In today’s world, hegemonism and the cold war mentality persist, imbalances of power and geopolitical conflicts are intertwined, and the pandemic and economic recession haunt countries around the world. Peace and development face many risks and challenges. In this context, grasping the connotation and denotation of development and security has become a major issue for all countries around the world.

Holistic approach to national security

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress proposed that we should “advance the Peaceful China Initiative to a higher level. With this new security architecture, we will be able to better safeguard China’s new pattern of development.” This represents an important decision to observe and reflect on China’s development and security issues from a strategic perspective of the intersection of history and reality and close interactions between China and the world.

Based on improving mechanisms and institutions, and clarifying the relationship between development and security, the new National Security Law came into force in May 2015. The new law sets out the content of a holistic approach to national security, and makes specific provisions regarding the task of safeguarding national security, the responsibilities of relevant departments, the national security system, and national security guarantees, as well as the obligations and rights of citizens and organizations. This law clearly reflects the Party’s lofty concept of seeking development, reform, and stability, building a peaceful China in domestic affairs; seeking peace, cooperation and win-win results, and building a harmonious world internationally. Meanwhile, it attaches importance to homeland security as well as public security, traditional and non-traditional security, and our own and common security.

New development philosophy

With the adoption of the new national security law and the completion of the new framework for national security work, China’s new development philosophy and pattern are taking shape at the same time. The new development philosophy of “innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing” fully reflects the essential requirements of higher quality, higher efficiency, increased fairness, and more sustainability in the new stage of China’s socialist modernization drive and has adapted to the changing global economic and trade patterns and the new opportunities and challenges brought by globalization.

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress also reiterated that “from this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.”

GDI&GSI

The Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), put forward by President Xi, have evoked resounding support internationally, especially among developing countries. These two new initiatives are significant and far-reaching, and serve as clear examples that China closely links its own development and security with the common development and security of the world. They are also concrete manifestations of the Chinese nation’s new contributions to the mutual learning among human civilizations.

Yu Hongjun is former vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.