Enhancing solidarity and cooperation to overcome risks and challenges and jointly build a better world
Address by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
At the Closing Ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum 2023
Johannesburg, August 22, 2023
Your Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa,
Members of the Business Community,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
I wish to extend my warm congratulations on the success of the BRICS Business Forum in South Africa!
Ten years ago here in South Africa, we BRICS leaders witnessed the birth of the BRICS Business Council. Since then, the Council has stayed true to its founding mission. It has seized opportunities to deepen cooperation, contributing to economic and social development of BRICS countries and helping sustain global economic growth.
Right now, changes in the world, in our times and in history are unfolding in ways like never before, bringing human society to a critical juncture. Should we pursue cooperation and integration, or just succumb to division and confrontation? Should we work together to maintain peace and stability,?or just sleepwalk into the abyss of a new Cold War? Should we embrace prosperity,?openness and inclusiveness,?or allow hegemonic and bullying acts to throw us into depression? Should we deepen mutual trust through exchanges and mutual learning,?or allow hubris and prejudice to blind conscience? The course of history will be shaped by the choices we make.
An ancient Chinese thinker observed that?”following the underlying trend will lead one to success,?while going against it can only cause one to fail.”?We humankind have achieved notable economic development and social progress over the past decades, and that is because we have drawn lessons from the two world wars and the Cold War, followed the historical trend of economic globalization,?and embarked on the right path of openness and development for win-win cooperation. Our world today has become a community with a shared future in which we all share a huge stake of survival. What people in various countries long for is definitely not a new Cold War or a small exclusive bloc; what they want is an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys enduring peace,?universal security and common prosperity. Such is the logic of historical advance and the trend of our times.
Ten years ago, I made a proposition of building a community with a shared future for mankind, calling on all countries to build this planet we all call home into a harmonious family. In the face of high winds, choppy waters and even treacherous storms, we in all countries need to uphold the correct views of the world, of history and of our overall interests, and act to translate the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind into reality.
-We need to promote development and prosperity for all.?Many emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs) have come to what they are today after shaking off the yoke of colonialism. With perseverance, hard work and huge sacrifices, we succeeded in gaining independence and have been exploring development paths suited to our national conditions. Everything we do is to deliver better lives to our people. But some country, obsessed with maintaining its hegemony, has gone out of its way to cripple the EMDCs. Whoever is developing fast becomes its target of containment; whoever is catching up becomes its target of obstruction. But this is futile, as I have said more than once that blowing out others’ lamp will not bring light to oneself.
Every country has the right to development, and the people in every country have the freedom to pursue a happy life. With that in mind, I have proposed the Global Development Initiative, with the goal of promoting development for all by the international community and boosting the U.N.?2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With the support of many countries, solid gains have been made in pursuing this initiative, with cooperation flourishing in various fields. China will work with all other countries to speed up cooperation under the Global Development Initiative, strengthen drivers of global development, promote the reform of the World Trade Organization in a comprehensive and in-depth manner, meet common challenges together and make life better for people across the world.
-We need to achieve universal security. Recent years have seen a turbulent world; many countries and regions are plagued by wars and conflicts and many people are displaced. Members of the international community share the pressing hope to eradicate the root cause of conflicts and wars,?and find a fundamental way to realize enduring peace and security globally. Facts have shown that any attempt to keep enlarging a military alliance, expand one’s own sphere of influence or squeeze other countries’ buffer of security can only create security predicament and insecurity for all countries. Only a commitment to a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security can lead to universal security.
Last year, I put forward the Global Security Initiative, and it has gained support from over 100 countries and international organizations. China stands ready to jointly pursue this initiative with all others. We should have dialogue and oppose confrontation, forge partnership but not alliance, and pursue win-win outcome and oppose zero-sum game, and work together to build a community of security.
-We need to stay committed to exchanges among civilizations and mutual learning. One flower alone cannot make a beautiful spring; only blossoming of a rich variety of flowers can bring spring to the global garden. Human civilization is colorful by nature. It is precisely because of their differences in history, culture and system that all countries need to interact with one another, learn from each other, and advance together.?Deliberately creating division with the assertion of “democracy versus authoritarianism” and “liberalism versus autocracy” can only split the world and lead to clash of civilizations.
I have put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, calling for promoting diversity of global civilizations, the common values of humanity, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. China welcomes all other countries to get involved in cooperation under this initiative. We should encourage different civilizations to bring out their best and flourish together; we should break barriers to exchanges, and renew human civilization.
Your Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa,
Members of the Business Community,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
I wish to extend my warm congratulations on the success of the BRICS Business Forum in South Africa!
Ten years ago here in South Africa, we BRICS leaders witnessed the birth of the BRICS Business Council. Since then, the Council has stayed true to its founding mission. It has seized opportunities to deepen cooperation, contributing to economic and social development of BRICS countries and helping sustain global economic growth.
