NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

By Jon Taylor

In his report delivered to the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee on October 16, Xi Jinping stressed that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be advanced through “a Chinese path to modernization.”

Xi’s statement was a particularly important element of his report because it decisively announced that this will be a central task of the Party as it moves forward. It not only set the tone for the 20th CPC National Congress but will serve as the main driver of significant policy initiatives for the next five years and beyond.

The emphasis on Chinese-style modernization will foster the next step in China’s push for modernization that accelerated with reform and opening up, continued with the pursuit and accomplishment of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and now heads toward achieving the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by 2049, the centennial of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

This will require a modernization process based on self-sufficiency,national security and shared prosperity—all of which are in line with the Party’s long-term development goals.

Chinese modernization means China will have to make the economic cake bigger and divide it more equally. This concern for income inequality has been an abiding concern for both Xi and the Party as China seeks to achieve socialist modernization.There will be a greater emphasis on reducing income inequities to ease issues that may affect social harmony.

Xi made it clear that Chinese modernization can provide an alternative path for other developing countries. The successful practice of Chinese-style modernization shows that modernization is not the exclusive purview of the West. Every country can choose a modernization path that suits its own national realities.

China will encourage modernization through peaceful development, coordination and cooperation. For instance, the country will invest more resources in global development cooperation in keeping with its role as a major global power. In this respect, China’s modernization path serves as a juxtaposition to the Western approach to modernization.

In his report, Xi observed that China’s rejuvenation is now an irreversible historical process and the Party had created a “new choice” for humanity with its unique path to modernization. With the quest for Chinese-style modernization, the answer to the question of where China wants to head becomes clearer.

So what exactly is Chinese modernization? A quick perusal of Xi’s report reveals that it’s multifaceted. It’s a modernization that encompasses all of China’s population; a modernization in which all Chinese are prosperous; a modernization that coordinates material and cultural-ethical advancement; a modernization in which people and nature coexist in harmony;and a modernization that takes the path of peaceful development.What does this mean in practical terms? The answer is simple:China’s path to modernization is unique. As a result, the country’s development will remain a top priority, but with an increasing emphasis on high quality.

While Chinese-style modernization is new, the discussion on modernization is not. During his report, Xi linked Chinese modernization to the Party’s long-term theory and practice of development, one that can trace its roots to the founding of the PRC.

Xi’s report provided an overview of what Chinese-style modernization will entail and outlined how to achieve it. The next five years are critical for the Party as it works toward reaching the objective of achieving a modern socialist China in all respects.

Sharing the fruits of modernization among 1.4 billion people is an arduous task, one that aims to achieve common prosperity. In practical terms, the ultimate goal of Chinese modernization is a China where no one will be left behind in the process of social, economic,and cultural development. BR

Chinese modernization means China will have to make the economic cake bigger and divide it more equally