Zhou Jinfeng: Congratulations to CBCGDF Volunteer Zhang Yizeng’s Newly Translated Book “NGO Diplomacy” Will Be Published Soon (II)

In sum: social organizations “going out” can improve their strengths and educate themselves, can better understand the rules of the international game, thereby promoting the participation in the formulation of game rules, and can actively promote the “Belt and Road” international cooperation. Promote the communication of people’s hearts, create a new platform for international cooperation, actively participate in global environmental governance, add new momentum for common development, and promote the building a community with shared future for mankind through mutual consultation, joint construction, and sharing. And this book explains the importance of social organizations going out from a new perspective of folk diplomacy.

On the occasion of the publication of this translation by Ms. Zhang Yizeng, I also share our practical exploration of “going out”. As mentioned earlier, Chinese social organizations generally face the dilemma of funding sources, especially for independent social organizations that raise their own funds. Going out to conduct international exchanges and cooperation is not easy. So the willingness of social organizations to “go out” is generally not strong.

Despite the difficulties, CBCGDF has been heading in the right direction and innovating the “going out” approach, including the establishment of the “international affairs department” and the “going out office”. In the context of the Chinese government’s promotion of the “Belt and Road” initiative, actively serve the “Belt and Road” alongside and a community with shared future for mankind.

For example, in order to reduce costs, we have innovated a “green great” model, established a global platform for college students who love the environment, and invited local volunteers to participate in the events and activities worldwide. The representatives who attended the meetings were often not alone, and there were a support team behind them – we called it the “green aid” system to enhance the participation effect. So far, a series of work achievements have been achieved with low-cost, amazing efficiency, strong on-site support and other team cooperation methods. For example, CBCGDF representatives communicated extensively to participants from all over the world on the scene of a conference, introduced the good stories and good voices of CBCGDF, and expanded the social media advocacy camp efficiently and quickly. Almost synchronous broadcast was realized in the virtual network.

We do not skimp on any opportunity to cultivate talents, let young people broaden their horizons, accept challenges, and exercise, because we look forward to cultivating more outstanding young people like Zhang Yizeng through the CBCGDF platform – they are the future of Beautiful China and hope for a sustainable world.

The authors of the book “NGO DIPLOMACY: The Influence of Nongovernmental Organizations in International Environmental Negotiations” are experts, scholars and practitioners in the world’s top NGO fields. They established a corresponding analysis framework through a research method that combines the influence of NGO diplomacy on the decision-making process and the influence on the negotiation results, using this analytical framework, the role of NGO diplomats in the negotiations on climate change, biosecurity, desertification, whaling, and forests was thoroughly studied, and the following important questions were answered:

How to understand the influence of NGOs in the intergovernmental negotiations on environment and sustainable development? How to achieve this influence? What lessons to be learned from there? How to improve in the future?

As China continues to expand its opening up and strengthen cooperation, it will unswervingly pursue an open strategy of mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote the transformation of the global governance system and the establishment of new international relations that require active participation from Chinese NGOs. In the current intricate globalization game, the participation and policy influence of NGOs at various levels such as national, social, and international relations cannot be ignored. As a member of Chinese NGOs, we are also encouraged and stressed. Only by learning from the advanced can we catch up. It is hoped that this book can be used as a learning and reference material for NGO peers and researchers.

(The above article is the preface of the Chinese version of the book NGO DIPLOMACY: The Influence of Nongovernmental Organizations in International Environmental Negotiations. The preface was written by Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of CBCGDF in 2018. It is edited for its length here.)