Strengthen Cooperation Among World Political Parties to Benefit the People

Strengthen Cooperation Among World Political Parties to Benefit the People*

July 6, 2021

Your Excellencies Leaders of Political Parties,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,

Today as the CPC reaches its 100th anniversary, it gives me great pleasure to join you, the leaders of more than 500 political parties and organizations from over 160 countries, as well as the 10,000 and more representatives assembled at this cloud event, to discuss the important question of “the responsibility of political parties in working for the benefit of the people”. In recent weeks, over 600 political parties and organizations from over 170 countries have sent more than 1,500 congratulatory messages and letters conveying their goodwill and best wishes to the CPC. I wish to take this opportunity to express to all of you, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, our heartfelt thanks.

A few days ago we celebrated our Party’s centenary with a grand gathering. Over the past hundred years, the CPC has united the Chinese people and led them in working towards the tremendous transformation of the Chinese nation, from standing up and becoming better off to growing in strength. Over the past hundred years, the CPC has always believed that the Chinese people and other peoples of the world have a shared future. Respecting international trends and flowing with international currents, it has steered the course of China’s development and supported the development and prosperity of all countries.

The historic achievements of the CPC and the Chinese people would not have been possible without the generous support of others.

Here, on behalf of the CPC and the Chinese people, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to peoples, political parties, and friends from all countries who have given their attention, support and assistance to the CPC and the revolution, construction, and reform in China.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,

The world today is undergoing change on a scale unseen in a century. Although countries are increasingly interconnected and interdependent, support for multi-polarity and economic globalization is volatile. The international community has made strenuous efforts to deal with Covid-19, revive the global economy, and safeguard world stability. Political parties in many countries have exhibited a strong sense of responsibility by actively exploring ways to address existing problems. At the same time wars and conflicts are still raging in some places, famine and disease are affecting many people, estrangement increases, and confrontations arise. The call for a better life from all peoples, whatever their country, is becoming ever louder and clearer.

Today, human society has once again found itself at a historic crossroads. Will we choose hostile confrontation or mutual respect? Will we choose isolation and decoupling or openness and cooperation? Will we choose zero-sum game or win-win results? The choice is in our hands, and the responsibility falls on our shoulders.

The human race is one single global community and the planet earth its homeland. No person or country can remain cloistered from the common challenges we face. The only solution is to work together in harmony. As an important force behind human progress, political parties need to set the right course. They need to assume their historic responsibility to work for the benefit of the people. I believe that political parties need to work even harder on the following:

First, we need to lead the way in seizing and shaping the shared future of humanity. People aspire to affluence and contentment. They yearn for fairness and justice. Great times call for a grand strategy, and a grand strategy calls for great vision. Viewed from the perspective of “my own country first”, the world is a cramped and crowded place mired in fierce competition. Viewed from the perspective of a common destiny, the world is a vast and broad place full of cooperation opportunities. We need to heed the voices of the people, follow the trends of the times, and strengthen coordination and cooperation. In doing so, we can keep the interests of every people in line with all others, and work together to realize the global community of shared future.

Second, we need to build consensus by upholding and promoting the common values of humanity. Despite the differences between countries in history, culture, social system, and level of development, their peoples do subscribe to the common values of peace, development, equality, justice, democracy and freedom. With a strong sense of our responsibility for the future of all humanity, we need to champion common human values, foster broad-minded understanding of the values of other civilizations, and respect the choice of every nation for its pathway to realizing its values. In this way, the common values of humanity will be translated into concrete and pragmatic actions by individual countries that serve the interests of their own peoples.

Third, we need to promote development by delivering greater benefits to all in a fairer manner. Development holds the key to the wellbeing of all humankind, and no country or nation should be left behind on this road. All countries and nations have an equal right to access and realize development opportunities. We need to face up squarely to major problems such as the wealth gap and the development divide, giving particular care and attention to underdeveloped countries and regions and impoverished people, so that hope prevails in every corner of the world. As a Ming-dynasty scholar said, “Those who seek comfort only for themselves will ultimately be denounced, while those who sacrifice their own interests for the success of others will be hailed.” Development is the right of all, not an exclusive privilege of the few. We need to enable all countries to step up cooperation and share the fruits of development. We need to bring greater equity, higher efficiency, and stronger synergy to global development, and jointly oppose technology blockades, widening gaps, and decoupling. I believe that in the final analysis, any political manipulation designed to hinder the development of other countries and undermine the livelihood of other peoples will win little support and prove futile.

Fourth, we need to strengthen cooperation by working together to address global risks and challenges. In the face of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we need to continue with a science-based response and advocate solidarity and cooperation so as to close the immunization gap. We must oppose any attempt to politicize the pandemic or assign the virus with geographical labels. We need to work together to build a global community of health for all. In the face of terrorism and other common enemies of humankind, we need to pursue security and stability through cooperation so as to tighten our defenses together. In defense of a fragile eco-environment, we need to respect and protect Mother Nature and follow her laws, so as to build a green homeland together. Confronted by the severe challenges to human existence and development posed by climate change, we need to be bold in our responses and work as one to find the way to harmonious coexistence with nature.

