Convened under the theme "From Sovereignty to Cooperation", the organizers of the ninth Paris Peace Forum, which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, argued that peace is not a luxury. Against a backdrop of mounting strain on multilateral institutions and international law, nations must strengthen cooperation to effectively address global crises while preserving their sovereignty.
Philippe Etienne, president of the forum, put it plainly: "Sovereignty does not mean turning inwards. It also means taking responsibility in cooperating."
In a video address, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that cooperation remains essential for nations to safeguard their own sovereignty. He called for a networked, multipolar world grounded in international law.
In an era of fragmentation, cooperation is not a choice but a necessity.
It was in this context that Kong Quan, China's former ambassador to France, addressed the forum and offered four keywords to help the world understand China's foreign policy: responsibility, mutual respect, multilateralism and cooperation based on respect for sovereignty.
Responsibility, Kong explained, means that like other governments, China has the primary duty to promote its own economic and social development. At the same time, China's development also benefits the world. This is a most objective way to understand the relationship between China's development and its implications for the world.
Indeed, for decades, China's economic growth and remarkable achievements have served as a vital engine driving the global economy. Today, it stands as a major trading partner for over 160 countries and regions worldwide. By advancing high-standard opening-up, China is eager to share its development opportunities with the rest of the world.
Apart from being a responsible country, China also advocates mutual respect in international relations. It is necessary to shore up mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principle of "harmony in diversity" while firmly safeguarding national interests.
Mutual respect is at the heart of China's diplomatic practice. Acknowledging that countries differ in national conditions and development stages, it treats countries, big or small, on an equal footing and hopes that others will treat China the same way.
Another important hallmark of China's foreign policy is its adherence to multilateralism. The essence of which is opposing bloc confrontation, upholding the UN-centered international system and supporting greater representation and a stronger voice for Global South countries.
As to the fourth keyword, cooperation based on respect for sovereignty, China believes that "sovereignty" and "cooperation" are not contradictory to each other. China respects the sovereignty of all countries and values their legitimate security concerns.
The changing world order brings new risks and challenges, and countries should be adept at distinguishing between "real risks" and politicized "security anxieties".
These four tenets are not abstract slogans. As Kong said, China is a trustworthy, strategically stable and reliable partner that honors its word and consistently provides opportunities for development and international cooperation. It is willing to work with all parties to promote the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative and to build a more just and equitable global governance system.
This philosophy of cooperation finds concrete expression in the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the years, the BRI has become a model of international engagement built on connectivity, mutual benefit and shared development — precisely the kind of cooperation the Paris Peace Forum was convened to promote.
In a news conference on Wednesday, the National Development and Reform Commission revealed that China has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations.
The China-Europe freight train service, a flagship project and signature brand of the BRI, operated 18,661 trains in the first 10 months of 2026, with loaded container ratios at 100 percent for 50 consecutive months as of October.
To usher in a more peaceful world, the practical path forward lies not in confrontation but in the patient, unglamorous work of dialogue, mutual respect and common prosperity. That is the message China brought to Paris, a key message the world would benefit from by embracing.
