China reaffirms solidarity with Africa
THE Communist Party of China (CPC) held its 20th National Congress from October 16 to 22. The Congress decided to advance China’s rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernisation, and set targets and charted the course for China’s development in the next five years and beyond, with the new central leadership with President Xi Jinping at its core.
China’s development is a miracle for mankind and a huge contribution to human progress. Its practice has proved that the Chinese path provides a new option for developing countries to achieve their own development.
From the outset, the CPC has made happiness and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation its mission. A people-centred philosophy of development has been implemented ever since under its strong leadership. “The state is the people, and the people are the state,” President Xi said.
China has worked continuously to ensure people’s access to child care, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing, and social assistance, thus bringing about an allaround improvement in people’s lives.
Over the past 10 years, more than 13 million urban jobs have been created each year, on average.
China’s life expectancy has reached 78.2 years, its per capita disposable annual income has risen from 16 500 yuan (R41 250) to 35 100 yuan (R87 750).
The number of internet users has reached 1.03 billion.
More than 42 million housing units in run-down urban areas and more than 24 million dilapidated rural houses have been rebuilt.
In the past decade, close to 100 million Chinese have been lifted out of extreme poverty. China met the poverty eradication target set out in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a decade ahead of schedule.
China has built the world’s largest network of high-speed railways. However, old-fashioned trains are still in service in some rural areas. Local farmers take these cheaply-priced trains to sell their agricultural produce.
Development is the CPC’s top priority. China has worked to build a
high-standard socialist market economy, modernise its industrial system, advance rural revitalisation and promote co-ordinated regional development.
China has remained the world’s second-largest economy. It ranks first in the world in terms of grain output, and its manufacturing sector is the largest in the world, as are its foreign exchange reserves.
China has accelerated efforts to build its self-reliance and strength in science and technology with nationwide research and development (R&D) spending. It is now home to the largest cohort of R&D personnel in the world. The World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index shows China leapfrogged 22 positions over the past 10 years, from 34th place in 2012 to 12th in 2021.
China advances the Beautiful China Initiative and takes a holistic and systematic approach to conserve and improve mountains, water, forests, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts.
Over decades, China has kept its door open and become a major trading partner for 140 countries and regions.
China has built a globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas. Its development of pilot free trade zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port are accelerating. China will leverage the strengths of its enormous market.
China will promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. It will make appropriate reductions to the negative list for foreign investment, protect the rights and interests of foreign investors in accordance with the law, and foster a world-class business environment.
Peaceful development China has been committed to its foreign policy of upholding world peace and promoting common development. Different countries and civilisations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences,“President Xi Jinping said.
China stands ready to work with South Africa in deepening China’s solidarity and co-operation with Africa, President Xi told President Cyril Ramaphosa in Indonesia on November 15.