By Shi Yinhong

While striving to build a harmonious society at home, the Chinese government has put forward the idea of "the world in harmony". The concept is grounded on four primary factors.

First comes the profound and dramatic changes in the world's political landscape.

The value of war as an effective means to advance national interests is declining at an accelerating pace.

Meanwhile, on the international relations agenda, economic and soft-power issues are replacing traditional security issues.

A country's performance in economics, culture, diplomacy and moral principles is becoming increasingly more important than its military performance. At the same time, basic values and major policy conceptions of nations, in particular big powers, share more attributes in common. This may be the working of the world market and modern economics, which play an increasingly important role.

At the same time, various kinds of cross-border non-traditional security threats are growing.

In view of all these trends, the concept of the world in harmony signals the major changes world politics is undergoing.

Second, the idea of the harmonious world is based on China's own experience in its peaceful development.

China's development relies heavily on a peaceful international environment, trade, negotiations and "smiling diplomacy", all of which fall under the category of soft power.

These factors are the outcome of neo-internationalism practiced by China in the context of globalization and the country's increasing involvement in the international system.

This kind of neo-internationalism, incorporating elements of Chinese ideology, is based on multilateral cooperation, international organizations, the international system and non-political transnational dealings, all of which are believed to be working to make international relations harmonious as well as being in the fundamental interests of China.

At the same time, China's national interests are becoming increasingly internationalized. The country's concerns tend to partially converge on the common interests of the international community.

Third, the concept of the harmonious world is a manifestation of the Chinese government's perspectives and concept of what the world order should be.

Chinese's values in this respect have their roots in history and tradition and also in modern experience.

China's modern experience is crystallized in Chinese leaders Mao Zedong's and Deng Xiaoping's conviction in the justice of the world order and their personal experience in international politics.

Both of them, representative of two generations of Chinese leadership, despised the strong bullying the weak and could not bear the big powers' patronizing attitude.

Equality among all countries and self-determination of small and weak nations are important principles they selected from the pool of Western ideas.

All countries are equal, and big powers have no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the weak. Negotiations based on the principle of equality, instead of power politics, are the only legitimate means to settle international disputes.

All these elements constitute the Chinese government's basic outlook on international politics. Although Chinese's attitudes toward international politics have shed the radical tinges of the Mao Zedong era, the principles remain intact.

Fourth, the concept of the world in harmony is grounded on China's strategic needs.

The country will benefit from advocacy and implementation of the idea.

The wielding of peaceful or soft-power means such as trade, diplomacy, culture and the influence of a country's successful development, meets the least resistance and yields satisfactory results. This is because it is non-violent in nature, works in an accumulative way and covers the widest scope.

It should also be borne in mind that military might, will and system can play a crucial role at critical moments. In normal times, their deterrent power, together with the awe they inspire, their influence and occasionally compulsory diplomatic means, is equally important.

Experience over the last three decades shows that the peaceful development strategy is one that benefits China enormously. It is not likely that a wise Chinese government would discard this strategy in the future, unless changes take place in the landscape of world politics.

The author is a professor at the School of International Relations, Renmin University of China.

(China Daily July 5, 2007)