THE People’s Republic of China (PRC) has traversed a path akin to a roller coaster ride. Being one of the most ancient civilizations, it led the quest for development and progress. Invention of the Chinese characters several millennia ago, cerebral accomplishments in an era of great intellectual accomplishments, referred to as “the period of one hundred masters and schools of thought” and the advent of prominent thinkers such as Laozi, Confucius and Mozi, exploring a wide range of topics from the universe to the earth, and from man’s relations to nature propelled China to great heights of progress.
Despite the era of prosperity ushered by the ancient Silk Road, unfortunately, myopic feudal rulers of the 18th and 19th centuries closed the doors of China in boastful ignorance, leaving the country in a quagmire of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. Frequent foreign invasions caused great social turmoil, poverty and deprivation. Following centuries of strife, the Chinese people were compelled to take their destiny in their own hands to unshackle the bonds of slavery.
The long years of servitude left indelible scars on the minds of the Chinese, who cherish not only their own freedom but also pursue a policy of peace, non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs nor tolerate others to interfere in their own affairs. PRC has achieved success as well as committed errors in its process of development. China’s “reform and opening-up” was launched under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, whose far-reaching futuristic economic policies blazed a new trail of establishing socialism with Chinese characteristics, focusing on building a socialist market economy, democracy an advanced culture, a harmonious society and a sound eco-system, upholding social equity and justice, promote all-round development of the people, pursue peaceful development, complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and eventually achieve modernization and ensure prosperity for all. These are noble goals but without grudging the rise of China, it is important to observe that PRC has reached out to the Occident as well as the Orient to build bridges and take them along on the road to development and prosperity.
Each Chinese leader has carried the torch forward, building on the work of his predecessor, providing course correction where necessitated. Chairman Mao Zedong led the arduous journey to freedom and establishing modern China. Deng Xiaoping’s pecuniary design propelled PRC on the rapid path of economic progress. Now President Xi Jinping, who is cognizant of the fact that China’s reform has entered a deep-water zone, where problems crying to be resolved are all difficult ones, but with firm resolve he has moved the reform forward. He has oft quoted a Chinese saying: we must “get ready to go into the mountain, being fully aware that there may be tigers to encounter”. This highlights the principle of reform i.e., to act with courage while moving forward with steady steps. With the deepening of reform, China will continue to undergo profound changes, which not only provide strong momentum for China’s modernization drive, but also bring new development opportunities to the world.
Strategic decisions were made at the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to comprehensively deepen China’s reforms, and over 330 implementing steps covering 15 sectors were introduced. The 1.3 billion Chinese people are venturing to realize the Chinese Dream of great national renewal. Hearteningly, the PRC is endeavouring to take the rest of the world along in the pursuit of their individual dreams, merging them with the Chinese Dream, where it is prudent to rebuild the challenged international economy.
At the 19th CPC National Congress, wide ranging revisions to the Constitution were made, which juxtaposes Xi’s thought with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, The Theory of the Three Represents and Scientific Outlook on Development. Xi has already inscribed his name in the annals of history by fulfilling his determination to steer the people of China out of poverty. This is no mean achievement as this scribe who first visited China in 1974 when the country was still struggling to eke out a survival and has made numerous visits since, is witness to the progress achieved in leaps and bounds.
Despite the current trade conflict with the USA, China is bent upon moving forward. Xi Jinping appears to be guided by the code that “The wise seeks common ground while the unwise clings to differences”. History was created in the PRC, when Xi Jinping was unanimously approved for a third term as President and General Secretary of the CPC as well as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the PRC at the 20th National People’s Congress by the 2952 delegates present. Xi steered his country boldly facing the challenges of the global pandemic COVID-19, protecting his countrymen and the region from the deadly catastrophe, sharing expertise in handling it as well as the vaccines developed to combat it.
The rise of China is guided by a cogent and practical top-level design complemented by a time-table and a road map, being executed with contemplation and deliberation, embedded with Xi Jinping’s triad of ingenuities: “The Global Security Initiative”, “The Global Development Initiative” and “The Global Civilization Initiative” emphasizing adherence to the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, which precisely the time-tested “Chinese prescription” prescribed to the current turbulent and changing situation in the world. Multi-faceted development projects like the advent of establishing the BRICS and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and mega development project ’the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)’ merit mention. These initiatives are based on the principle of “Towards a Community of Common Destiny”.
The policy of PRC towards its neighbours stems from the adage that one may choose one’s friends but has no choice on neighbours thus PRC adheres to the ideas of “affinity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness” for its relations with neighbouring countries. This is the rationale behind China’s continued rise. I wish PRC well on the 74th Anniversary of its inception and commend its leadership for steering PRC through choppy seas.
—The writer is a Retired Group Captain of PAF, who has written several books on China.
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