Foreign

As The Communist Party Of China (CPC) Marks Its 20th National Congress

Published

3 years ago

October 16, 2022

By Austin Maho, Ph.D.

The most important political event in the Communist Party of China (CPC) calendar is taking place in Beijing China. Since 1977, the CPC has established an unbroken ritual of holding its National Congress every five years. This year’s Party Congress will be the 20th such gathering since the CPC’s founding in 1921.

The 20th Congress of the CPC brings together China’s most senior leaders at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People to review the achievements of the CPC in the preceding five years and chart a way forward in years to come.

This year’s Congress offers an opportunity to consider the remarkable achievements of President Xi Jinping as leader of the CPC in the last 9 years. Central to any analysis of Xi Jinping’s contributions to the development of the CPC in particular and China in general is the body of work which is now generally known and referred to as “Xi’s Thought” which encapsulates his theoretical vision for the social, economic and political transformation of China.

It would be recalled that the 19th Party Congress saw ‘Xi Jinping Thought’ gaining prominence by becoming an integral part of the party charter and constitution.

The significance of this is that it establishes Xi as a central figure in the Chinese political firmament. He becomes the first Chinese leader since CPC founder Mao Zedong to get his contribution to the party’s philosophical postulations presented as a “thoughts”

To his credit, Xi Jinping has overseen a period of profound policy realignment and formulation which has seen to the remarkable growth of the Chinese economy in the last decade. A major policy reform in his first term was to purge the CPC of corruption and aimed for “national rejuvenation” and sustainable growth across board in both rural and urban China, by dealing a decisive blow against the dishonest dealings of both “tigers” and “flies”. Since the beginning of his second tenure he has shown consistency in the implementation of priorities outlined in the work report of the 19th Party Congress.

The report which was presented by Xi Jinping himself in the 19th congress of the CPC, highlighted the policy thrust of national rejuvenation to include achieving a decisive victory in, “Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,” and transformation to achieve “socialist modernization” by 2035 and become “a great modern socialist country that is prosperous” by mid-century.

In February 2021, Xi announced the eradication of “extreme poverty” at all levels. According to him the task of building a “moderately prosperous society” was achieved and became the landmark achievement of the CPC in its 100th anniversary celebration. Fighting the poverty scourge was a central and directional policy of the Xi era. It is no wonder therefore that the material wellbeing of the Chinese people have significantly improved under Xi.

Having defeated poverty, the work report for the 20th CPC congress is likely to thus focus on vision 2035 and its priority areas. Vision 2035 is the next task and milestone for China to attain “socialist modernization” in line with Xi’s vision for the new Chinese era.

Evidently, China’s remarkable growth and development cannot be divorced from its political system, which has brought stability and growth to the nation of 1.4 billion people under the leadership of the CPC, the largest political party in the world. The Chinese model of socialism is unique because it has inbuilt Chinese characteristics. In broad terms it represents Marxist –Leninism, adapted to Chinese peculiarities. Furthermore, Xi Jinping’s thought represents this characteristic and aligns with those of Marxist-Leninism.

While not outrightly advocating the Chinese model, it must be emphasized that many underdeveloped and developing countries in the world share similar characteristics with China. China has experienced many of the hiccups being experienced by many African countries today. Under these circumstances there is a lot that can be learnt from the Chinese model in building an economic and political system that is unique and adaptable to peculiar political and economic challenges rather than aping prescriptive Western style democracy.

Staying true to its chosen path under the guidance of the CPC, China has become a global economic player that has achieved significant progress in its quest for economic emancipation for its citizens. In 30 years of reforms China has successfully lifted over 800 million people from poverty. These people are mostly based in the rural parts of China. The figure represents more than half of the poor population of China. These achievements can only be attributed to the Chinese model and adoption of communist principles with Chinese characteristics. Characteristics which are people centered with a strong political organization that recognizes democratic principles in its decision making process.

In a speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the end of extreme poverty and honour the frontline fighters in the monumental accomplishment on 25th Febuary 2021, Xi Jinping noted: “No country has been able to lift hundreds of millions of peoples out of poverty in such short time.” For China, it was a miracle that not only reduced poverty in China but cut global poverty by more than half. The role of the CPC in this monumental accomplishment is central which President Xi Jingping noted, provided the “political and organizational guarantee in the long and arduous struggle against poverty”.

The “organizational guarantee” of political parties is sacrosanct, this is a lesson African political parties must learn from the CPC towards the ultimate objective of “working for the people’s wellbeing” as Xi noted at the world political parties’ Summit on July 6, 2021.

