Senior Colonel Wang Zhenyu Chinese People’s Liberation Army
By George Swarei
In a world grappling with multiple risks and challenges, China’s commitment to global peace and development stands out as a beacon of hope. As the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) celebrated its 97th anniversary, Senior Colonel Wang Zhenyu’s remarks at a reception in Harare, Zimbabwe, underscored China’s unwavering dedication to maintaining world peace and promoting global growth.
The PLA’s achievements over the past 97 years are a testament to China’s remarkable journey from a humble beginning to becoming a major world power. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the PLA has steadily risen and grown stronger, achieving one victory after another. Its commitment to safeguarding China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests has been unwavering.
However, China’s vision goes beyond its borders. The country has emerged as a champion of global peace and development, actively promoting a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. This approach recognizes that different countries have distinct security interests and goals, and that seeking bloc confrontation can only intensify tension and trigger war and conflict.
China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI), proposed by President Xi Jinping, is a case in point. The GSI calls on countries to adapt to the profoundly changing international landscape in the spirit of solidarity and address complex security challenges with a win-win mindset. This vision echoes the trend of history and responds to the international community’s desire for countries to unite and work together to build a world that is free from fear and enjoys universal security.
China’s commitment to peace is not just rhetorical. The country has actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations, dispatching nearly 50,000 peacekeepers to UN missions in over 20 countries and regions. China is the largest troop contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second-largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.
Moreover, China has played a crucial role in international disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts. When danger and disaster strike, Chinese military personnel are always there, delivering love and hope. The Chinese Navy’s escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the coast of Somalia are a testament to China’s commitment to maintaining global peace and security.
China’s friendship with Zimbabwe, as well as the cooperation between the PLA and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, is a shining example of the country’s commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The two countries have enjoyed traditional friendship since the period of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, and their shared past experiences and similar aims and goals have brought them close together.
As the world navigates uncertain times, China’s commitment to global peace and development is a beacon of hope. The country’s vision of a world that is free from fear and enjoys universal security resonates with the international community’s desire for peace and cooperation. As Senior Colonel Wang Zhenyu aptly put it, “No matter how the international landscape evolves, China will always follow the path of peaceful development, strive to put into the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.”
China’s commitment to global peace and development is a testament to the country’s remarkable journey and its vision for a better world. As the world grapples with multiple risks and challenges, China’s dedication to maintaining world peace and promoting global growth is a beacon of hope that shines brightly.
