소개의 변) 세계인들의 이목을 집중시켜 왔던 다보스의 세계경제포럼(WEF)이 팬데믹으로 인하여 지난 1월 중순 비대면 영상회의로 진행되었다. 국내언론에서는 거의 다루지 않았지만 이번 WEF의 하이라이트는 중국 시진핑 주석의 연설이었으며, 주최당사자는 물론이며 유엔과 제3세계 대부분 국가들은 연설의 내용에 열렬한 환영과 연대적 지지를 보냈다. 

아래에 이를 재확인하는 중국 환구시보의 사설과 시주석 연설 전문을 영문 그대로 소개하면서, 내용 중의 일부를 인용한다. “Countries around the world should uphold true multilateralism. We should remove barriers, not erect walls. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration, not decoupling. This is the way to build an open world economy – 전세계 모든 국가들은 진정한 다자주의를 견지해야만 한다. 인류는 다자주의의 흐름을 차단하는 벽을 세워서는 안되며, 이러한 시도를 차단해야 한다. 문을 걸어 잠글 것이 아니라 활짝 개방해야 한다. 단절(decoupling)이 아니라 통합을 추구해야 한다. 이것이 개방적 세계경제를 건설하는 원칙이다“. 개방경제를 추구하는 한국에 있어서도 매우 절실한 주제임에 분명하다.

국제적 자선단체인 옥스팜은 코로나–19 팬데믹의 지난 2년 동안 1억 6000 만 명이 넘는 사람들이 추가적으로 빈곤에 빠졌다는 설문조사의 결과를 발표했습니다. 한편, 같은 기간 동안 세계 10대 부자의 수입은 7,000억 달러에서 1조 5000억 달러로 두 배 이상 증가했으며, 이는 가난한 31억 명 인민들 수입증가액의 6배에 해당합니다. 데이터에 따르면 억만장자들의 총자산은 2020년 3월 8조 6000억 달러에서 2021년 11월 13조8000억 달러로, 불과 2년도 지나지 않아 지난 14년의 기간보다 많은 5조 달러 이상 증가한 것으로 나타났습니다. 극심한 불평등은 주로 미국과 서구 선진국들이 채택한 “부양책의 홍수”에 기인하며, 구제금융을 위한 자금은 다양한 메커니즘을 통해 부자들에게 “합법적으로” 제공되었습니다. 최근 수십 년 동안 글로벌 위기가 있을 때마다 비슷한 상황이 반복되었고, 2008년의 국제금융 위기 당시에도 미국 정부의 보조금을 제공받은 것은 월–스트리트의 거대 기업들이었습니다. 

이들 보조금의 효과는 실업을 포함한 사회문제에 대한 해결책으로 이어지기는커녕, 대신 월–스트리트의 3대 은행인 Morgan Stanley, JPorgan Chase 그리고 골드만–삭스에서 기록적인 297억 달러의 막대한 배당금이 기업 경영진에게 지급하는데 사용되었다는 보고로 귀결되었습니다. 이는 결국 미국 하층민들의 분노를 촉발시켰습니다. 

어떤 의미에서 이것은 근대사회 위기에 대한 자본주의 체제의 체계적 실패를 보여 줍니다. 자본주의 제도는 역사적으로 복지국가 시스템을 도입하고 세금과 같은 수단을 통해 빈부격차의 심화를 어느 정도 억제해 왔습니다. 그러나 일정 조건에서 반복적으로 발생하여 악화되는 근본적 문제를 해결할 수는 없었습니다. 현재로 미국과 많은 서구 선진국들에서 나타난 소득의 격차는 1929 -1932년 대공황이 발생하기 전 수준을 넘어섰습니다. 과학기술의 발달로 사회적 부는 신흥분야 거대기업 소유주의 손에 집중될 가능성이 더욱 높아지고 있으며, 따라서 부자는 더욱 부자가 되고 가난한 사람은 더욱 가난해지는 현상이 가속되고 있습니다. 

이들 국가에서 빈부의 격차는 사회적 위기를 극복하는 데 있어 다양한 계층 사람들의 대응능력이 서로 다르다는 것을 보여 줍니다. 팬데믹 상황에서 부자들은 백신을 더욱 쉽게 얻을 수 있고 전염병으로 인한 경제적 어려움을 방지하기 위해 안전하고 두꺼운 “안전 패드”를 가질 수 있습니다. 이와는 대조적으로, 가난한 사람들은 전염병이라는 폭풍우를 견딜 수 없습니다. 빈곤층의 자산은 전염병 동안 계속 줄어들고 있으며, 이는 위험을 극복할 수 있는 능력을 더욱 제한합니다. 부자와 가난한 사람 사이의 격차는 다른 나라들에게도 반영됩니다. 고소득 국가의 예방 접종률은 이미 저소득 국가의 예방 접종률보다 몇 배 몇십 배 높기 때문에, 개발도상국이 선진국보다 경제를 전염병 이전 수준으로 회복하는 훨씬 오랜 기간이 걸릴 것입니다.

