Stable, Open And Prosperous China

In March of this year, China’s Two Sessions held after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China successfully concluded. As the world’s second largest economy and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are important events in China’s political life, as well as an important window for the world to deeply understand Chinese path to modernisation and focus on China’s future development. Through this spring assembly, people have seen a united, thriving, open and confident China that will contribute new opportunities to the turbulent world through its own development.

The whole-process of people’s democracy shows vibrancy. Democracy begins with the full expression of people’s will and is implemented through the effective realisation of their will. Good democracy should be able to achieve good governance and promote national development. Xi Jinping is unanimously re-elected president of the PRC and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the PRC at the Two Sessions, which reflects the common will of all deputies to the NPC and the common aspiration of the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country. 

People’s aspirations

More than 5,000 representatives and members have gone deep into the grassroots to gather public ideas and put forward proposals that comprehensively reflect the people’s aspirations. Over the past five years, the Chinese government has adopted more than 18,000 suggestions and policies put forward by the deputies, and introduced more than 7,800 policies and measures, promoting the resolution of a large number of urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of  people, including education, social security, anti-corruption, rural revitalisation, employment, and medical and health. The broadest, truest, and most effective democracy is truly rooted in China.

High-quality development achieves significant results. In 2022, despite multiple unexpected factors such as the pandemic, China has secured hard-won achievements in development, with a GDP growth of 3 per cent, a total of 121 trillion yuan, and a per capita of 12,700 USD. In this year’s Government Work Report of China, major development goals have been formulated, including a GDP growth rate of around 5 per cent, an urban employment increase of around 12 million, and an urban unemployment rate of around 5.5 per cent. These goals are scientific and reasonable, demonstrating China’s firm determination to promote high-quality economic development. 

Chinese path to modernisation is the modernisation of common prosperity for all people. Adhering to the principle of people-centred development is a major principle that must be firmly grasped on the way forward. President Xi Jinping pointed out that the dream of moderate prosperity, the dream of a powerful nation, and the Chinese dream are, in the final analysis, the happiness dreams of the common people. There is no end of ensuring and improving people’s well-being, only continuous improvement.

High level of openness benefits global economy. This year marks the 45th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, which has promoted the development of China and also affected the world. Premier Li Qiang emphasised at the press conference after the Two Sessions that opening up is our basic national policy, and no matter how the external situation changes, we will unswervingly advance forward. China will only open itself wider to the world, and provide a better environment and better services to all. Only when countries develop together can there be true development; only when countries prosper together can there be true prosperity. 

Currently, China has become a major trading partner in more than 140 countries and regions around the world, with an average contribution rate of 38.6 per cent to world economic growth, exceeding the total of G7 countries. China has signed the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation agreements with 151 countries and 32 international organisations, including Nepal, to vigorously promote their economic and social development. It is shown that decoupling and chain breaking is not feasible, and mutual benefit and win-win cooperation is the right path.

Upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground is an important thinking method of the CPC in governing the country. In the new journey of promoting Chinese path to modernisation, China will adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the other hand, there are no bounds to practice, and there are no ends to changes. Only through innovation can we grasp and lead the times. In order to adapt to the requirements of the modernisation of the national governance system and capacity, the Two Sessions approved the plan for state institutional reform, which is a vivid manifestation of changing with time and adapting to circumstances.

Upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground cannot be separated from investigation and research. President Xi Jinping stressed that the party should vigorously promote the trend of investigation and research in areas where there are most difficulties, where the opinions of the masses are concentrated, and where the work cannot be pushed forward. Premier Li Qiang also said that when you sit in the office, you see lots of problems. But when you reach out to the people, you see all kinds of solutions. 

Nepal-China cooperation 

Not long ago, I personally went to Kathmandu’s Ring Road to work on-site with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Narayan Kaji Shrestha, which achieved good results. I look forward to having more opportunities to conduct in-depth research on the local conditions and customs of Nepal and the cooperation projects between China and Nepal, so as to better promote the common development and progress of China and Nepal. 

Only by tangible efforts can we overcome difficulties, and only by working hard can our dreams come true. China and the world are opportunities for each other. China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa. On the new journey, China is willing to work with Nepali people as well as people around the world, to jointly create a better future and build a community with a shared future for mankind!

(The author is the Ambassador of China to Nepal.)