Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

 

The centennial of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is looming as a grand celebration will be held in Beijing on July 1 which will be the focus of the world. Under CPC's mandate and stewardship, China, the most populous nation on Earth, has been transformed to be the most dynamic major economy with 770 million people being lifted out poverty, and more than 500 million middle class being able to enjoy growing prosperity whose mighty consumption power is attracting all multinational companies. 

The CPC has led China to become the world's largest manufacturing powerhouse and the largest trading nation. What makes the Chinese people most elated and fulfilled is the country's vast investment on infrastructure, education and technology advances that are set to pave the road for continuous speedy economic growth in the coming years. 

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and its underpinning concept of building up common prosperity and destiny shared by all humankind - borne from distinctive and rich ancient Chinese culture - are gaining broad recognition and approval in the world. 

Over the past 18 months, the CPC, faced with the sudden onset of COVID-19, launched an unprecedented people's war against the pandemic by largely stifling the virus' spread in China, echoing its pledge to always place people's lives before everything else. Now, the country has administered more than 1.1 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines, far ahead of other nations.

This single great success to contain the pandemic, eclipsing a slew of other nations including the US, has earned the CPC skyrocketing support from the Chinese people. Tens of thousands of lives will have perished if not for Beijing's decisive measures taken in 2020 to thwart the disease. Trust in the CPC and the central government has grown to more than 95 percent, according to surveys conducted by international organizations. 

It is bewildering for the US-led Western powers to get to know the logic of the CPC's operational and governing style, and the ruling party's courage and perseverance in the past 100 years of overcoming hardships and delivering great pledges to the people. 

Till today, the US, the Western governments and their media keep playing up the divide of so-called democracy versus autocracy, believing their multiparty system is more superior than China's unique and highly successful model, but it becoming increasingly clear that the US and the Western governments are too consumed in inter-bickering or partisan tussle and fight, between their rival political parties, and their way of governance is of much lower efficiency and efficacy. 

So what makes a political party in China, with 92 million members, so successful, perseverant and still thriving for 100 years? It would probably need a fortnight or writing 100 essays to expound on the theories, thoughts, experiences, anecdotes and practices of the CPC in its centenary. 

A shortcut for those in the world who are interested in getting the answers is to go to the library and find a book about the Great Saint and his Confucianism which will tell you what the CPC's doctrine of pursuing democratic collectivism means, and, why it works. It explains why the CPC and the Chinese people value stability, unity, children's education, elderly's welfare, and inclusive growth and common prosperity that a government should leave no one behind. 

It also explains why the CPC and the Chinese people never cower to foreign coercion and threat, tending to fight back decisively whenever bullied by other powers - which is epitomized by the tit-for-tat tariffs imposed on the US, and retaliatory punishments put on anti-China politicians, their direct family members, and China-bashing institutions in the US and the West. 

And, it also sheds light on why the future of this populous country, under the leadership of the CPC, will continue to stand up to challenges from both home and abroad, keep on drawing up people-centered policies, and scale new development heights. 

In the run-up to the CPC's centennial, it is worth taking a look at the collective wisdom of the Party's top leadership and the central government to weigh domestic development issues and international affairs, and work out tailored policies. 

Since the 2008-09 global financial crisis, which was caused by exuberance of the Wall Street bankers and negligence of the US government financial watchdogs, the CPC has steered China onto the development fast lane. Backed with huge investment into infrastructure, science and technology, and human resources, the country has gained significantly in becoming a leading power in technological advances. China is a pioneer and global pacesetter in 5G rollout, paperless mobile payment, e-commerce, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, autonomous cars, high-speed railways, satellite navigation and space explorations. 

It is little wonder, therefore, that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese development miracle has offered a learning point for some other developing nations. From special economic zones, free trade ports, agricultural demonstration areas, ecological national reservation resorts to the BRI, piloting has become a key process in the CPC's policy-making and innovation. 

Certain Western nations, notably the US, Canada and Australia, see China as a strategic rival, one that is out to displace their position on the global stage, but many other governments, mostly in the developing world, will see China's development as good opportunity and great inspiration. With the nonstop strengthening of Chinese economy, the CPC will be increasingly liked and acclaimed by more countries and peoples. 

The author is an editor with the Global Times. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn