The global significance of Chinese Modernization

MAY 7, 2023
By Chinese Embassy In Belgium


Realizing modernization is a relentless pursuit of the Chinese people since modern times began. It is also the common aspiration of people of all countries. In pursuing modernization, a country needs to follow certain general patterns. More importantly, it should proceed from its own realities and develop its own features. After a long and arduous quest, China has found a development path that suits its conditions.

China is now building a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. While pursuing its own development, China will also add more positive energy to world peace and create more opportunities for global development.

The Chinese modernization with such a huge population will be a stronger boost for global economic recovery.

Over the past 40-plus years since reform and opening up, the Chinese government has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty and enlarged the middle-income group to over 400 million people. Nowadays, US$320 million in direct investment is made by China around the world each day and over 3,000 foreign companies start business in China every month. As over 1.4 billion people are on course toward modernization, a number larger than the combined population of all developed countries, China will give a much stronger impetus to the global economy with a broader market space and greater human resources.

Chinese modernization with common prosperity for all will open up a broader path to the common development of all countries. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) are public goods that China offers to the international community. They are also open platforms for pursuing common development and prosperity. Over three-quarters of countries around the world and 32 international organizations have joined the BRI. Such cooperation has involved close to US$1 trillion of investment and created 420,000 jobs for participating countries. With the support of over 100 countries and many international organizations, and with some 70 countries in the Group of Friends of the GDI, the GDI is giving a strong boost to the early attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Chinese modernization with material and cultural-ethical advancement will open up bright prospects for human progress. Modernization is not only about achieving material abundance but also cultural-ethical enrichment. The Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) put forth by President Xi Jinping advocates the importance of inheritance and innovations of civilizations, promotes respect for the diversity of civilizations, and advances the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations. China is ready to work together with the international community to open up a new prospect of enhanced exchanges and understanding among different peoples and better interactions and integration of diversified cultures. Together we can make the garden of world civilizations colourful and vibrant.

Chinese modernization with harmony between humanity and nature will provide a more viable pathway to a clean and beautiful world. Respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature is essential for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects. Championing the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, China readily takes on its responsibility of protecting the environment and tackling climate change and leads the world in forested areas, the development and utilization of renewable energy and the output and sales of new energy vehicles. China has taken the initiative to set up and invest in the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and contributed to the conclusion of the Paris Agreement.

Chinese modernization on the path of peaceful development will bring more certainty to world peace and stability. Chinese modernization is not pursued through war, colonization, or plundering. We have been committed to peace, development, and mutually beneficial cooperation. The Global Security Initiative (GSI) put forward by President Xi Jinping calls for adapting to the profoundly changing international landscape in the spirit of solidarity, and addressing the complex and intertwined security challenges with a win-win mindset, pointing out the right direction of pursuing common and universal security.

In pursuing modernization, China will defend the right to development of all countries with greater determination, advance high-standard opening-up with more proactive efforts, promote more active exchanges among civilizations, work more vigorously for a community of all life on Earth, and safeguard the international order with greater resolve. It has been proven and will continue to be the case that the process of Chinese modernization is a boost to the force for peace, justice and progress in the world. China will provide new opportunities for global development with new accomplishments in Chinese modernization, lend new impetus to humanity’s search for paths toward modernization and better social systems, and work with all countries to advance the building of a community with a shared future for humankind.