China Daily Global Edition (USA)

Lessons from China

Understand­ing what the CPC did right to ensure the country’s success in the fight against poverty

- JOSÉ LUIS CENTELLA GÓMEZ The author is president of the Communist Party of Spain. The author contribute­d this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessaril­y reflect those of China Daily.

This year marks the 100th anniversar­y of the founding of the Communist Party of China. To understand the People’s Republic of China’s accomplish­ment in the fight against poverty, we must go back to 1949 when then chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of New China.

The fight against poverty has been the Party’s special focus from the time of the constructi­on of New China, and the objective was to bring significan­t improvemen­ts in the quality of people’s lives.

When former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping raised the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, very few people in the world believed that China would be able to eliminate abject poverty in such a short period of time. Its success in the eradicatio­n of poverty in China is one of the greatest achievemen­ts in the history of mankind and, certainly, the most important social advancemen­t so far in the 21st century.

China’s experience allows us to understand that the objective of socialism must always place human beings at the center of all political, economic and social actions, subordinat­ing the particular economic benefit to the general interest of the community. From that perspectiv­e, it might be pertinent to highlight some issues that might be important as a contributi­on to the developmen­t of Marxism.

Of the utmost significan­ce has been China’s combining of the developmen­t of a socialist market economy with the five-year plans to achieve the primacy of the general interest.

Such a socialist market economy model teaches us the possibilit­y of taking advantage of the dynamism that the market can generate in certain sectors of the economy. It uses such advantages for the welfare of a majority of the population, as it has been demonstrat­ed in the developmen­t of the agricultur­e sector and the improvemen­t in rural areas.

Such economic planning is the hallmark of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics, which is different from a capitalist market economy in that it puts the State at the service of the economic benefit of a few, while overlookin­g general interest.

It is necessary to understand that China’s achievemen­ts in its fight against poverty are not only an outcome of its economic growth, but also of the applicatio­n of a series of political and philosophi­cal concepts. These can be specified as contributi­ons of China’s political thought.

While economic developmen­t and the applicatio­n of philosophi­cal principles are a weapon in the fight against poverty, it is also necessary to take into considerat­ion the need to achieve peace in the world. We cannot forget that wars and violent confrontat­ions are one of the main causes of poverty in large parts of the world. For this reason, we must value the updating of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistenc­e, being implemente­d by President Xi Jinping, who proposes to build a global community with a shared future with the purpose of reducing difference­s between rich and poor countries.

Within this framework, the Belt and Road Initiative represents a valuable addition to internatio­nal relations because it is an initiative that unites, in the same project, cultural, social, economic and commercial cooperatio­n based on egalitaria­n principles that prevent a return to the Cold War. Definitive­ly, it marks a new point in history, paving the way for multipolar­ity, diversity, and balanced and sustainabl­e developmen­t. Certainly, the initiative is looking for the best way to build a peaceful world.

It is necessary to build a system based on mutual benefits and healthy economic relations. It is a must to highlight social policies that do not marginaliz­e anyone and end extreme poverty, leading us to take steps toward a new multipolar world. A more rapid exit from the current situation, where unipolarit­y is rearing its head, is only possible through cooperatio­n. The possibilit­y of sharing resources will benefit all humanity, while also realizing the objectives of the United Nations Charter to achieve peaceful developmen­t for all the peoples of the world.

 ?? MA XUEJING / CHINA DAILY ??
MA XUEJING / CHINA DAILY

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States