"Understanding China" - share development opportunities for a better future

    Share development opportunities for a better future – On the 2nd "Understanding China" Conference

    The three-day 2nd "Understanding China" International Conference adjourned on November 3. At the beautiful lakefront of Yanqihu, Beijing, more than 40 former dignitaries, strategists and business leaders from around the world got together with Chinese government officials to envisage China's reform and development prospects and the corresponding global implications. The conference coincided with the launch of a series of major reform tasks at the Fifth Plenary Session of 18th CPC Central Committee, where how China’s growth could better benefit the world became a hot spot. It is the common aspiration of both Chinese and foreign participants to share development opportunities for a better future.

    Straight-out communication and in-depth interaction created resonance from the heart. In introducing the development goals identified in 13th Five-year Plan, leaders of relevant ministries of the State Council described the achievements as well as future challenges in a frank and pragmatic manner, which were highly appreciated by the participating foreign representatives. Former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo spoke highly of China’s adherence to the opening up policy, saying that the trend for China’s integral convergence with the world economy remained unchanged, and that China's policy orientation for an open economy at a higher level stood in stark contrast to the practices of some jurisdictions.

    As the world's second largest economy, China draws global attention to its future economic trajectory. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a keynote speech titled "China in the eyes of the world." The whole world was amazed by the achievements China had made over the past three decades, with 600 million Chinese people getting rid of poverty and the country contributing about 30% to the global economic growth…He concluded that "the global economy would have been very fragile without China's economic growth," which was widely echoed. According to Nicolas Berggruen, Chairman of the Berggruen Institute, China is doing very well, and we "have a good reason to expect China’s further success."

    The initiative of "One Belt One Road" was written into the 13th Five-year Plan, indicating that China's economic development plan was closely aligned to the global economy for the first time. Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao clearly stated in his speech that a prominent feature of the initiative was to base locally and act globally. Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming stressed in his speech that in advancing the "Belt and Road" initiative and international capacity cooperation, we will adhere to the principle of shared benefits and common development out of joint discussion, making it a genuine carrier to pool the interests of all parties and gather new momentum of economic development.

    Infrastructure interconnection and international macro-channels constitute an important part of the initiative. Former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo said in his speech that the development of the Eurasian continent required trillions of dollars of investment, and the countries along the routes would greatly benefit from the initiative. He has visited many places, witnessing mutually beneficial exchanges between China and its neighbors as well as with the major powers.

    Businesses seeking market-oriented operation are the major players in promoting mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation between China and the relevant jurisdictions in various domains. A large number of Chinese brands have been emerging with eye-catching performance, whose superior innovation capabilities not only tell a story about the rise of a new generation of Chinese industries, but also deliver tangible benefits to people around the world. Huawei is undoubtedly one of the best performers. It set up R&D centers in 16 countries and pools together the world's innovative talents. A WIPO report released on March 19, 2015 noted that Huawei became the world's largest PCT applicant in 2014, allowing consumers around the world to enjoy high-quality products made in China.

    The rule of law is a reliable guarantee of development. In the critical period where China's reform and modernization was evolving in all directions, the significance of the rule of law was highlighted, the Communist Party of China as the ruling party acted to advance the rule of law. "A thorough understanding of the CPC is necessary to understand China's strategy for the coming five years. The essential nature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the CPC’s leadership," emphasized by CIIDS Chairman Zheng Bijian in his keynote speech "Catch up with the Times" and the Communist Party of China. CPC as the ruling party directs China’s economic and social development, and is mainly responsible for the overall orientation and layout, strategy and policy making, legislation and environment creation, with a mechanism formed in long-term practice, under which the Five-year Plan operates in accordance with the scientific procedures. He Yiting, Executive Vice President of the CCCPC Party School, elaborated the CPC Committee’s rigorous democratic decision-making procedures for material documents and major issues. Chen Xiaojiang, Director of the CCDI Department of Publicity, noted that the rule of law called for the rule of regulation in the governance of the Party. The Party’s leadership is stipulated in the Constitution, and the key to solving China's problems lies in the CPC leadership, which is the cornerstone of the nation.

    Communication enhances understanding, and understanding promotes cooperation. In the interview, Mr. Zheng told our reporter that China's practice is evolving with the world’s landscape, and China's future is closely linked with the world. The face-to-face pragmatic exchanges, and the Understanding China and Understanding the World activities will acquaint the international community with China’s proposal for building a harmonious and symbiotic community of common destiny through co-development for mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.