On Nov 26th, Consul General Tang Zhongdong published signed article on Star and Business Day under the title The CPC is Embarking on a New Journey Based on the Achievements and Historical Experience over the Past Century.
The full text is as follows:
The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the CPC over the Past Century (the Resolution) was reviewed and adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was held in Beijing from 8 to 11 November. At the historical intersection of the centenary of the founding of the CPC and achieving the two “Centenary Goals” (namely building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects), the convening of the plenary session and the adoption of the Resolution are of great and far-reaching historical significance for the CPC to continue to unite and lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to achieve the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation.
I. Four “Great Transformations” have been achieved over the past 100 years
During the Plenary Session, the CPC representatives reviewed the Resolution, which summarized that in the past 100 years, the CPC has led the Chinese people and made four “great transformations”: 1. In the period of the new-democratic revolution, China made great transformation from a millennia-old feudal autocracy to a people’s democracy, creating the fundamental social conditions necessary for realizing national rejuvenation. 2. In the period of socialist revolution and construction, China achieved a great transformation from a poor and backward Eastern country with a large population to a socialist country, laying down the fundamental political conditions and the institutional foundations necessary for national rejuvenation. 3. In the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, China achieved a great transformation raising the living standards of its people from bare subsistence to moderate prosperity in general and then toward moderate prosperity in all respects, fueling the push toward national rejuvenation by providing new, dynamic institutional guarantees as well as the material conditions for rapid development. 4. Following the CPC’s 18th National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era, and the Chinese nation has achieved a great transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. We are now equipped with stronger institutions, firmer material foundations, and a more proactive mindset for realizing national rejuvenation. These four "great transformations" are imbued with the same spirit with each other and are tremendous achievements made by the CPC through century-long struggle to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, which has entered an irreversible historical process.
II. “Two confirmation” have gained people’s wholehearted support
The core of leadership is crucial to a country and a political party.
Since the CPC’s 18th National Congress, The Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has demonstrated great historical initiative, tremendous political courage, and a powerful sense of mission. Keeping in mind both domestic and international imperatives, the Central Committee has implemented the CPC’s basic theory, line, and policy and provided unified leadership for advancing our great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream. Acting on the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, it has introduced a raft of major principles and policies, launched a host of major initiatives, pushed ahead with many major tasks, and overcome a number of major risks and challenges. It has solved many tough problems that were long on the agenda but never resolved and accomplished many tasks that were wanted but never got done. With this, it has prompted historic achievements and historic shifts in the cause of the CPC and the country. In this process, Secretary General Xi Jinping, as the CPC’s core, people’s Leader and Miliary’s Supreme Commander has demonstrated his firm beliefs, people-centered philosophy, excellent political wisdom and firm determination, and won the wholehearted support of the CPC, the military forces, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and high praise of the international community. He is deserved to be in core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the CPC as a whole.
Meanwhile, Secretary General Xi Jinping through meticulous assessment and deep reflection on a number of major theoretical and practical questions regarding the cause of the CPC and the country in the new era, has set forth a series of original new ideas, thoughts, and strategies on national governance revolving around the major questions of our times: what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics we should uphold and develop in this new era, what kind of great modern socialist country we should build, and what kind of Marxist party exercising long-term governance we should develop, as well as how we should go about achieving these tasks. He is thus the principal founder of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This is the Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century. It embodies the best of the Chinese culture and ethos in our times and represents a new breakthrough in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context.
The CPC has established Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the CPC as a whole, and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This reflects the call of the times, the choice of history and the wish of the Chinese people.
III. Three Resolutions have connected past, present and future
The CPC is a Marxist ruling party that always attaches great importance to and is good at summarizing historical experience. Upon every important historical moment, the CPC always reviewed history, summed up experience, and draw wisdom and strength from history to move forward.
Over the past, the CPC has enacted two resolutions: the first is The Resolution on Certain Historical Issues in 1945 and the second is The Resolution on Certain Historical Issues since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1981. Both Resolutions have played an important role in promoting and leading the development of the CPC’s cause. The latest Resolution enacted at this plenary session is the third historical resolution in the history of the CPC and a programmatic document featured Marxism. It is a political declaration that reminds the Chinese communists in the new era to keep in mind their original aspiration and uphold and develop the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. It is a guidebook for taking history as a mirror, creating the future and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.
The significance of the latest Resolution is mainly embodied in three aspects. First, it provides a profound review of the CPC’s 100-year great journey of uniting and leading the Chinese people from one victory to another, guides the whole party to deeply understand how hard to establish the red regime, the new China, and the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and enhances the courage and strength of the Chinese people to move forward. Second, it provides a profound review of the CPC’s 100-year course from a small weak party to a larger and stronger one, educating the entire party to understand the importance of promoting political advancement and become more self-conscious and determined to unite and unify as a Party. Third, it provides a profound review of the CPC’s great practices of promoting self-improvement and self-revolution over the past 100 years, educates the entire party on the importance and necessity of full and strict governance over the CPC, and ensure that the CPC remains as the strong leading core for the cause of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.
IV. China’s diplomacy is committed to fulfilling its mission
Facilitating national rejuvenation and promoting human progress have always been the original mission of China’s diplomacy. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the CPC has always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, and supported the liberation of oppressed nations around the world, the building of newly independent states, and the righteous struggle of people of all countries. The CPC assessed the situations and adjusted its diplomatic strategies, leading to the restoration of all lawful rights of P.R.C at the United Nations. The CPC has promoted the formation of an international pattern in which the international community adheres to the One-China principle, has made the solemn commitment that China will never seek hegemony, and has gained respect and praise from the international community, especially from developing countries.
Since the Reform and Opening-up, the CPC has upheld the foreign policy purpose of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, leading China to adjust the relations with major powers, develop neighbourhood and friendship with neighboring countries, deepen the friendly cooperation with other developing countries, establish a new pattern of all-dimensional and multi-layered foreign relations, promote global multi-polarization and democratization in international relations, and advance the new establishment of just and reasonable orders in international politics and economy.
Since the beginning of the new era, the CPC has held high the banner of peace, development, and win-win cooperation, bringing about the all-round progresses of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and the consistent improvement of the all-dimensional, multi-layered and three-directional diplomatic pattern. Building a community with a shared future for mankind has become a clear banner leading the trend of the times and the direction of mankind as well as an important force to push forward human development and progress, which has contributed China’s wisdom, approaches and strength to solving major human problems and building a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, cleanness and beauty.
Never forget why you started, and your mission can be accomplished. While the 100-year history is behind us, we are commencing a new journey. Currently, China is forging ahead toward the second Centenary Goal which is a challenging test. With more inclusiveness, innovation and courage to struggle, we will continue to adhere to the leadership of the CPC, the people-centered philosophy, the innovation of theories, the independence and autonomy, the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the United Front policy, and the self-revolution practices. On the new journey in the new era, we will demonstrate new visions, make new achievements, and perform better in the test. China and South Africa enjoy a special friendly relationship of “comrades plus brothers”, we are ready to share the experience and achievement of the CPC over the past 100 years with all political parties, organizations and individuals in South Africa, jointly explore development paths suited to respective national conditions, and build an even closer China-South Africa community with a shared future in the new era.