China’s New Commitment to the World

为中国领航，为世界担当

中国驻英大使 刘晓明

I have just attended the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). This timely and consensus-building congress sets the direction for China’s future and outlines China’s commitment to the world. It has impressed me as an epoch-making milestone that is going to have a far-reaching impact on both China and the world.

刚刚闭幕的中国共产党第十九次全国代表大会顺应时代要求，凝聚各方共识，为中国未来发展描绘了“领航图”，展现了中国促进人类发展的历史担当。作为会议亲历者，我深刻体会到这次大会具有划时代的里程碑意义，不论对中国还是对世界，都将产生深远的影响。

The key message of the Congress is that socialism with Chinese features is entering a new era, which is marked by four new developments.

这次大会标志着中国特色社会主义进入新时代，主要成果可以概括为四个“新”：

There is, first of all, new development in theory. The Congress has adopted the Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era. This is the latest adaptation of Marxism to Chinese conditions. It is the CPC’s understanding of the laws of social progress and it answers the question of how to adhere to and continue building socialism with Chinese features. As in the past, the CPC is determined but not rigid; it is always ready to learn but never copy blindly; and it is committed to blazing its own trail in line with China’s national conditions and the trend of the times.

第一，开辟了理论创新的新境界。大会确立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，彰显了马克思主义中国化最新成果，深化了中国共产党人对人类社会发展进步的规律性认识，回答了怎么坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的时代课题。这充分表明，中国共产党坚守但不僵化、借鉴但不照搬，将立足本国国情、把脉时代发展需求，坚定不移地走自己的路。

Then there is a new priority. This is to address unbalanced and inadequate development in order to meet the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life. As a Party believing in putting people first, the CPC has solved the subsistence issue for over one billion people and is leading the nation to achieve moderate prosperity. Now the focus will be on satisfying people’s growing needs for greater democracy, rule of law, justice, security and a better environment, and achieving well-rounded development for every individual and social progress in all respects.

第二，指明了国家前进的新方向。大会提出中国社会主要矛盾已转化为人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾，体现了把改善人民生活、增进人民福祉作为发展的出发点和落脚点。中国已解决了十几亿人的温饱问题，不久将全面建成小康社会。下一阶段，中国将更好满足人民在民主、法制、公平、正义、安全、环境等方面日益增长的需要，更好推动人的全面发展和社会全面进步。

Thirdly, there is a new timetable and roadmap for China’s development in the coming decades. These are the goals of building a moderately prosperous society by the 100th anniversary of the CPC in 2020, realizing socialist modernization by 2035, and building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the middle of this century when the People’s Republic celebrates its 100-year anniversary.

第三，规划了未来发展的新宏图。大会制定了中国未来发展的时间表和路线图。既对建党一百年时的奋斗目标做了明确部署，也对新中国成立一百年时的奋斗目标进行了详细规划，即从现在到2020年全面建成小康社会；从2020年到2035年，基本实现社会主义现代化；从2035年到本世纪中叶，把中国建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。

Above all, there is a new central leadership. As we say, great cause requires strong and firm guidance. In a massive country like China, development and progress would be impossible without strong leadership. The new CPC central leadership with Xi Jinping at its core is confident and determined in leading the Chinese people into a new era and realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

第四，选举产生中国新一届中央领导。伟大的事业必须要有坚强有力的领路人。实践证明，发展和建设中国这样一个大国，必须有一个坚强的领导核心。以习近平为核心的中共中央新一届领导集体，将满怀信心，锐意进取，带领全中国人民走进新时代，实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦。

China has become stronger and wealthier. What will this mean for the world? The 19th Congress has highlighted three new missions of a stronger and wealthier China.

英国的媒体和公众都十分关心一个富起来、强起来的中国，对世界意味着什么？我认为，这次大会充分体现了一个走向富强的中国对世界的担当，可以概括为三个“新”。

The first is to blaze a new path for state-to-state relations. This path differs from the trajectory of traditional powers, because China has been and will always be a staunch force upholding world peace. A stronger and more developed China will never seek hegemony or expansion. Our vision for the world is for everyone to come together and build a shared future for all mankind. To this end, we will hold high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and promote a new type of state-to-state relations based on mutual respect, fairness and justice, cooperation and mutual benefit. The old logic that “the winner takes it all” or “strength leads to hegemony” has no place in the 21st century where countries should embrace dialogue and partnership and reject confrontation and alliance with one against another.

第一，走出国与国交往的新道路。中国将走出一条与传统大国不同的强国之路，永远是维护世界和平的中坚力量。我们将高举和平、发展、合作、共赢的旗帜，推动建设相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系，与各国人民同心协力构建人类命运共同体。中国反对赢者通吃、国强必霸的旧逻辑，走对话而不对抗、结伴而不结盟的国与国交往新路。中国无论发展到什么程度，永远不称霸、永远不搞扩张。

The second mission is to make new endeavors for human progress. China has been and will always be a force for global development because we have the confidence and capability of not only getting things done at home but also bringing along other countries. Around the world, China is forging partnerships, expanding common interests and welcoming other countries aboard the “express train” of China’s rapid growth; China advocates an open world economy and promotes trade and investment liberalization and facilitation; China has launched a new platform for international cooperation and common prosperity with the “Belt and Road” Initiative; China has stepped up assistance to developing countries, the least developed in particular, in order to close the development gap and enable balanced and universal growth.

第二，展现促进人类发展进步的新作为。中国不仅有信心和能力把自己的事情做好，也有信心和能力带动各国共同发展，坚持作推进全球发展的坚定力量。中国积极发展全球伙伴关系，扩大同各国的利益交汇点，欢迎各国人民搭乘中国发展的“顺风车”。中国将坚持同舟共济，促进贸易和投资自由化便利化，推动建设开放型世界经济；推进“一带一路”国际合作，打造国际合作新平台，实现各国共同繁荣；加大对发展中国家特别是最不发达国家援助力度，缩小南北发展差距，推动全球的平衡普惠发展。

The third mission is to contribute new solutions. With the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, China is contributing to the wealth of existing political systems and governance models by offering its path from development to modernization. In global governance, China is committed to extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and strives to be a force for international order and rules. China respects other countries’ independent choices and will never impose its own will onto others. China stands for resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation, and advocates exchanges, mutual learning and co-existence between different civilizations. These are examples of China’s wisdom and solutions in response to the common challenges facing mankind.

第三，做出充满中国智慧的新贡献。新时代中国特色社会主义拓展了发展中国家走向现代化的途径，丰富了人类的制度宝库、治理宝库。中国将秉持共商共建共享的全球治理观，努力做维护国际秩序和规则的坚定力量。中国将尊重各国人民自主选择发展道路的权利，不会把自己的意志强加于人；坚持以对话解决争端、以协商化解分歧，倡导文明交流、互鉴、共存，为解决人类面临的共同挑战贡献中国智慧，提出中国方案。

The Chinese nation believes in harmony and sharing prosperity. We believe that happiness has the same definition wherever you are. And we are ready to make China’s dreams compatible with the dreams of the world’s people. Today, a China that forges ahead with clear missions in mind will bring greater confidence and hope to the world. Together, we can create a brighter future for everyone.

“和合共生”、“兼济天下”历来是中国人民的伟大梦想。一个目标明确、砥砺前行的中国必将给世界带来更多信心与希望。我们愿把中国梦与世界梦紧密相连，把中国人民的幸福与世界人民的幸福紧密相接，与各国人民一道，共同开创人类更加美好的未来。