Right now, changes in the world, in our times and in history are unfolding in ways like never before, bringing human society to a critical juncture. Should we pursue cooperation and integration, or just succumb to division and confrontation? Should we work together to maintain peace and stability,?or just sleepwalk into the abyss of a new Cold War? Should we embrace prosperity,?openness and inclusiveness,?or allow hegemonic and bullying acts to throw us into depression? Should we deepen mutual trust through exchanges and mutual learning,?or allow hubris and prejudice to blind conscience? The course of history will be shaped by the choices we make.
An ancient Chinese thinker observed that?”following the underlying trend will lead one to success,?while going against it can only cause one to fail.”?We humankind have achieved notable economic development and social progress over the past decades, and that is because we have drawn lessons from the two world wars and the Cold War, followed the historical trend of economic globalization,?and embarked on the right path of openness and development for win-win cooperation. Our world today has become a community with a shared future in which we all share a huge stake of survival. What people in various countries long for is definitely not a new Cold War or a small exclusive bloc; what they want is an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys enduring peace,?universal security and common prosperity. Such is the logic of historical advance and the trend of our times.
Ten years ago, I made a proposition of building a community with a shared future for mankind, calling on all countries to build this planet we all call home into a harmonious family. In the face of high winds, choppy waters and even treacherous storms, we in all countries need to uphold the correct views of the world, of history and of our overall interests, and act to translate the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind into reality.
-We need to promote development and prosperity for all.?Many emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs) have come to what they are today after shaking off the yoke of colonialism. With perseverance, hard work and huge sacrifices, we succeeded in gaining independence and have been exploring development paths suited to our national conditions. Everything we do is to deliver better lives to our people. But some country, obsessed with maintaining its hegemony, has gone out of its way to cripple the EMDCs. Whoever is developing fast becomes its target of containment; whoever is catching up becomes its target of obstruction. But this is futile, as I have said more than once that blowing out others’ lamp will not bring light to oneself.
Every country has the right to development, and the people in every country have the freedom to pursue a happy life. With that in mind, I have proposed the Global Development Initiative, with the goal of promoting development for all by the international community and boosting the U.N.?2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With the support of many countries, solid gains have been made in pursuing this initiative, with cooperation flourishing in various fields. China will work with all other countries to speed up cooperation under the Global Development Initiative, strengthen drivers of global development, promote the reform of the World Trade Organization in a comprehensive and in-depth manner, meet common challenges together and make life better for people across the world.
-We need to achieve universal security. Recent years have seen a turbulent world; many countries and regions are plagued by wars and conflicts and many people are displaced. Members of the international community share the pressing hope to eradicate the root cause of conflicts and wars,?and find a fundamental way to realize enduring peace and security globally. Facts have shown that any attempt to keep enlarging a military alliance, expand one’s own sphere of influence or squeeze other countries’ buffer of security can only create security predicament and insecurity for all countries. Only a commitment to a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security can lead to universal security.
Last year, I put forward the Global Security Initiative, and it has gained support from over 100 countries and international organizations. China stands ready to jointly pursue this initiative with all others. We should have dialogue and oppose confrontation, forge partnership but not alliance, and pursue win-win outcome and oppose zero-sum game, and work together to build a community of security.
-We need to stay committed to exchanges among civilizations and mutual learning. One flower alone cannot make a beautiful spring; only blossoming of a rich variety of flowers can bring spring to the global garden. Human civilization is colorful by nature. It is precisely because of their differences in history, culture and system that all countries need to interact with one another, learn from each other, and advance together.?Deliberately creating division with the assertion of “democracy versus authoritarianism” and “liberalism versus autocracy” can only split the world and lead to clash of civilizations.
I have put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, calling for promoting diversity of global civilizations, the common values of humanity, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. China welcomes all other countries to get involved in cooperation under this initiative. We should encourage different civilizations to bring out their best and flourish together; we should break barriers to exchanges, and renew human civilization.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
As an ancient Chinese philosopher observes, “Change is the nature of the universe.”?The collective rise of EMDCs represented by BRICS is fundamentally changing the global landscape. EMDCs have contributed as high as 80 percent of global growth in the past 20 years, and their share in the global GDP has increased from 24 percent 40 years ago to more than 40 percent. Just as a line in a Chinese poem reads, “No mountains can stop the surging flow of a mighty river.” Whatever resistance there may be, BRICS, a positive and stable force for good, will continue to grow. We will forge stronger BRICS strategic partnership, expand the “BRICS Plus” model, actively advance membership expansion, deepen solidarity and cooperation with other EMDCs, promote global multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations, and help make the international order more just and equitable. The gathering between BRICS countries and more than 50 other countries in South Africa today is not an exercise of asking countries to take sides, nor an exercise of creating bloc confrontation. Rather, it is an endeavor to expand the architecture of peace and development. I am glad to note that over 20 countries are knocking on the door of BRICS. China hopes to see more joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
China stays committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China breathes the same breath with other developing countries and pursues a shared future with them. China has resolutely upheld the common interests of developing countries and worked to increase the representation and voice of EMDCs in global affairs. Hegemonism is not in China’s DNA; nor does China have any motivation to engage in major-power competition. China stands firmly on the right side of history, and believes that a just cause should be pursued for the common good.
