Editor's Note: The Research Center on Building a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity and the China National Association for International Studies co-hosted a forum in Beijing earlier this month. Speakers at the forum discussed China's approach to foreign relations, which they said is different from traditional Western frameworks, and called for further development of international relations theories to better explain China's pursuit of win-win cooperation and shared development. Below are excerpts from some of the speeches delivered at the forum.

Traditional theories fail to define China-LAC ties

The vision of building a community with a shared future between China and Latin American and the Caribbean countries is forging a new model of cooperation that is equal, independent, endogenous and sustainable.

Traditional paradigms such as dependency theory and the core-periphery model have failed to address the development challenges faced by LAC countries. Many industries in the region remain locked in the low-value segments of global value chains. Some countries are trapped in debt crises and the resource curse. Such situations have encouraged external interventions, disrupting the modernization of LAC countries.

The United States refuses to loosen its grip on the region. Developments in Venezuela and Cuba this year have laid bare the severe consequences of this grip. LAC countries have long been striving to explore independent development paths and pursue economic self-reliance.

To achieve this, regional countries need greater strategic autonomy and diversified international relations. However, relations with Western countries have restricted their autonomy. Western countries tend to attach strings to their cooperation with LAC countries, which has weakened the sovereignty of regional states.

Meanwhile, existing theories of international relations cannot explain the new model of cooperation between China and LAC countries. Concepts such as realism, hegemonism and geopolitics are incapable of interpreting the mutually beneficial and win-win nature of this cooperation.

They overlook the LAC countries' right to development and their autonomy. Hence, international relations theories need further development to accurately interpret the relationship between China and LAC states.

Going forward, China and LAC countries should further strengthen economic cooperation and consolidate political mutual trust.

Greater stability is needed in the relevant mechanisms to safeguard cooperation across all fields and reduce transaction costs.

It's also important to enhance people-to-people exchanges, as understanding between people is the most sincere, fundamental and enduring support for building a China-LAC community with a shared future.

China-Africa cooperation looks beyond zero-sum competition

Traditional Western approaches to international relations generally regard Africa as a frontier of geopolitical competition. However, the partnership between China and Djibouti shows that development cooperation itself can reshape the security architecture, while connectivity can redefine the logic of regional order.

Located at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti is a key maritime hub connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. As China aligns the Belt and Road Initiative with Djibouti's Vision 2035, bilateral cooperation has become a typical example of China-Africa collaboration.

Since they established diplomatic ties in 1979, China and Djibouti have treated each other with equality and mutual respect.

The bilateral relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024. Major cooperation projects, such as the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, Doraleh Multipurpose Port and Djibouti International Free Trade Zone have steadily advanced.

China has sent medical teams to Djibouti, built hospitals, schools and water-supply facilities to improve the lives of the local people. It has also assisted Djibouti in cultivating local talent for its port and railway sectors through the Luban Workshop, an international project that promotes vocational education.

Sichuan Normal University set up a Confucius Institute in Djibouti, where there is a growing interest in learning the Chinese language and a growing demand for vocational education among local youth.

In recent years, China-Djibouti cooperation has expanded into green development and the digital economy, covering areas such as meteorological early warning systems, disaster prevention and mitigation capacity building, and the digitization of Djibouti's international free trade zone.

This indicates that cooperation between China and African countries is evolving from traditional cooperation that focused on infrastructure to cooperation that is more eco-friendly, digital and intelligent.

The experience of China-Djibouti cooperation shows that development cooperation has emerged as an important factor influencing the international order, because it transcends the theoretical framework for international relations based on zero-sum competition. Countries of the Global South can choose paths to modernization according to their own national conditions.

In handling international relations, China upholds consultation, connectivity and shared development, rather than following the logic of power. Relations between China and African countries have entered a new stage of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era.

Djibouti is significant not only in geopolitical terms, but more importantly, as a vivid embodiment of the joint growth of China and African countries.

It is through such continuous and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and other countries that the community with a shared future for humanity is taking shape.

Connectivity driving China-ASEAN shared prosperity

Cross-border transportation connectivity is a "bridge" for strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This year's May Day holidays saw a large number of passengers traveling on the China-Laos Railway. Since it opened in 2021, the railway has made it easier for the Chinese and Lao people to study, tour and do business in each other's country. It also stands as a successful example of how China and its neighbors are joining hands to achieve modernization through extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

High-speed railways serve as a "golden business card" for China's manufacturing sector, and have helped enhance the global recognition of China's "soft power" and culture. A typical example is the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway built by Chinese companies, which has already carried over 15 million passenger trips. The railway is a vivid embodiment of the win-win cooperation between China and Indonesia.

China and ASEAN countries are also building a "cultural community" through joint efforts such as applying for the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage recognition.

One example is the Wangchuan, or Wangkang, ceremony celebrated in both China and Malaysia. In 2020, the two countries jointly secured its inclusion in the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. Such initiatives help China and ASEAN countries preserve shared folk memories and strengthen mutual understanding between their peoples.

The recent conflict in the Middle East has prompted ASEAN countries to reassess the strategic significance of the four global initiatives proposed by China. The conflict has also made ASEAN nations realize the importance of upholding international rules, the postwar international order, free trade and multilateralism.

The energy crisis triggered by the conflict has strengthened ASEAN countries' willingness to cooperate with China on energy. Both sides can take this opportunity to explore a new framework for energy cooperation and strengthen the foundation of a community with a shared future between China and its neighboring countries.

China and ASEAN countries should jointly advocate the new security concept featuring common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. They should unambiguously oppose strengthening military alliances and playing zero-sum games in the region. Effective cooperation is also needed to address non-traditional security threats such as terrorism and cross-border telecommunications fraud.

Deepening regional bonds through water cooperation

Originating in China, where it is called the Lancang River, the Mekong River flows through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. For the six countries through which it flows, the river is as inseparable as blood vessels in human bodies.

To better coordinate the governance of the river, the six countries set up the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism in 2016, identifying water resources as one of the five priority areas of cooperation.

As climate change intensifies, the basin faces growing risks of floods and droughts. Water security is closely linked to the overall security of the six countries along the river, and heavily influences regional trade and economy.

Over the past decade, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism has promoted high-quality development of relations between the six countries, and achieved marked progress in cooperation over the governance of water resources.

The countries established a sound system to manage water resources across the river basin. They jointly formulated two consecutive five-year action plans for the river's water resources, covering the period from 2018 to 2027, and have already held four forums on water resource cooperation.

Waterway transportation has also been upgraded, as reflected in the rapid growth of international trade volume shipped on the river.

At the same time, the six countries have continued to deepen cooperation in talent training. Higher education institutions, including China's Fudan University, Yunnan University and Hohai University have actively participated in training programs aimed at building young people's capacity in water resources management.

In 2015, Fudan University launched the annual Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region's Governance and Development, attracting young contestants from all the six countries.

The event facilitates exchanges and mutual learning among young people on water resources and other key issues, including public health and climate change response. The final of this year's contest will be held in Wuhan in China's Hubei province, in July.

Cooperation on water resources concerns both the immediate and long-term interests of the countries along the river, and requires sustained attention for decades to come. The six countries need to show both perseverance and an inclusive spirit to ensure their water cooperation continues to deepen.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.