China's 75-year journey: Redefining modernization

Editor's note: Ma Feng, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate research fellow at the National Academy of Chinese Modernization, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Seventy-five years may be a brief moment in human history, but for China, it is a journey from the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 to standing as a major country in the world today.

It is a journey during which China has been striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernization. Through socialism with Chinese characteristics, China has demonstrated that there is more than one path to modernization and that Westernization is not a synonym for modernization.

The myth that equates modernization with Westernization may have stemmed from the fact that modernization first emerged in Europe, started with the capitalist system, and formed a Western path. While the West did take the lead in initiating and completing industrialization and modernization, this does not mean that there is only one path to modernity.

From a historical perspective, Western modernization has contributed to social progress and development of the world. However, the process of capitalist modernization has also wrought immense suffering on human society.

The Enclosure Movement that displaced peasants, the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, and the brutal colonization of foreign lands all serve as reminders that wherever capitalist expansion spread, exploitation and conflict followed. Even in modern times, the West is still struggling with the problems inherent in Western modernization, such as the pursuit of capital, polarization, materialism, and overseas expansion and exploitation.

Recurring crises are the symptoms of the systemic flaws underlying the capitalist civilization, the biggest being its prioritization of capital over people, seeking the maximization of capital profits at the expense of the interests of the majority of the people.

In contrast, the path of Chinese modernization, guided by the Communist Party of China (CPC), is people-centered. China has maintained rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, rarely seen in human history.

Its approach has addressed many challenges facing human development and has moved away from the Western model. The Chinese model offers a new pathway for developing countries to modernize and contributes Chinese wisdom to humanity in its quest for better social systems.

Peaceful modernization

Against the backdrop of rapidly changing global geopolitics, Chinese modernization is rooted in peaceful development.

For one thing, in the spirit of independence and self-reliance, China relies on the diligence and innovation of its people while making peaceful use of external resources. Likewise, China does not oppress other nations or plunder their resources. Instead, it provides support to developing countries wherever possible, striving to make greater contributions to global peace and development.

Take China's cooperation with Africa as an example. By introducing its hybrid rice to Africa, China has helped increase crop yields from an average of 2 tons per hectare to 7.5 tons in several African countries. Demonstration village projects on rice cultivation for poverty alleviation initiated by Chinese agricultural experts have made the goal of "everyone has food, everyone has savings" a reality.

Agricultural cooperation zones and processing plants established by Chinese enterprises have added significant value to local products, while the "green channel" for African agricultural exports has brought many high-quality products into China. The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has further boosted modernization efforts on both sides.

Open modernization

Openness is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China is steadfast in promoting high-level institutional opening-up, creating new opportunities for global cooperation and shared development through new achievements of Chinese modernization. At the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, over 300 major reform measures were introduced, signaling China's unwavering commitment to reform and opening-up.

China actively opens its markets wider to the outside world, especially the world's least developed countries. In so doing, China is enlarging the pie of openness and extending the list of cooperation partners. Through its own openness, China promotes global openness, and through its own development, it fosters shared global progress.

In the first half of 2024, China's total imports and exports surpassed 21 trillion yuan ($2.96 trillion) for the first time, marking a year-on-year growth of 6.1 percent, with some indicators showing double-digit increases. During this period, China established 26,870 new foreign-invested enterprises, a 14.2 percent increase year-on-year, while foreign direct investment in manufacturing marked an improvement of 2.4 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

China has maintained its position as the world's largest goods trading nation for seven consecutive years. Its share of global exports and imports has ranked first and second respectively, for 15 straight years.

From advancing the Belt and Road Initiative to establishing international trade platforms like the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the China International Consumer Products Expo, a series of major initiatives aimed at expanding high-level openness have allowed China's development to benefit the global community.

Sustainable modernization

Chinese modernization is also characterized by harmony between humanity and nature. Committed to sustainable development, China is advancing its green transition and promoting the diversity, stability, and sustainability of ecosystems, while pushing forward carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

China's efforts in combating desertification are a prime example of its leadership in building a cleaner world. China is the first country in the world to achieve zero net land degradation, with both desertified and sandified land areas decreasing. This has significantly contributed to the global goal of zero land degradation by 2030.

For 40 consecutive years, China has seen increases in both forest coverage ratio and forest stock volume, ranking the world's number one in forest resource growth and afforestation. China has also contributed one-quarter of all newly added green areas in the world.

In the meantime, through mechanisms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, China has actively aligned with initiatives such as the "Great Green Wall" in Africa and the "Middle East Green Initiative."

China's manufacturing and technology have made new contributions to the global green economic transition and the development of emerging industries. As of December 2023, of the 153 "Lighthouse Factories" worldwide, 62 are in China, involving high-tech enterprises in sectors such as photovoltaics and new energy vehicles, making China the country with the most "Lighthouse Factories."

Known as the world's most advanced factories, "Lighthouse Factories" represent the pinnacle of smart manufacturing in the industrial sector, setting the standard for the entire industry.

Chinese modernization benefits both the Chinese people and global development. Amid current global instability and rising economic uncertainties, China continues to be a source of stability and innovation. Craig Allen, President of the U.S.-China Business Council, stated that China is expected to contribute about 30 percent of global GDP growth in 2024, with this trend likely to continue into 2025 and 2026.

Unlike Western modernization, China has always closely linked its own future with that of the global community. Through the new achievements of Chinese modernization, China strives to create new opportunities for global development and offer fresh support for humanity's exploration of modernization pathways.

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