Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

As the year 2021 comes to an end, the pandemic and unprecedented changes in a century have become the most profound footnotes of the year. In a sense, 2021 has "replicated" the difficulties and pressures the world had undergone in 2020, but it has also shown more complexities. Delta and Omicron, the two novel coronavirus mutant strains, have created new shocks and brought about new tests for the world, the Capitol riots, the "Kabul moment," resurgence of the Cold War mentality and other turmoil have a far-reaching impact, while the global economic recovery has been greatly dragged down by the global supply chain crisis… "What is wrong with the world, and what shall we do?" Facing this question of the age, people's search for an answer has become even more urgent. 

For China, 2021 was a landmark year. As pointed out at the annual Central Economic Work Conference held recently, we solemnly celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, have fulfilled the first centenary goal, and are embarking on a new journey toward the second. We have calmly dealt with the changes over a century and the pandemic of the century, constructed new development patterns and made new strides. New results have been achieved in high-quality development, and a good start has been made for the 14th Five-Year Plan. China has broken new ground in its diplomatic endeavors amid profound global changes and turned crises into opportunities. While it concentrates on managing its own affairs well, China has also provided valuable stability to the world. 

China has been the stabilizer of world economic growth. In the context of the pandemic of the century, "recovery" has become the key word for the world economy. The International Monetary Fund in October projected that the global economy would grow by 5.9 percent in 2021, its strongest post-recession pace since data was available. In the same report, IMF projected that China would see 8 percent growth. As the world's second-largest economy, China has become the "driving force" and "stabilizer" of world economic growth based on its own high-quality development. Commendably, China's development has been made against the backdrop of the US' continuous crackdown and stranglehold on China. We should discard any illusions, calmly deal with external pressures and make our own efforts to seek happiness. The Chinese people have deeply realized this and reached a consensus on the matter. 

China is a stabilizer of safeguarding the international system. Over the past year, despite many domestic crises, the US has stepped up its pace in forming cliques and "small circles" on the international stage in an attempt to draw ideological lines, incite division, and create confrontation between different camps. In sharp contrast, China has always held high the banner of multilateralism, upheld the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom for all mankind, and firmly upheld the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. We have taken an active part in shaping the global governance system on climate, the environment, health and digital development. We have deeply expounded on the building of a community of life for man and nature, and a community of all life on Earth, offering China's solutions and vitality to the reform of the global governance system.

China is the stabilizer of global cooperation and the concept of win-win. In the face of the pandemic of the century, the US and its close followers have aggressively pursued "vaccine racism" and politicized the origins-tracing of the virus, which has become the biggest stumbling block to global cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. In contrast, China has always held onto the idea of fighting the pandemic in a scientific way and sharing a common destiny. It has provided more than 2 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. One out of every two vaccines used across the globe is "Made in China." Similarly, in tackling climate change, compared with the US' frequent withdrawals and entries from and into international pacts and organizations, China has the courage and willingness to make commitments to carbon emissions and is taking solid action to ensure that the commitments are implemented. China's commitment to keeping promises has shown great appeal for "promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind."

"Big countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and with a greater sense of responsibility." This is what Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021. Looking back on 2021, China has further strengthened its national cohesion with its new development achievements, while providing great certainty to this unstable and uncertain world. Looking forward to 2022, facing the triple pressure of "demand contraction, supply shock, and weakening expectations" in the economy, and facing the huge test of a more severe, complex and uncertain external environment, China's development will not be easy, but the Chinese people are more determined, because we are well aware that China is on the right side of history and on the side of human progress.