Andrey Denisov, former Russian ambassador to China and first deputy chair of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in an interview with CGTN that the Communist Party of China (CPC), as the central governing force of a country with 1.4 billion people, plays a vital role in coordinating balanced development across economic, social, and political spheres, unifying the nation into a powerful force. He noted that socialism with Chinese characteristics has proven its effectiveness under severe tests.