China plays an important role in the international order.

　　The world is experiencing the worst global public health crisis since the end of World War II, and the instability and uncertainty are obviously enhanced. As a responsible big country, China has actively maintained and improved the international multilateral system, and has become an important force in maintaining the post-war international order.

　　The existing international order is hard-won. Before modern times, there were no international organizations, and conflicts and wars often occurred between countries. After World War I, the League of Nations was established and became the first international organization whose main task was to safeguard world peace, but the outbreak of World War II declared the League of Nations a failure. After World War II, the United Nations replaced the League of Nations. Since then, although local wars and sporadic conflicts have always existed, there has never been a world war. The international system with the United Nations at its core has played an important role in maintaining world peace and development.

　　China and other developing countries have become an important force in maintaining the post-war international order. After the reform and opening up, China has further integrated into the current international system. For example, before and after China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, China revised and adjusted its domestic laws, regulations and policies, and then accelerated its "integration" with international rules. In fact, the rapid development of China and China’s integration into the process of economic globalization are synchronized. China today is an important member of the current international system. Whatever the reason, it will pay a huge price to "decouple" from China.

　　At present, the United States has successively "retired from the group" and continuously reduced its commitment to the current international system. The United States is getting farther and farther away from this system, causing great harm to the international system. The withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, which played a leading role in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, was not supported by its traditional allies and most western countries.

　　China is playing an increasingly important role in the international order and has the ability to supplement and improve the current international system. In recent years, China has proposed the "One Belt, One Road" initiative and advocated the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the BRICS New Development Bank. In doing so, China is not trying to start a new stove and establish an international order centered on itself, let alone build "groups and gangs" against other countries like some big countries. China advocates the reform and improvement of the current international order. The international multilateral institutions initiated by China are "supplements" rather than "substitutes" for the existing international multilateral institutions. The international multilateral institutions initiated by China are open and welcome all parties to participate; It is multilateral and relevant countries have the right to participate in decision-making and implementation.

　　COVID-19 epidemic, climate change and other global problems faced by mankind cannot be solved by any one country alone. These challenges highlight the importance and urgency of maintaining multilateralism. Just when the international community needs multilateralism to play its role, some western countries engage in unilateralism in an attempt to override international rules, which undermines international fairness and justice and brings great damage to the current international system.

　　It is a better choice to make the international community more open through international cooperation. Just as China put forward the idea of building a community of human destiny, the whole international community forms a community of interests, and every country is a stakeholder, and should contribute to providing public goods, safeguarding the international system and solving problems together. A multipolar, pluralistic and open international order will be more just, reasonable, effective and sustainable.

　　(The author is Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Global and Contemporary China, Chinese University of Hong Kong)