A major effort to build a strong China-Xinhua

BEIJING, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) — A series of high-profile events were held last week to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), with President Xi Jinping renewing his call for building a country.

At a reception on the eve of the National Day, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the “best way” to commemorate the anniversary is to advance the “unprecedented” cause of building China into a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization.

The day before, when bestowing the highest state honors on heroes and role models, Xi had called on Chinese people to keep in mind their aspiration to make the country strong.

“We must be loyal to the country, love the country, integrate personal development goals into overall national development, and realize our personal worth by fulfilling our duties for the country and serving the people,” he said.

About 12 years ago, shortly after ascending to the Party's top post, Xi first spoke of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

In less than ten years, he led China to eliminate absolute poverty, thereby achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Historic achievements and changes have taken place at all levels.

Xi believes that to govern the country, the Party must first be governed well, and only when the Party prospers can the nation be strong.

As top leader of the Party, Xi has strengthened the overall leadership of the CPC to ensure that it plays the central role of coordinating the efforts of all parties. He also advanced the complete and rigorous autonomy of the Party.

In 2022, when the Party convened its 20th national congress, Xi laid out the timetable and road map for a two-step strategy for the Party to lead the nation toward comprehensively building a great modern socialist country. here the middle of the century, when the People's Republic celebrates its centenary.

He envisioned a project of national renewal through Chinese modernization. “For China to become strong, every sector and aspect must be strengthened,” he said.

China is known as the world's factory and Xi has recognized the need to further cement the country's role as a manufacturing power.

During an inspection by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China about ten years ago, Xi boarded a display model of the C919 airliner. He stressed the need to strengthen the country's equipment manufacturing industry, saying the development of this sector, including that of large aircraft, should play a leading role in building a strong country.

As of September 1 this year, the domestically produced C919 aircraft has completed more than 3,700 flights since entering commercial operation, transporting 500,000 passengers safely.

Xi's vision for a strong China encompasses various sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, technology, education, culture, maritime affairs and finance.

Today, China has the largest operational high-speed railway network in the world; the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao sea bridge has set many world records, and Chinese new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products have become popular export products.

Xi highlighted innovation as “the main driving force of development”, stressing the importance of promoting the new development philosophy and accelerating the establishment of a new development pattern.

As a result, continued technological advancements have been recorded, with new technologies, new forms and new business models flourishing. A clear testament to this progress is China's rise in the global innovation index, from 34th place in 2012 to 12th place in 2023.

Noting that a major modern socialist country must be strong not only materially but also culturally and ethically, Xi proposed the concept of “two integrations” – blending the fundamental principles of Marxism with China's specific realities and its beautiful traditional culture – while emphasizing the importance of “assuming a new cultural mission”.

Efforts in this regard have promoted the prosperity of China's cultural industry and significantly enhanced the cultural confidence of the Chinese people.

Xi believes that a healthy ecosystem is essential for the prosperity of civilization. He placed ecological conservation in China's overall national development plan, led the country in fiercely combating pollution, and pushed for a faster transition from China's growth model to a green development model.

As Xi said, the Chinese dream is essentially about ensuring a good life for the people. During his inspection tours, he always visits common people, interacts with them and inquires about their living conditions.

For him, every matter concerning the people, big or small, deserves the greatest care and attention. Under his leadership, a series of national campaigns were launched to improve public sanitation, promote waste sorting, strengthen food safety monitoring, and ease students' school burdens.

Today, China has established the world's largest social security system, and its middle-income group numbers more than 400 million people as the country gradually moves toward its goal of common prosperity.

Over the years, central leadership has formulated detailed schedules and roadmaps and resolved many long-standing issues.

In July, the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted general plans to comprehensively deepen reforms and announced more than 300 major reform tasks to be completed by the 80th anniversary of the founding of the PRC in 2029.

As Xi said, China's future is closely linked to the future of the world, and “we must combine the promotion of patriotism with greater opening up to the world.”

During his first overseas trip as Chinese president in March 2013, Xi declared that “the Chinese dream that we wish to realize will not only benefit the Chinese people but also people around the world.”

During a visit to Europe in 2014, Xi remarked that China was a “sleeping lion”, saying: “In fact, the lion of China has awakened, but what the world sees now is a peaceful, kind and civilized lion.

Xi pledged that China would explore a new path of strong growth, which, distinct from the rise of traditional powers, is characterized by peaceful development.

Recognizing that China cannot develop without the rest of the world, nor that the world cannot prosper without China, Xi has consistently championed economic globalization. “Whether you like it or not, the global economy is a big ocean from which you cannot escape,” he once said.

China is opening up more to the outside world. The country has established 22 pilot free trade zones, built the Hainan Free Trade Port, promoted the signing and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, continuously reduced the negative list of foreign investment, and completely removed restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector.

Over the years, Xi has also promoted exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, advocated cooperation for mutual benefits and worked to build a better global community.

He presented the vision of building a human community with a shared future, which transcends outdated ideas such as the clash of civilizations and zero-sum games.

On China's modernization, Xi said what China pursues is not a form of modernization that benefits only itself, but global modernization in which China collaborates with other countries. to achieve peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and shared prosperity.

“Humanity shares one planet, and people of all countries share a common future,” Xi said at this year's National Day reception, promising China's even greater contribution to “the noble cause of peace and development of humanity.