The Communist Party of China under Xi Jinping is a people centered political party. This has been the driving force to the Communist Party’s longevity and accomplishment. The CPC has demonstrated its determination to support developing countries to grow their economies and lift their people out of poverty.

In the views of Professor Georg T Yu, “China has established enduring relationships on all continents and with numerous partners both major and minor”. However, “no other continent can rival the extent, the intensity, the speed and the impact of China’s relations in Africa”. In a similar vein, a 2017 report by Mckinsey and Company with the title: “How Africa and China are engaging and how the partnership would evolve, “ notes that in a mere two decades China has become Africa’s largest economic partner across trade, investment, infrastructure financing, and, there is no country with such depth and breadth of engagement in Africa” the report noted.

The two principle platforms of engagement apart from the traditional bilateral cooperation between China and individual African nations has been the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ also known as the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) or OBOR, One Belt One Road.

FOCAC is a multilateral mechanism of partnership which came into being in October 2000. Twenty two years after, it has become a major landmark in the growing Sino/Africa relationship and one of the world’s most visible and effective multilateral platforms for international collaboration and development.

FOCAC has come to represent the new world order for multilateralism and cooperation. In twenty two years it has become the rallying point for developing countries and South-South cooperation. It represents a shift in Western-backed global institutions that have only served the interests of big powers.

As noted by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the September 2018 meeting, FOCAC has become an important mechanism for collective dialogue and practical cooperation between China and African countries, a model of South-South cooperation and a banner of international cooperation between China and Africa. FOCAC for African countries has come to, “represent the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and the values of friendship, justice and shared interests”.

It is instructive that the 8th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC which took place in Dakar Senegal in November 2021 had as its theme: “Deepen China-Africa Partnership and Promote Sustainable Development to Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the New Era”.

In line with the “Dakar Action Plan 2022 to 2024”, China/Africa relationship is expected to enjoy high-level political exchanges and experience sharing on governance; support for African countries to independently chose their paths to economic and political emancipation.

The Dakar Action Plan means that the two sides work “to create synergy between the China/Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, the Long-Range Goals for 2035 of China, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union, thus drawing a long-term blueprint for China/Africa practical cooperation”.

Also on the table includes bilateral and multilateral political dialogues such as the China/Africa political parties theoretical seminar, that would deepen experience sharing and mutual learning on state governance. These are opportunities that African political parties must take advantage of in the overall interest of the people of Africa and in line with China/Africa cooperation.

Be that as it may, China has not directly sought to impose its will on African countries and has stayed true to its policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of African countries.

We live in a diverse world; consequently the ways and means of achieving democracy should reflect this diversity as no single yardstick should be applied in judging democracy.

African political parties must reflect this diversity. African political parties must uphold the universal principle of democracy which underscores, participation, rule of law, equity, justice and fairness to achieve their core mandate which should be hinged on people’s wellbeing, happiness and security. Great efforts should be made towards collaboration and consensus building and promoting common values of humanity and building a community with a shared future.

As the largest developing country in the world, China must continue to assist Africa by sharing development strategies and experiences. African political parties must evolve the developmental philosophies needed to domesticate these ideas and processes to root out underdevelopment from the continent.

However, China/Africa cooperation must be wary of the antics of some Western nations and its attempt to define and take ownership of the abiding principles of democracy, for democracy belongs to no one neither is it painted in the colors of any nation’s flag.

As the CPC holds its 20th National Congress, there are expectations by African countries against the background of changing global realities.

Since the last Congress in 2017, the world has changed significantly, a consequence of Covid-19 pandemic and the global economic disruption that came with it. The disease has challenged global health and relationships. It has exposed global fault lines and has laid bare the hypocrisy of nations. At a time the world should have embraced multilateralism and solidarity, some countries have fallen short of expectation. Unilateralism and nationalism became a counterforce to multilateralism.

The breakthrough in vaccine production only accentuated global fault-lines and led to vaccine nationalism and inequalities. The economic meltdown occasioned by the fall in global commodity prices meant African countries were worst hit by the spiraling effect of the pandemic.

The 20th National Congress of the CPC is auspicious as it would provide China the opportunity to continue to build on its cooperation with African nations in the spirit of South-South cooperation.

The Congress offers immense opportunities to recalibrate China /African cooperation along the tested lines of mutualism, win- win and a shared future. Africa needs more assistance to combat the pandemic, more trade and investment. The Congress therefore offers opportunities for new vistas, new agendas and blueprint for the development of the continent.

In May 2021, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at a reception commemorating Africa Day in Beijing emphasized that enhancing unity and cooperation with Africa has always been high on China’s diplomatic agenda. China-Africa relations he said, has “reached a new starting point.”

