By Ambassador Chen Xiaodong
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China successfully concluded not long ago. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his Report to the Congress that, from this day forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realise the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernisation.
The overall strategic arrangement is to take two steps: to basically realise socialist modernisation from 2020 through 2035 and to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century.
Starting from this new historical juncture and grasping the new characteristics of the times, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly put forward the mission and tasks of the CPC in the new journey of the new era, systematically explaining the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, strategic arrangements and major principles of the Chinese path to modernisation. He gave a profound answer to the fundamental question of what kind of strong modern socialist country to build and how. The people come front and centre.
To serve the people is the original aspiration and ultimate goal of all the work of the Communist Party of China. China's development is for the people. It relies on the people, and the results are shared by the people. In the new journey of the new era, the people remain at the centre of all endeavours.
On the political front, people’s democracy is integral to our efforts to build a modern socialist country in all respects. China will develop whole-process people’s democracy in all respects, strengthen institutional safeguards, comprehensively develop consultative democracy, actively develop democracy at the primary level, and consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front.
On the economic front, a good life is the fundamental purpose of building a great modern socialist country on all fronts. Bringing benefit to the people is the fundamental principle of governance. We will continue to improve the system of income distribution, implement the employment-first strategy, improve the social security system, improve policies on promoting public health, and enhance well-being for the people across all fronts.
On the cultural front, cultural confidence provides important support for building a great modern socialist country in all aspects. China will cement and expand the mainstream thoughts and ideas that inspire hard work in the new era, extensively apply the core socialist values, enhance civility throughout society, develop cultural programs and the cultural sector, and extending the reach and appeal of Chinese civilisation.
Development is the first priority.
High-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in all aspects. China’s high-quality development is not simply based on the GDP growth rate. We strive to make innovation our primary driving force. We pursue development with sound coordination, in a green and open manner and with sharing as our fundamental purpose.
This further highlights the overall and long-term significance of development quality. China's road to high-quality development includes building a high-standard socialist market economy, modernising the industrial system, advancing rural revitalisation across the board, promoting coordinated regional development, and promoting high-standard opening up. Efforts on these fronts will see us improve in both quality and quantity.
China's high-quality development will be based on the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. We will uphold and act on the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, accelerate the transition to a model of green development, intensify pollution prevention and control, enhancing diversity, stability, and sustainability in our ecosystems, work actively and prudently toward the goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. Efforts on these fronts will help us realise the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.
Innovation is the key.
Innovation is the soul of any nation that wants to seek progress. It is the inexhaustible source of a country's prosperity. Education, science and technology, and human resources are the basics and strategic support for China to build itself into a modern socialist country. China will pick up pace in working to become a leading country in education, science and technology, and talent, to open up new tracks and new areas of development so as to constantly generate new momentum and advantages in development.
Science and technology is the primary driving force for achieving modernisation.
We will accelerate the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, boost China’s strength in strategic science and technology, better protect intellectual property rights according to law, win the decisive battle of key and core technologies, enhance innovation capacity, reinforce the principal role of enterprises in innovation, and promote deeper integration of the innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains.
Education is the fundamental cornerstone of modernisation.
China will develop education that meets the people’s expectations, focus on fostering virtue, build a high-quality education system and nurture a new generation of capable young people with sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigour, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills who will fully develop socialism and carry forward the socialist cause. We will build a society and country of learning where lifelong learning is pursued by all.
Talent is the primary resource for modernisation.
China will thoroughly implement the workforce development strategy. We will combine cultivation with the introduction, create a large, well-structured, and high-quality workforce, ensure we value talented people, nurture them, attract them, put them to good use and build China into a key global centre of talent and innovation.
Governance is the guarantee.
As a Chinese saying goes, “The momentum of the world either flourishes or declines; the state of the world either progresses or regresses.” As the governing Party of China, the CPC has two major tasks of governing the country as well as governing the Party, which are inseparable and complementary to each other. To do a good job of governing the country, we must first do a good job of governing the Party. To govern the country according to law and govern the Party according to regulations are both essential.
Exercise law-based governance on all fronts.
The comprehensive advancement of law-based governance has been a profound revolution in China’s governance. As we work to build a modern socialist country, we must do it according to the rule of law. China will uphold the unity between Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance, firmly stay on the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, with the Constitution at its core, ensure the strict and impartial administration of justice, and step up efforts to establish the rule of law throughout society.
Exercise full and rigorous self-governance.
The CPC will stay committed to using its own transformation to steer social transformation. We will strengthen the centralised, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, enhance cohesion and forging the Party’s soul with the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, improve the systems and regulations for the Party’s self-reform, take strict steps to improve Party conduct and enforce Party discipline, and win the tough and protracted battle against corruption.
China and South Africa have a Comrades plus Brothers special bond.
China is a true partner and friend that South Africa and African countries can count on. As President Ramaphosa of the ANC observed in his congratulatory message on the 20th CPC National Congress, the 20th Congress was held at an important moment when the situation in China and the world is changing dramatically. Once again, the world stands at a crossroads in history, and it is up to the people of all countries to decide where to go.
We firmly believe that our two parties and two countries will grasp opportunities and meet challenges. We will choose peaceful development and win-win cooperation. We will resist hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts, join hands for development and revitalisation, and build closer China-South Africa and China-Africa communities with shared futures.
Chen Xiaodong, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to South Africa