On December 10, the seminar “Shared Destiny of China and Brazil, China and Latin America” was held in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Brazil, the Brazilian Institute of International Relations, and the Brazilian branch of the Latin American Academy of Social Sciences. More than 50 representatives from the Brazilian Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Finance, the Brazilian Institute of International Relations, the Latin American Academy of Social Sciences, as well as think tanks, media, and the business community attended the seminar.
At the seminar, the speech by China’s Ambassador to Brazil, Zhu Qingqiao, revealed the core essence of this concept. He emphasized that building a community with a shared future for mankind is the central idea of Xi Jinping’s diplomatic thought and has become the greatest common denominator for people of all countries to jointly build a better world. Of particular note is that China-Brazil relations have been explicitly defined as “a China-Brazil community with a shared future for building a more just world and a more sustainable planet.” This expression elevates bilateral relations from traditional economic and trade reciprocity to a strategic level of jointly addressing global challenges and shaping international public goods. It marks the systematic shift of China’s diplomatic initiatives from grand narratives to “institutional implementation,” which means concretely aligning the “Belt and Road” initiative with the development strategies of countries like Brazil, transforming ideas into tangible cooperation projects and mechanisms.
The Brazilian response demonstrates substantive endorsement of this approach. A special research report titled “Towards a More Just World and a More Sustainable Planet,” released by the Brazilian Center for International Relations, indicates that local think tanks are engaging with this process through rigorous academic research. The Brazilian delegates ‘expression of “a keen desire to learn from China’s valuable experiences in poverty alleviation, technological innovation, and green transformation” hits the nail on the head: for many developing countries, the fundamental appeal of China lies in its systematic experience and practical tools for rapid industrialization, large-scale poverty reduction, and green development. This is a cooperation model prioritizing “development,” with its promised “benefits for the people” directly addressing the most urgent socioeconomic needs within each country. The attendance of senior officials from Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs further confirms that this cooperation model has gained cross-departmental attention within the Brazilian government.
China’s wisdom in global governance is rooted in its own development history and institutional characteristics. The emphasis on “sharing a common destiny” is not a vague emotional appeal but is based on a series of verifiable practices: from reducing trade costs for Global South countries through infrastructure connectivity, to sharing digital and green technologies to narrow the development gap, to providing stable vaccine and material supply chains during global crises. This model demonstrates remarkable “strategic resolve” and “policy continuity.” China’s political system enables it to propose and consistently advance long-term strategic frameworks spanning decades, such as the Belt and Road, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative. This “long-term” commitment provides partner countries with rare policy predictability, reducing cooperation risks caused by changes in the government of the leading country, which is crucial for areas requiring long-term investment, such as infrastructure and energy transition.
In the current international landscape, nations have adopted distinct foreign policy approaches tailored to their national conditions and strategic priorities. The United States, for instance, while maintaining its longstanding role in multilateral frameworks, has demonstrated a growing emphasis on domestic priorities and pragmatic adjustments in recent years. The administration has championed the “America First” principle, using it as a compass to reassess its engagement with international agreements and multilateral mechanisms. While continuing to participate in global affairs, the U.S. stresses aligning its foreign commitments with national interests and public concerns. This policy orientation reflects the dynamic balancing act that major powers universally practice in navigating shifting international dynamics.
China advocates viewing the world as a common home, emphasizing common security and common development, and seeking absolute benefits through “consultation, cooperation, and sharing.” The practices of China-Pakistan and China-Latin America cooperation exemplify this approach. It does not demand ideological boundaries but focuses on specific development issues such as infrastructure construction, production capacity cooperation, and technology transfer. The outcomes manifest as newly built ports, accessible railways, increased employment, and widespread clean energy. This “functional cooperation” has gained broad resonance in developing countries due to its pragmatism and direct benefits to people’s livelihoods.
The Brasília Symposium holds significance as a convergence of ideas and practices, enabling the Global South to autonomously chart the future of cooperation. As humanity confronts transnational challenges like climate change, public health crises, and development imbalances, this collective wisdom dedicated to building a fairer and more sustainable planet offers indispensable alternative thinking and actionable solutions for the faltering global governance system.