The “starting point” in China/Africa relations is working cooperatively and collaboratively. As the 20th Congress of the CPC is set to take place, African countries and political parties expect more collaboration and consultation between China and Africa.

African countries expect more activities on the Belt and Road Initiative and implementation of the action plan of FOCAC, for the development of physical infrastructure in the continent.

African countries also expect more collaboration especially in the areas of trade and investment. African countries want to see practical cooperation in the pursuit of common development and incorporation of Africa into China’s agenda 2035 , China’s new development paradigm and Xi’s vision for the new era.

Africa seeks more synergy and exchanges on the political front between political parties in Africa and the CPC.

Africa also desires to see more efforts towards Cushioning the effects of COVID-19, promoting multilateralism and promoting the ideas of a multilateral world through the instrumentality of the United Nations.

China continues to prove to the rest of the world that its unique blend of communism with Chinese characteristics works. China is certainly not a Communist gulag as some people would want us to believe. China has over the years evolved a process were decisions are reached through the consensus of elected representatives, demonstrating China’s democratic credentials which is people centered.

President Xi Jinping people centered thoughts is at the core of modern China and the driving force that led to the realization of its first millennia goal of building a moderately prosperous society, and propelling China towards its second goal of building a modern socialist country.

African countries from all ramifications have a positive disposition towards the achievements of the CPC in the last decade. African political parties must continue in the task of building a high level China/African community with a shared future and implement a people centric approach in the development of political party ideology.

African countries are upbeat and hopeful of a positive outcome of the 20th National Congress in line with China/African relationship built on the principles of win-win and a shared future.

Dr. Austin Maho is a media scholar, a media teacher, a political activist and public affairs commentator. He is the publisher and Editor-in Chief of Daybreak Nigeria, a Nigeria Newspaper and Red Dragon Magazine. He is a member of the Nigeria Guild of Editors and several national and international organization.

Foreign

Japan must face consequences for dangerous provocations on Taiwan question

Published

6 days ago

November 24, 2025

Our Reporter

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently made public remarks suggesting the possibility of military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs. Despite repeated representations from China, she has refused to repent for her blatant and provocative rhetoric, which represents a blatant violation of the one-China principle and the guiding principles set forth in the four China-Japan political documents. Her actions have gravely undermined the political foundation of China-Japan relations and severely offended the sentiments of the Chinese people.

Assertions by a handful of Japanese politicians that China is “overreacting” to Takaichi’s erroneous comments are a misrepresentation of facts and a deliberate attempt to discredit China’s legitimate and reasonable position. The Taiwan question bears directly on the political foundation of mutual trust between China and Japan.

In 1972, the two countries signed the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and officially established diplomatic relations, which states that the Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation. In 1978, the two countries signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan, which affirmed the principles and contents of the joint statement in legal terms and set out the legal parameters for China-Japan relations.

In 1998, the two sides released the China-Japan Joint Declaration on Building a Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation for Peace and Development, in which Japan undertook to “continue to maintain its stand on the Taiwan question which was set forth in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement” and “reiterated its understanding that there is one China.”

In 2008, the China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit stipulated clearly in Article 5 that “The Japanese side reiterated that it will continue to abide by its position on the Taiwan question stated in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement.”

The above is what is laid out in the four political documents between China and Japan regarding the Taiwan question. It constitutes the solemn commitment made by the Japanese government and has a legal effect under international law. There is no room whatsoever for ambiguity or misinterpretation. Whichever political party or person is in power in Japan, they must always abide by the commitment of the Japanese government on the Taiwan question.

Takaichi’s statements fundamentally contravene the guiding principles set forth in these political documents and strike at the foundation of the China-Japan bilateral relationship. As the leader of a country, she should have exercised basic political responsibility and worked with China to promote the sound development of bilateral relations. Instead, shortly after expressing a commitment to the position outlined in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, she irresponsibly claimed that a “Taiwan contingency” could be a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan and implied that Japan may invoke the so-called right to collective self-defense to interfere militarily in the Taiwan Strait.

Such rhetoric is deeply corrosive to the political foundation of China-Japan relations. It reflects provocative strategic intentions and poses a serious threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region. No sovereign nation can tolerate such flagrant interference in its internal affairs or accept threats of military action from foreign leaders.

Takaichi must take direct responsibility for the political damage her remarks have caused. The only responsible course for the Japanese side is to confront its historical and bilateral obligations with sincerity, cease inflammatory behavior, retract the erroneous statements, and take concrete steps to honor its commitments to China.

A sound and stable China-Japan relationship serves the interests of the Japanese people. Undermining bilateral ties not only runs counter to the prevailing regional and global trends but also lacks public and political support.

