As the front pages were all occupied by Ardern-Peters handshakes and their oversized grins, a very important hui was held in China, which will create a visible impact across the globe, including New Zealand.
You might have read it somewhere else over the media, telling you nothing inspiring but how Chinese president is gaining more power, but I have to say, it is so very sad to see the ignorance and despair of the media to merely feed the readers with such a bias-provoking statement.
I would like to share with you what I’ve heard, read and understand the messages from the hui, and how they are relevant to our lives here in New Zealand.
The hui in China is called the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and it is about VISION, STRATEGY, AND ACTION PLAN for the next 30 years in China.
Unlike NZ government who isn’t able to make a plan for over a few years, the Chinese government works very hard to light a longer pathway for advancement without going through the industrial revolution and colonial expansion as the Western countries did.
But, is this even possible planning for 30 years ahead? Who’s making the decisions, on what basis? Let’s see the report in more detail:
1. Achievements
▌经过长期努力，中国特色社会主义进入了新时代，这是我国发展新的历史方位。
▌With decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. This is a new historic juncture in China’s development.
First, CPC recognised the achievements over the past years and identified that China has entered a New Era. Therefore, new solutions need to be created to overcome new challenges.
“Chinese characteristics” refers to a socialist country led by a major party: Chinese Communist Party, which means, unlike the Western political systems, the democracy in China is indirect, which means the Chinese people could elect their representatives to place votes at the People’s Congress to elect the government and make laws in China, in contrast to a national election. This is the current political system in China protected by the country’s Constitutions. If anyone believes this system is flawed, and some other better systems should be used, feel free to leave me a message about your reasons and evidence.
2. Change of the major challenge
▌中国特色社会主义进入新时代，我国社会主要矛盾已经转化为人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不 充分的发展之间的矛盾。
▌As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved. What we now face is the contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life.
So the development in China is exceptionally fast, but it is not balanced or adequate. What is the indication?
Kenneth Jarrett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, commented: “The era when China emphasized economic growth at any cost is now over. China enters an era of smarter and more balanced growth.”
3, Xi’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
On 24 Oct. 2017, CPC added “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” to the party’s Constitution. The amendment, approved by the 19th CPC National Congress, juxtaposes Xi’s thought with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. (Xinhua)
The sinicization of Marxism has never ended in China and the theories serve as the guiding values that are vital in the decision-making process in China. Xi’s Thought made amendments to the train of thoughts at different times of history to outline a strategy, based on reality and the results from the empirical evidence, so that the system can be bettered and bettered over time.
This is important because it is called a “thought”, sharing the same name with Mao’s thought, indicating the theoretical breakthrough is phenomenal.
A wide range of new ideas, thinking and strategies put forward by the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core have been added to the constitution, including giving a bigger role to free market in resource allocation, imposing deeper changes in the optimisation of supply chains and structure, and renovating cultural products, etc. It also underpins 14 fundamental principles, ranging from ensuring Party leadership position, to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Xi believes that the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics means “Scientific socialism is full of vitality in 21st century China, and that the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is now flying high and proud for all to see.”
4. Action Plan
▌ 综合分析国际国内形势和我国发展条件，从二〇二〇年到本世纪中叶可以分两个阶段来安排。
▌ Based on a comprehensive analysis of the international and domestic environments and the conditions for China’s development, we have drawn up a two-stage development plan for the period from 2020 to the middle of this century.
2020 – 2035, China will build on the foundation created by the moderately prosperous society with a further 15 years of hard work to see that socialist modernization is basically realized.
2035 – 2050, China will work hard for a further 15 years and develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.
The report is a 80-something pages long, you can read Xi’s book or the full report if you are really into it. However, you can see from the abovementioned, China is developing in its unique way to seek an effective and fast development, and in the meantime, maintain a peaceful and stable society.
Lin Yutang once said:”It is evident that the Chinese as a nation are more philosophic.” Here we can see how the Chinese government is leading the country under a set of philosophical theories based on the reality and empirical evidence tested and collected from the past decades.
It is not hard to see that China is rising to become a powerful country in the world, but from its long history and its policies, we could come to the conclusion that China is not seeking power through violence, war, intimidation or punishment, but through cooperation, genuine friendship and partnership, with mutual respect, understanding and support.
The Chinese see the nation itself as “礼仪之邦” (a country of decency and honour), it always treats other countries with warm hospitality (just ask anybody who has been to China). The CPC, being the major party in China for almost 80 years, cares for the people they serve.
Many western media claimed that China is rising and it is dangerous for other countries. But is China interfering into any other country’s business, like the war in Afghanistan? in Iraq? No! China is building roads and infrastructure, not military bases; to make friends, not to enslave them; to share a different point of view, not to impose an ideology and use it as the justification for their greed.
I think we should be happy to see a strong leadership team in China, since China is closely connected to New Zealand economically, and a stable and peaceful growing China is a good partner, isn’t it?
I once heard an Auckland councillor commented that:”it’s just a matter of changing the powerful mates, Americans, Chinese, British, it doesn’t matter. In my experience, the Chinese is a much better bully.” :) So, my last message is if you are going to do something that has any relevance to China, you need to learn about its government policies and its culture, and try to understand its way of thinking as a completely different perspective to ask the ultimate questions.
Comments