Page 4 - ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

we should uphold sovereign equality and work for equality in rights,
opportunities, and rules for all countries.
Geneva witnessed the adoption of the Final Declaration on the
Problem of Restoring Peace in Indo-China, the first summit meeting for
reconciliation between the two blocs during the Cold War, and dialogue
and negotiations on hotspot issues like the Iranian nuclear issue and
the Syrian issue. What we can learn from both past and present is that
dialogue and consultation are an effective way to bridge differences and
political negotiation is the fundamental solution to end conflict. When
we have sincere desire, goodwill, and political wisdom, no ice is too thick
to break, no conflict too big to settle.
An ancient Chinese philosopher said, “Law is the very foundation
of governance.” Here in Geneva, countries, on the basis of the UN
1
Charter, have concluded many international conventions and legal
documents on political security, trade, development, social issues,
human rights, science and technology, health, labor, intellectual property,
culture, and sports. The essence of the law lies in enforcement. It is thus
incumbent on all countries to uphold the authority of the international
rule of law, to exercise their rights in accordance with law, and to fulfill
their obligations in good faith. The essence of law also lies in fairness
and justice. All countries and international judicial institutions should
ensure equal and uniform application of international law. They cannot
apply double standards or apply international laws in a selective way; they
should ensure that they are “without bias or favor, just as was espoused
in the great way of governance of old.” 2
“The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers.” Openness and
inclusiveness have made Geneva a center of multilateral diplomacy.
We should advance democracy in international relations and reject
dominance by just one or several countries. All countries should be
involved in shaping the future of the world, writing international rules,
and managing global affairs, and should share in the outcomes of
development.
In 1862, in his book A Memory of Solferino, Henry Dunant
pondered the question of whether it was possible to set up humanitarian
organizations and formulate humanitarian conventions. The answer
came one year later with the founding of the International Committee

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