(by H.E. MA Qiang, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan)
This October 1 will witness the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
On October 1, 1949, the grand ceremony of the founding of the People’s Republic of China was held, and Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly declared the establishment of the Central People’s Government. The five-star red flag was hoisted high in the sky over Beijing. As the famous poem by Chairman Mao goes, “The rooster’s crow brings daylight to the world.” After more than a century of hardship and struggle, the Chinese nation finally rose from the ashes, and hundreds of millions of Chinese people became the masters of their country, society, and their own destiny.
Over the past 75 years, China has undergone dramatic transformations and epoch-making changes. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have successfully opened the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, advancing and expanding Chinese modernization, and creating a new form of human advancement. The Chinese nation has achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible historical course.
For the past 75 years, China has remained firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, and committed to the path of peaceful development, and developed friendly cooperation with countries worldwide on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. At present, as the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, China will be strategically guided by the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. We will continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, striving for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. In doing so, China will contribute its wisdom and strength to improving global governance, addressing global challenges, and resolving the pressing issues faced by humanity.
Over the past 75 years, China has achieved historic leaps in social productivity and comprehensive national strength, with its economic scale reaching new heights step by step. China’s GDP surged from 67.9 billion yuan in 1952 to 126 trillion yuan in 2023, an increase of 223 times, with an average annual growth rate of 7.9%. Per capita GDP also rose from a mere 119 yuan in 1952 to 89,358 yuan in 2023, an 89-fold increase, with an average annual growth of 6.5%. The Chinese people’s standard of living has experienced a historic transformation, moving from poverty to basic subsistence and then to the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The issue of absolute poverty, which has haunted the Chinese nation for thousands of years, has been a thing of the past. In the current context of sluggish global economic recovery, China is accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces, maintaining stable economic growth and high-quality development, and continues to be a key engine and stabilizing force for global economic growth.
China’s development is deeply interconnected with the world, and the world’s prosperity also benefits from China’s growth. As the largest developing country, China has consistently created new opportunities for global development through its own progress. Over the past decade, China’s share of the world economy has increased from 11.3% in 2012 to about 18% in 2023, with an average annual contribution of over 30% to global economic growth. Today, China stands as the world’s largest trading nation in goods, a major trade partner for over 140 countries and regions, and a leading destination for foreign investment as well as a prominent investor abroad. These achievements have provided other countries with more opportunities for market access, investment, and growth.
In July this year, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made decisions to further deepen reforms and promote Chinese modernization, laying out a grand blueprint for advancing the great cause of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursuing national rejuvenation. Looking ahead, with over 1.4 billion people on course toward modernization, China is bound to make even greater contributions to the global economy. The bright prospects of China’s development will surely create new and greater opportunities for countries worldwide, including those in Africa.
Earlier this month, the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was grandly held in Beijing. H.E. Chinese President Xi Jinping and H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, along with leaders of all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, attended the Summit. After six years, the big China-Africa family reunited in Beijing to deepen exchanges of governance experience and chart a new blueprint for the future development of China-Africa relations. As the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, I had the honor of accompanying President Salva Kiir Mayardit throughout his visit to China. President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, where the two Heads of State jointly announced the elevation of China-South Sudan relations to a Strategic Partnership and reached important consensus on deepening cooperation between the two countries. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with South Sudan. Over the past 13 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have built strong political mutual trust and achieved fruitful cooperation results in various fields. Mutual respect and sincere cooperation form the foundation of China-South Sudan relations, and working together for common development is the future of bilateral relations. Building a rich and dynamic China-South Sudan relationship meets the common expectations and long-term interests of the two peoples.
In recent years, China has actively responded to the appeal from President Salva Kiir Mayardit to “scale back humanitarian programming and devote more energies to development support.” Under the FOCAC framework, China has provided South Sudan with grant assistance to build important infrastructure such as the China-aided projects of Juba Teaching Hospital (Phase I), Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital in Rumbek, Broadcasting Facilities of SSBC, and Clement Mboro Bridge in Wau. Additionally, China has worked with South Sudan to implement a number of key projects, including the China-aided Project of Technical Cooperation of Education (Phase II) and the Air Traffic Management System. China is also steadily advancing other development-oriented and livelihood-improving projects, such as the China-aided projects of Juba Teaching Hospital (Phase II), Borehole Drilling and Water Supply, and Juncao (Mushroom) Technology. Twelve batches of experienced China medical teams have been dispatched to South Sudan to save lives and provide medical services. Furthermore, China actively provides capacity-building training to South Sudan in areas such as governance, agricultural development, poverty reduction, and healthcare. Pragmatic cooperation between China and South Sudan has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. Looking forward, China is willing to share development experience and opportunities with South Sudan, continue to implement the Project of Technical Cooperation of Education and other projects, strengthen cooperation in fields such as petroleum, mining, and agriculture, and help South Sudan’s economic diversification.
A few days ago, the relevant parties in South Sudan reached a consensus on extending the political transitional period. As a good friend and partner, China has always respected South Sudan’s sovereignty and its independent position, supporting the South Sudanese people in taking their future and destiny into their own hands to steadily advance the political transition process. At the same time, China calls on all parties to the Revitalized Agreement to accelerate the implementation of remaining tasks in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, consolidating the hard-won peace and development. China also hopes that the international community will fully consider the challenges faced by South Sudan and provide more constructive support.
The glorious history is written through daily efforts, and a brighter future will surely be realized through everyone’s contributions. The achievements of the 13 years of diplomatic relations between China and South Sudan would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Chinese enterprises, institutions, and overseas Chinese in South Sudan. They have actively engaged in the economic and social development of South Sudan, contributing to the progress of China-South Sudan relations, leaving a lasting mark in the history of this country and our bilateral ties. I trust that all Chinese people in South Sudan will pursue their dreams in this new era with passion and strength, and continue working hard and forging ahead, making greater contributions to deepening China-South Sudan friendship and advancing our bilateral relations.
The blueprint has been drawn, and the call to action has been sounded—the new journey of China and South Sudan joining hands to realize the modernization dreams is now before us. The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, like a flying banner and a blazing torch, sweeps over the mountains of Eurasia, brushes the snow of Kilimanjaro, catches the winds of the Cape of Good Hope, and crosses the waters of the Nile, gathering great momentum to lead China and Africa forward on the path of modernization.
China is ready to work with South Sudan and other African countries to implement various outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and push for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Together, we will advance the cause of modernization, build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, benefit the peoples of both sides, and strengthen the “power of the Global South” through the solidarity and cooperation of developing countries to create a brighter future for humanity!