In recent days, the extreme and provocative moves of the Takaichi administration have triggered widespread criticism from insightful voices within Japan. Takakage Fujita, secretary-general of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement, stated that Takaichi’s remarks violate international law and inflict serious harm on bilateral relations. An editorial in The Tokyo Shimbun criticized her comments as “reckless and careless,” emphasizing that such statements are unacceptable from a sitting prime minister.

Numerous Japanese netizens have bluntly questioned Takaichi’s diplomatic competence, urging her to retract her misguided remarks. Some Japanese people have even organized demonstrations to protest her irresponsible and provocative behavior. Japanese politicians should take these rational voices seriously and refrain from further escalating tensions along a dangerous trajectory.

On matters of fundamental principle, the Chinese people remain unwavering. The Taiwan question lies at the very heart of China’s core interests. Any attempt to challenge this red line will be firmly opposed by the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people and the entire Chinese nation.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration to China.

As a former aggressor that inflicted innumerable atrocities in Taiwan, Japan bears a historical responsibility to reflect deeply on its past and exercise heightened caution in its approach to the Taiwan question. Aligning with forces that seek to divide China runs counter to the prevailing trend of peace and development. Should Japan persist in this course, it will inevitably bear the consequences of its actions.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

Foreign

Bamboo innovation drives low-carbon development in E China’s Anhui

Published

6 days ago

November 24, 2025

Our Reporter

By Han Lei, People’s Daily

In Chizhou, east China’s Anhui province, bamboo is emerging as a sustainable alternative in daily life. Products traditionally made from plastic, such as straws, ice cream sticks, disposable chopsticks, and cutlery, are increasingly being replaced by bamboo-based alternatives.

At a manufacturing facility in the Chizhou High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, automated production lines produce five million bamboo straws daily. Each year, two billion bamboo straws are exported to more than 40 countries and regions, displacing approximately 6,000 tons of plastic and reducing carbon emissions by 36,000 tons.

“Bamboo straws do not soften in water or break easily, and they are fully renewable and biodegradable,” said Yin Mingliang, the company’s general manager. However, he noted that producing even a simple item like a straw posed significant technical challenges, including issues with mold resistance, heat tolerance, and high production costs.

Initial attempts to resolve these problems through partnerships with three PhD research teams were unsuccessful. A breakthrough came in 2017 when a fourth team, after three years of development, enhanced machinery efficiency to produce 2,000 straws per hour and reduced the unit cost to 0.04 yuan ($0.0056), roughly on par with plastic straws.

The company has also developed an integrated pyrolysis system that converts bamboo wastes into high-value products such as activated carbon and hard-carbon anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The process captures and reuses steam, enhancing energy efficiency.

Chizhou, home to more than 600,000 mu (40,000 hectares) of bamboo forest, has historically underutilized this natural resource. Recently, the city launched a three-year action plan to promote bamboo as a plastic substitute, extend the industrial value chain, and raise incomes for local farmers.

“Who would have thought that bamboo, once overlooked, could now fetch a good price?” said Shu Rengui, a villager from Languan in Hengdu township of Shitai county, Chizhou, as he harvested bamboo in the morning mist. Shu supplies bamboo to a nearby processing facility and earns around 40,000 yuan annually from the business.

At a bamboo-processing base in Meijie township, Guichi district of Chizhou, two processing plants have been built, capable of handling 35,000 tons of bamboo annually. According to Zhang Yu, the site manager, more than 40 villagers are employed at the base, contributing to local income growth.

Chizhou has developed an integrated industry model linking leading enterprises, circular industrial parks, bamboo-splitting plants, and village cooperatives, establishing a full production chain that spans primary, advanced, and deep processing.

According to an official with the local forestry bureau, Chizhou now has 89 bamboo-processing enterprises with an annual capacity of 900,000 tons. In 2024, the city’s bamboo industry reached an output value of approximately 3 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 26 percent, and provided employment for nearly 40,000 rural households, boosting average household incomes by over 20,000 yuan.

The city is also expanding its global footprint. Through platforms such as the Canton Fair, or the China Import and Export Fair, bamboo products from Chizhou, including skewers, chopsticks, and straws, have entered markets in the EU, India, Japan, South Korea, and other countries and regions.

In December 2023, a Chizhou-based company was invited to speak at a side event organized by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization during the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28, sharing China’s experience in plastics substitution.

Bamboo industry development in Chizhou is accelerating. At the first high-quality bamboo industry development conference for Anhui province in 2024, Chizhou High-Tech Industrial Development Zone signed a framework agreement with CRRC, China’s leading train maker, to establish a national bamboo circular-industry park headquarters in Chizhou. Plans are also underway to develop more than 50 such parks in bamboo-rich regions across the country.

