Opinion
New roles for emerging powers
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-31 15:12
Editor's note: Globalization and power shifts at the world stage have gathered steam in the wake of the international financial crisis. One of the prominent features is the rise of emerging countries such as China, Brazil, India and Russia.
Andrew F. Cooper, a renowned Canadian expert on global governance, recently agreed to an exclusive interview with China Business Weekly journalist Fu Jing to discuss the challenging global economic and political landscape and China's role in the unfolding drama.
Cooper is associate director of the Center for International Governance Innovation, an academic organization based in Canada that explores effective systems to govern a robustly changing world.
He co-edited the book Emerging Powers in Global Governance, which is a collection of views from international experts on economics, politics and global governance. The English and Chinese versions already have been published.
Cooper and his fellow researchers have been closely tracking the development of the world's economy and have shown growing interest in the rising role of China.
Q: China's development in the past decades has attracted much attention worldwide. At this historical juncture, especially amid the global efforts to shake off the economic recession, how do you assess China's global role?
A: China is not just big in size, territory, population and economic output. China is a rising power, which features in its growing soft power. This is my basic judgment.
To be frank, skepticism existed in past years about China's global role. However, we can see now how high expectations were from the international community.
The financial crisis has had a tough impact on China, an economy heavily dependent on exports in its coastal economic powerhouses. Thanks to its swift response and stimulus package, China's economy has been put on the right track again.
Meanwhile, China's domestic economic measures have helped create opportunities for other countries. In this way, the stimulus package has been designed and implemented in a balanced way.
China is against trade protectionism and actively participating in redesigning international financial institutions. And the efforts are gradually delivering results. We can say China, as a growing power, is playing its role well.
Q: What should China do to continue the momentum at the global stage?
A: My suggestion is that China should work more aggressively to forge closer partnerships with international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
A strengthened partnership and contribution from China can, in turn, boost its role and performance globally.
Of course, China's national interests can be well protected. However, the balanced approaches are needed as you are working at international levels.
At the same time, China's partnership with the United States is very important. The bilateral partnership is key to the success of China's role on the global stage.
Q: You mentioned that the US is still a superpower despite the fact that Western countries have been losing their economic edge in the financial crisis. Why do you hold that view at a time when there is so much criticism of capitalism and free markets?
A: We have to admit that globalization has accelerated, and an important phenomenon in these years is the rise of Asian countries and some other transitional economies.
The Western countries are losing power, and we have to admit the US has been severely affected by the financial crisis.
However, the US is still a robust society. Its high-tech industry is still leading its economy and the development of multinationals shows no signs of ebbing.
