FORUM: Speakers at the Contemporary World Multilateral Dialogue 2013 on Global Trends and China in the Coming Decade on November 7 in Beijing (DING YING)

The world is undergoing tremendous changes, and China will form one of the pillars necessary for global stability during this change, said former Croatian President Stjepan Mesic. He made the comments at the Contemporary World Multilateral Dialogue 2013 on Global Trends and China in the Coming Decade in Beijing on November 7. 

Mesic considers China an exceptionally important country in the international community. He said that China "has a specific internal model of social and economic relations, a model that is both unique and successful."

According to Mesic, China has created a unique system that embraces the strongest elements of a market economy, while at the same time retaining a leading role for the Communist Party of China and its ideology, which they have adapted to the specific conditions present in China. So far, the model has proven successful and has led to China's rapid development. 

The former Croatian president said that he believes the Chinese leadership know how to open up the market while keeping things under control with the necessary measures, so that China's swift economic growth could be guided and ensured and not left up to chance. He also noted that China utilizes long-term plans, which differentiates it from Western countries, whose administrations only plan for their short term in office.

Mesic pointed out that neo-liberal capitalism, as it is practiced by Western countries, produces crises in cycles, and leaves them unable to adequately cope. "The last crisis, which is still felt in my country, is still being dealt with using the wrong methods. Large amounts of capital have imposed upon politics and it comes down to: Let's save the system at all costs, even if it is to the detriment our own citizens," he commented. 

He said that a huge task lies ahead for China in the next decade: to give support to all who want to resist the forceful imposition of one political or economic model, whichever it may be, and also those who would like to stick to and realize their right to their own path of development. 

"By adhering to this path, its own, and giving assistance to developing countries, China is already assuming such a role in the best possible way," Mesic noted. 

Discussing the role of the United Nations, Mesic stressed that the role of the world body has to be reaffirmed. "It is, although an imperfect organization, irreplaceable," he said. "Interest in attaining the millennial goals of the world organization ought to be renewed. Such reform should be pushed forward, and China is one country that could significantly contribute to this process."

"We live in changing times. New opportunities and prospects are opening to countries on the rise, such as China," Mesic said. "What we need is peace, development and balance. We need to ensure the rights for every country and nation to decide for themselves how they will proceed."

The Contemporary World Multilateral Dialogue 2013 was held on November 7-8 in Beijing. The focus was on four topics, namely, Global Economy: Mutually Beneficial Development; International Politics: Intra- and Inter-national Governance; Global Security: Tackling Uncertainties and Conflicts; and China's International Strategies in a New Global Setting. Over 120 governmental officials, experts, scholars and diplomats from over 30 countries and regions participated in the forum, which was sponsored by the China Center for Contemporary World Studies, the China Foundation for Peace and Development and the China Energy Fund Committee.

The event is aimed at building a high-level and open-ended academic platform that endeavors to enable the exchange of ideas between experts and scholars from all over the world in regards to common issues confronting the international community. In advocating dialogue as a vehicle for various parties to express their views and positions, it is committed to enhancing mutual understanding between countries, building a more just and reasonable political and economic order internationally, along with providing intellectual support for the perusal of peace and development for mankind.