The 4th European Forum on the Chinese Path (France Venue) Held in Paris, France
On October 9, 2017, the fourth session of the China Path European Forum (France Venue) was held in Paris, France. The forum at the France venue was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the French Communist Party (PCF), and the Gabriel Péri Foundation. It was co-organized by the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, the Center for the Study of Social Currents (France), the journal La Pensée (France), and the journal Progressistes (France). The event received support from L’Humanité (France), the Theoretical 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 "China-Europe Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative" [1]. Over thirty scholars from CASS, 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, Anhui University, Henan Normal 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. These discussions 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
Researcher Deng Chundong, Director and Party Committee Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, delivered an address on behalf of the organizers. Deng Chundong pointed out that the issue of the "Belt and Road" has received a widespread response from the United Nations and 193 countries in the international community. The "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is neither the opening of overseas markets by colonialists, nor a replica of the Marshall Plan, nor neoliberal globalization; rather, it is a new type of globalization strategy. The principles of the "Belt and Road" are "extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits" [3]. It adheres to equality and mutual benefit, is not a zero-sum game, does not export ideology, and does not involve forming interest groups; instead, it is for the well-being of the people of the world. Currently, the world is facing a "peace deficit," a "development deficit," and a "global governance deficit." We must build 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 of the forum. She spoke of President Macron's determination for reform in areas such as labor law and the defense budget since taking office, which has also elevated the status of foreign trade in France's economic development; his boldness and innovation have attracted more foreign investors. Samarbakhsh argued that it is precisely against this backdrop that the "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping better meets France's development needs and opens new horizons for the development of France and Europe as a whole. Samarbakhsh stated: "The 'Belt and Road' initiative provides an inspiring new form of cooperation for global development. What the 'Belt and Road' initiative 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 cross-border and cross-regional cooperation in infrastructure construction also allows the human rights and freedoms of ordinary people in the regions along the routes to be better guaranteed."
Ms. Dominique Bari, Editor-in-Chief of the French Journal La Pensée, 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)
Participating experts unanimously agreed that we must advocate for an inclusive globalization and forge a fair, just, and peaceful process of globalization. We must strengthen multi-level exchanges and discussions to help Europeans and the French people understand the "Belt and Road" initiative better, promote China-Europe cooperation, facilitate the building 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)