At present, we Chinese, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, are advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. Chinese modernization aims to achieve common prosperity, material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development for a huge population. Chinese modernization has created a new form of human advancement and presented a new future of modernization. We hope that other developing countries can draw on the outstanding achievements of human civilization and find their own paths to modernization in keeping with their national conditions.
Achieving high-quality development is a top priority in China’s goal of fully building itself into a modernized country. We are committed to applying a new development philosophy and creating a new development paradigm. In the past decade, China has contributed more than 30 percent of annual global growth. This year, the Chinese economy has maintained the momentum of recovery and growth.?China enjoys several distinct advantages: a socialist market economy in systemic terms, a supersize market in terms of demand, a full-fledged industrial system in terms of supply, and abundant, high-caliber labor force and entrepreneurs in terms of human resources. The Chinese economy has strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality. The fundamentals sustaining China’s long-term growth will remain unchanged. The giant ship of the Chinese economy will continue to cleave waves and sail ahead.
China will remain an important opportunity for the world’s development. Our door is wide open to anyone who wants to engage in cooperation with us. As a supersize economy, China will remain firm in advancing high-standard opening-up. We will continue to expand market access, cut the negative list for foreign investment, and further open the modern services sector. We will steadily improve the business environment, provide national treatment to foreign-invested enterprises, foster a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework, and build a globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas. We will continue to advance ecological conservation, accelerate the building of a Beautiful China, actively and prudently move toward carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and pursue all-round green transition in economic and social development. Going forward, as it endeavors to achieve modernization for its more than 1.4 billion people, China will surely contribute even more to the global economy and provide even more opportunities for the global business community.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
A formidable mission is a magnificent and glorious mission. As long as we work in unity and strengthen cooperation, we will not be intimidated by any risk or challenge on the way ahead, and we will surely steer the giant ship of human development to a brighter future!
Thank you.
As an ancient Chinese philosopher observes, “Change is the nature of the universe.”?The collective rise of EMDCs represented by BRICS is fundamentally changing the global landscape. EMDCs have contributed as high as 80 percent of global growth in the past 20 years, and their share in the global GDP has increased from 24 percent 40 years ago to more than 40 percent. Just as a line in a Chinese poem reads, “No mountains can stop the surging flow of a mighty river.” Whatever resistance there may be, BRICS, a positive and stable force for good, will continue to grow. We will forge stronger BRICS strategic partnership, expand the “BRICS Plus” model, actively advance membership expansion, deepen solidarity and cooperation with other EMDCs, promote global multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations, and help make the international order more just and equitable. The gathering between BRICS countries and more than 50 other countries in South Africa today is not an exercise of asking countries to take sides, nor an exercise of creating bloc confrontation. Rather, it is an endeavor to expand the architecture of peace and development. I am glad to note that over 20 countries are knocking on the door of BRICS. China hopes to see more joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
China stays committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China breathes the same breath with other developing countries and pursues a shared future with them. China has resolutely upheld the common interests of developing countries and worked to increase the representation and voice of EMDCs in global affairs. Hegemonism is not in China’s DNA; nor does China have any motivation to engage in major-power competition. China stands firmly on the right side of history, and believes that a just cause should be pursued for the common good.
At present, we Chinese, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, are advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. Chinese modernization aims to achieve common prosperity, material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development for a huge population. Chinese modernization has created a new form of human advancement and presented a new future of modernization. We hope that other developing countries can draw on the outstanding achievements of human civilization and find their own paths to modernization in keeping with their national conditions.
Achieving high-quality development is a top priority in China’s goal of fully building itself into a modernized country. We are committed to applying a new development philosophy and creating a new development paradigm. In the past decade, China has contributed more than 30 percent of annual global growth. This year, the Chinese economy has maintained the momentum of recovery and growth.?China enjoys several distinct advantages: a socialist market economy in systemic terms, a supersize market in terms of demand, a full-fledged industrial system in terms of supply, and abundant, high-caliber labor force and entrepreneurs in terms of human resources. The Chinese economy has strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality. The fundamentals sustaining China’s long-term growth will remain unchanged. The giant ship of the Chinese economy will continue to cleave waves and sail ahead.
China will remain an important opportunity for the world’s development. Our door is wide open to anyone who wants to engage in cooperation with us. As a supersize economy, China will remain firm in advancing high-standard opening-up. We will continue to expand market access, cut the negative list for foreign investment, and further open the modern services sector. We will steadily improve the business environment, provide national treatment to foreign-invested enterprises, foster a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework, and build a globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas. We will continue to advance ecological conservation, accelerate the building of a Beautiful China, actively and prudently move toward carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and pursue all-round green transition in economic and social development. Going forward, as it endeavors to achieve modernization for its more than 1.4 billion people, China will surely contribute even more to the global economy and provide even more opportunities for the global business community.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
A formidable mission is a magnificent and glorious mission. As long as we work in unity and strengthen cooperation, we will not be intimidated by any risk or challenge on the way ahead, and we will surely steer the giant ship of human development to a brighter future!
