Security is the prerequisite for development, whereas development safeguards security. The balance and synergy between development and security are critical to the future of the world. What kind of principles and mechanism should the international community adopt to promote the inclusive development and maintain shared security? As we find ourselves in a changing world under rough pandemic, issues such as supply chain security and food security are becoming increasingly challenging. How to cope with these challenges to promote the world’s sustainable development?
On April 22nd, the guests focused on the topics and offered their own opinions and suggestions at the session “Economic Development and Security” of BFA Annual Conference 2022. They believed that all countries should follow the trend of the times featuring peace, development, win-win cooperation, move towards the right direction of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and join hands to meet challenges and cooperate for a new future.
Security is the prerequisite of development. What does the “security” cover? “Traditional security and non-traditional security issues” are the unanimous answers of the participants. Traditional security issues include political security, homeland security, and military security, while non-traditional security issues refer to economic security, cultural security, social security, technology security, cyber security and other new security issues.
Everything is double-edged. “To take the cyber security as an example, the application of modern information technology, including AI, can enhance the security of the industrial chain and supply chain, boost economic recovery and reduce the impact of disasters or safety incidents.” said Liu Lihua, deputy director of the Economic Committee of CPPCC and former deputy minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Liu Lihua pointed that with the development of intelligence, the network has greatly improved the efficiency of human production and life. At the same time, human become more dependent on the network. To take online payment as an example, once the service is suspended or stopped, there would be a great impact on the production and people’s life.
So, how should we deal with security challenges and promote sustainable development? The guests all agreed on the idea that cooperation serves as the only way.
“The trend of globalization will not change,” said Li Ruogu, Chairman of China International Economic Relations Association. He deems that it is necessary to stay steadfast on globalization, accelerate to upgrade RCEP, and further open up the market, so as to lay a good foundation for the development of globalization in the future.
Gloria Macapagal ARROYO, member of the Board of Directors of the Boao Forum for Asia and former President of the Philippines is in agreement with the Global Security Initiative. She believes that the rise of Asia and the development of China will enable more countries to cooperate on the basis of Global Security Initiative.
She regards that in order to walk through the mist for the light, the most powerful drive is to be in synergy and the most effective way is to work together. In terms of dealing with global governance challenges and other non-traditional security challenges, Arroyo deems that all countries must support each other, so she shows welcome to the Global Security Initiative which is a new practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind.