Cloud Diplomacy Dispels Dark Cloud of COVID-19 Challenges
While the trajectory of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its economic and political fallout remain unclear, it can be outlined that the pandemic has posed unprecedented political and social challenges, ratcheted up the risk of a global recession, and pressed the pause button on interaction between peoples and countries. However, it has not impeded the progress of human civilizations, nor can it arrest the world’s determined march toward realizing the common dream of peace and prosperity.
Amid this march, China endeavors to adapt to the new normal of COVID-19 response. In developing “cloud diplomacy” in the form of phone calls, correspondence, and video summits and conferences, it has enhanced international cooperation and understanding at a time when the pandemic dramatically affected diplomatic activities in a world filled with rising uncertainty and instability.
This cloud diplomacy has boosted international efforts for a joint response to the unprecedented global public health crisis, and injected confidence into global economic recovery.
Struggles between humanity and disease are part of the history of civilization. Facing a pandemic on a scale not seen over the past century, the world is at a crossroads. Shall we uphold multilateralism, or resort to unilateralism? Shall we remain open, build bridges and embrace cooperation, or hide behind closed doors, erect walls and descend to confrontation? Shall we enhance solidarity and pursue win-win results, or drive a wedge between countries and play a zero-sum game?
China’s answer, through cloud diplomacy, underlines its belief in multilateralism and solidarity, its support of the UN-centered multilateral system and the international order underpinned by international law, and its firm stand for equity and justice. China opposes racial discrimination and ideological bias, and rejects all forms of unilateralism and power politics.
The world has witnessed already how anxiety and precarity can exacerbate xenophobia, populism and the anti-globalization sentiment. In a crisis
