Grabbing the eyes of global mass media, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is proving to be bliss for our world entangled with varied challenges, especially for the developing world struggling to meet sustainable development goals.
While some Western outlets watch closely on the CPC leadership transition, the seventh plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC concluding on Oct 12 tells that China will continue to observe Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, a banner of China’s governance philosophy and practice.
As nearly 2,300 delegates from across the country elect the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, the message is clear that China will continue on a stable and sustainable development path, going on to drive global growth, pro-peace efforts, effective and democratic economic and political governance.
It is quite evident that for the first time in modern history of the world, China is leading at the global stage for sharing the fruits of prosperity it has achieved in decades. While some Western powers are regarding China as a challenge, Global South is welcoming China’s speedy economic growth and increasing weight on global affairs.
Just as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi summed during the general debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept 24, China has been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of international order, a provider of public goods and a mediator of hotspot issues.
Unlike the United States which has been engaged in or behind constant overseas conflicts, China has been the largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping forces among five permanent members. From the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, it has stayed neutral and encouraged both Russia and Ukraine for early settlement of disputes, as it has mediated at other hotspot issues before. It is the NATO members that keep adding fuel to fire against Russia.
The CPC Central Committee in its communique affirmed efforts to promote major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, which is expected to be carried further in the coming years, so that continents can look more toward China for maintaining and safeguarding peace.
The importance of the 20th CPC National Congress will also be seen in its determination to take Chinese economic and social development to new heights. After success in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the Party is pursuing a new development paradigm for high-quality growth that points to green and sustainable, balanced and digital future. Such a paradigm will provide businesses in developed and developing worlds with more opportunities for common development.
Moreover, the CPC is likely to carry on measures for the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative raised by Chinese leader Xi Jinping over the decade. These visionary initiatives are becoming public goods for the global community in common development and security, for which there are huge deficits.
A positive point should be raised here: if the United States-led Western world wants stability, they should try to engage China in economic and political partnership rather than to take China as a rivaling competitor.
It is China that helps build bridges and farmlands, roads and rails, sea ports and airports for needy developing economies；it is China that leads the world in cultivating green and non-fossil fuel energy sources; it is China that facilitates connection and multilateral trade that create jobs and income for people in African villages, Asian mountains and Latin American forests.
More, China has exercised model roles in observing nation-to-nation principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, showing mutual respect for even much smaller countries; China has observed its duties as a responsible power in bilateral, multilateral treaties and world organizations, neither delaying payment to UN and other agencies, nor pulling out unilaterally from a multilateral treaty; and China has followed trade norms in World Trade Organization and other multilateral organizations, not erecting tariff barriers, not imposing unilateral sanctions for political purposes, and not sanctioning market players from cross-border businesses.
In a word, while China’s great initiatives are converting our planet into a global village, CPC’s practices have been upholding current world order and championing peace and development in a new era.
Throughout the last century, the CPC has been dedicated to national rejuvenation and progress of humankind. With its 20th National Congress, the CPC is believed to put in place policies for more economic, diplomatic, security and social exchanges with the rest of the world.
We hope the Congress will become a new milestone for the CPC, for the Chinese nation, and for pro-development and pro-peace undertakings of our world.
The writer is Secretary General Pakistan China Friendship Association Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Emai:l Syeed.gilani@gmail.com
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.