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| China- the workshop of the world |
In 1989 there was a political earthquake with the collapse of the Soviet Union and counter revolutions in Eastern Europe. Economic stagnation, significant problems in commodity production, inefficiency, corruption, opportunism and revisionism were factors ruthlessly exploited by imperialism which led to an enormous setback for socialism and the working class.
In response the Communist Party of China (CPC) led a new long march to thwart the potential threat of counter revolution.
The CPC has overseen deep reforms and opening up but also overcome complex social difficulties and unexpected events to develop a modern and dynamic socialist country.
Socialist modernisation involved a restructuring, diversification and transformation of the economy that has led over 853 million people out of poverty with improvements in living standards, incomes and quality of life for both people in both rural and urban areas.
Life expectancy is now 76.7 years. In 1949 it was 36, Medical Insurance is provided to the whole population and 45 per cent of youth from 18-22 go to college. With a population of 1.4 billion this is an astonishing achievement!
Today China is a global power and the second wealthiest country in the world with a staggering $5 trillion in bank reserves. In 2021 China's share of global GDP was 18.4 per cent. The trade between China and other countries along the Belt & Road is $12 trillion and in advanced digital technologies China is now a world leader.
People's China has successfully responded to one of humanity's worst epidemics and its international response was to provide millions of vaccinations and protective equipment to other countries around the globe. Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions China's economy is estimated to grow by over an incredible five per cent GDP.
US imperialism has aggressively responded to the perceived 'Chinese threat' by attempting to economically destabilise China's economy by imposing sanctions, increasing hostilities, provocations, geo-political tensions and conflicts even within China's borders.
However, China is now a powerful force for diplomacy and peace. China's recent peace proposals for Ukraine contained a 12 point peace plan to end hostilities and to resume peace talks. Iran and Saudi Arabia have now agreed to establish diplomatic relations following a conference hosted by China.
In a report delivered to the 20th National Congress of the CPC Xi Jinping stated the CPC's desire to build China into a modern socialist country and the rejuvenation of the China nation through a Chinese path of modernisation.
Guangdong Province
Guangzhou (Canton) is the capital of Guangdong province situated on the North Pearl River Delta near Macau and Hong Kong known as, 'the south gate' of China. Guangdong is the most populated province in China with over 127 million people.
Our first impressions of Guangzhou were of an ultra-modern, economically vibrant and rapidly expanding city with multi-lane motorways, wide tree lined boulevards and soaring skyscrapers. The city was awe inspiring with an incredible skyline and is home to 16 million people. It was smart, clean and architecturally contemporary with an abundance of urban green spaces. There was an absence of pollution, rubbish, poverty and destitution associated with Western cities.
On the outskirts we saw enormous construction projects taking place providing evidence of China's rapidly expanding economy and to meet new demands for low cost housing.
Guangzhou is a major transportation and communication hub for South China
having a humid subtropical climate with plentiful rainfall. It has a long and illustrious history with a profoundly rich culture of over 2,200 years being the starting point of the ancient maritime Silk Road. The Opium War and the 1911 Revolution took place here and its museums contain a wealth of cultural relics and artefacts.
Poverty to prosperity
Guangdong was established as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a pioneer of socialist market reforms and the opening up of coastal areas. It is the epitome of Chinese style modernisation driven by a scientific and technological revolution. Moving from a predominantly labour intensive backward agricultural province to the largest most dynamic and fastest growing high tech manufacturing province in China. According to the World Bank it has been transformed from a low income to high income economy. Its economic performance is phenomenal with growth of 0.5 per cent and being a quarter of the national total. In 2021 its economic growth surpassed south Korea! 1.32 million jobs were created in 2022 and there are more than 300,000 foreign invested enterprises in Guangdong. From a closed economy in 1978 its foreign trade imports and exports reached $1.2 trillion in 2022.
The modernisation of Guangdong province has involved a high level of future planning to develop all aspects of the economic infrastructure involving the constant improvement of roads, highways, ports and harbours linking the province with other cities.
Guangzhou now has an international airport, port and the province is developing high-speed railways and bus links. The city demonstrates the CPC's leadership and commitment to implementing the Belt & Road Initiative in order to develop its international economic infrastructure, to boost trade and stimulate economic growth not only for China but for other countries across the world.
Research, development and innovation are instrumental to China's economic growth and prosperity. Guangdong is a Science and Technology Hub and is at the forefront of research being number one nationally for invention patents.
To promote economic stability the CPC is implementing supply side structural reforms. To increase economic capacity, reduce imbalances, inadequate development and to raise efficiency. Promoting new areas of economic growth involving innovation and technology.
Dual Circulation Theory emphasises the need for structural supply side adjustments and potential problems for China by depending too much on exports for its economic development. This reduces the risk of financial crisis but also acknowledges the enormous potential of a domestic market with over
1.4 billion consumers and opportunities to improve their lives. More emphasis is being placed on safeguarding China's domestic economy consumption by increasing consumption to achieve a balance between exports and imports.
Previously there has been a reliance on exports but due to global changes and future uncertainties a new paradigm has been developed. This recognises the dual importance of simultaneously developing and expanding the domestic circle or market to achieve strategic goals.
In Guangzhou we visited KingMed Diagnosis China's leading independent clinical laboratory company providing a technology orientated medical service company specialising in clinical diagnostics and pathology. The facility was state of the art but what made it so remarkable was that out of 17,000 employees 1,063 were CPC members!
We also visited the GAC group which is ranked 61st in the top Chinese enterprises building both conventional high class vehicles and electric cars with a production capacity of 200,000 vehicles using the most advanced robotics technologies.
Guizhou province
Next we flew to Guiyang in Guizhou province. A scenic area with a landscape of domed mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Guizhou was previously China’s poorest and most underdeveloped region.
Guizhou has also experienced a dramatic economic surge in high quality scientific, electronic and technological digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing (online storage that keeps files readily accessible anytime anywhere), block chain (advanced database mechanisms that allow transparent information to be shared in businesses) and other technological developments are unfolding. Guizhou has an advantageous climate, power supply and infrastructure. The cooler climate is conducive to the servers operation and thus reduces operating costs. Power supplies are from thermal and water power and electricity costs are cheaper. Following a three year highway construction programme all urban areas have access to expressways enabling Guizhou to connect more efficiently with the outside world.
It is China's first national big comprehensive pilot zone and part of its national big data strategy. It now has the highest number of mega data centres in the country. The added value to the digital economy is predicted to exceed $91.7 billion. This will promote the integration of big big data into the real economy – industry, agriculture and service industry – and transform, upgrade and improve industrial development and big data industry.
Developments in big data are a central component of the province's social and economic development strategy. Financial support has been provided with special funds for the big data industry. The province has used big data integration to alleviate poverty and to establish the country's first provincial data platform for the online handling of provincial, municipal and county level government services. This has simultaneously involved the successful completion of upgrading optical fibres in 8,900 villages. Guizhou has achieved 100 per cent coverage for fibre optic broadband and 4G network. Vocational training and college education has included the development of 8 universities to set up courses in response to shortages of talent. Emphasis being placed on deepening relationships between universities and industrial and research institutes.
Ethnicity and Culture
China is a multi-ethnic country of 56 ethnic groups that forms a rich part of its political and cultural identity. This diversity is strongly promoted rather than suppressed as is claimed in mass media propaganda. A system of regional autonomy exists for ethnic minorities and equal rights are enshrined in the Constitution.
Guizhou is one of China’s most ethnically diverse provinces in China whose people have culturally benefited from the immense economic developments. In Guiyang we attended a magnificent performance involving people of Miao, Dono, Shui and Buyi ethnic minorities wearing traditional brightly coloured embroidered costumes and jewellery. The production was a musical opera and dance with traditional musical instruments against a backdrop of rivers, mountains, forests and waterfalls.
Culture is considered the soul of the nation and a nation’s strength is dependent on its culture. Xi Jinping has stated, ‘A nation’s confidence in its culture is its essential, underlying and enduring strength’. China is committed to stimulating future cultural innovation and creativity in literature and the arts but in protecting and restoring cultural relics, artefacts and historical sites.
A visit was made to Qingyan a former military town of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The streets and alleyways are paved with cobbles and the houses are of stone with traditional Chaomen and Yaomen roof tiles and flower-wood doors that reflect the architectural style of Old China. The place is full of temples, palaces, ancestral halls and pagodas and is a national cultural heritage site.
We travelled to the Zunyi Conference Site and Memorial Hall which is a place of great historical revolutionary significance. During the Zunyi Conference in 1935 Mao Zedong delivered a lengthy report criticising military errors and serious failures due to 'left dogmatism' during the Long March which nearly led to the defeat of the Red Army. Mao was co-elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo and so entered the military leadership of the Central Committee of the CPC and Red Army. The Zunyi Conference was a significant turning point in the life and death struggle of the CPC and Red Army.
The journey was made via a high speed bullet train from Guiyang. Symbolic of the rapid economic and cultural progress made by People's China since that historical conference. In a province defined by mountains and rivers the development of a high speed train network is a feat of engineering ingenuity.
In Beijing we attended the Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilisations and the first World Conference of Sinologists in which General secretary of the CPC Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter. He supported efforts to promote cultural exchanges, understanding, friendship and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. This was held at the China National Archives of Publications and Culture located at the foot of the Yanshan Mountains in Beijing which holds China’s largest collection of publications and database of cultural resources and traditions.
The Communist Party of China
The CPC has a membership of 98 million. It has experienced an arduous journey since its formation involving great sacrifices. During the period of liberation and from 1949 onwards in the socialist construction of China the CPC has achieved profound social changes for the Chinese people. After reviewing China’s historical experiences and rejecting dogma it oversaw a strategic shift from class struggle to one of opening up, reform and socialist modernisation.
The Museum of the Communist Party of China, located on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, provides a comprehensive exhibition of the Party’s history, 100 year struggles and truly astonishing progress including magnificent statues, photos and exhibits. A simulator takes you on a virtual awe inspiring intrepid journey. Through frozen mountains on the long march where you feel snow on your face before zooming through modern cities across China. Then plunging to the depths of the oceans before lifting off into space and landing on Mars!
The Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China presented by Xi Jinping is a comprehensive political declaration for the future. The CPC is committed to continually improve people’s incomes, material living standards and overall quality of life but knows that it must also guard against complacency, corruption and ideological degeneration. To maintain its support and the integrity of the people it represents the CPC must remain dynamic and not stagnate.
Ideological
The CPC acknowledges the potential high risk of an emerging class that may represent an ideological threat to the communist movement. The situation is vigilantly monitored and laws prohibit capitalists or foreign investors from ownership or control in the Chinese media. We learnt how through Party Schools like in Guizhou exemplary working environments provide continuing education for CPC comrades.
In a survey conducted by China Youth Daily in 2021 involving young people 97.7% of respondents believed that the spirit of the CPC is the spirit of the nation. We met with members of the Communist Youth League (CYL) who have 81 million members. The CYL are the next generation and a priority is developing and strengthening ideological conviction. Political education, training and guidance is provided to forge a revolutionary spirit and socialist values. Educating young people in their historical knowledge of the CPC, Marxism-Leninism and its theoretical developments adapted to Chinese realities.
The CYL has been modernising how it disseminates information using technology ie social media and significant attention is paid to ensure that theories and policies are relevant to the present. Work includes frequent face to face dialogue with members of the National's People's Congress highlighting issues like housing problems for young people and the need for low cost housing.
CYL members carry out voluntary political work and were previously involved in work relating to improving literacy in poor rural areas, abolishing poverty and during the fight against the Covid epidemic.
Governance
In the West the term Governance is loosely associated with corporate mandatory training. It relates to self law or 'rule of virtue' and the individual. Often a superficial understanding is required before moving on to something else.
Whereas in China the term has a significantly deeper meaning and is associated with a process of continually reviewing, improving, strengthening and modernising the functioning of public institutions. To promote transparency, efficiency and ultimately accountability to the people at all levels. Achieving qualitative changes in political, social and economic organisations and systems.
At a national level this includes the working relationship between the Central Committee of the CPC and the National Congress. Its functioning and the
implementation of its policies and procedures relating to key government reform strategies from national security to developing renewable energies. Strengthening China’s socialist systems in respect of the rule of law, democracy and the environment. This involves the people in villages, towns, counties, cities and provinces in both urban and rural locations.
The CPC considers that these systems need to be developed by the people for them to be effective. Thus the modernisation of Governance promotes a sense of social vitality, trust, and connection guaranteeing the welfare of the people. To protect and safeguard their interests and rights ensuring political stability.
The CPC recognises the importance of grass-roots support for the CPC. The need for leadership to improve local functioning and organisation of the Party. To recognise and respond to problems that arise affecting people’s livelihood at local level.
In Guizhou The Jinyuan Community in Guanshanhu District, Guiyang City, the home of 10,890 people, is a fantastic example of the CPC's dynamic work and implementation of social governance with the people. We met local CPC National Congress Member Yuan Yan in Jinyuan who explained how people's democracy and social governance works. She demonstrated her enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to representing the people of her community and was eager to show us the vital work being undertaken in an inner city area. The Party used the social media and public information screens to communicate with a predominantly elderly population living in high rise apartments to identify and quickly resolve problems. Recreational, social, and primary health care facilities were gold standard. The local CPC involved people in regular consultations and decision making promoting an evident strong sense of community. The environment was landscaped and a natural habitat created using trees and plants to enhance the area.
The Environment - Shougang Park
Shougang Park in Beijing was a former steel mill which produced 10 million tons of iron and steel but the former industrial wasteland has been transformed into a hub for tourism, sport and cultural events. The steel mill was closed in 2005 to reduce air pollution and due to significant changes in the supply of steel. Smokestacks, blast furnaces, cooling towers and other industrial relics are now surrounded by expansive green spaces, sport facilities, modern offices, commercial facilities and apartments. In 2022 it was a venue for the Winter Olympics and provided a dramatic backdrop. Shougang Park is now a monument to urban regeneration and innovation. It's an outstanding illustration of how the CPC is a catalyst for urban rejuvenation promoting a harmony between man and nature. Creating a green ecological and sustainable environment while retaining its magnificent industrial heritage.
New Era Modernisation
Overall we saw the enormous advancement in terms socialist modernization to meet the ever growing material and cultural needs of 1.4 billion people.
The People's Republic of China is moving into a 'New Era' with astonishing economic, political, social, environmental, scientific, technological and cultural modernisation against a backdrop of imperialism and war. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has shown how socialism is being integrated with the market economy and is not capitalism as critics proclaim. There are inherent dangers but the CPC is the representative political power of the working class in China and the power of the socialist state belongs to the people.
The CPC's goal is to build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic and harmonious but recognises the important contribution it can make to the progress of mankind in promoting diplomacy, international relations and peace.
At the 19th Party Congress in 2017 General Secretary Xi Jinping stated that it takes a good blacksmith to make good steel demonstrating the Party's resolve, confidence, and unswerving commitment to the future of socialism. Its greatest strength the leadership of the CPC.
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