Thank you.
Strengthen solidarity and coordination and pursue common development in Asia
Remarks by Wang Yi at the Opening Ceremony of the 7th China-South Asia Expo
August 16, 2023, Kunming
Distinguished Guests and Friends,
Good morning!
It gives me great pleasure to join you in Kunming, the beautiful “Spring City”, to attend the opening ceremony of the 7th China-South Asia Expo and the 27th China Kunming Import & Export Fair. On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to extend warm congratulations on the opening of this China-South Asia Expo, and sincere appreciation to all those who have long been committed to friendly cooperation between China and South Asia!
China and South Asian countries are linked by mountains and seas and with a shared future. We appreciate each other in the process of civilizational rejuvenation and ride the wave of globalization hand in hand. By following the trend of history and accelerating development and revitalization, we have grown into the fastest-growing and most dynamic region in the world. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-South Asia Expo. It also marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s neighborhood diplomacy guideline that advocates amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, both proposed by President Xi Jinping. Over the past decade, China and South Asian countries have respected each other as equals, worked together in the same direction, and achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields.
We have actively promoted high-level interactions, strengthened strategic guidance, consolidated solidarity and cooperation, supported each other’s core interests, and respected each other’s development paths. We have properly handled disagreements by seeking common ground while reserving differences. We have stuck together to address challenges, as passengers in the same boat should do. By so doing, we have jointly safeguarded the security and development environment in the region.
We have kept advancing Belt and Road cooperation, seeking synergy between development strategies, and leveraging complementary advantages. Gratifying progress has been made in connectivity, infrastructure, trade, and investment. A batch of major projects, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge in Bangladesh, and the Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka, have been implemented one after another. Since 2013, the volume of goods traded between China and South Asian countries has increased from less than 100 billion U.S. dollars to nearly 200 billion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate as high as 8.3 percent.
We have conducted in-depth friendly exchanges, upheld the vision of openness and inclusiveness, carried out people-to-people and cultural exchanges in various forms, and built multi-level platforms for non-governmental exchanges. Through these efforts, we have brought new vitality to the millennium-old cultural interactions and laid a solid foundation of public support for cooperation between the two regions. In the face of such disasters as earthquakes, floods, and pandemics, Chinese rescue and medical teams and local people have overcome difficulties together. With a large number of anti-pandemic supplies and vaccines continuously delivered to the people of South Asia, we have written a new chapter of friendship between China and South Asia in the new era.
Distinguished guests and friends,
President Xi Jinping has stressed that China’s development will bring more new opportunities to all countries. China will always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results, unswervingly promote high-standard opening up, and realize Chinese modernization through high-quality development, thus benefiting the people of all countries. As China’s close neighbor, South Asian countries are welcome to get on board the “express train” of China’s development to share the dividends brought by it. China and South Asia, huge markets with a combined population of more than 3 billion, account for about one-fifth of the global economy and enjoy enormous cooperation potential and broad development space. China is ready to work with all South Asian countries to seize historical opportunities, strengthen solidarity and coordination, foster new drivers for development, build a community of development, and continuously make new contributions to the enduring peace, stability and prosperity of the region. To this end, we would like to propose the following suggestions:
First, deepen strategic mutual trust. We should further increase high-level mutual visits, make good use of cooperation mechanisms, enhance mutual trust, expand common understandings, and consolidate solidarity. We should support each other in international and regional affairs, advocate open regionalism, foster close regional cooperation, jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries, and defend international fairness and justice together.
Second, deepen connectivity. We should take the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held this autumn as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges and cooperation within the Belt and Road framework with South Asian countries. We should actively seek support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund, advance the development of such backbone corridors as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Nepal cross-border railway, accelerate the construction of key corridors, key nodes, and key projects, and facilitate and upgrade unimpeded regional economic flows.
Third, deepen economic and trade cooperation. We are ready to further promote trade facilitation, improve rules of origin, and seek greater synergy among institutional standards related to information, customs clearance, and quality inspection, among others. We should follow the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to boost and upgrade investment cooperation, and forge closer bonds in global industrial and supply chains. We will protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-funded enterprises in accordance with the law, and create a market environment featuring equal treatment and fair competition. South Asian enterprises are welcome to increase investment in China.
Fourth, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. We hope that with closer interaction, the two sides will forge even closer bonds, just as relatives and friends do. We should fully leverage business, non-governmental and academic channels and platforms to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, tighten the bonds, upgrade traditional friendship, and create a more cohesive and diverse social foundation for regional cooperation.
Distinguished guests and friends,
The door of China will open still wider to the world. Yunnan is the main gateway for China’s opening up to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation converge here, creating unique conditions for the China-South Asia Expo and making it an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation between China, South Asia, and even countries around the world. You are welcome to make use of this grand event to explore more cooperation opportunities, achieve more cooperation results, jointly promote the development and revitalization of Asia, and create a better future together.
