From Victory to New Glory, Forging Common Prosperity with Friendship
This year marks the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Over the past 76 years, the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people in marching forward with unwavering commitment and unremitting efforts, forging remarkable achievements that have captured the world’s attention and hold great significance in the history of human social development.
I. From Standing Up to Prospering: China’s Development Miracle and a Global Model for Poverty Reduction
On October 1st, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded, putting an end to over a century of national humiliation marked by colonization and invasion. From then on, the Chinese people stand upright and become the true masters of the country. This journey resonates deeply with the South Sudanese people’s long journey towards national independence and people’s liberation.
Emerging from the flames of war, the newborn People’s Republic of China faced extreme poverty and lay in ruins awaiting reconstruction. Faced with difficult circumstances, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people through self-reliance and hard work, continuously advancing toward the goal of national prosperity and people’s well-being. Today, China’s comprehensive national strength has significantly increased, with its total economic output exceeding 130 trillion yuan (RMB). Now, China is the world’s second-largest economy, the largest manufacturing country, and the largest trading nation in goods. It also boasts the world’s largest education, social security, and healthcare systems. These economic achievements have been tangibly turned into a sense of gain and happiness for Chinese people.
Since the launch of the Reform and Opening-up in 1978, China has lifted 770 million people in rural areas out of poverty, accounting for more than 70% of the global population lifted out of poverty during the same period. In particular, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has historically eradicated absolute poverty in just eight years, from 2012 to 2020, lifting nearly 100 million people in rural areas out of poverty. This means that more than 10 million people were lifted out of poverty annually on average. However, poverty alleviation is not the end. China has been continuously promoting rural revitalization and striving for common prosperity, to ensure that more fruits of development benefit all people more equitably. China’s success in poverty reduction is not only a victory for the Chinese people, but also creates a Chinese model of poverty reduction governance and makes a significant contribution to the global poverty reduction cause. This achievement strongly demonstrates that poverty eradication is not a pipe dream, and South Sudan is destined to achieve the same success.
II. A Blueprint Drawn by the Five-Year Plans: The Key to China’s Miracle and Shared Opportunities for Common Development
Many South Sudanese friends have asked me: How has China achieved the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability? I believe that the answer lies in the successive Five-Year Plans for National Economic and Social Development. From the First to the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan, we have meticulously planned, and then implemented it step by step through solid and hard work. In October of this year, the Fourth Plenary Session of the Twentieth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will be held in Beijing. Based on thorough preliminary research and extensive consultation, we will study the proposals for formulating the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan to set the direction and chart the path for development in the coming period.
In the future, China’s economy will be like a giant ship, forging ahead in the ocean of the global market. In the first half of this year, facing an external environment of transformation and turbulence, the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience, with a 5.3% year-on-year GDP growth and a 9.5% growth in high-tech industries, making China a key stabilizer and driver for global economic growth. At the same time, China remains committed to expanding high-standard opening up, and adhering to the correct direction of economic globalization. It provides a vast market and huge investment opportunities, as well as a continuous source of technological innovation power, for countries around the world, including South Sudan, and will bring more opportunities for achieving common development and mutual benefit.
III. Cherishing Peace and Contributing Wisdom: China’s Role and Commitment in Global Governance
On September 3rd, the Chinese government held a grand commemoration in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, with a magnificent military parade that capture the eyes of the world. Eighty years ago, the Chinese people forged themselves with flesh and blood into a steel Great Wall during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, paying enormous sacrifices for victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese people deeply understand how hard-won peace is, and therefore China always remains unwavering in its commitment to the path of peaceful development, serving as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods.
As a victorious nation in World War II, China has made important contributions to the establishment of the new post-war international order. Over the past 80 years, China has always been firmly upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, actively participating in the reform and development of the global governance system, practising the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit. Not long ago, at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” meeting, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Governance Initiative. It explicitly upholds the five core principles of adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions. This initiative is another important solution provided by China to the international community, following the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative. It further contributes Chinese wisdom to promoting the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system
IV. Partners on the Vibrant African Land: Enduring China-South Sudan Friendship and Jointly Creating a Prosperous Future
Africa is a fertile land of hope in the 21st century, and South Sudan is a country full of potential and hope on this fertile continent. Before I knew it, three years have flown by since I came to work in South Sudan. I’ve made many good friends, witnessed South Sudan’s efforts toward peace and development, and fallen deeply in love with this country full of hope and vitality and its people.
Over the 14 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and South Sudan, we have been firmly supporting South Sudan’s peace process and economic and social development. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to nurture people.” This highlights the fundamental importance of education. Shortly after the independence of the Republic of South Sudan, the Chinese government has assisted in the construction of the China Friendship Secondary School in Juba. Over the past decade and more, China has continued to provide assistance to South Sudan in the field of education, implementing educational technical assistance projects and offering thousands of government scholarships and capacity-building training opportunities to various sectors of South Sudanese society.
In recent years, our bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful outcomes. The new building of Bank of South Sudan headquarters has become a new landmark in Juba, while the Juba-Rumbek Highway serves as a vital artery connecting Central Equatoria and Lakes States. The air traffic management system has elevated Juba International Airport to a more international and modern standard. In addition, China has provided grant assistance for the construction of key infrastructure projects in South Sudan, including the Juba Teaching Hospital, the Kirr Mayardit Women’s Hospital, broadcasting facilities of SSBC, and the Jur River Bridge in Wau. China has sent 13 batches of experienced medical teams to heal the wounded and rescue the dying, along with multiple batches of donated medicines and medical equipment. China has also supplied large quantity of humanitarian aid supplies, including tens of thousand of tons of food aid, as well as daily necessities such as tents and kitchenware, bringing hope to the people of South Sudan affected by conflicts and flooding. Currently, we are steadily advancing key projects such as Borehole Drilling and Water Supply, and Juncao (Mushroom) Technology, continuing to contribute to South Sudan’s social stability and the well-being of its people.
