CPC leads China's peaceful rise

SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY

On behalf of the government of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal and on my own, I would like to congratulate General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, other high ranking leaders and members of the CPC as well as the entire Chinese nation on this landmark occasion. I am confident that under the leadership of the CPC, China will continue to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in China and the world at large.

The CPC was founded with the dream of achieving socialism through the communist movement and the ideological guidance of Marxism. The Party made an arduous journey during the last century. While making marvelous achievements, it has also suffered huge setbacks. In the initial years of its founding, the CPC established itself as an alternative power by developing bases among peasants and in rural areas, and by unifying the country fragmented by the warlords.

Long March embodied CPC's heroic spirit

Continuing its ideological struggle with various ultra-leftist and rightist aberrations, the Party toiled to adopt an indigenous course and structure that suited Chinese characteristics. To safeguard the revolutionary force, which was facing severe reactionary suppression in the south, the CPC undertook the Long March.

Like a fairytale, the Long March is one of the most remarkable events of the last century, full of adventures and sacrifices. To counter foreign aggression, the CPC spearheaded a united front alongside Kuomintang. This decision established the CPC among the people as an unrivalled torchbearer on two fronts－against feudalism as well as against imperialism. The betrayal by Kuomintang after the defeat of foreign aggressors, and its efforts to plant a reactionary regime enticed by foreign powers posed a severe threat to the CPC and the country.

Thanks to its reputation and popular support, the CPC successfully concluded the new democratic revolution in 1949. The founding of the People's Republic of China heralded the dawn of not only a new era marking the end of feudalism and foreign repression, but was also an inspiring event for oppressed countries and people across the world.

Over the past 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic, China has gone through various stages of change. During the phase of entering socialism by strengthening the democratic system, it successfully tackled the challenges, including non-cooperation from the Soviet Union, extremist mistakes in the course of implementing socialism, and natural disasters.

Reform and opening-up lead to rapid development

In the next stage, China adopted the policy of reform and opening-up, which ushered in China's development as a modern, industrialized, and scientifically and technologically advanced nation. China has become a moderately prosperous socialist nation. And having successfully uplifted the Chinese people from the clutches of abject poverty, China has been able to provide them with happiness and prosperity.

The hundred years since the founding of the CPC have seen phenomenal changes and revolutionary transformations in China, during which it has moved away from feudalism and serfdom, internal strife, foreign oppression and extreme poverty, and transformed itself into a fully independent, well-respected, prosperous and strong socialist country.

Three turning points in the CPC's history deserve special mention. The first was during the national struggle (1937-45). Forming a united front with Kuomintang was a farsighted decision of the CPC. Some Communist International leaders were opposed to this idea, but if the CPC had capitulated to such opposition, the Chinese revolution would have suffered huge losses.

However, Chinese leaders kept China's ground reality in mind, prioritized the national needs, chose their innovative approach, disagreed with the Comintern leaders and refused to wear the ideological straitjacket. In doing so, China explored its own path of revolution, which was later named as Mao Zedong Thought. This innovative and unique approach led the Chinese revolution.

Second, reform and opening-up initiated by Deng Xiaoping had transformative effects. It is possible that Chinese socialism might have suffered a huge setback if not for Deng's visionary decision to pursue modernization and reforms. These new policies were based on his deep insight into the nature of productive forces and production relations, as well as the methods that could improve overall economic productivity.

Viewed from the conventional Marxist lense, the policy of reform and opening-up was quite unusual and seemingly incongruous. Yet we can see today that the policy has played an instrumental role in China's socioeconomic transformation over the past four decades.

The third is more recent, in fact, of this decade. With the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, President Xi in 2013 put forward the concept of the Belt and Road Initiative, which conceives inclusive development and shared prosperity as its primary goals. It also contains within itself a new vision of globalization where nation-states cooperate with each other to build a shared future for all based on the principles of sovereign equality and independence. At a time when some countries are beset by protectionism, narrow nationalism and extremism, and are actually shirking their global obligations, this approach has created new hope for mankind.