To conclude, I wish this China-South Asia Expo a complete success! Thank you!
Message of congratulations on the 74th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China
By H.E. Jiang Zaidong,
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan
On the occasion of the National Day of the People’s Republic of China on 1st October, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend my best wishes to our great motherland, and may the great country enjoy prosperity forever! And I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to friends from all walks of life in Pakistan who care about and support China’s development and actively promote China-Pakistan friendship!
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 74 years ago, China has embarked on the great journey of modernization independently, turning from an impoverished and backward land into the world’s second largest economy, top trader in goods, biggest holder of foreign exchange reserves, and biggest manufacturer. We have put in place the world’s largest compulsory education system, social security system, and medical and health system. China has completed industrialization, that Western developed countries took hundreds of years. We have caught up with the times in great strides, and hit a miracle in the history of world development.
Currently, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the entire CPC and people of all ethnic groups in China are earnestly implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and to embrace the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, characterized by the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all people, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. China has proved to the world with practice that there is no fixed model of modernization. Any country can achieve modernization, as long as the path suits its conditions and answers the need of its people for development.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by President Xi Jinping, and also of the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Ten years on since the start of the BRI, over 3,000 cooperation projects have been launched, driving nearly US$1 trillion of investment and creating 420,000 jobs for participating countries. Many nations have thus realized their dreams of railways, big bridges, and poverty alleviation. And as a key pilot project under the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has achieved fruitful outcomes in the past 10 years. It has brought 25.4 billion US dollars of direct investment to Pakistan, and generated 236,000 local jobs in total. It has laid a solid foundation for Pakistan’s economic and social development and has become a vivid example of the all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan. Not long ago, the Hangzhou Asian Games began successfully. Athletes from China and Pakistan participated in this grand event and shared the joy of victory together.
China and Pakistan are linked by mountains and rivers, and have enjoyed?ever-lasting friendship. Since China and Pakistan established diplomatic ties in 1951, no matter how the international and regional situations change, our two countries always understand, trust, respect and support each other. China-Pakistan bilateral relations can be called an exemplar of state-to-state relation. The iron-clad friendship between the two countries is deeply rooted in hearts of the two peoples. In April 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Pakistan, during which the two sides elevated China-Pakistan bilateral relations to all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, opening up a new chapter in the development of bilateral ties. No matter how the situation changes, China will firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity, support Pakistan in taking a development path that is in line with its national conditions, and support Pakistan in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.
Looking ahead, we are ready to work with Pakistani side, by implementing the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders as the guiding principle, building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era as the main line, and promoting high-quality development of the CPEC as the major platform, to continuously consolidate, deepen and expand China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperation, and better benefit the two countries and the two peoples. I together with all my colleagues at the Chinese Embassy, will exert our best efforts to work closely with Pakistani friends, and make new contributions to the development of China-Pakistan relations!
Long live the People’s Republic of China! Chin-Pak dosti zindabad!
Message of congratulations on the 74th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China
By H.E. Yang Yundong,
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Karachi
On the occasion of the National Day of the People’s Republic of China, on behalf of the Consulate General of China in Karachi, I extend my sincere greetings to our great motherland and wish her peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to our Pakistani friends from all walks of life who have been committed to deepening cooperation and friendship between China and Pakistan and consolidating the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Since the founding 74 years ago, China has turned the old appearance of poverty and weakness into the world’s second largest economy, won the largest poverty alleviation battle in the human history and eliminated absolute poverty, established the world’s largest compulsory education system, social security system, and medical and health system. China’s practice has fully proved that modernization is not a luxury for the privileged few. It is the common pursuit of all people around the world. Currently, the Chinese people are closely united around the Party Central Committee with President Xi Jinping at its core, marching bravely on a Chinese path to modernization which featuring huge population, environmental protection, material and spiritual abundance, and peaceful development.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the “Belt and Road” initiative, as well as the 10th anniversary of the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Both countries have made great effort to work together to yield fruitful results. By the end of 2022, the CPEC has brought foreign direct investment of $25.4 billion to Pakistan, generated profit of $17.55 billion, contributed revenue of $2.12 billion, created 236,000 jobs, and made an important contribution to Pakistan’s economic and social development.
China and Pakistan are good neighbors, solid partners, and iron brothers and well connected by mountains and rivers. There is an Urdu poem in Pakistan goes as The beautiful image of friends is in the mirror of my heart. I can see it if I lower my head for a moment. Over the past seven decades, no matter how the international and regional situations and the domestic conditions of the two countries have changed, China and Pakistan have always respected, understood, and supported each other on issues involving each other’s core interests. As always, China will firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding national sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity, support Pakistan in choosing a development mode that is in line with its national conditions, and support Pakistan in playing a greater role on the international stage and in regional affairs.
