The 4th China's Path European Forum 2017 Held in France on October 9
On October 9, 2017, the fourth session of the China Road European Forum (France Venue) convened in Paris, France. The forum at the France venue was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the French Communist Party, and the Gabriel Péri Foundation (France). It was co-organized by the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, the Research Center for Social Trends (France), La Pensée (France), and Silhouettes d’Avenir (France), with support from L’Humanité (France), the Theory Department of the People’s Daily (China), and the editorial department of Marxist Studies (China). More than 100 experts and scholars from think tanks and research institutions in China and France attended this session.
The theme of this forum was "Sino-European Cooperation Under the 'Belt and Road' Initiative." [1] More than thirty scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, [2] China University of Political Science and Law, Nanjing Normal University, Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhengzhou University, and Anhui University, as well as the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, United Nations experts, and the American University of Paris, engaged in in-depth, extensive, and candid exchanges and discussions. Their focus centered on the prospects of the "Belt and Road," the reshuffling of labor rights, international security, and new forms of international cooperation.
Deng Chundong, Director and Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies at CASS, Delivers an Important Speech
Research Fellow Deng Chundong, Director and Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered remarks on behalf of the hosts. Deng pointed out that the "Belt and Road" issue has received a broad response from the United Nations and 193 countries in the international community. He noted that the "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is neither colonialist expansion into overseas markets, nor a remake of the Marshall Plan, nor neoliberal globalization; rather, it represents a new type of globalization strategy. The principles of the "Belt and Road" involve "extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits," [3] adhering to equality and mutual benefit. It is not a zero-sum game, does not involve the export of ideology, and does not seek to create interest groups, but is instead intended for the well-being of the people of the world. Currently, the world is facing problems of a "peace deficit," "development deficit," and "global governance deficit." We must construct a community with a shared future for humanity, abandon the unipolar thinking and Cold War mentality of the past, reject hegemonism, [4] and construct a new global governance order.
Lydia Samarbakhsh, Head of International Relations for the French Communist Party, introduced the situation in France while presiding over the opening ceremony. She discussed President Macron’s determination regarding reforms in labor law and the defense budget after taking office, noting that foreign trade's position in France's economic development has been elevated, and his boldness and innovation have attracted more foreign investors. Samarbakhsh argued that against this backdrop, the "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is increasingly aligned with France's developmental needs, opening new horizons for the development of France and even the whole of Europe. She stated: "The 'Belt and Road' initiative provides an inspiring new form of cooperation for global development. What it involves is not just a single region, but cooperation between countries across different continents. The foundation upon which the 'Belt and Road' initiative can be implemented is the promotion of economic cooperation and infrastructure construction. Clearly, such a mutually beneficial model is worth participating in. More importantly, this transnational and trans-regional infrastructure cooperation also allows the human rights and freedoms of ordinary people along the routes to be better guaranteed."
Ms. Dominique Bari, Editor-in-Chief of La Pensée (France), Delivers a Speech
Francis Wurtz, Honorary Member of the European Parliament and Director of the Institute of European Studies at Paris 8 University, Delivers a Speech
Group Photo of the 2017 China-Europe Forum (France Venue)
The participating experts unanimously agreed that we must advocate for an inclusive globalization and forge a fair, just, and peaceful globalization process. We must strengthen multi-level exchanges and discussions to help Europeans and French people better understand the "Belt and Road" initiative, promote Sino-European cooperation, facilitate the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, and allow the people along the routes to receive more tangible benefits.
(Contributed by Chen Zhigang, Pan Xihua, and Li Kaixuan; Photography by Wang Zhongbao)