by Essam Sharaf

Speaking of China means recognizing not only its global influence and economic strength, but also its unique ability to balance between self-reliance and cooperation.

China's readiness to help others, rooted in its values of harmony and cooperation, distinguishes it on the global stage. This article explores today's global challenges and how China's civilizational approach offers a unique perspective to address them.

Our world stands at a crossroads: either maintain the status quo and risk self-destruction, or choose a new path toward harmony, peace and shared prosperity. No single country or region can face today's global threats alone. We are one humanity, and must act accordingly.

Renowned historian Arnold J. Toynbee, in his 12-volume A Study of History, proposes that civilizations rise when they respond creatively to existential challenges, and decline when they fail to do so.

To face existential threats, we need a clear vision for the future and a shared commitment to building a more harmonious and cooperative world. This idea underpins the call of the era: building a community with a shared future for mankind.

This vision raises three questions. First, what does a community with a shared future for mankind mean? In my view, it means equal sovereignty for all countries, non-interference in internal affairs, joint and democratic global governance, win-win cooperation to build shared prosperity, and viewing civilizational diversity not as a source of conflict but as a driver of human progress.

Second, what changes are needed in international relations? At least five: developing a new model for major power competition; shifting from engaging in costly military conflicts to addressing non-traditional threats like climate, health and development; promoting mutually beneficial economic cooperation instead of destructive trade and tech rivalry; integrating non-Western governance with global values under fair international law that applies to all; and managing development to ensure ecological balance.

Third, how can a global community with a shared future be built? My understanding is that the goal of this community is inclusive global prosperity. To achieve this, we need mechanisms that foster trust, peace and development on a global scale, eventually leading to shared prosperity.

We don't need to reinvent the wheel to reach these goals. China has already offered the necessary values and mechanisms through four global initiatives that I see as building blocks for a global community with a shared future. I believe the following four China-proposed initiatives apparently seek to achieve four human values: connectivity, trust, peace, and development.

The Belt and Road Initiative promotes global connectivity through infrastructure projects and people-to-people exchanges.

While the Global Civilization Initiative promotes trust and mutual respect among people of diverse cultures and civilizations, the Global Security Initiative focuses on resolving conflicts through dialogue and consultation to achieve peaceful solutions and avoid a return to Cold War dynamics, and the Global Development Initiative provides a clear roadmap for development through unique concepts and priorities.

These initiatives can be seen as a coherent package paving the way to building a community with a shared future for mankind. When supported by advocates of peace and development, they can guide us toward a world where all enjoy a prosperous future as part of a new global order shaped by dialogue, governed by rules, and based on true multilateralism.

It is worth noting that the values behind these initiatives, including connectivity, trust, peace and development, are deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

As an ambassador for Hehe culture, I emphasize this connection.

In the word "Hehe," the first "He" refers to harmony, peace and balance; the second to unity, closeness and cooperation. This inclusive philosophy reflects traditional Chinese values such as respecting balance, embracing openness and living in harmony, not uniformity.

This cultural ideal is central to the Chinese people. Harmony between nature and society, and between the individual and the community, is key to our cohesion and creativity.

I believe Chinese cultural values -- connectivity, trust, peace and development -- align closely with those needed to build a community with a shared future for mankind. I'm also convinced that Chinese culture can play a vital role in shaping a global order based on dialogue, rules and true multilateralism, where all nations can prosper and share a common future.

Editor's note: Essam Sharaf is former Prime Minister of Egypt and cultural ambassador for Hehe culture.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.