China is willing to work with Pakistan to actively implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, take the high-quality development of the CPEC as a precious opportunity, continuously expand and deepen cooperation areas, and promote China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. All my colleagues at the Consulate General and I will spare no effort to cooperate closely with our Pakistani friends to continue creating a new chapter of China-Pakistan friendship in the new era!
Long live the People’s Republic of China!
Chin-Pak Dosti Zindabad!
Chinese modernization pursued under the leadership of the CPC
TFD Report
The Chinese people is pursing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. The Communist Party of China (CPC), taking explorations for paths to modernization as its mission, has led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in making immense achievements through many years of practice.
Modernization pursued under the leadership of the CPC suits China’s national conditions
After the 1840 Opium War, visionary people in China pressed ahead against the odds in pursuit of a path to modernization for China. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, there had been the Westernization Movement aimed to learn from Western military technology and the Reform Movement of 1898 and the Revolution of 1911 intended to establish constitutional monarchy or other Western systems. However, all these plans to blindly copy Western models ended in failure for not being suitable for China’s national conditions.
What has happened proves that a Western path to modernization is not an option for China and does not work in China. Since its inception, the CPC, by seeking truth from facts and painstaking searches, has led the Chinese people in finding the right path toward national independence, people’s liberation, and prosperity of the country. It were the Chinese Communists who first learned and applied Marxism to advance socialist modernization in light of China’s specific conditions back then. This path to modernization enjoys strong vitality because it is in line with the spirit of the Chinese civilization and based on China’s national reality.
Modernization pursued under the leadership of the CPC serves the people
The CPC Constitution stipulates that the CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and it represents the fundamental interests of the greatest possible majority of the Chinese people. Chinese modernization is people-centered and its immutable goal is to meet the people’s aspirations for a better life.
As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “The people are the foundation of a country and only when the people lead a good life can the country thrive.” Mencius, a foremost representative of the Confucian thought in the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.), said, “There is a way to win (people’s) hearts: amass for them what they desire, do not impose on them what they detest, and it is as simple as that.” This observation highlighted the importance to win public support and bring benefit to the people. The people-centered philosophy of the CPC, drawing political wisdom from traditional Chinese culture, has become a defining feature of Chinese modernization.
Under the leadership of the CPC, China won the largest battle against poverty in human history, which lifted 800 million people out of poverty and met ten years ahead of schedule the poverty eradication target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China has also built the world’s largest social security network with 1.34 billion Chinese having access to basic medical insurance in 2022. China has also made tremendous efforts to address environmental problems that has a direct bearing on the people. As a result, sand and dust storms and smog have been significantly reduced. There are more lush mountains and lucid waters. Every improvement in people’s daily life forms a strong momentum for Chinese modernization.
Modernization pursued under the leadership of the CPC benefits the world
The CPC has been maintaining a global vision. In leading the efforts to pursue modernization, it is dedicated to not only seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, but also promoting human progress and world harmony.
As a Marxist party, the CPC, with an internationalist vision, has made the emancipation of humanity its abiding goal. Taking root in the traditional Chinese culture, the CPC carries forward fine traditional Chinese culture such as “a just cause should be pursued for the common good.”
On the path toward CPC-led modernization and in response to questions of our time-“What is going on with the world?” “What shall we do about it?”-China proposed the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind. It has signed documents on Belt and Road cooperation with more than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations. According to a research report by the World Bank, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since it was proposed 10 years ago has produced 420,000 jobs for partner countries, lifted nearly 40 million people out of poverty, and raised the share of emerging and developing economies in the global economy by 3.6 percentage points. It is expected to generate USD 1.6 trillion in global revenue each year by 2030, accounting for 1.3 percent of global GDP.
The CPC-led modernization embodies the idea that “All people under the heaven are of one family.” China will continue to provide more opportunities for the world with its own development, contributing to common development and shared prosperity for all.
How long can the West continue to deceive the world?
Xin Ping
On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his men found a wholly new continent where Europeans had never set foot before. This day opens a new chapter in European history and is remembered and celebrated for centuries as Columbus’ Discovery of New Lands.
Columbus’ voyage proved to be a blessing to the West, but marked the beginning of nightmare for Native Americans. In the following 500 years, the new arrivals used force and violence to push for colonial expansion and conquest, and gained much wealth and strength which enabled the colonists to constantly exploit other parts of the world, while the indigenous tribes, who have settled in America for 40,000 years, were plundered, deported and killed, deprived of land, home and hope.
The Western world concocted a much more romantic and deceiving term to cover up for their bloody crimes – the Age of Discovery or Exploration. This narrative is in essence Eurocentrism and has long been reinforced as a positive and inspiring story of human bravery, like the Westward movement in North America.
The tricky part of this narrative is that the indigenous tribes who created many of the most splendid cultures in human history including the Incas and the Aztecs were described as among primitive and backward barbarians, while the invaders and colonists were beautified as brave explorers and pioneers, offering good reasons for the advanced or so-called more civilized Europeans to take over this “no-man’s land.” Even battles between invaders and defenders echo down the centuries in the form of romantic legends such as in the Adventures of Colonel Daniel Boone, How the West Was Won, Pocahontas and many more.