Fifth, we need to improve governance by strengthening our capacity to ensure the people’s wellbeing. There are different ways to a good life. Every country and its people should be entitled to choose their own development path and governance model. This, in itself, is what a good life means. In the same vein, democracy is the right of all peoples, rather than an exclusive privilege of the few. There is no single model of democracy; there are multiple ways and means by which it can be realized. A country’s democratic credentials should be judged by its own people, not by a small number of outsiders. To advance democracy in a way that is adapted to the national conditions of a country, we need to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, improve mechanisms for communication, be fully aware of public opinion, create and consolidate sound institutions, and strengthen our capacity in governance. This will make us more effective in improving the people’s wellbeing.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,

Working for the people’s wellbeing was the original aspiration of the CPC and has always been a cherished aim. Having achieved the goal of all-round moderate prosperity, China has embarked on a new journey towards building a modern socialist country. The Chinese people overflow with an increasing sense of gain, fulfillment, and security. The unswerving objectives of the CPC are to run our own country well, ensure a happy life for more than 1.4 billion Chinese people, and advance the lofty cause of promoting peace and development for all humankind. The CPC will continue to uphold the philosophy of people-centered development, reflect upon the overarching issues of national rejuvenation and human progress in the greater context of time and space, and lead all the people of China in creating an even better tomorrow through perseverance and an enterprising spirit.

As history has taught us, we can only embrace the future when we embrace the world, and we can only travel safe and far when we walk together. The CPC stands ready to work with political parties throughout the world to turn our dreams into reality. Let us always be builders of world peace, advocates for global development, and guardians of the international order.

– The CPC will unite and lead the Chinese people to advance China’s modernization while contributing to human progress.

Proceeding from reality in all it does, the CPC has led the Chinese people to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. History and our experience have proved and will continue to prove that this is the path that works and the path that pays off. We will continue to follow this path to ensure that development is pursued both for our own good and for the benefit of the world. There is no fixed model for the path to modernization, and the one that suits you well will serve you well. Cutting your foot to fit a shoe will not work. Every effort by any country to find its own path to modernization is worthy of respect. The CPC is willing to share its experience with political parties of all countries and work together with them to broaden paths to modernization so as to ensure the wellbeing of their own and other peoples.

– The CPC will unite the Chinese people and lead them in deeper reform and opening up to share its development and prosperity with all countries.

Despite considerable headwinds, economic globalization is making good headway. On the whole, the headway is prevailing over the headwinds – the trend towards opening up and cooperation in all countries is and will remain unchanged. The CPC is ready to boost communication with world political parties in steering economic globalization towards greater openness, inclusiveness, balance, and win-win results. We stand ready to work with the international community to increase global connectivity and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, so that more countries and peoples can share the fruits of development.

– The CPC will shoulder its responsibilities as a major political party in a major country to improve human wellbeing.

The eradication of poverty has long been a common aspiration of all peoples in all countries, and an important objective that all political parties strive to achieve. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, all of China’s 99 million rural residents living below the current poverty line have been lifted out of extreme poverty, enabling us to meet the poverty reduction target set out in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. The CPC is willing to contribute more Chinese solutions and Chinese strength to the poverty reduction process worldwide. China will spare no effort to support international cooperation against Covid-19 and to increase the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

China will deliver on its promises to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality and contribute more to the global fight against climate change. China will host the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, where parties will discuss new strategies and embark on a new journey of global biodiversity governance.

– The CPC will actively improve global governance to support humanity’s joint response to common challenges.

Multilateralism is at the core of the current international system and order. The better it is practiced, the faster humanity’s common problems will be resolved. International rules should be based on universally recognized norms rather than the rules of the few. Countries should cooperate to serve all of humanity instead of seeking hegemony by way of bloc politics. We should stand in opposition to the practice of unilateralism disguised as multilateralism and say no to hegemony and power politics. Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, China is of the view that matters concerning all should be handled through joint consultation, so that the international order and system will be fairer and more equitable. I wish to reiterate that China will always be part of the developing world, and is committed to strengthening its representation and voice in the global governance system. China will never seek hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence. The CPC will work with political parties of all countries to promote state-to-state coordination and cooperation through partyto-party consultation, and promote their role in global governance.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,

Our journey will be long and arduous. But as long as we persevere on the road ahead, there will be much to anticipate. Our road will never be straight or smooth, but hopes abound. The CPC stands ready to continue to work with political parties and organizations of all countries to support the right side of history and the progressive cause of humanity. Let us make an even greater contribution to building a global community of shared future and a better world.

Thank you.

* Keynote speech at the CPC and World Political Parties Summit.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)