Community of common destiny key to building Asian future

Leaders of Asian countries need to adopt a "community of common destiny" mindset when dealing with global and regional challenges in order to build a new future of sustainable peace and prosperity.[Special coverage]

The ongoing annual conference organized by the non-governmental Bo'ao Forum for Asia aims to promote the important awareness of the community of common destiny among officials and businessmen worldwide. The forum gathers opinion leaders to brainstorm on a number of agendas ranging from economic drivers to regional integration.

With weak recovery in major developed countries except the United States, economic growth is forecast to slow down this year in many Asian countries as exports to the developed world are a key driver of them.

Meanwhile, long-existing thorny disputes between Asian countries remain unsolved, while others continue to be plagued by civil turmoil or spreading terrorism. Economic uncertainty is likely to befall Asia due to the change of monetary policies of major developed countries.

Containing half of the world's population, Asia creates more than half of global economic growth, and is the most active region. Its economic volume accounts for one third of global economy. The continent is forecast to dominate global economy in 20 to 30 years.

But Asia is at a crossroad. To achieve sustained and efficient growth in the region, reform and cooperation needs to be strengthened to upgrade and integrate economies.

To handle challenges in security and other fields, Asian countries should join hands and always keep common interests and responsibilities in mind. The community of common destiny mindset calls for common ground and putting aside differences, sharing weal and woe, opening up and inclusiveness as well as cooperation and common development.

China has been adhering to peaceful development and striving to form a community of common destiny with others for a better future, as reflected in its initiatives to revive the ancient Silk Road and actions to set up a fund and an Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, a multilateral institution.

Most Asian countries are willing to push regional integration, facilitate trade and investment and maintain the region's peace and stability. This is important to realize what is called the 21st century of Asia.

2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference in Indonesia whose core spirit is solidarity, friendship and cooperation. Many Asian countries, including China, were victims of Japan's invasion during WWII.

The two anniversaries are a good opportunity for developing Asia to reflect how to avoid the repetition of unforgettable wartime history and strive for common prosperity.