NEW DELHI, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," a Sanskrit phrase from ancient Indian scriptures, means "the world is one family." The theme of the Indian G20 Summit -- "One Earth, One Family, One Future" in English -- underscores the expectation that countries will support each other in pursuing growth.
Mutual assistance in pursuing growth as "One Family" is more imperative nowadays. This is especially true given the global economy's fight against supply chain instability, a result of the "high fence, small yard" protectionism led by the United States, an increasingly fragmented world plagued by bloc politics, and an unfair global economic governance system dominated by the West that is long overdue for reform.
Against the backdrop of these headwinds, G20 members gathering in New Delhi over the weekend are widely expected to promote global economic growth. However, certain countries will likely try to dominate the agenda with a focus on geopolitical tensions and ideological confrontations to fuel disagreement, putting unity in jeopardy.
Even when giving due attention to economic growth, G20 members might still face significant challenges arising from a flagrant zero-sum and Cold War mentality.
However, as the Chinese idiom "many hands make light work" suggests, if all members can work together to practice genuine multilateralism, uphold the UN-centered international system, support and strengthen the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and reject attempts to create small circles or exclusive blocs, the G20 is still capable of reaching a consensus essential for promoting global economic growth.
To promote global development with inclusivity, resilience, and benefits for all, China has introduced the Global Development Initiative, providing a new approach to advancing the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Additionally, China has shared development opportunities with the rest of the world through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has initiated over 3,000 projects and attracted nearly 1 trillion U.S. dollars in investment over the past decade.
According to a 2019 World Bank study, if fully realized, the BRI-incentivized trade increase is expected to increase global real incomes by 0.7 percent to 2.9 percent and lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty.
Moreover, China has remained committed to high-level economic reforms and openness, even though some Western countries have taken steps backward to embrace protectionism and de-globalization.
Led by Premier Li Qiang, the Chinese G20 delegation is here to seek unity and agreement instead of confrontation and differences. The country criticizing others for not following its "zero-sum" approach will witness China's constructive role during the summit.
The G20 summit coincides with the World First Aid Day. Given the current global challenges and uncertainties, G20 members must uphold the principles of cooperation and multilateralism, which serves as the " first aid" the world needs. ■
