Post-pandemic world trend: further globalization, better governance
The COVID-19 pandemic is still shocking the world. According to data from Johns
Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, global novel coronavirus cases topped 4.9
million on Wednesday. As of press time, the US has reported over 1.5 million cases with
more than 91,900 deaths.
Confronted with the common threat posed by COVID-19, some observers are thinking
about where the post-epidemic world is headed for. One of the recent debates regards
whether the ongoing crisis will trigger a process of either “de-sinicization” or “deAmericanization?”
Some believe that the epidemic has exposed developed countries’ so-called excessive
dependence on China’s manufacturing industry. Hence, they believe that after the
pandemic, those countries shall take action to reduce dependence upon China in
industrial supply chain. Meanwhile, some others think the crisis unveiled US’
incompetent leadership, which has affected the credibility of US dollar and US bond.
A goal of the market economy is that one is free to coordinate productive resources in
order to maximize profit. Even amid the current revolution in the fields of information
and communication technology, such nature of the market economy hasn’t undergone
substantive changes. The post-pandemic world still needs high-quality globalization.
Any attempt to retreat substantially from the existing globalization process, or to block
the endogenous demands of market economy with non-economic factors, will
ultimately reach a dead end.
The real problem is not about whether to deny globalization, but whether countries
can comprehensively, accurately and profoundly understand globalization. Can they
address the risks and challenges in the process of current and future globalization?
It is necessary to boost global governance in order to cope with the pandemic effectively. The novel coronavirus poses a common threat to human society as a whole.
It demands that all countries, including China and the US, make use of their
comparative advantages and cooperate effectively and pragmatically.
On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the 73rd World Health
Assembly. He clearly pointed out the direction of future efforts for fighting COVID-19 – all countries should join hands to strengthen global governance in the area of public
health.
At the meeting, Xi proposed several initiatives, including providing $2 billion over the
next two years to help with COVID-19 response in affected countries, setting up a
global humanitarian response depot and hub in China to ensure the operation of antiepidemic supply chains, establishing a cooperation mechanism to help Africa ramp up
its disease preparedness and control capacity, making any COVID-19 vaccine China
develops global public good to ensure vaccine accessibility and affordability in
developing countries. Xi called for cooperation with other G20 members to implement
a Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the poorest countries. His speech portrays what
the world should be like after the pandemic.
COVID-19 reveals that Cold War mentality should be abandoned in the 21st century.
It should become the consensus of humanity that all countries should be free to bring
their comparative advantages into full play. Major powers must equally shoulder
international responsibilities, and properly handle the risks and challenges in the
process of globalization. They must continuously promote the benign revolution of
global governance. All parties should work together to build a community of shared
future for mankind.
Only in this way will we defeat the novel coronavirus pandemic and embrace a brighter
future.
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