KUCHING: As long as China and Malaysia support each other with trust and goodwill, this win-win cooperation will benefit both nations’ peoples and promote the peaceful development of the region, says Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Cheng Guangzhong.
“Malaysia, Sarawak included, is an important neighbouring country in the Asia-Pacific region, our important partner in the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.
“Over the past 47 years of our bilateral diplomatic relations, China has attached great importance to the cooperation with Malaysia in various fields, and the two sides have now become good neighbours, good friends, and good partners though thick and thin.”
He said this in his message in conjunction with this year marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Building a community with a shared future for mankind
Cheng said CPC strove to build a community with a shared future for mankind, carrying on with the traditional principle of harmony and world unity.
“During the establishment and construction process of the Republic, CPC has been unswervingly opposing foreign aggression and oppression and is firmly committed to safeguarding China’s territorial sovereignty, security, and interests.”
On the other hand, he said CPC had enriched the guidelines of China’s independent foreign policy of peace, practised principles of peaceful coexistence, and applied the concept of diplomacy with neighbouring countries.
“The CPC has established contacts with political parties of Malaysia and other countries in the world. Its international relations – now deeper, broader, comprehensive, and conducted through more channels – have taken on a new look.
“At present, CPC maintains regular contacts with over 560 political parties and organisations from over 160 countries and regions around the world, and its international ‘circle of friends’ is enlarged continuously.”
Cheng noted that the world was currently facing the Covid-19 pandemic and increased insecurity, instability, and uncertainty.
“But no matter how the international situation changes and how strong China grows, China will always uphold the principle of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win, adhering to the path of peaceful development for mutual benefits.
“China will always promote friendly cooperation with neighbouring countries to build a community of shared future for mankind.”
He added that the development of China was not only beneficial for the nation itself but also for Asia and whole world.
Achievements over a century
Cheng said over the century since it was founded, CPC had made profound changes to the development course of the Chinese nation in modern history and the Chinese people’s destiny, making influential impacts on the global agenda.
“In July 1921, CPC was established, and the original aspiration and mission of Chinese communists was to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.
“Among more than 300 political parties in China, with only 50 members when founded, CPC did not have any brilliant achievements at the beginning, nor was it regarded by others.”
He said since then, CPC had brought the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to realisation, achieving two major leaps during these 100 years by combining the universal principles of Marxism with the reality of China.
“The first leap was to find a revolutionary path in line with China’s reality to establish the New China, and the second leap was to find a development path in line with China’s reality, namely, socialism with Chinese characteristics, which fostered China’s continuous development from standing up to growing rich and to becoming strong.
“Since the 18th CPC Party Congress held in 2012, under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, when adhering to the overall layout of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, China has overcome severe challenges and made new great achievements.”
Cheng said especially last year, when the world suffered from the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, China had not only achieved great success in the fight against the pandemic, but also scored major victories in promoting economic recovery and development.
He said that in this very year, China realised a significant victory of poverty alleviation and stepped into a moderately prosperous society, achieving its first centenary goal.
“Meanwhile, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) broke through RMB100tril for the first time, reaching RMB101.6tril, or $14.73tril at the exchange rate of that year, accounting for around 17 per cent of the world’s total GDP, or $15.6tril at the current exchange rate.”
Touching on how CPC had successfully attained so many historical achievements, he said it remained true to its original aspiration and kept its mission firmly in mind, while also being public-spirited and committed to a people-centred philosophy.
He said CPC also upheld the principles of sacrifice, dedication, reform, innovation, and integrity.
Building a great modern socialist country
Aside from being the 100th anniversary of CPC’s founding, Cheng said this year was also the first year of China moving on to all-out efforts to build a great modern socialist country.
“We have achieved the First Centenary Goal, now we are moving forward to achieve the Second Centenary Goal.”
He added that the Second Centenary Goal was divided into two phases.
“The target of first stage is that the country will basically realise modernisation by 2035. It will then take another 15 years to turn China into a modern socialist country with a high degree of democracy, civilisation, prosperity, harmony, and beauty by 2050.”
