2021年4月10日，上外中东研究所章远研究员在伊朗《德黑兰时报》发表评论文章“Does the trust between countries have to be scarce in the age of epidemics？”（见Tehran Times2021年4月10日第5版），全文如下：

Does the trust between countries have to be scarce in the age of epidemics？

Trust between nations is an important issue that prevails in international politics. At present, the Covid-19 global pandemic is still threatening the safety of human life. Since the Covid-19 struck, one of the consequences of a series of measures original intent of blocking the spread of the virus, such repeated lockdown on metropolitan cities，close the country for several weeks or even months, is that the process of globalization is being fully impeded. As the vaccine development process evolves, vaccine nationalism is again becoming a serious challenge plaguing the fight against the epidemic in underdeveloped countries. In the age of epidemics, or in the future post-epidemic era, is trust between countries scarce?

Between March 24 and 30, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid official visits to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, and a working visit to Oman. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's trip to six Middle East countries unleashed to the world China's determination to enhance mutual trust with countries in the Middle East, maintain common security in the region, and jointly promote stability.

Building mutual trust

One way to build trust between countries is through ally dependence, just as collective security and security communities are built on the basis of members' identification with the community. Secondly, the key prerequisite for trust between countries is to respect the equal status of international actors among countries, and is that the process of building mutual understanding and trust between states does not come at the cost of targeting third parties and undermining their interests. The third is to face up to the rise and fall in power among countries within the international system. The formation of deep and long-term trust between countries requires civilized dialogue and exchanges, that is an ideal international community that values both deepening intimacy and increasing interests.

Solidifying the foundations of trust

Building trust between countries is urgent to end the damage of the epidemic and to boost the global economy. Miscalculation among countries is due to the lack of a foundation of trust. The danger of miscalculation between countries can be both the security dilemma in international relations and the stagnation of development. The zero-sum game, the collection of a few countries into small groups, and the disregard and defiance of the international system with the United Nations at its core are all extremely short-sighted.

Close alliance relationships rely on the identification of common threats. In the current international system, some of the U.S. allies do not fully recognize the competitors marked out by the U.S. government as threats to them as well. This relationship differs from the Cold War bipolar pattern. On the other hand, strong alliance relationships also depend on the willingness and ability of core countries to provide timely and generous assistance to their allies when treats come to them. However, in recent years, in terms of both its national strength and its foreign engagement practices, the U.S. has struggled to fulfill its allies' expectations. The absolute trust that allies used to have in the United States is being eroded by the United States' own performance.

Time to enable trust building

In the face of common imminent and potential threats of Covid-19, the Middle East countries have not only cooperated with China in fighting against the epidemic, but also in the process, they have exchanged experiences in governance.

The formation of trust between countries may be driven by external objective conditions. For example, in the face of an urgent public security crisis, the lack of trust between countries, without effective communication and joint action, will not achieve the goal of curbing the flow of viruses across borders. The formation of trust between countries is more the result of subjective willingness to deepen political, economic and cultural exchanges in multiple fields in an open and inclusive manner. In the long run, solid interstate trust relies more on long-term, continuous and peaceful civil contacts forming trust networks and public trust.

What do countries trust in?

In the era of the epidemic, according to the degree of urgency, the content of trust between countries is first of all belief in the determination to work together to fight the epidemic. Countries living in the international community trust that working together to stabilize and rehabilitate the world economy is indispensable.

The second is trust in the future of expanding development cooperation and in the possibility of win-win cooperation between countries without harming each other's interests. What is more important is the trust that security and stability are common pursuits. A war of words cannot solve the problem of economic recovery, nor can it effectively solve complex global problems. The implementation of the Belt and Road initiative provides a platform for countries around the world to build trusting relationships.

The third is to attach importance to the important role of key regions. China attaches importance to friendly relationships with Middle Eastern countries, and has attached importance to mutual benefits in cooperation with Middle Eastern countries. China regards the Middle East countries as partners in cooperation, development, and peace. China has signed the One Belt, One Road document with 19 Middle Eastern countries. High-level cooperation and communication platforms, such as China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, China-Arab Summit and Middle East Security Forum demonstrate that China is building institutionalized trust with the Middle East countries.

The fourth is to trust that at the level of a more macro development pattern it can promote strategic co-construction and development goals. China and the leaders of the Middle East countries have reached a consensus that it can achieve docking in major development strategies between China and Middle East countries.

China is a trustworthy, sincere and cooperative member of the international community. In a hostile international environment, where hegemonism and zero-sum games are still common, the friendly relations between China and Middle Eastern countries provide an excellent example of trust among nations.

Although the establishment of solid mutual trust between all countries is almost a fairytale, the glorious humanity of mutual assistance between people during the epidemic and the moving belief that countries can overcome difficulties together shoulder to shoulder are reflections of human civilization. Interdependence with a sense of trust as the basis and guarantee is what makes international relations solid, peaceful and benevolent.

来源：Tehran Times

（本文观点仅为作者或被访者个人观点，不代表本研究机构立场）