Foreign

China set to advance intelligent, integrated, multi-dimensional transport network by 2030

Published

6 days ago

November 24, 2025

Our Reporter

By Han Xin, People’s Daily

China is accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into its transportation sector, aiming to establish an intelligent, integrated, and multi-dimensional national transport network by 2030. A recently issued government guideline outlines 16 targeted tasks across four strategic areas, including technological innovation and scenario-based application, in a bid to enhance mobility, improve safety, and reduce environmental impact.

The guideline emphasizes self-reliance in core technologies and sets out a roadmap to ensure China’s transport infrastructure ranks among the world’s most advanced by the end of the decade. The strategy centers on breakthroughs in applied AI technologies, innovation in intelligent transport products, and the development of large AI models tailored to comprehensive transport systems.

“Strengthening the supply of key technologies is essential to build a full innovation chain from research and development to practical application,” said Wang Yunpeng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Beihang University. Wang added that developing large-scale AI models would enable the creation of a “transport brain,” equipped with high-quality datasets, algorithm libraries, and digital toolchains to support intelligent transformation across the sector.

Progress in large transport models is already well underway. The Transport Foundation Model Innovation and Industrial Alliance — launched under the guidance of China’s Ministry of Transport — has brought together more than 50 leading enterprises, AI companies, and universities and research institutes, identifying 860 typical AI application scenarios.

At the enterprise level, China Logistics Group introduced a large model serving over 40 specific scenarios including multimodal transport and warehouse scheduling. A “smart hub” built upon a transport large model developed by Chinese tech firm Baidu has been deployed in over 10 cities, serving over 1 million vehicles equipped with L2 driver-assistance driving systems.

“Demonstration regions across the country are applying large-model-based solutions in areas such as road network monitoring and early warning, active management of high-traffic corridors, and integrated mobility services,” said an official from China’s Ministry of Transport. By enhancing capacity along major transport routes and implementing multi-tiered, refined traffic management models, these demonstration corridors have achieved approximately a 20 percent increase in traffic efficiency and a 30 percent improvement in emergency response efficiency during unforeseen events.

Enabled by big data analytics and high-precision modeling, AI is establishing a robust digital foundation for China’s transport infrastructure. Statistics show that the 20 designated demonstration regions for digital transformation of highway and waterway infrastructure now encompass more than 60,000 kilometers of upgraded corridors, comprising approximately 54,000 kilometers of highways and 7,500 kilometers of waterways. These improved sections form a critical backbone of the national integrated, multi-dimensional transport network.

Diverse application scenarios are essential for driving the deep integration of AI into the transportation sector. The newly issued guideline identifies intelligent application scenarios across seven major areas, including assisted driving, smart railways, and smart shipping, designed to accelerate innovation through real-world implementation. “These scenarios span almost all segments of the transport system, offering broader opportunities for testing and deploying new technologies and products,” Wang said.

On the waterways front, China now has 52 automated terminals. Domestically developed intelligent operating systems for fully automated container terminals have been implemented at more than a dozen terminals both domestically and internationally. Electronic navigation charts for waterways have been successfully deployed along the Yangtze River’s main and branch routes. The accelerated adoption of intelligent technologies across ports, waterways, and vessels is significantly enhancing the efficiency of waterborne transport.

Parallel advancements are also transforming China’s road networks. The Beijing-Xiong’an expressway, powered by Baidu AI Cloud, leverages the collaboration between vision and language-based large models to deliver second-level alerts for major traffic anomalies. Didi Autonomous Driving, in collaboration with Chinese automaker GAC Aion, has developed a new generation of factory-installed autonomous-driving vehicles. As autonomous driving converges with vehicle-road collaboration, a growing number of “smart vehicles” are taking to “smart roads,” accelerating the evolution of intelligent mobility.

Deep integration of AI and transportation also depends on next-generation infrastructure. The guideline outlines targeted measures in terms of computing power, data, and networks to strengthen the supply of essential elements.

For computing power, the guideline calls for better coordination of computing resources within the transport sector and strengthening computing capacity based on major transport infrastructure and local conditions.

In terms of data, China will accelerate the development of comprehensive transport big-data centers, promote data sharing, and build high-quality dataset construction to fully leverage data as a production factor.

In terms of network infrastructure, the guideline calls for the integrated application of multiple network technologies, the construction of intelligent sensing systems and the development of high-speed data transmission channels to enable low-latency, high-reliability, and wide-coverage connectivity for vehicle-road collaboration, remote operations, and real-time monitoring.