On November 27, Chinese Consul General in Penang Mr. Zhou Youbin published a signed article titled The Chinese Path to Modernization - A Bright Path Towards the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation on Malaysia media - Nanyang Siang Pau to elaborate on the direction for the Chinese path to modernization, the important features and major principles of the Chinese path to modernization. The full text is as follows:

    Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 17th Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Indonesia and the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Thailand. This is the first overseas visit by the top Chinese leader after the successful conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Over six days and five nights, President Xi shared with world leaders the stories of the 20th CPC National Congress and Chinese modernization with systematic clarity, depth and insightfulness. He also expounded on the global significance of China’s development in light of the five features of Chinese modernization. French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders highly commended the Chinese path to modernization, and believe that China will certainly make greater contributions to the world in the future.

    National rejuvenation and modernization are the dreams that the Chinese people have always striven for since modern times began. Now, China’s national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability, and the Chinese path to modernization is the bright path to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In this regard, I would like to use a few numbers to decode the Chinese path to modernization - “1 direction”, “5 features”, and “5 principles”.

    There is one clear direction set out for the Chinese path to modernization. China has adopted a two-step strategic plan. The first step is to basically realize socialist modernization from 2020 through 2035, and the second step is to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century. By the year 2035, China will significantly increase its economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, and composite national strength, join the ranks of the world’s most innovative countries with great self-reliance and strength in science and technology, build a modernized economy, form a new pattern of development, improve the system for whole-process people’s democracy, and make more notable and substantive progress in promoting the people’s well-rounded development and prosperity for all. These are China’s overall development objectives for the year 2035 given by General Secretary Xi Jinping. General Secretary Xi’s series of important expositions on the Chinese path to modernization provide fundamental guidelines for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, expand the way for developing countries to modernise, and provide a Chinese solution for mankind to explore a better social system. 

    The Chinese path to modernization is characterized by five distinctive features that are unique to the Chinese context. First, it is the modernization of a huge population. China is working to achieve modernization for more than 1.4 billion people, a number larger than the combined population of all developed countries in the world today, which will completely rewrite the modern world territory. Second, it is the modernization of common prosperity for all. The common prosperity we desire is not egalitarianism. We will first make the pie bigger, and then divide it properly through reasonable institutional arrangements, and development gains will benefit all our people in a more substantial and equitable way. Third, it is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. We promote people’s well-rounded development, so that every family will enjoy a decent life and everyone will be imbued with a strong sense of moral integrity. Fourth, it is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. We should resolutely not repeat the mistakes of “polluting first and treating later” of Western countries in industrialization. We will protect nature and the environment as we do our own lives and ensure the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. Fifth, it is the modernization of peaceful development. China stays committed to resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation. No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony, and its development strengthens the world’s forces for peace.

    We must firmly adhere to the five major principles on the Chinese path to modernization. First, upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership. According to independent polls and surveys by foreign institutions such as Harvard University and Edelman Public Relations Consultancy Firm, the CPC and Chinese government have long-term support from more than 90% of the Chinese people. Only by resolutely upholding the leadership of the CPC, a political party which enjoys wide endorsement and support of the Chinese people, can we ensure to advance along the right path in advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. Second, following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China has completed a process of industrialization that took developed countries several centuries in the space of mere decades, and brought about the two miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability. Practice has fully proved that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics conforms to the realities of China, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the requirements of the times. It is not only the correct path that works, but also the sure path that pays off. Third, applying a people-centered development philosophy. We must ensure that development is for the people and by the people and that its fruits are shared by the people. We must do a better job of seeing that the gains of modernization benefit all our people fairly. Fourth, remaining committed to deepening reform and opening up. We must work hard to remove deep-seated institutional barriers so as to continuously imbue our socialist modernization endeavors with fresh dynamism and vitality. Fifth, carrying forward our fighting spirit. We must meet obstacles and difficulties head on, ensure both development and security, and dig deep to surmount the difficulties and challenges on the road ahead. Let us harness our indomitable fighting spirit to open up new horizons for our cause.

    Chinese modernization, rooted in China and embracing the world, is both an “intellectual property” unique to China and an “open-source code” shared by the world. China is willing to work with Malaysia and other countries in the world to explore development paths that suit their own national conditions, learn from each other and develop together, and continue to promote the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future and a human community with a shared future!