The Choice of the Chinese Path
中国道路的选择
Ambassador Yu Hong
驻文莱大使于红
1 July 2021
2021年7月1日
The choice of the development path of every country is determined by its own history and culture.
每个国家发展道路的选择都与各自的历史与文化相关。
Following the Opium War in 1840, China was reduced to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal state. In order to salvage the nation from its existential threat and realize the national rejuvenation, countless people of insight searched tirelessly for a development path that best suited the national conditions in China. The Taiping Rebellion, the Self-Strengthening Movement, the Hundred Days’ Reform in 1898, the Boxer Movement, and the 1911 Revolution all failed to achieve this goal. China also tried various forms of governance such as constitutional monarchy, parliamentary system and presidential system to no avail. After repeated failures, the Marxism was chosen in the Chinese pursuit of own development path. In 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded. Since then, the CPC ascended onto the historical stage, ushering in a new era of social development and progress in Chinese history that is characterized by “seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation of the nation”. This is the choice of history.
1840年鸦片战争后，中国逐步成为半殖民地半封建社会。为了挽救民族危亡、实现民族复兴，中国无数仁人志士孜孜不倦寻找适合国情的发展道路。太平天国运动、洋务运动、戊戌变法、义和团运动、辛亥革命等都未能取得成功。中国还尝试了君主立宪制、议会制、总统制等各种形式。一次又一次挫败后，中国人民选择马克思主义。1921年，中国共产党成立，登上历史舞台，开启了“为人民谋幸福，为民族谋复兴”的社会发展进步的帷幕。这是历史的选择。
This year marks the centennial anniversary of the founding of the CPC. Over the course of a century, the CPC has, uniting and leading the Chinese people, made the three major unprecedented achievements. Firstly, by completing the New Democratic Revolution (1919-1949) and founding the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, the CPC put an end to the semi-colonial, semi-feudal society of old China and realized national independence and the people’s liberation. Secondly, by completing the socialist revolution and establishing socialism in China, the CPC brought the most extensive and profound social transformation to the Chinese nation in the history, laying down a fundamental political prerequisite and institutional foundation for the development and progress of contemporary China. Thirdly, by introducing and constantly advancing the policy of reform and opening up since 1978, the CPC has pioneered and has been perfecting socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has led the Chinese people in achieving a well-off society in all respects, establishing the world’s most comprehensive modern industrial system, and becoming the world’s second largest economy as well as the largest trading nation in goods. The Chinese people are proud of the brilliant achievements that the country has made.
今年是中国共产党成立100周年。诞生百年来，中国共产党团结带领中国人民完成和推进了三件大事：一是完成新民主主义革命，于1949年建立中华人民共和国，实现了民族独立，人民解放。二是完成了中华民族有史以来最为广泛而深刻的社会变革，确立社会主义基本制度，为当代中国发展进步奠定了根本政治前提和制度基础。三是自1978年起不断推进改革开放，确立并不断完善中国特色社会主义制度，团结带领中国人民全面建成小康社会，建立了世界上门类最全的现代工业体系，成为世界第二大经济体、第一大货物贸易国。中国人民为自己国家取得的辉煌成就感到骄傲。
The CPC has grown from a small party with only 58 members to a large party with about 95.14 million members and has been exercising state power for 72 consecutive years. Under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people’s living standards have continued to improve, and China has entered the ranks of middle-and high-income countries. China is changing for the better with each passing day.
中国共产党从一个只有58名党员的小党成长为拥有9514万党员、连续执政72年的大党。在中国共产党领导下，中国人民生活水平持续提升，进入中高收入国家行列，中国的面貌日新月异。
The Chinese people cherish the path they themselves have chosen. The CPC led the people in founding the PRC, having completely abolished the unequal treaties imposed by the imperialist powers and the privileges of imperialism in China, realizing national independence. China has chosen the path of socialism and established a socialist system under the leadership of the CPC. The socialist democracy practiced by China is a whole-process democracy and the most representative democracy. It embodies the will of the people, fits the country’s realities and is thus endorsed by the people. What China advocates is that each country can choose a development path in light of its own circumstances and its people’s need, and all countries should respect and learn from each other.
中国人民珍视自己选择的道路。中国共产党带领人民建立了新中国，彻底废除了帝国主义列强强加给中国的不平等条约和帝国主义在中国的特权，实现了国家独立。中国选择了社会主义道路，确立了共产党领导的社会主义制度。中国实行的社会主义民主，是一种全过程、最广泛的民主，体现人民意志，符合中国国情，得到人民拥护。中国主张各国都走符合自身国情和民众需要的发展道路，彼此之间相互尊重，相互借鉴。
To seek happiness for our people is the unswerving goal of the CPC. In 2020, China has achieved the poverty reduction goal of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, winning the complete victory of the decisive battle against poverty that is unprecedented in scale and intensity in human history. Since the launch of the reform and opening up, 770 million impoverished rural residents have been lifted out of poverty according to the current poverty standards, making great contributions to the global cause of poverty reduction. China’s GDP exceeds RMB 100 trillion, and its per capita GDP exceeds USD 10,000. The compulsory education enrollment rate is close to 100%. The basic medical insurance covers more than 1.35 billion people, while basic endowment insurance covers nearly 1 billion people. The average life expectancy has risen to 77.3 years, and the infant and maternal mortality rates have dropped to 5.6‰ and 16.9 per 100,000 respectively. In the face of the sudden onslaught of COVID-19, the Chinese government decisively adopted the most comprehensive and rigorous measures, and first brought the epidemic under control, effectively safeguarding the safety and health of our people. According to polls conducted by authoritative international polling agencies, the Chinese public satisfaction with the Chinese government has exceeded 90% year after year.
