A Vote of Confidence for the Governance of China

By Kirtan Bhana

2 November 2022

To lead a party of 98 million members must be a remarkable task for President Xi Jinping who was elected secretary general of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for a third consecutive term. Just the membership of the CPC outnumbers the population of many countries. This 20th National Congress marks the beginning of the 2nd centenary of the CPC which was established in 1921 inspired by fairness in material distribution and the creation of a classless equal society. On the first page of the first chapter of volume IV of his book ‘The Governance of China’, in his speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the CPC President Xi makes reference to the Opium War of 1840 explaining that “China was gradually reduced to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society and went through a period of suffering worse than it had previously known.”

It is these events that sparked a national rejuvenation of the Chinese people and a series of uprisings, revolutions and reform movements. Marxism and Leninism was brought to China during the October Revolution in Russia in 1917 and this became an essential component of the CPC at its formation in 1921.

Accountability and responsibility in facing and overcoming the challenges faced by the Chinese nation, and the guidance and leadership even when some decisions seemed not to be popular, but were prudent and pragmatic in protecting the people, has led to the extra ordinary progress the country has made in all respects.

President Xi has delivered on his commitments of eradicating the country of abject poverty and firmly placed the country on the road to common prosperity with characteristics of a modern socialist society. The phenomenal economic growth the country has experienced suggests that there is clear understanding of the workings of a free market and the value of fair and competitive commerce, while being constantly aware of the dangers of illicit market manipulation, collusion and corrupt business practices and vigilant of the negative and destructive impact these can have on China’s progress.

Since 2012 and the 18th Congress when Xi Jinping was elected General Secretary of the CPC, life expectancy in China has reached 78.2 years and per capita disposable income has more than doubled from USD2500 to around USD5500. 13 million urban jobs have been created each year on average. China’s medical, health and socioeconomic response have vastly improved and the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was deemed exemplary as was its humanitarian assistance to many countries that needed support.

Energy and food security is being ensured as the nation of 1.4 billion people embrace new technological advances through high quality development in infrastructure and logistic innovation. China has built the world's largest networks of high-speed railways and expressways and has world-class ports and shipping capabilities and capacity.

China is ranked number one in the world in the total trade volume of goods and the top trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions since opening up. This policy of economic reform was introduced by Deng Xiaoping, General Secretary of the CPC from 1978 to 1989. Deng rose to prominence after the death of Moa Zedong in 1976 and is known as the ‘The Architect of Modern China’ having remarked that poverty is not a characteristic of socialism. With an annual growth rate of 6.6% in the past decade, China has contributed 38.6% to the world economic growth which is larger than that of the G7, the so called highly industrialised countries of the world combined. China’s GDP has grown from 8.5 trillion U$ in 2012 to 17.7 trillion U$ in 2021 and is poised to become the largest economy in the world. China’s foreign exchange reserves of 3 trillion U$ are the largest of any nation.

The people shall govern, the basic tenet of Marxist theory, is at the core of the CPC and the primary function of the People’s Congress. ‘Under this system all of the power of the state belongs to the people to guarantee their status as masters of the country’ said Xi in his address at the Central Conference on the Work of the People’s Congress in October2021. The whole process of people’s democracy entails that the people are the CPC and the CPC is the people. Building self-reliance and having the confidence to break new ground is achieved by drawing on the creativity of the human resources which serves as an inexhaustible source of ideas, thoughts and invention. The consistent policy consultation mechanism and finding consensus is a prerequisite for formulating good laws for good governance and that reflects the will of the people.

The CPC’s 20th National Congress from October 16th to 22nd shifted the world’s focus to Beijing, China’s renowned capital which seems to be central to the decisions and policy makers around the world. New words like iniXiative, Xiconomics and Xiplomacy have been coined in recognition of China’s president and his profound leadership. The narratives are fast changing to acknowledge the critical role and significance of the PRC on the international arena. ‘The world needs China and China needs the world’ describes the conciliatory and complementary feeling and attitude towards China and their contribution to the world.

President Xi’s firm yet sober guidance is receiving recognition as nations and regions make their intentions clear of the direction their foreign policy is taking and are looking to join and become members where China has a presence. The BRI which seeks to connect the world through infrastructure is gaining momentum with more than 140 countries signed up for various projects. Multilateral groupings like BRICS are receiving requests to expand, the SCO-Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is also growing in stature as dynamic, versatile, stable and sustainable relations and cooperation are being sought as mistrust and relevance of outdated western hegemon is being exposed and questioned.

A fifth volume of President Xi’s speeches, writings and thoughts will be something to look forward to as the modern epoch unfolds and takes humanity on a new journey of discovery and exploration in all aspects.