중국은 항상 빈부격차의 문제에 대해 높은 관심을 갖고 지역적 격차, 도시와 농촌의 격차, 계층별 소득 격차를 해소하기 위해 많은 노력을 기울였습니다. 중국공산당 18차 전국대표대회 이후로 당과 국가조직은 전례없는 규모와 강도로 빈곤퇴치 투쟁을 진행했으며 인류역사상 가장 많은 인구를 빈곤으로부터 구제하였습니다. 현재의 중국은 절대빈곤과 지역빈곤의 문제를 근절했습니다. 근래에만 약 1억 명의 가난한 사람들이 절대빈곤에서 벗어났고 빈곤퇴치라는 기적이 일어났습니다. 이제 중국은 빈곤퇴치의 힘든 싸움에서 승리하고 모든 면에서 소강사회를 건설한 후 공동번영을 확고히 추진하는 역사적 단계에 진입 했습니다.물론 중국식 현대화의 주요한 특징인 공동번영은 장기적인 목표이며, 성급히 추진하기보다는 이를 질적으로 높은 수준으로 실현하는 데는 시간이 걸립니다. 우리가 추구하는 것은 공동번영이 평등주의적 관행을 조장하는 것도 아니고 “가난한 사람을 돕기 위해 부자를 강탈하는 것”이나 서구의 복지정치도 아니라는 것을 알아야 합니다. 시진핑(習近平) 국가주석은 2022년 다보스 세계경제포럼(Davos World Economic Forum) 연설에서다음과 같이 언급하였습니다 “중국은 공동번영을 꿈꾸지만 획일적인 평등주의가 아닙니다. 비유하자면 먼저 국부를 더욱 크게 만들어 가면서 이를 나누고자 합니다. 밀물이 몰려와 경제라는 고기배를 들어올리면 모든 사람들이 발전의 과정에서 공정한 몫을 얻게 될 것이며 개발의 이익은 인민 모두에게 보다 실질적이고 공평하게 혜택을 줄 것입니다.” 

질적 지향(high quality)의 발전과 땀흘린 투쟁을 통해 공동번영을 촉진하는 것은 당과 정부의 냉철한 선택이자 중국인민의 합의입니다. 중국인들의 역사적 소망을 실현하는 과정에서 사회주의의 우월성이 충분히 발휘될 것이며 중국식 현대화가 지닌 세계적 의의를 더욱 드러낼 것이라고 믿을만한 충분한 이유가 있습니다. 

출처 : 환구시보 논설 Global Times Editor board/일시 : 2022년 1월 19일자. 

<보충자료 – 다보스 포럼에서 행한 시진핑의 동영상연설 영어원문> 

Special Address to DAVOS Forum by Xi Jinping  

President of the People’s Republic of China at the 2022 World Economic Forum Virtual Session. On 17 January 2022 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends, Greetings to you all! It is my pleasure to attend this virtual session of the World Economic Forum.

In two weeks’ time, China will celebrate the advent of spring in the lunar new year, the Year of the Tiger. In Chinese culture, tiger symbolizes bravery and strength, as the Chinese people often refer to spirited dragon and dynamic tiger, or soaring dragon and leaping tiger. To meet the severe challenges facing humanity, we must “add wings to the tiger” and act with the courage and strength of the tiger to overcome all obstacles on our way forward. We must do everything necessary to clear the shadow of the pandemic and boost economic and social recovery and development, so that the sunshine of hope may light up the future of humanity.

The world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. These changes, not limited to a particular moment, event, country or region, represent the profound and sweeping changes of our times. As changes of the times combine with the once-in-a-century pandemic, the world finds itself in a new period of turbulence and transformation. How to beat the pandemic and how to build the post-COVID world? These are major issues of common concern to people around the world. They are also major, urgent questions we must give answers to.

As a Chinese saying goes, “The momentum of the world either flourishes or declines; the state of the world either progresses or regresses.” The world is always developing through the movement of contradictions; without contradiction, nothing would exist. The history of humanity is a history of achieving growth by meeting various tests and of developing by overcoming various crises. We need to move forward by following the logic of historical progress, and develop by riding the tide of development of our times.

Notwithstanding all vicissitudes, humanity will move on. We need to learn from comparing long history cycles, and see the change in things through the subtle and minute. We need to foster new opportunities amidst crises, open up new horizons on a shifting landscape, and pool great strength to go through difficulties and challenges.

