China’s unique development path works, benefits world

A bullet train drives in Liuzhou City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 15 July. China has built one of the world’s most extensive high-speed rail networks in just a few years. It has the world’s longest high-speed rail network, 22,000 km as of the end of 2016, or 60% of the world’s total, and the mileage will increase to 45,000 km by 2030. Guangxi joined the networks of high-speed rail in 2013

Belgrade (Xinhua): The Communist Party of China (CPC) has managed to create an impressive model of success that fits China’s realities, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said ahead of the upcoming CPC congress. Meanwhile, that unique development path has allowed China to generate enormous opportunities for other countries, added the president, who also leads the ruling Progressive Party of Serbia (SNS).

Model of success

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, “the specific model that China created so far has shown so many terrific results,” the President said to Xinhua in an interview. “Socialism with Chinese characteristics means something very important – that China keeps its independence, its foreign policy and its sovereign state,” he said, noting that China always makes decisions independently and in accordance with international law.

Meanwhile, innovation, reform and modernity have become keywords of China’s progress and prosperity, and the CPC has led China to successfully implement a lot of difficult reforms in different fields and different social spheres, added the President. 

The reason for China’s achievements and confidence, Vucic said, lies in the CPC’s strict self-governance, commitment to reform and sustainable development, promotion of Chinese culture, and contribution to the world. He pointed out that anti-corruption forms the precondition for development and is essential to leading a party of some 89 million members. CPC members “symbolise the future of all other people” in China and “need to be a role model to all the others,” said the President. 

The CPC’s battle against corruption, he added, has given “significant strength” to the party’s leadership to show the nation and the world that “China is very resolute” in the rule of law and in bringing higher living standards to the people. Moreover, he pointed out that because of the CPC’s development plans China has continued its long stretch of impressive growth, registering 6.9% in the first half of the year. As a result, Europeans’ scepticism of the Chinese model has faded away, noted the President. 

Most important initiative: Belt and Road Initiative

With an eye on the international landscape, the Serbian leader said China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a globally significant vision that will generate enormous benefits for the world. The Belt and Road Initiative, put forward in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also General Secretary of the CPC, is “one of the most important initiatives that we have today in the contemporary world,” said Vucic. 

It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and is aimed at promoting trade, financial integration, infrastructure connectivity and people-to-people exchanges along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. The initiative is not only good for China and its people, but also good for many countries, added Vucic, whose country is an enthusiastic participant.

“People and the world will be much richer with good initiatives than without them,” the president pointed out. He also noted that over the past five years, China has become more closely connected to the rest of the world, while at the same time staying firmly on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting its culture globally. 

“Chinese are becoming not only a part of world politics but a part of world culture,” he said. “You are becoming one of the most decisive factors of the world culture, world communications, and that is something you need to be proud of.”

All that shows that socialism with Chinese characteristics works, he said.