Cuban Ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira Photo: Courtesy of Cuban Embassy in Beijing

Editor's Note: 

In the current world increasingly perplexed by uncertainty, division and confrontation, the great striving of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is of significance not only for China, but also for the entire world more than ever. China, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, has realized numerous historic achievements including eradication of absolute poverty, and completion of building China into a moderately prosperous society in all respects in the past 10 years. In contrast, the US and many parts of the Western world are stuck in a plight of governance, to the extent that they have become source of instability for the world. How should we view China's development in the past decade? How will the CPC's governance present inspiration to other countries? The Global Times reporter (Xie Wenting) interviewed Cuban Ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira (Pereira) on these topics.

GT: You have visited many places in China. Based on your own observation, how do you evaluate China's development over the past 10 years? What impressed you most during China's development?

Pereira: I was linked to China early on, even when I was still a university student. The China I had the opportunity to know in 1991, when I arrived there for the first time, 31 years ago and the one I finally returned to at the end of 2019 as Ambassador, are different countries, reflecting very different circumstances and challenges. In my different trips to provinces and municipalities and in the capital Beijing, I have witnessed how China has not only transformed itself, but has ended up transforming equally the existing world order both economically and politically. 

In the last decade, the world has experienced a series of unprecedented events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the occurrence of multiple armed conflicts and the increasingly hostile position of US hegemony toward nations that opt for alternative systems to capitalism. In the midst of the current complex situation, China has acquired even greater importance on the global stage in terms of facilitating development.

One of the most significant feats that China has achieved is the elimination of extreme poverty and contributed to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This achievement demonstrated the effectiveness of strategic planning under the leadership of the CPC. At the same time, China's economic achievements, advances in innovation and high technologies, and infrastructure development have reached unprecedented levels that place China at the global forefront. What is perhaps the most outstanding is not the high development that has been achieved in such a short time, but the CPC's ability to pour those benefits to the people. 

GT: From your point of view, what are the reasons that contributed to these achievements?

Pereira: China's achievements are often referred as a miracle; however, I prefer to say that there has been no miracle. It's the China's development model and its capacity for innovation under the strong leadership of the CPC that contributed to the success. The centralized and democratic management of the CPC constitutes an indisputable strength of the Chinese development model. Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has more than proved to be a leading political force with a great capacity for leadership, exemplarity and rootedness within Chinese society. Throughout its century-long history, its role as the undisputed leader of the Chinese people has been the key to the process of China's territorial reunification and sustainable and peaceful development.

The CPC not only succeeded in founding the New China, but also in launching and leading the process of reform and opening-up with far-reaching changes in the economic, social and institutional sectors, as well as consolidating the theoretical bases of socialism with its own characteristics. 

GT: What does China's development mean for the world? How do you evaluate China's role on the global stage?

Pereira: China has risen to international prominence as an emerging power and major contributor to development, providing real solutions to global challenges through an unprecedented inclusive, cutting-edge and harmonious vision.  

China has been pushing forward an international agenda that is beneficial for sustainable and inclusive development for all countries, while honoring the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with responsibility and practical actions. 

For developing countries, China represents the political will and commitment to promote relations of a new kind, based on mutual respect, sovereign equality of states, preservation of peace and mutually beneficial international cooperation. It is also a symbol of the transition to a new international order that is more just, democratic and humanistic, where consultation and understanding among states replaces coercion, confrontation and zero-sum geopolitical games.

The development achieved by China has allowed it to assume a greater role in the international system, not only because it is an important trading partner of many countries and an active contributor to the world's economic growth, but also because of its proven ability to provide comprehensive responses to unprecedented global problems, both in its geographical environment and in other regions.

For Cuba, China is a benchmark of the achievements of socialism in modern times, which, under the leadership of the CPC, has managed to overcome adversities and meet its development goals. The common challenges, ideological identification, political trust and maturity characterize the bonds of friendship between our nations.

GT: What's your expectation for the future China-Cuba relations?

Pereira: Bilateral relations between Cuba and China are special and at a very high level characterized by mutual trust and omnidirectional cooperation. Throughout these 62 years of uninterrupted relations, Cuba has had the historic privilege of always being at the forefront in promoting exchanges with China. Our relations represent a model of cooperation on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit. We consider ourselves as mutual references in the construction of socialism with our own characteristics. On that basis, we carry out a broad and systematic exchange of experiences.

Even in the midst of the pandemic, our ties have continued to grow. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), we hope to promote new projects linked to tourism, renewable energy, biotechnology, science and technology among others. 

I am convinced that Cuba and China will continue to be friends and comrades in the defense of just causes and a more equitable, democratic and humanist international order in the future. 

GT: What's your expectation for the 20th CPC National Congress?

Pereira: The celebration of the 20th CPC National Congress will undoubtedly be another transcendental historical moment, which will consolidate the theoretical and ideological foundations of the Party, revitalize its top leadership and outline the main political, economic and social guidelines of the country for the next five years and beyond, a period that undoubtedly becomes key for the materialization of its second centennial goal.

Throughout all these years, the CPC has strengthened its prestige, moral authority and confidence among the Chinese people by exercising assertive leadership. It has been admirable for its ability to analyze the moments of greatest uncertainty in a pragmatic manner and to turn great challenges into opportunities.

It is appropriate to emphasize that the leadership of the CPC and General Secretary Xi Jinping have been a decisive factor in the realization of strategic goals, so the legitimacy, prestige, trust and moral authority of the Party and its leaders will continue to be strengthened and guide the Chinese people.

The celebration of the 20th CPC National Congress will also be an excellent opportunity to strengthen the leadership capacity and expand its vision of a new, fairer and more equitable international order, capable of building a community of shared future for mankind. We have no doubt that China will assume the historic legacy of continuing to work for the preservation of world peace and to assist developing countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Cuba and China are friends, comrades and brothers. In that sense, the celebration of the 20th National Congress of the CPC will be welcomed with great satisfaction by the Cuban people. Inter-party relations between Cuba and China are at an excellent moment, and it is expected that after the end of the 20th CPC National Congress, they will continue to strengthen political dialogue and strategic communication at the highest level, which could boost bilateral relations, reach new consensus and strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two peoples.