First, we need to embrace cooperation and jointly defeat the pandemic. Confronted by the once-in-a-century pandemic, which will affect the future of humanity, the international community has fought a tenacious battle. Facts have shown once again that amidst the raging torrents of a global crisis, countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather all in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges. Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the international community, major progress has been made in the global fight against the pandemic. That said, the pandemic is proving a protracted one, resurging with more variants and spreading faster than before. It poses a serious threat to people’s safety and health, and exerts a profound impact on the global economy.

Strong confidence and cooperation represent the only right way to defeat the pandemic. Holding each other back or shifting blame would only cause needless delay in response and distract us from the overall objective. Countries need to strengthen international cooperation against COVID-19, carry out active cooperation on research and development of medicines, jointly build multiple lines of defense against the coronavirus, and speed up efforts to build a global community of health for all. Of particular importance is to fully leverage vaccines as a powerful weapon, ensure their equitable distribution, quicken vaccination and close the global immunization gap, so as to truly safeguard people’s lives, health and livelihoods.

China is a country that delivers on its promises. China has already sent over two billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. Still, China will provide another one billion doses to African countries, including 600 million doses as donation, and will also donate 150 million doses to ASEAN countries.

Second, we need to resolve various risks and promote steady recovery of the world economy. The world economy is emerging from the depths, yet it still faces many constraints. The global industrial and supply chains have been disrupted. Commodity prices continue to rise. Energy supply remains tight. These risks compound one another and heighten the uncertainty about economic recovery. The global low inflation environment has notably changed, and the risks of inflation driven by multiple factors are surfacing. If major economies slam on the brakes or take a U-turn in their monetary policies, there would be serious negative spillovers. They would present challenges to global economic and financial stability, and developing countries would bear the brunt of it. In the context of ongoing COVID-19 response, we need to explore new drivers of economic growth, new modes of social life and new pathways for people-to-people exchange, in a bid to facilitate cross-border trade, keep industrial and supply chains secure and smooth, and promote steady and solid progress in global economic recovery.

Economic globalization is the trend of the times. Though countercurrents are sure to exist in a river, none could stop it from flowing to the sea. Driving forces bolster the river’s momentum, and resistance may yet enhance its flow. Despite the countercurrents and dangerous shoals along the way, economic globalization has never and will not veer off course. Countries around the world should uphold true multilateralism. We should remove barriers, not erect walls. We should open up, not close off. We should seek integration, not decoupling. This is the way to build an open world economy. We should guide reforms of the global governance system with the principle of fairness and justice, and uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its center. We should make generally acceptable and effective rules for artificial intelligence and digital economy on the basis of full consultation, and create an open, just and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological innovation. This is the way to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all, and to fully unleash the vitality of the world economy.

A common understanding among us is that to turn the world economy from crisis to recovery, it is imperative to strengthen macro-policy coordination. Major economies should see the world as one community, think in a more systematic way, increase policy transparency and information sharing, and coordinate the objectives, intensity and pace of fiscal and monetary policies, so as to prevent the world economy from plummeting again. Major developed countries should adopt responsible economic policies, manage policy spillovers, and avoid severe impacts on developing countries. International economic and financial institutions should play their constructive role to pool global consensus, enhance policy synergy and prevent systemic risks.

Third, we need to bridge the development divide and revitalize global development. The process of global development is suffering from severe disruption, entailing more outstanding problems like a widening North-South gap, divergent recovery trajectories, development fault-lines and a technological divide. The Human Development Index has declined for the first time in 30 years. The world’s poor population has increased by more than 100 million. Nearly 800 million people live in hunger. Difficulties are mounting in food security, education, employment, medicine, health and other areas important to people’s livelihoods. Some developing countries have fallen back into poverty and instability due to the pandemic. Many in developed countries are also living through a hard time.

No matter what difficulties may come our way, we must adhere to a people-centered philosophy of development, place development and livelihoods front and center in global macro-policies, realize the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and build greater synergy among existing mechanisms of development cooperation to promote balanced development worldwide. We need to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, promote international cooperation on climate change in the context of development, and implement the outcomes of COP26 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Developed economies should take the lead in honoring their emissions reduction responsibilities, deliver on their commitment of financial and technological support, and create the necessary conditions for developing countries to address climate change and achieve sustainable development.

Last year, I put forward a Global Development Initiative at the UN General Assembly to draw international attention to the pressing challenges faced by developing countries. The Initiative is a public good open to the whole world, which aims to form synergy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and boost common development across the world. China stands ready to work with all partners to jointly translate the Initiative into concrete actions and make sure that no country is left behind in this process.