Humanity today is facing new and global challenges such as climate change, pandemics and terrorism. These challenges are so grave and diverse that it is not possible for a single country to face any one of them alone, no matter how powerful it may be. To overcome them, new partnerships and multilateral efforts are imperative.

A fairer world will benefit all nations

Globalization which began in the middle of last century greatly helped in bringing the nation-states closer, in intensifying the free flow of products, services and people, in enhancing interactions among the cultures and civilizations, and in building global value chains for the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. But not all countries, especially the developing countries, have gained their fair share in this process. There is no alternative to globalization but the current structure can't cater to the needs of all nation-states. The present world order is not fair and just.

In this context, I believe the Chinese initiative of building a community with a shared future for mankind is a positive move. It has put forward a proposal for cooperation based on sovereign equality, free choice and self-decision.

I hope its success will contribute to the inclusive and environmentally friendly development of the world through enhanced connectivity, research and people-to-people relations among the nation-states, and will benefit humankind as a whole.

Chinese friends have been saying repeatedly that, however prosperous and powerful China may become, it will never have any territorial ambitions and will never create problems for the sovereignty of other countries. China has been raising its voice at international forums including the United Nations in favor of a just and fairer world order. China's continuous support to the concerns and demands of developing countries has been an immense source of encouragement for them.

China's development brings opportunities for neighbors

We hope that the more China grows, the more opportunities developing countries will get to benefit from China's prosperity. China would be able to further contribute to the development efforts of these countries through development cooperation, investment, humanitarian cooperation during disasters, technology transfer, trade facilitation, and by giving them access to the vast Chinese market for their products.

China's cooperation during pandemics like COVID-19 is even more important. At a time when the global financial market is facing a crisis, many are turning to China for resources needed by the developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In the coming days, China's role in development partnership could be even more important.

Similarly, China's important achievements in science and technology are praiseworthy. I would like to congratulate Chinese comrades and scientists for successful launch of the independent mission to Mars, and their success in collecting rocks from the moon. China has also been able to create world-class high-tech industries from 5G to artificial intelligence to biotechnology and quantum computing. Even amid the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese economy bounced back in 2020.

As a friendly and close neighbor, Nepal highly appreciates China's unprecedented development, extends best wishes for its further development, and expresses confidence that China will succeed in achieving the Two Centenary Goals and national rejuvenation promised by the Communist Party of China.

Nepal and China have been enjoying close, cooperative and cordial relations since antiquity. Our two countries have remained close neighbors, all-weather friends and trusted partners. Nepal-China relations are deeply rooted in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, mutual respect and understanding, friendship, equality and appreciation of each other's interests, concerns and sensitivities. We don't have any outstanding issues. This problem-free relationship is, indeed, a model relationship between two neighboring countries.

Nepal accords high priority to its relations with China. It has always supported the one-China policy. We are steadfast in our policy and commitment to not allow any activity against China on our soil. We appreciate China's unconditional respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, national unity and stability of Nepal. We equally commend the good neighborhood policy of China.

China has been consistently supporting and assisting Nepal to complement its socioeconomic development endeavors. We appreciate the government of China's continued development support and cooperation, and express confidence that Chinese investment and cooperation will continue to grow in the years to come.

Nepal is keen on an early conclusion of the Belt and Road Initiative Implementation Plan for advancing various projects related to rail, road, tunnel, infrastructure development, energy and connectivity within the overarching framework of Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network. This framework will help Nepal to transform into a land-linked country from a land-locked country and to enhance its international trade.

Nepal and China have been closely cooperating and collaborating in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since the days of its outbreak. China has provided 1.8 million doses of vaccines and other medical equipment, materials and supplies for Nepal since the outbreak of the pandemic.

And we welcome and support the policy of China to "build a global community of health for all" for ensuring that no individual and state is left behind in these critically challenging times.

(The author is Nepali foreign minister. This is an excerpt from his recent speech at the virtual seminar, "Marking 100 years of the Communist Party of China: Innovation and Resilience", co-held by the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding, Peking University, and the Nepal Institute of International and Strategic Studies.)