MEDIA
Xi – evolution, China’s next revolution
By Kirtan Bhana - TDS
The China Media Group (CMG) forum held at the University of Johannesburg on 24 July unpacked the outcomes of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). President Xi Jinping in his address set in motion reforms that have sparked what is being called, China’s second revolution since the policy of opening the country up in the 1970’s by Deng Xiaoping. Over 2000 reforms have been introduced and implemented in the last decade since President Xi took office as the General Secretary of the CPC and Chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
Newly designated Ambassador of China to South Africa Wu Peng spoke of embracing a new journey, a journey that is moving China into high quality production for a market with socialist characteristics that include a 400 million middle class which is poised to double in the coming decade. He pointed out the four clear signals that will enhance and prioritize the quality of China’s growth and advancement through assigning new tasks that will further improve the capacity and capabilities of institutions in all aspects after 40 years of reform. With greater inputs in research and development, the reality of China’s modernization will open a world class business market.
Leveraging China’s enormous market potential both domestically and globally, addressing the bottlenecks, imbalances and inadequate development of mechanisms, systems and processes by embracing the new development philosophy and following the right path of peaceful development, promoting a human community with a shared future resonated at the third plenum.
Regular consultations, building consensus, sharing problems and solutions, comprehensive discussions, implementation procedure and service delivery are at the centre of the CPC’s whole processes democracy. The CPC has carried out far more reforms in over seventy years of governance of China than any other nation. Many of those so-called developed countries who proclaim their democracy, have become stagnant, and some are even regressing, mired in the rhetoric of their politics and distracting their citizens from their own flaws while deflecting blame and accountability.
The pragmatic leadership of Xi’s presidency is clearly evident all over China and through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) visible on all the corners of the globe. The approach of identifying things that need to change, to find practical solutions to change them and recognizing the value of those things that can’t be changed or need not be changed has thrust China to the forefront. After all, policy is malleable and can and should be changed if it is inadequate, explained Prof Paul Tembe, a South African based specialist on China having written several books on the country.
‘A sense of gain’ was referred to by Hope Papo of the African National Congress (ANC) which established a Government of National Unity – GNU after failing to secure a majority in the recent general elections in South Africa. The ANC has been in alliance with the South African Communist Party- SACP and the Congress of South African Trade Unions – COSATU since it established the government in 1994. This tripartite alliance reflects strong leanings towards socialist ideologies which are entrenched in the Freedom Charter. The results of the elections indicate a desire of a collective people-centred government that adheres to the constitutional democracy. Like the Chinese, South Africans have much to acknowledge and to celebrate the many benefits the transformation has brought to its citizens in the last 30 years. The GNU has been tasked by the people to deepen the reforms and deliver on its promise.
Ms Song Jianing, Bureau Chief of CMG Africa has been instrumental in establishing this dynamic media forum on the African continent, a much-needed platform to challenge the distorted narrative of western hegemonic media conglomerates. The forum continues to grow, not just in Africa, but in other countries of the world. North, East, West and South are for mapping directions, however in a multipolar world order, inclusivity will bring peace and prosperity.