为人民谋幸福是中国共产党始终不渝的目标。2020年，中国提前10年实现了联合国2030年可持续发展议程减贫目标，赢得人类史上规模最大、力度最强的脱贫攻坚战的全面胜利。改革开放以来，按照现行贫困标准计算，中国7.7亿农村贫困人口摆脱贫困，为世界减贫事业做出了巨大贡献。中国国内生产总值超过100万亿元人民币，人均国内生产总值超过1万美元。义务教育入学率接近100%，基本医疗保险覆盖超过13.5亿人，基本养老保险覆盖近10亿人。人均预期寿命77.3岁,婴儿和孕产妇死亡率分别下降到5.6‰和16.9/10万。面对新冠疫情，中国政府果断采取最全面、最严格的举措，迅速控制疫情，有力保障人民生命安全和身体健康。国际权威机构民调显示，中国民众对中国政府的满意度连年超过90%。
China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace, develops friendly cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and actively promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China is a staunch supporter of the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. Over the past seven decades and more since the founding of the PRC, China has provided aid to 166 countries and international organizations, and established partnerships with 112 countries and regional organizations. China is also the second-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping missions and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. China is committed to mutual beneficial and win-win cooperation, and rigorously promotes the Belt and Road Initiative. China’s annual average contribution to global economic growth has stayed above 30% and is the largest trading partner of more than 130 countries and regions. In the face of COVID-19 epidemic, China has provided anti-epidemic material assistance to more than 150 countries and 13 international organizations, and provided more than 450 million doses of vaccines to nearly 100 countries including Brunei.
中国坚持独立自主的和平外交政策，在和平共处五项原则基础上发展同各国的友好合作，积极推动构建人类命运共同体。中国坚决维护以联合国为核心的国际体系和以国际法为基础的国际秩序，支持以世贸组织为核心的多边贸易体制。新中国成立70多年来，中国对外援助共惠及166个国家和国际组织。中国与112个国家和地区组织建立伙伴关系。中国是联合国维和行动第二大出资国，也是“五常”中向维和行动派兵最多的国家。中国坚持互利共赢，推动共建“一带一路”，对世界经济增长年均贡献率达30%，是130多个国家和地区的最大贸易伙伴。面对全球新冠肺炎疫情，中国向150多个国家和13个国际组织提供抗疫物资援助，向包括文莱在内的近百个国家和国际组织提供超过4.5亿剂疫苗。
Last month, the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Dialogue Relations was successfully held in Chongqing, China. Over the past 30 years, China and ASEAN member countries including Brunei have pursued win-win cooperation, having jointly built important pillars for regional peace and stability, jointly forged powerful engines for development and prosperity, jointly established the most successful paradigm for Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, and jointly brought enormous benefits to over 2 billion people across 11 countries.
上个月，纪念中国—东盟建立对话关系30周年特别外长会在重庆成功举行。过去30年来，中国和包括文莱在内的东盟各国谋求合作共赢，共同铸就了地区和平稳定的重要支柱，共同打造了发展繁荣的强大引擎，共同树立了亚太区域合作最为成功的典范，共同为11国20亿人民带来巨大利益和福祉。
In recent years, with the care of the two heads of state, cooperation between China and Brunei has developed rapidly. China actively supports Brunei’s efforts in economic diversification. Bilateral cooperation in the fields of downstream oil and gas, transportation, digital technology and healthcare has continued to expand. In the first five months of this year, bilateral trade volume reached USD 1.08 billion, a year-on-year increase of 47.7%. China and Brunei supported each other in the face of the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, and the friendship has been further enhanced in the joint fight against the epidemic.
近年来，在两国元首的关心下，中文合作快速发展。中国积极支持文莱经济多元化的努力，双方不断拓展油气下游、运输、数字及健康等领域的新合作。今年前5个月，双边贸易额增长47.7%，达10.8亿美元。面对突如其来的新冠肺炎疫情，中文两国守望相助、同舟共济，中文友谊得到进一步升华。
History and practices have shown that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has not only lifted 1.4 billion Chinese people out of poverty and backwardness, set China on a course heading towards a country more prosperous and people happier, but also enabled the Chinese nation to once again make significant contributions to the cause of human progress. China stands ready to strengthen the synergy between China’s Long-Range Objectives through the year 2035 and Wawasan Brunei 2035, working together with Brunei to achieve the development of our countries and the wellbeing of our peoples.
实践证明，中国特色社会主义道路不仅使14亿中国人民摆脱了贫困落后，正在走向国家更加富强和人民更加幸福，也使中华民族再次为人类进步事业作出了重大贡献。中国愿加强2035远景目标与文莱2035宏愿的对接，为实现各自国家发展和人民幸福而继续合作。