The world is going through complicated and profound changes, and all countries’ futures are more connected than ever before. But the world also has to choose whether to maintain the old international order or to move to a new type of international relations.Chinese propose for a better world that inherits the ancient Chinese value of living in harmony with others is to build a community with a shared future for humanity. It suggests that all countries seek common ground and respect differences in institutions, paths of development, and national situations. Countries need to respect each other, control disputes, and build partnerships to replace confrontation with equal dialogue, in order to find a peaceful path of development leading to peace.The goal of building a community with a shared future is a world with common security. Some security views highlight confrontations, assuming a community against an imaginary enemy based on military alliances. With global challenges growing, such thoughts will spread and may lead the world back to the Cold War, which will harm the development of the world as a zero-sum game.Instead of military alliances promoting confrontation through exclusion, countries should cooperate and spare no efforts in talks that can protect everyone for a security mechanism based on mutual respect and equality. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has become a constructive innovation in the world security of today as it has established a non-alignment security mechanism, no confrontation, and no third-party targeting.Since the 19th century, capital has propelled globalization, but only a few countries have played a leading role in the process, while many other countries have made little economic progress.China has achieved remarkable development over the past four decades without harming other countries’ interests, bringing new opportunities for economic globalization.The global economic system will be improved in a community with a shared future in order to make globalization more open, inclusive, and balanced to benefit more countries and their peoples. At a time when the world has doubts about globalization and countries are becoming more isolationists, China has taken a firm stance in maintaining open-up cooperation and win-win cooperation.Throughout history, through communication and exchanges with others, different cultures have preserved their vigor by developing their cultural characteristics. Instead of creating disputes due to mistrust and suspicion, a proper view of cultural communication makes countries respect and learn from each other. Disrespect, belittling, and exclusive groupings impede the development of all cultures among different cultures.Political culture is an important part of civilization, and countries should attempt to understand and learn to coexist in peace with each other.Living on Earth, our only home, human beings need to embrace green development that is essential for a sustainable, shared future global community. Since 2012, when it reflected on the environmental price of its development path, China has been proactively engaged in global environmental management.It can only make a difference through tangible joint efforts by countries and generations. Countries should not only cooperate in tackling climate change for a shared ecological future but should also enhance their environmental management and set up sustainable development mechanisms to pursue the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Countries that break promises of cooperation with the environment are irresponsible.The 19th CCP National Congress Report contains a special section on building a shared future community for humanity. In this short article, I’d try to answer three questions.First, why did China make such a proposal?It’s because China recognizes the increasing interconnection and interdependence of countries. As such, the best vehicle for a global village is a community of a shared future. It’s also because China acknowledges the scale of the world’s challenges. Today, the world faces an insufficient drive for economic growth, an increasing wealth gap, rising tensions in regional hotspots, and the spread of unconventional security threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, infectious diseases, and climate change. Humanity must join forces to tackle these challenges.Another reason is that China understands that there are common desires in countries. All countries want their people’s wealth, strength, social progress, economic development, and well-being. While achieving these common desires will be hard work, countries will find it easier to do this together. Mr. Xi Jinping, is a Chinese politician serving as general secretary of the Communist Party of China, President of the People’s Republic of China, and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission put it, “we shouldn’t give up our dreams because the reality is too complicated around us; we shouldn’t stop pursuing our ideals because they seem out of our reach.”In order to ensure greater openness and inclusiveness, we should respect the diversity of civilizations and replace alienation with exchanges, confrontations with mutual learning and superiority with coexistence in the management of relationships between civilizations. In order to make the world a cleaner and more beautiful place, we should take good care of the environment, work together to tackle climate change, and protect our planet in the interests of human survival. It is a historical process to build a community with a shared future for humanity. At one stroke it cannot be accomplished, nor can it be plain sailing. It requires efforts in the long term. The road is tortuous, the future is bright, and action is the key.It is also due to China’s belief in its feasibility. Today, the UN lies at the center of world order. While global governance has never been easy, there have been accomplishments in many areas, demonstrating a unity of will. In the effort to build a community of shared future for humanity, there are successful experiences to draw on.What are the shared future requirements for this community?This community would cover all human life spheres. President Xi Jinping urged all nations to work towards a world that is open, inclusive, clean and beautiful, enjoying lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity.Here are a community’s requirements. First, countries should respect each other, discuss issues as equals, resolutely reject the mentality and power politics of the Cold War, and adopt a new approach to developing state-to-state relations with communication, other than confrontation, and partnerships, other than alliances. Second, countries should engage in a dialog to settle disputes, coordinate responses to threats, and oppose terrorism in all its forms. Third, countries should stick together through thick and thin, encourage trade and investment, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, and balanced so that all share their benefits. Fourth, countries should respect civilization diversity. They should replace alienation with the exchange, clashes with mutual learning, and superiority with coexistence in handling relationships among civilizations. Fifth, countries should be environmentally friendly, cooperate in tackling climate change, and protect the planet for the sake of human survival.How is this community of a shared future going to be formed?Common understanding needs to be developed first. In sovereignty, countries, large or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are all equal. Equality, mutual confidence, inclusion, mutual learning, and win-win cooperation are preconditions.Then it is necessary to create conditions. There are already the UN Charter and other fundamental norms governing international relations. Practical measures are what is needed now. The Belt and Road Initiative, for example, is aimed at promoting policy coordination, connectivity facilities, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and bonds between people. It can be viewed as an attempt to build a shared future for this community.Efforts to guard against evil ambitions should be made. Countries should respect the rights of other peoples to choose their own path to development, to maintain international justice; to oppose the imposition of one’s will on others, to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and to harass the weak.Also, different prejudices and misunderstandings need to be dissolved. The shared future community of humanity balances interests as well as responsibilities. Countries should not look at the former while they neglect the latter. The future of this community will determine whether these two can be balanced. For example, Brexit occurred because the UK believed it had assumed disproportionate responsibilities and received insufficient benefits.There are both natural and societal elements in the concept of a “community of a shared future for humanity.” Human beings have to respect, protect, and coexist with nature. This means that countries should join hands at the societal level to oppose and fight terrorism. It will be both glorious and difficult to build a community of shared future for humanity. It will not be possible to achieve a world of universal harmony overnight. It’s going to be done, but not all at once. In short, the proposal to build a shared future community for humanity demonstrates a lofty humanitarian ideal based on shared desires. By gradually removing obstacles, producing results, and building confidence, we must press forward with an indomitable will.