In my previous article, I have introduced some of the big changes after the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. China has turned itself from a closed, backward and poor country with a weak foundation into a country that is open and prosperous. In just several decades, China has finished what took some developed countries hundreds of years to complete. Just as China’s President Xi Jinping put it,“the Chinese people have made epic accomplishments in the history of China and the world, which deeply impressed people around the world.”
Why China is developing so fast? I believe the secret behind China’s development relies on the unified leadership of the Communist Party of China, the development path suited to China’s national conditions, the enduring state policy of reform and opening-up, and the hard work of all Chinese people.
With a history of more than 5,000 years, China created a splendid civilization, made remarkable contributions to mankind. But with the Opium War of 1840, China was plunged into the darkness of domestic turmoil and foreign aggression. It is CPC which succeeded in uniting the Chinese people and leading them to defeat imperialist aggressors, end separatist rule of warlords, repeal all unequal treaties with other countries and establish a new China, the People’s Republic of China. Until then, Chinese people finally stood up and became the master of a respected nation in the world. The CPC was founded in 1921 with only around 50 members. And now, as the ruling party of China, CPC has become the largest political party in the world with nearly 92 million party members. The CPC stresses people-centered philosophy, puts the people’s interests above anything else. “Serve the people heart and soul” is the slogan for all CPC members. The leadership of the CPC is not only the choice of Chinese history and culture but also the choice of Chinese people. The People’s Congress System is the fundamental political system in China, which guarantees that all State power belongs to the people. There are nearly 3000 deputies elected from different regions, sectors and ethnic groups of China. They exercise their power through the National People’s Congress and the local people’s congress at various levels on behalf of the 1.4 billion Chinese people.
The Communist Party of China succeeded in finding a development path suited to China’s unique condition. There is no textbook of golden rules to follow for a country like China, a country with over 5,000 years of civilization and 1.4 billion people. “emancipating the minds, seeking truth from facts and keeping pace with the times” has always been the golden key of CPC’s practice to find solutions for China’s development. In 1978, the CPC made the historical decision to start China’s reform and opening-up, which involved series of policies, allowing China to grow at a high and sustained pace.
In 1980s, the most influential reform was the Household Responsibility System. This program allowed farmers to move from collective farming to family farming. Farmers were able to farm their own plots, increasing their efficiency and allowing them to make extra income by selling surplus crops. The policy greatly boosted agricultural production, and provided China with a strong agricultural base from which to launch the rest of its reform policies.
In 1990s, China implemented the reform of State-owned enterprises, which paved the way for China to set up a thriving market economy. This policy greatly boosted the contribution of private enterprises to the Chinese economy. By 2019, the private sector contributed over 60 percent to China’s GDP, over 50 percent to China’s taxation, and 90percent to China’s employment. This was an essential step in transforming from a centrally controlled economy to a socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics.
In 2001, after a 15-year negotiation, China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) . Accession to the WTO allows China to increase its trade with other nations, while continue to lower its tariff and non-tariff barriers. Many multinationals moved to China. Setting up branches in China became an important step in the life cycle of international firms. During the 2000s, China became the “factory of the world”, producing everything from T-shirts to automobiles.
In 2010s, China's major focus has been on Belt and Road Initiative, which promises to revive and even improve on China's ancient Silk Road, a major pathway for trade and cultural exchange. While bringing many development opportunities to the world, this program will boost China's growth through trade and investment, as well as strengthen diplomatic ties with a multitude of other countries. Since the program’s inception in 2013, China has struck thousands of deals under Belt and Road Initiative,from building up motorways and railways to constructing ports and special economic zones. In the 2014-2019 period, the total trade volume between China and BRI countries surpassed 6.4 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth of 6.1 percent. China has become the biggest trade partner of more than 120 countries.
The reform and opening-up is an enduring huge project with so many policies and stories in various areas. They are far too numerous to list here. But none of these stories could come into reality without the hard work, vision and courage of the Chinese people. The Chinese people are renowned for their hard work for a better life. They are the heroes of China’s development. For example, the original idea of Household Responsibility System was first innovated and implemented by some farmers of a small village named Xiaogang in southern China. Then it was implemented throughout China. Now the Xiaogang Spirit has become the miniature of the reform and opening-up.
Every bit of happiness in the world is created by hard work. The development of China has blazed a new path to modernization for developing countries and enriched the dreams of people around the world for a better life. Countries in the world may be different from each other, but we share the common desire for a better future. Each country should set its own development path on the basis of its unique conditions and people’s needs. Let’s work together to build a community of shared future for mankind.