By HELMUT MATT

ENTHUSIASM, diligence, determination, and the unwavering will to achieve their goals – for decades, the Chinese have impressed people all over the world with their unique achievements in many areas. With the start of the reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping, China has embarked on a new path, a path leading forward and upwards.

However, success does not come by itself, and the above mentioned primary virtues alone are not enough to achieve such an enormous success as China has risen from an impoverished country to one of the world’s most important economic powers. Right from the start, a planned approach and wise leadership were essential.

And there can be no doubt that the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been consistently successful in this respect. Even in stormy times the Chinese government has managed to move the country forward with great dynamism – not only for the good and benefit of its own people, but in many respects also for the benefit of the global community as a whole.

On March 17, 2018, Xi Jinping was re-elected president of the People’s Republic of China at the first session of the 13th Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC).

Deputies vote at the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress on March 17, 2018.

In November 2012, the CPC elected Xi as its new general secretary, and in October 2017 he was re-elected for the position. Back in March 2013, Xi was elected for his first tenure of office as president of the People’s Republic of China by the NPC.

In the past five years, Xi has been able to do his work in a stable and orderly manner. Nevertheless, he still faced a multitude of difficult tasks that could not be postponed and upon whose successful solution the future depends for the Chinese people.

On the one hand, at the time of Xi taking office, China’s economic growth indices had declined noticeably compared to previous years; on the other hand, the international environment parameters and the slowdown of the global economy had their impacts on China.

Xi Jinping, as the new head of state, courageously took on the new challenges. When he took the helm in spring 2013, the whole country was charged with a spirit of optimism.

New ambitions, greater momentum, visionary projects, President Xi has been a great role model for the country and its people right from the start. He took up his responsibilities with great energy to continue the cause begun by his predecessors.

It soon became clear that Xi did not lack the courage to take action where it was necessary to break new ground and meet new challenges.

In December 2014, on his inspection tour through the southeastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, Xi for the first time put the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” on the political agenda.

This strategy stands for the completion of the construction of a society of modest prosperity, the deepening of the reform, the advancement of the law-based administration of the state, and the strict governance of all CPC members.

Xi also called for the ongoing reform of the judiciary system to be continued and for the fight against corruption and undesirable developments to be intensified, thereby further extending the rule of law.

President Xi Jinping gives the speech “Work Together to Build New Partnership of Win-Win Cooperation and Make Concreted Efforts to Build Community of Shared Mankind Destiny” at the general debate of the 70th UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters on September 28, 2015.

It was and is of high priority to boost the economy, to promote prosperity among the people, to further balance the development in the country’s eastern and western provinces, and also to revive less developed regions – the catalogue of tasks was and is enormous.

Large tasks are best handled in cooperation with reliable partners. While there are tendencies towards isolation and national egoism in many places in the world, the Chinese government on the contrary is stretching out its hand and inviting cooperation and partnership with other countries on an equal footing.

Building a “community with a shared future for mankind” is a central concept in the mind of the Chinese President.

In March 2013, he raised this concept in his speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations for the first time, when he said:

“People live in the same global village, in the same space and in the same time, where history meets the reality of the present. A community with a shared future for mankind has emerged in which everyone is dependent on everyone.”

The term of a community with a shared future for mankind has since appeared again and again in Xi’s speeches and conversations.

“Work Together to Build New Partnership of Win-Win Cooperation and Make Concreted Efforts to Build Community of Shared Mankind Destiny “ – this was the title of the speech given by Xi Jinping on September 28, 2015, at the general debate of the 70th UN General Assembly at the UN Headquarters.

Xi called for countries to work together on a development path characterized by opening-up, innovation, inclusiveness and mutual benefit, and said that through these efforts, common development of all countries should be achieved.

At the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in 2016, Xi Jinping further deepened the idea of building a worldwide community with a shared future.

In Hangzhou he urgently called on the world’s political and economic leaders to promote growth and prosperity and build their common future through joint action and synergy.

The G20 Summit in Hangzhou showed more clearly than ever that China is not only a key player in all major international affairs, but that it is also capable and ready to take the lead in developing a global agenda – in all areas of economy, politics, and diplomacy.

These are great, visionary ideas with which President Xi wants to move his country and the world forward.

On December 1, 2017, Xi Jinping in his keynote address at a high-level dialogue between the CPC and other political parties of the world presented his idea of a “community with a shared future for mankind” in detail:

“The community with a shared future for mankind implies, as its name suggests, that the future and fate of all peoples and countries of the world are inextricably linked. We should walk together through fair and foul, share joy and sorrow, and make efforts to build our planet, where we live and develop, into a harmonious family and to fulfill the longing of all people for a beautiful life.”

These are impressive initiatives and inspiring ideas with which China’s President repeatedly underlines his will for international cooperation for the benefit of all.

I would like to pick out one example here – a particularly spectacular event:

Xi received a great deal of attention and positive responses when, during an official trip through Central and South Asia in 2013, he for the first time presented the idea of jointly developing a new economic belt along the old Silk Road (the “belt”) and a new maritime Silk Road of the 21st century (the “road”).

More than 100 states and international organizations are now actively involved in the development of this new Silk Road, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative demonstrates China’s openness and underlines its will to intensify cooperation with other countries on the basis of mutual benefit. It thus gives new impetus to the national and international economy, and what’s more, serves as a bridge between people of different nations and cultures.

The restructuring of China’s predominantly investment- and export-dependent economy towards a more sustainable and at the same time more consumer-driven model will lead to a more balanced social structure and a better life for the Chinese people, and at the same time will offer a wide range of opportunities for investors from all over the world.

President Xi Jinping has also earned himself and his country high praise internationally through his untiring commitment to development in the underdeveloped parts of the world and towards peace and de-escalation in the world’s hot spots.

Again and again, the Chinese government acts as a mediator at the world’s hotbeds of conflict and thus makes considerable contributions to a more peaceful world.

The many activities in connection with the development of the economy and infrastructure in underdeveloped countries are also unparalleled.

In his closing speech at the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress, Xi as re-elected Chinese President said:

“Let the radiance of a community with a shared future for mankind illuminate the world!”

Can you extend your hand further to reach out to others? It is now up to the world community to accept this friendly, extended helping hand.  

HELMUT MATT is a German writer and China scholar.