Relatives and neighbors of the Ahmadi family gathered around the incinerated husk of a vehicle targeted and hit by an American drone strike, which killed 10 people including children, in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 30, 2021. /CFP
Relatives and neighbors of the Ahmadi family gathered around the incinerated husk of a vehicle targeted and hit by an American drone strike, which killed 10 people including children, in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 30, 2021. /CFP
Today, even after the colonial era has ended for decades, Western countries, accounting for 12 percent of the world’s population, are still trying to dictate what people hear and believe. Through domination in mainstream media and international rules, the West has grasped the agenda-setting power to shape global public opinion, either to glorify itself or deceive the rest of the world. Any potential challenger that tries to break their monopoly in public discourse would be stigmatized by the West as disinformation.
In the Western version of history, the bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq and many more countries were justified as “overthrowing totalitarianism” and “democratic transformation.” Countries like North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and China who are regarded as “disobedient” are ill-defined by the West as authoritarian regimes.
Even in the Ukraine conflict when Russia suggested peace talks, it is the West that banned voices from Russia and the non-Western world and assisted Ukraine to bravely “fight to the last Ukrainian.” Far from solving the problem from the root cause, this Don Quixote-style approach only makes things worse.
Furthermore, the West takes it for granted that they retain the final discretion of political correctness, and shoulder the responsibility to preach their values to the world and crusade against “pagans” and “atheists” just like what they once did to Muslims and Native Americans. They constantly spout off about Western-style democracy and human rights as the only path to development and advancement, discrediting or attacking anything different from its own model.
Today, only 14 percent of the 230 countries and regions have fully achieved industrialization, most of which are in the West. Under all the beautiful covers, the West realized the path of modernization through relentless expansion and colonization is certainly not the right path or the possible one to be followed by the rest of the world.
Today’s world is no longer the world of 500 years ago, nor can it go back to the old colonial days. The collective rise of emerging markets has upset Western mainstream perception and proved that the West is not the end of history. Western countries should not be surprised when their stories and values are refused or even criticized by many developing countries.
The ongoing chapter of human history should not be and is no longer defined by the West. The lies fabricated by the West will ultimately be seen through and rejected downright as proof of Western hypocrisy. -Courtesy: CGTN
Framing bri from the standpoint of cpec
China launched its plan to resurrect the historic Silk Road in 2013 by investing heavily in infrastructure and enhancing the Silk Road’s nearby ports. BRI also known as Yidàiyilù in Chinese, is the name given to it by the Chinese. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the marine Silk Road are its two main components. Once this venture is realized, it will have a tremendous economic impact on the countries on its roadmap. OBOR’s ambitious venture comes at the dawn of changing global power dynamics, a major Chinese policy shift, and the foretold Asian Century.
The BRI will have a tremendous impact on the world at large and China has been at the forefront of Asia’s connectivity drive putting together trade investment mechanisms keeping routes viable and upgrading infrastructure. Though these activities are largely appreciated, there is still anxiety among various countries that are skeptical about China’s intentions in terms of geopolitical gains and desires for global domination. All these activities are for promoting global trade and there is no country in the world that can deny this fact even these skeptical observers share the same beliefs of trade promotion across the globe. While every corridor, whether over land or via the water, is significant, none is more significant than the CPEC due to its strategic location both militarily and economically. It is the only corridor that connects to another corridor and aids in opening up access to the sea for landlocked nations. The project is crucial for China because it will ensure that its trade with Africa, the West, and most critically, its Middle Eastern oil supplies, can continue uninterrupted in the event of any crisis, conflict, or natural disaster in the Indian Ocean or eastward. For this reason, despite the tumultuous circumstances in Pakistan and the Xingjian Province, China’s will to construct the CPEC has not wavered.
The BRI is under intense examination in the West, where they are attempting to limit China’s influence. This was obvious in their efforts to persuade their partners against joining the BRI. Despite the fact that they failed horribly in that endeavor, it is obvious that they will stick to their strategy of China’s containment. They will employ every available method to either subvert China diplomatically or covertly contain it in order to achieve this goal. In the power struggle game between China and the United States in Asia, India, a close ally of the United States for a lot of years, is being reinforced as part of their China containment policy. India is the ideal choice for the United States as an ally in the area since it already has its own regional hegemonic plans and competition with China. That was made abundantly obvious during President Obama’s visit to India as Prime Minister Modi’s new, assertive diplomacy, or “Act East,” has thrilled Washington, which has been urging India to coordinate its actions with the United States’ strategic pivot towards the area for years. Instead of being part of the BRI, India’s construction of barriers in the way of China’s desire to advance the BRI only serves to strengthen Western pressure and facilitation. China’s proposal to join the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), through which China hoped to further its BRI initiatives, has so far been thwarted by India. They publicly backed a political change in Sri Lanka that prevented Chinese projects. India is forging closer connections with Vietnam and Japan, both of which are at odds with China over territorial issues. Indian Prime Minister Modi has expressed worries about the CPEC being “unacceptable,” at various forums demonstrating his desperate attempts to thwart China’s objectives.
