Addressing the all-virtual Davos forum yesterday, the Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a keynote speech calling for unity in his first comments on the new Biden era with a warning against ‘arrogant isolation’. Speaking via videoconference, Xi talked about the current global challenges such as the ongoing pandemic and the climate change. He pushed the international community to put their differences aside, giving warning that history has shown countries that choose to go it alone ‘will always fail’.
Speaking at the forum for the first time in 4 years, XI urged for a multilateral approach to international affairs ‘To build small circles or start a new Cold War, to reject, threaten or intimidate others, to wilfully impose decoupling, supply disruption or sanctions, and to create isolation or estrangement will only push the world into division and even confrontation’ Xi said. He added ‘We have been shown time and again that to beggar thy neighbour, to go it alone and to slip into arrogant isolation will always fail. Let us all join hands and let multilateralism light our way toward a community with a shared future for mankind. We cannot tackle common challenges in a divided world and confrontation will lead us to a dead-end’.
He also reiterated Beijing's ambitious climate pledges to slash carbon emissions by 65 per cent by the end of the decade and reach carbon neutrality by 2060 – both massive commitments as China is a sizable emitter of the world's greenhouse gases.
After the Chinese President spoke, Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, said the new US administration will begin its China policy with ‘patience’ and consultations with allies. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Psaki said ‘We’re in a serious competition with China’ adding ‘What we’ve seen over the last few years is that China is growing more authoritarian at home and more assertive abroad. And Beijing is now challenging our security, prosperity, and values in significant ways that require a new U.S. approach’.