What Is Good Democracy? The People Have the Final Say
民主好不好，人民说了算
By H.E. Mr. Du Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia
驻赞比亚大使杜晓晖
27 March 2023
2023年3月27日
In early March, more than 5,000 deputies from the National People’s Congress (NPC) and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) convened in Beijing to discuss state affairs, bringing with them proposals representing the most immediate aspirations of the people. These two significant annual sessions on China’s political calendar garnered attention from around the world. They demonstrated to the international community that China’s Whole-Process People’s Democracy under the leadership of the CPC has brought tangible benefits to the Chinese people. This proves that China has successfully developed its own path to democracy that suits to its national conditions. Chinese modernization, marked by Chinese democracy, provides a Chinese solution for mankind’s exploration of a better social system.
3月初，来自中国各地的5000多名两会代表委员带着人民群众最鲜活的意愿齐聚北京、共商国是。这一年度政治盛会也为中国吸引了世界的目光。透过两会这个重要窗口，国际社会看到，中国的全过程人民民主是在中国共产党领导下，为人民谋利益、给群众带来实实在在好处的民主。中国走出了一条适合自身国情的成功的民主道路，以中国式民主为重要标志的中国式现代化为人类对更好社会制度的探索提供了中国方案。
Democracy is a common value shared by all humanity, not a privilege reserved to a specific country or organization. Chinese President Xi Jinping once used a folk saying as a metaphor: “Only the wearer knows if the shoes fit or not.” As human civilization is diversified, democracy should also take on various forms. It goes against the spirit of democracy to judge diverse political systems with a single standard or to view the colorful political spectrums of human society with a narrow vision. There is no such a thing as a perfect or superior democratic system, nor is there a model of democracy that fits all countries. Zambia has earned great reputation in Africa for its strong democratic tradition since its independence, especially its well-organized elections and peaceful handover of power, and have equally engaged in international affairs with other countries. Zambia has developed its own path to democracy that suits its national conditions. To fundamentally evaluate a democracy, we must consider whether the people play an active role in governance, whether their needs are heard and met, and whether they lead fulfilling and happy lives. In short, it’s up to the people of a country to judge the quality of its democracy.
民主是全人类共同的价值观，不是某个国家或某个组织的特权。习近平主席常说，“鞋子合不合脚，只有脚知道”。人类文明是丰富多彩的，实现民主的形式也应该是丰富多彩的。用单一的标尺衡量世界丰富多彩的政治制度，用单调的眼光审视人类五彩缤纷的政治文明，本身就是不民主的。适合的就是最好的，没有十全十美、高人一等的民主制度，更不存在适用于一切国家的民主模式。赞比亚因其独立后良好的民主传统特别是规范、和平、有序的选举和权力交接享誉非洲，与其他国家平等相处参与国际事务，走出了一条符合自身国情的民主道路。对民主最基本的判断标准，就是看人民是否有广泛参与国家治理的权利，人民的诉求能否得到回应和满足，人民有没有获得感和满足感。一句话，民主不民主要由这个国家的人民来评判。
The notion of democracy should not be employed as a political instrument for arbitrary manipulation. The essence of the “Summit for Democracy” to be held by the United States is to form factions in the field of international relations and incite camp alignment and ideological confrontation. The US has built “Democracy versus Authoritarianism” into its underlying logic and core narrative, and has intervened in the Taiwan issue under the pretext of “Defending Democracy”, thus raising tensions across the Taiwan Straits. We can’t help but ask: Who keeps stirring up discord and instigates a new “Cold War” that divides the world along ideological lines? Who keeps interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and undermining their sovereignty under the guise of democracy, even resorting to unlawful means such as violence to export its own system for its political agenda? Who evades discussions about the United Nations and International Law, attempting to replace international rules with those of its exclusive bloc and establish an international system led by itself?
民主概念不应成为任意操弄的政治工具。美国举办“民主峰会”，本质是在国际关系领域拉帮结派，煽动阵营对立和意识形态对抗。美国把“民主对抗威权”打造成美底层逻辑和核心叙事，以“捍卫民主”为借口介入台湾问题，推升台海紧张。我们不禁要问，是谁在不断挑起事端，为掀起“新冷战”开辟意识形态战场？是谁以民主的名义干涉别国内政，侵犯别国主权，甚至动用武力等非法手段输出本国制度、服务自身的政治目的？是谁避谈联合国和国际法，以小集团规则取代国际规则，妄图建立由自身主导的国际体系？
Democracy should not be used as a justification for disparaging other civilizations. As the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, humanity is facing unprecedented risks and challenges. It is imperative that the international community unite and collaborate. The US, acting out of its own selfish interests and drawing lines by its own standards, artificially labels countries around the world as “Democratic” and “Undemocratic” by holding the “Summit for Democracy”. Recently, the US State Department released the “2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices”, which, in disregard of each country’s own system, laws, cultural characteristics and historical evolution, made accusations and smears against the human rights status of Zambia among other countries. Above activities by the US are not only an affront to the diversity of global civilizations, but also an anti-democratic act under the guise of democracy, which neither benefit international unity and cooperation nor advance global development. We should embrace diverse value systems with an open mind rather than imposing our own values on others or inciting ideological conflict.
民主不是冒犯其他文明的借口。当前，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，人类发展正面临前所未有的风险和挑战，迫切需要国际社会齐心协力，合作应对。美国从一己之私出发，以自身标准划线，通过举办“民主峰会”人为给世界各国贴上“民主”和“非民主”标签。近日，美国国务院发布所谓《2022年国别人权报告》，枉顾各国自身制度、法律和文化特点和历史沿革，对包括赞比亚在内的各国人权状况指手画脚、攻击抹黑。上述做法既是对世界文明多样性的冒犯，也是假民主之名、行反民主之实，对国际社会团结合作没有任何好处，对世界发展也不会有任何裨益。我们理应以宽广胸怀理解不同文明对价值内涵的认识，不将自己的价值观和模式强加于人，不搞意识形态对抗。
One will not be seen in a more favourable light after blowing out others’ lamp; nor will they go farther by blocking others’ paths. True democracy means different forms of democracy can coexist, thrive, and contribute to the advancement of human civilization. China is ready to work together with Zambia and others to advocate the common values of humanity featured by peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, and actively promote democracy in the international arena. We firmly oppose all kinds of pseudo-democratic, anti-democratic acts and political manipulation under the guise of democracy, and dedicate to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
吹灭别人的灯，并不会让自己更加光明；阻挡别人的路，也不会让自己行得更远。让不同形式的民主百花齐放，共同推动人类文明向前发展，才是真正的民主。中方愿同包括赞比亚在内的各国一道，弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，积极推动国际关系民主化，坚决抵制和反对各种伪民主、反民主和打着民主幌子进行政治操弄的行径，推动构建人类命运共同体。