As we all know, Sea ports are connected to important cities and nations inside the Silk Road economic belt (SREB) by a carefully thought-out network of trade corridors. The Western media seems to be portraying the BRI’s overall objective as being China-centric and emphasizing the benefits for China alone while underplaying the benefits that the host nations would experience from these projects. The media goes on to insinuate that China is taking advantage of the poverty in many of its partner countries, but this is untrue. As we can see in the example of Greece, China has made significant investments in the port of Piraeus, and as a result of these investments and capacity-building initiatives, the port is developing into a significant trans-shipment center in the Mediterranean as well as a key entry point into the European Union. Hewlett Packard (HP) decided to move a sizable portion of its distribution business from Rotterdam to Piraeus as one example of numerous private companies building their offices close to the port for easier access and distribution inside the EU. In order to service markets in Central Asia, North Africa, and some regions of the Middle East, HP began to use Piraeus as the primary ocean freight gateway. We can also observe that the CPEC, a different SREB route, benefits more than just China and Pakistan because it strengthens ties to the port city of Gwadar, which is curiously where the Land and Maritime Silk Roads connect. Given that it has access to both the roadways and the Arabian Sea, it is rather different. When the CPEC is finished and connected to the corridor that runs through the Province of Xinjiang to connect the Central Asian nations, In terms of proximity and size, Gwadar Port will become the closest and main seaport for a number of landlocked nations, especially Afghanistan and the nations of Central Asia. This CPEC characteristic complements the China Central Asia-West Asia Corridor, making it a crucial tool for accomplishing the BRI’s objective.
The BRI will build new bridges connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. The concept of “One Belt and One Road” has political and geopolitical underpinnings in addition to its economic foundation. It seeks to promote shared prosperity, energy security, and growth. The United States should be more supportive of the project as a stabilizing force for regional peace since doing so might diminish the factors that fuel terrorism and assist in stabilizing Central Asia and the Middle East. The entire Chinese dream will substantially help the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and it will also pay returns. Once the $46 billion in energy and infrastructural improvements are finished, the advantages will extend beyond them. Chinese strategists and those who support them see the BRI as a game-changer for the whole region and beyond. While economic prosperity and well-being for Pakistan, China, and the bordering countries would be heralded by the CPEC. Both initiatives will support increased, commercial collaboration, and economic growth. However, given the United States’ growing skepticism about the BRI and India’s concerns about the CPEC, Pakistan must proceed with caution and tact. As the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) completes its first decade, CPEC has witnessed the successful completion of several milestone projects. The construction of Gwadar Port, an integral part of CPEC, has transformed it into a bustling international port city. With Chinese investment and expertise, Gwadar Port has become a crucial maritime gateway connecting Pakistan to the world, providing a significant boost to trade and commerce in the region. The energy sector has also experienced a significant transformation under CPEC. The establishment of several power projects, including coal, wind, solar, and hydroelectric, has helped bridge Pakistan’s energy deficit, reducing load shedding, and ensuring a stable power supply for industries and households. These initiatives have not only enhanced the country’s energy security but also laid the groundwork for a greener and more sustainable future.
Furthermore, CPEC has played a vital role in boosting industrialization and economic diversification in Pakistan. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) established under the project have attracted both domestic and foreign investments, creating new employment opportunities and fostering economic growth. The transfer of technology and expertise from Chinese companies has been instrumental in enhancing Pakistan’s industrial productivity and competitiveness. Beyond Pakistan’s boundaries, the region as a whole is affected by CPEC. The corridor has improved connectivity between China, Pakistan, and other regional nations as a cornerstone of the BRI, promoting regional integration and trade. Looking ahead, CPEC’s subsequent phase offers a lot of promise. The conclusion of current projects and the introduction of fresh initiatives would further solidify China and Pakistan’s economic and strategic relations. The emphasis will switch to increasing regional trade, improving connectivity, and using the potential of new industries like the digital economy and e-commerce. Other nations looking to create strategic alliances for sustainable development should draw inspiration from CPEC’s transformational path. It highlights the need for a common goal, long-term dedication, and mutual trust in completing large initiatives of this sort. CPEC is a working illustration of how, when we cooperate in an environment of mutual trust and respect, we can accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. As we commemorate CPEC’s tenth anniversary, let us salute the incredible accomplishments and look ahead to a future of ongoing collaboration, prosperity, and development. Other nations looking to create strategic alliances for sustainable development should draw inspiration from CPEC’s transformational path. It highlights the need for a common goal, long-term dedication, and mutual trust in completing large initiatives of this sort. Let’s recognize the incredible progress accomplished as we commemorate the accomplishments of the last ten years while also anticipating further collaboration, prosperity, and development in the years to come.
