administration in the US as part of its current hemispheric hegemonic rampage.

Three days later, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated her stance on national sovereignty and rejected US political pandering at Mexico’s expense ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3.

“As we have always said, Mexico is nobody’s piñata. Mexico must be respected. We do not interfere in their elections. They also should not use Mexico in their elections,” Sheinbaum said during her regular daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City. (Typically associated with Mexico, a piñata is generally described as a container, often made of papier-mâché, pottery, or cloth, that is decorated, filled with candy, and then broken as part of a celebration.)

The president was responding to recent comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who claimed that drug trafficking groups control “vast territories” of Mexico and that they “pose an enormous threat right on our border”.

On the day of Velasco’s meeting in Beijing, Trump shared on social media a map appearing to depict Canada, Mexico, Greenland, Iceland, Cuba and some other Caribbean islands as part of an expanded United States, swathed in the stars and stripes. The day before Trump had referred to the US state of New Mexico as New America.

Earlier, in mid-August, Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, the son of immediate past president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a key ally of President Claudia Sheinbaum, revealed that the US government has revoked his visa.

SCO adopts Bishkek Declaration: “More countries can now be expected to explore this alternative path”

The website of the President of Russia carried the text of the speech delivered by President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2026 recently held in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

Vladimir Putin noted that: “The SCO has covered a really long path during these 25 years. I would like to remind you that the organisation, which was established in 2001 at the initiative of six states – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – has grown to become stronger, turning into an independent and influential centre of the emerging multipolar world. It has, de facto, become the largest regional association not only on our shared Eurasian continent but in the world as a whole. Nearly half of the global population lives in its countries, which account for over one-third of global GDP.”

Referring to the draft protocol on amending the fundamental SCO Charter, he explained that “all current observer states and dialogue partners will receive the newly-introduced SCO partner status. This decision will help streamline and expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the SCO and countries and international organisations which are interested in this cooperation.”

President Putin went on to note that: “Reciprocal trade and investment exchanges continue to expand each year. For example, Russia’s trade with the SCO member states exceeded US$400 billion last year. Our states use national currencies in mutual settlements more actively. Their share exceeds 98 percent in Russia’s operations with the organisation’s members.

“The SCO Business Council and the SCO Interbank Consortium make a major contribution to implementing joint mutually beneficial economic projects. The Development Bank, being established within the framework of our organisation, could take part in this work in the future. In my opinion, this bank should receive maximum independence from the financial systems of the states which weaponise economic tools in order to obtain unilateral advantages in international affairs.”

“Yesterday”, he continued, “we attended the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, which are currently taking place in the Kyrgyz Republic and in which representatives of many SCO member states, including Russia, are participating. Our country stands ready to host the next games in 2028 in Kazan, Russia. We will be pleased to welcome teams from all interested states.”

Concluding he noted: “I would like to remind you that today is September 1 – the day on which the Second World War began. We must do everything in our power to prevent a return to the global practice of instigating armed conflicts. I am convinced that our efforts are directed precisely towards this objective.”

The official website of the Russian head of state also reported that: “In conclusion of the meeting, the leaders signed and adopted the final documents, including the Bishkek Declaration, decisions of the SCO Heads of State Council on joint initiatives on combatting drug addiction and on countering the spread of synthetic drugs and their precursors for the period until 2030; initiatives for the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity and a joint action plan for their implementation for 2026–2031; as well as scientific and technological cooperation programmes for creating the SCO Green Technology Corridor for 2026–2030.

“The SCO leaders also adopted decisions on declaring the city of Lahore (Pakistan) as the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026–2027, and on signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the African Union Commission.

“The following documents were adopted without signing: the Declaration of the SCO Heads of State Council on Strengthening Multilateral Partnership for Nuclear and Physical Nuclear Security, statements of the SCO Heads of State Council on expanding interaction in energy conservation and energy efficiency, energy systems, on supporting and strengthening the institution of the family, and on assistance to states affected by disasters.”

The Morning Star newspaper carried a feature article by Kenny Coyle analysing the significance of the Bishkek Declaration.

According to Kenny: “If you wondered where world leaders were this past week, you certainly wouldn’t have found them in London, Brussels or Washington, not even Kiev. In fact, many of the most significant leaders were in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, from August 31 to September 1 at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

“Despite disagreements on many critical issues, a joint statement, the ‘Bishkek Declaration’, was signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as well as other leaders of SCO member nations.”

Also underlining the growing economic significance and focus of the SCO, he writes: “This central concern, over the past quarter century, has been to break the US stranglehold over international finance and trade. The Bishkek Declaration strongly promotes the transformation of existing structures. ‘Member states support reform of the international financial architecture aimed at increasing the representation and strengthening the role of developing countries in the governing bodies of international financial institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund’.”

The declaration also states that: “Member states, reaffirming their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, call for the conflict to be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means. In this regard, they welcome all efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region.”

“On Afghanistan, which is a neighbour to several SCO members, it was stated that: ‘Member states reiterate that only an inclusive government with broad representation from all ethnic and political groups can bring lasting peace,’ and support ‘establishing Afghanistan as an independent, neutral and peaceful state free from terrorism, war and drugs.’ [Afghanistan also has observer status in the SCO. However, since the return to power of the Taliban its participation has largely been dormant.]

“On nuclear weapons and disarmament, the declaration reaffirmed support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by SCO ‘signatory members’. This is an important caveat, since neither India nor Pakistan are NPT signatories.”

[A more striking caveat is to be found in the part of the declaration dealing with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It reads: “The Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for the People’s Republic of China’s joint construction of the Belt and Road initiative, affirming the efforts of all parties to jointly implement the initiative, including promoting the alignment of the Belt and Road with the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union.” In other words, BRI is endorsed by all SCO members with the sole exception of India.]

At just over 4,200 words, the declaration also deals with a huge range of other issues.

Kenny concludes: “While far from perfect, the Bishkek Declaration is an example of what used to be understood in the West as ‘diplomacy’, the focus on multilateral discussions and agreements, however limited, stands in stark contrast to what is currently on offer from Washington. More countries can now be expected to explore this alternative path.”