Chinese modernization with indigenous characteristics

Editor's note: The writer is Director of Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, Pakistan. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of Gwadar pro.

 

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is in full swing in Beijing with a significant aim of consolidating and strengthening China’s national and global progress. CPC has made a solemn commitment to achieve the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country, covering every aspect of the rejuvenation and development of Chinese ways of modernization by 2035. The Congress has outlined that modernization will be achieved by adopting an overall change and transformation, keeping in view the emerging requirements, trends, and global challenges. 
Last year, while speaking at a ceremony marking the Communist Party of China's (CPC) centenary, President Xi Jinping stated that China has pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization and created a new model for human advancement by upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics leading to progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social, and ecological terms. 

The modernization process with Chinese characteristics is based on a human-centric approach where people are primarily the actual beneficiaries and drivers of the path to destiny for a shared future. The process is based on China’s glorious historical past that is profoundly impacting the country’s ideals of peaceful coexistence, cultural transformation, ideological innovation, and equitable development, offering people to thrive.

Through the transformed and indigenous process of modernization, millions of people have been helped to leave the shackles of poverty to build a life with dignity. Apart from human capital and development, China has made technological, knowledge, and economic progress simultaneously. This two-pronged advancement has made an unmatched combination that has made China become a global leader in innovation, cyberspace, industrialization, manufacturing, aerospace, and knowledge.
For the past decade, China has achieved phenomenal economic and development growth despite the challenges at various levels, including the unprecedented pandemic that caused havoc worldwide.

According to the latest reports, China’s GDP has risen to account for more than 18 percent of the global economy, turning the country into an engine of global growth. China is the second largest economy in the world and has become a trading partner with over 140 countries, with investment, trade, and development projects ongoing in full swing.One of the important characteristics of the indigenous Chinese modernization process is the whole process of people’s democracy.  Without an inclusive approach to people’s participation, any development process is far from reaching and achieving. Again the Chinese process of democracy is based on the wishes and aspirations of the people and is not a borrowed ideal. 

Innovation is at the heart of Chinese transformation and progress in the new era. Innovation-led development policies have helped China to move faster on the path of self-reliance in various sectors including health, education, science, and technology. To foster forward this aim, President Xi Jinping has also announced that China will be launching several important long-term national projects. 

President Xi Jinping and the CPC’s overall leadership has given the Chinese nation a much-required direction towards the path of glory. What we have witnessed is that  CPC has played a significant role in achieving not only the directions to modernization but also the goals set forth in such important Congress meetings. 
It is noteworthy that China's governance mechanism has dynamically evolved as CPC continues to adapt to the people's changing demands and wishes, with its primary goal being the promotion of economic and social growth for a better life for its people. This adaptation of new processes to answer the needs and requirements has remained the bedrock of development, progress and modernization. 

China’s modernization process is an excellent example of how inclusive growth can be for the people, by the people, and for all to enjoy the destiny of a safe and secure future. We have witnessed in recent history that as a result of the outstanding economic progress, China has opened up to the world to share the dividends to help transform the economies of the developing countries.

Through BRI and China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan is an excellent example of how the vision of development, modernization, and advancement in the life of the people has been shared with other countries. Through the baseline philosophy of the people-centric approach, China has been able to offer the countries much-needed development support in all directions.