Mogomotsi Mogodiri
Pretoria - The Communist Party of China (CPC) recently concluded its national congress that was attended by about 3 000 delegates at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The congress is a week-long gathering that is held every five years. Preparations start well in advance when members discuss policies and elect delegates to the congress.
It assesses progress during the previous term of the central committee and reimagines the party and China’s developmental direction. It also reviews political theory and amends the CPC’s constitution while electing the party’s new leadership.
The 20th instalment of the CPC national congress was held against a backdrop of what the general secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, characterised as “extremely unusual and extraordinary circumstances”.
These challenges included, among others, Covid-19 and the “escalating Nato/US aggression towards those they perceive as obstacles to their expansionist ambitions”.
Delivering the work report on behalf of the 19th central committee of the CPC, President Xi emphasised continuity regarding development trajectory, diplomacy and economic policy, taking into cognisance the challenges that China faces. The work report is a detailed account of the work that the central committee undertook during its tenure.
In short, the work report is the product of a collective effort, reflecting not only on the road travelled since five years ago but also on plans of the development of the Chinese state and its relationship with the world. It also touches on a roadmap for China’s relationship with countries in the developing world.
The work report also underscored the changes that the world was undergoing – from being unipolar to a more multipolar space, while acknowledging progress, including eliminating extreme poverty that China has made, the difficulties faced notwithstanding.
The two central themes were that the “socialist modernisation” programme that started in 2020 should be finalised by 2035, and the process to build China as a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by 2049.
It is hoped that this task will be achieved through what the CPC refers to as “peaceful modernisation”.
The deadline of 2049 is historic as it will mark the centenary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China. The confidence and buoyancy of the CPC was demonstrated by the initial deadline being pushed forward to 2035.
Going through the work report, it becomes apparent that much more emphasis is placed on what the CPC characterises as peaceful modernisation. The report also gives a glimpse of how this will be accomplished, including the fact that the project will have Chinese characteristics even though it will have aspects that are common to the modernisation of other countries.
This programme, which will assist efforts in developing countries (the Global South) will be tailor-made to peculiar conditions of a given country, marking a decisive break with the West’s approach of monopolising the modernisation theory and practice.
The Chinese approach to modernisation challenges the West’s arrogance of believing that there is no alternative to its model.
This myth is debunked by the Chinese recognition of modernisation models in developing countries that places a premium on the independent path to development, as opposed to models imposed on them by the West.
Leveraging on ever-unfolding information and communication technology (ICT) developments, including the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), the proposal by China is to assist the developing world to build and develop its technological capacity and capabilities. This initiative, which is geared towards fulfilling national interests, will ensure that these countries achieve their technological independence that will reduce, if not eliminate, over-reliance on the West, particularly the US.
Countries will be nudged to be self-reliant in science and technology while pursuing qualitative development. This will be done being alive to bullying and terrorisation, including illegal sanctions against and regime change of countries that dare to develop outside the Washington Consensus.
Recent developments like the Huawei debacle point to China also not being spared the terrorism. To mitigate this, China aims to galvanise its people behind the drive for technological self-sufficiency through strengthening its state-owned entities to be at the forefront of this national technological innovation project, especially in the manufacturing of semiconductors.
In pursuing its foreign policy that takes forward the peaceful modernisation project as one of its flagship programmes, China will oppose unilateralism of any shade.
China is also against blocs like Nato that have anointed themselves as the international police that enforce the will of the “unipolarists” and rejecting “multipolarism” while undermining multilateral organisations like the UN.
The CPC acknowledges the weaknesses and shortcomings of the existing multilateral organisations.
Hence, its insistence on reforming these organisations so that their continuing dominance and abuse by the West generally, and the US in particular, is brought to an end.
The Chinese faith in the UN system, particularly, is a weakness that the developing world will need to engage China on as it is common cause that the bullies of the West manipulate the UN’s systems, including its voting processes.
Even though it seems that the CPC is downgrading the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) within its foreign policy hierarchy, its importance is still recognised, especially regarding its trade with Africa and Eurasia. Launched nine years ago, the BRI is perceived as an instrument that is empowering to its partners as it is based on a new model of international co-operation. It is an inclusive co-operation platform that enables partners to grow together.
The CPC National Congress has committed to pursue the programme and other nations need to see how that would benefit them as equal partners.
This should be undertaken against the backdrop of a fast-changing international climate and reconfiguration of international relations that threatens the West/US hegemony.
It looks like it will become tougher as the belligerent West seems to be hell-bent in unleashing terror on any country perceived to be “stepping out of its hegemonic line”.
Sanctions are being imposed or tightened against the perceived enemies of the West – the aim being to preserve imperialist interests. The desperation has seen the West’s allies also being made to feel the wrath of the imperial powers. They have been turned into slaves doing the bidding of their masters in opposition to efforts to build a multipolar world.
The global situation looks precarious with the developing world facing challenges and even being pressured by those who still believe in the supremacy of their weapons and brute force. Countries are being threatened, bullied and even invaded so as to surrender their sovereignty.
The unipolar world protagonists are going all out to entrench their hegemony in the rest of the world.
It is up to the developing world to decide if they are going to be made perpetual slaves or stand up to the global bullies in defence of their independence.
Anything else spells disaster for the peoples of the developing world. They will continue bearing the brunt of underdevelopment and continued colonisation that have seen nations impoverished while their natural resources are plundered.
The partnerships proposed by the CPC are worth serious consideration in pursuit of building a better, peaceful world.
Pretoria News