By Zhang Maorong, researcher with China Institute of Contemporary International Relations; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting

On January 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Health Organization (WHO) respectively. On the same day, President Xi delivered a keynote address entitled, “Work Together to Establish a Community of Shared Destiny for Mankind” at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), which won prolonged applause.

His speech delivered at the Palace of Nations stands as a historic moment for the world and highlights for Xi’s first overseas trip in 2017.

Xi profoundly expounded his vision on the concept of building a community of a shared destiny for mankind from perspectives of history and philosophy. His speech is full of quotations and sparkling discourses citing from a number of sources. The leader of the world’s second largest economy championed a world of lasting peace, common security for all and common prosperity, as well as an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world. He said this could be achieved through dialogue & consultation, co-building & sharing, cooperation & win-win, mutual exchange & mutual understanding, as well as the green and low-carbon development pattern.

Xi’s speech offered Beijing’s solutions to the question of “how the world would develop,” which is deemed a strong voice in an obstreperous moment of history. Beijing’s proposal echoes the pulse of the world, embodying the awareness to work together for benefits of the world, setting a lighthouse for promoting the cause of world peace and development.

Xi's state visit to Switzerland has achieved fruitful results, serving a wonderful start for China's diplomacy this year.