Fourth, we need to discard Cold War mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes. Our world today is far from being tranquil; rhetorics that stoke hatred and prejudice abound. Acts of containment, suppression or confrontation arising thereof do all harm, not the least good, to world peace and security. History has proved time and again that confrontation does not solve problems; it only invites catastrophic consequences. Protectionism and unilateralism can protect no one; they ultimately hurt the interests of others as well as one’s own. Even worse are the practices of hegemony and bullying, which run counter to the tide of history. Naturally, countries have divergences and disagreements between them. Yet a zero-sum approach that enlarges one’s own gain at the expense of others will not help. Acts of single-mindedly building “exclusive yards with high walls” or “parallel systems”, of enthusiastically putting together exclusive small circles or blocs that polarize the world, of overstretching the concept of national security to hold back economic and technological advances of other countries, and of fanning ideological antagonism and politicizing or weaponizing economic, scientific and technological issues, will gravely undercut international efforts to tackle common challenges.

The right way forward for humanity is peaceful development and win-win cooperation. Different countries and civilizations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other, and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences.

We should follow the trend of history, work for a stable international order, advocate common values of humanity, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. We should choose dialogue over confrontation, inclusiveness over exclusion, and stand against all forms of unilateralism, protectionism, hegemony or power politics.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Last year, the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding. Through a century of tenacious struggle, the CPC has rallied and led the Chinese people in accomplishing remarkable achievements in the advancement of the nation and betterment of people’s lives. We have realized a moderately prosperous society in all respects and won the battle against poverty, both according to plan, and found a historic solution to ending absolute poverty. Now, China is marching on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects.

— China will stay committed to pursuing high-quality development. The Chinese economy enjoys a good momentum overall. Last year, our GDP grew by around eight percent, achieving the dual target of fairly high growth and relatively low inflation. Shifts in the domestic and international economic environment have brought tremendous pressure, but the fundamentals of the Chinese economy, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged. We have every confidence in the future of China’s economy.

“The wealth of a country is measured by the abundance of its people.” Thanks to considerable economic growth, the Chinese people are living much better lives. Nonetheless, we are soberly aware that to meet people’s aspiration for an even better life, we still have much hard work to do in the long run. China has made it clear that we strive for more visible and substantive progress in the well-rounded development of individuals and the common prosperity of the entire population. We are working hard on all fronts to deliver this goal. The common prosperity we desire is not egalitarianism. To use an analogy, we will first make the pie bigger, and then divide it properly through reasonable institutional arrangements. As a rising tide lifts all boats, everyone will get a fair share from development, and development gains will benefit all our people in a more substantial and equitable way.

China will stay committed to reform and opening-up. For China, reform and opening-up is always a work in process. Whatever change in the international landscape, China will always hold high the banner of reform and opening-up. China will continue to let the market play a decisive role in resource allocation, and see to it that the government better plays its role. We will be steadfast in consolidating and developing the public sector, just as we are steadfast in encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the non-public sector. We will build a unified, open, competitive and orderly market system, where all businesses enjoy equal status before the law and have equal opportunities in the marketplace. All types of capital are welcome to operate in China in compliance with laws and regulations, and play a positive role for the development of the country. China will continue to expand high-standard opening-up, steadily advance institutional opening-up that covers rules, management and standards, deliver national treatment for foreign businesses, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. With the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) on 1 January this year, China will faithfully fulfill its obligations and deepen economic and trade ties with other RCEP parties. China will also continue to work for the joining of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), with a view to further integrating into the regional and global economy and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.

China will stay committed to promoting ecological conservation. As I have said many times, we should never grow the economy at the cost of resource depletion and environmental degradation, which is like draining a pond to get fish; nor should we sacrifice growth to protect the environment, which is like climbing a tree to catch fish. Guided by our philosophy that clean waters and green mountains are just as valuable as gold and silver, China has carried out holistic conservation and systematic governance of its mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts. We do everything we can to conserve the ecological system, intensify pollution prevention and control, and improve the living and working environment for our people. China is now putting in place the world’s largest national parks system. Last year, we successfully hosted COP15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity, contributing China’s share to a clean and beautiful world.

Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality are the intrinsic requirements of China’s own high-quality development and a solemn pledge to the international community. China will honor its word and keep working toward its goal. We have unveiled an Action Plan for Carbon Dioxide Peaking Before 2030, to be followed by implementation plans for specific sectors such as energy, industry and construction. China now has the world’s biggest carbon market and biggest clean power generation system: the installed capacity of renewable energy has exceeded one billion kilowatts, and the construction of wind and photovoltaic power stations with a total installed capacity of 100 million kilowatts is well under way. Carbon peak and carbon neutrality cannot be realized overnight. Through solid and steady steps, China will pursue an orderly phase-down of traditional energy in the course of finding reliable substitution in new energy. This approach, which combines phasing out the old and bringing in the new, will ensure steady economic and social development. China will also actively engage in international cooperation on climate and jointly work for a complete transition to a greener economy and society.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends, Davos is known as a heaven for winter sports. The Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will open soon. We are confident that China will present a streamlined, safe and splendid Games to the world. The official motto for Beijing 2022 is “Together for a Shared Future”. Indeed, let us join hands with full confidence, and work together for a shared future.

Thank you.