Dong Haitao

dht0620@126.com

THE thematic event of the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting is being held in Shenzhen from today to Monday.

About 500 delegates from over 200 political parties worldwide have gathered in the city for the conference.

Fascinated by the robust development of the CPC and China in the past decades, foreign parties have been looking forward to the chance to get a better understanding of how the largest political party in the world governs China and maintains its vitality, and especially what changes are likely to occur as China ushers in a new era following the 19th CPC National Congress last October.

Understanding the characteristics of the CPC will help create a vivid portrait of the Party and the trajectory of its development. From my point of view, the CPC is people-centric, responsible, practical, perpetually evolving and inclusive.

The CPC is people-centric. It reflects Marxism’s people-oriented philosophy. Effectively acting on the Communist Manifesto requires staying true to the original aspirations. The manifesto prioritizes ensuring the happiness of the people, striking at the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, by improving the people’s livelihood, establishing deeper connections with the people and continuing to help the people achieve common prosperity.

The CPC is responsible. As a country with more than 1.3 billion people, the proper management of our affairs is the greatest contribution the CPC and China have made to the world. The Party has made remarkable achievements in the past decades in transforming China from a war-torn and poverty-stricken country to a peaceful and prosperous socialist country. In the past five years, China has successfully lifted a total of 68.53 million people out of poverty. President Xi Jinping recently promised that by the end of 2020, there will be no Chinese living beneath the poverty line, which was set at 2,300 yuan (US$365) per person per year in 2011. It is estimated that there are still 30 million Chinese living below the poverty line, which means that the Party faces the arduous task of lifting at least 10 million people out of poverty annually until 2020.

The CPC is practical. Marxism is a practical theory that has guided the Chinese people’s actions to change the world. The Party emphasizes Marxism because its philosophy of dialectical materialism is practical and adaptable to China’s changing conditions. For the CPC and the Chinese people, Marxism is not a dogma. We can see from the 19th CPC National Congress how China applies Marxism practically and precisely as a powerful spiritual weapon in specific situations. Moreover, it is the pragmatic application of Marx’s theory that has transformed the Party from the group of 12 delegates who gathered for its first national congress in 1921 to the largest party in the world with 89 million members.

The CPC is evolving. The CPC has been following Marxism since its establishment and has been continuously developing the philosophy in practice. It used Marxism as an important spiritual weapon for China’s revolution and economic and social construction, as well as its reform and opening up to the outside world. With different generations of Chinese leaders contributing to Marxist theory, the Party has been innovating Marxism according to the practical needs of the country during its different stages of development. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest outcome of the application of Marxism to China’s actual conditions. Xi’s thought is a wonderful combination of the fundamental principles of Marxism and China’s actual practices, which is the form of Marxism practiced by China in the new era.

The CPC is inclusive. The party is sincere in its desire to share experiences and lessons with foreign counterparts in order to help pursue better joint solutions to international issues. People all over the world wish to live in a safe, prosperous and beautiful environment. This requires joint efforts of all political parties and governments using regular dialogue as a platform to increase the regularity of communication and exchanges, enhance strategic trust and international influence, and develop a shared future for humanity. Under these circumstances, it is certain that there is a lot to learn from China’s experience and approaches. However, every party will have to apply these lessons to its own conditions. China will never “import” foreign models of development, nor “export” the Chinese experience for other countries to adopt blindly.