The CPC has championed unity and modernization of China

By Gerald Mbanda

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya His Excellency Zhou Pingjian speaks at a seminar commemorating the centenary of the Communist Party of China at the University of Nairobi – Kenya on June 16, 2021. (Photo Credit: Chinese Embassy in Kenya)

As the Communist Party of China (CPC) gets closer to the centenary celebration on 1^st July, 2021, scholars and Political actors around the world continue to reflect on the long journey the CPC has travelled leading China from being haunted by a century of humiliation and the epithet of, ‘the Sick Man of Asia,” to a united and moderately prosperous society that has eradicated absolute poverty.

This week on Wednesday, 16^th June, I was invited to attend a seminar on the centenary of the Communist Party of China with the theme, “Communist Party of China (CPC) Governance and Experience. The virtual seminar was organized by the Vice Chancellor University of Nairobi Prof Stephen Kiama, and Chinese ambassador to Kenya His Excellency the Ambassador of China to Kenya Dr. Zhou Pingjian. Among the Key speakers was the Kenya ruling Party (Jubilee Party) representative, Amb. Dr. John Mutinda Mutiso, Director of International Relations at the Jubilee Party. Several faculty members of the department of Political science at the University of Nairobi, journalists and scholars on China Africa relations also participated. 

The Jubilee party representative Ambassador John Mutinda said that, “the Chinese people and its leadership under the stewardship of the General secretary and President of the People’s Republic of China XI Jinping have got a story to share with us and the world on development. I believe that the China story is an amazing story on poverty eradication and development. . This is why we believe that CPC leadership has shown the world that it’s possible to end poverty in our times through leadership and handwork.”

On China-Kenya relationship, Ambassador Mutinda noted that on August 19, 2013 President XI Jinping held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Great- Hall of the People. The two heads of state have expressed satisfaction with the development of China- Kenya relationship which extends over 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relationship between the two countries. China and Kenya have hence established a comprehensive co-operative partnership of equality, mutual trust, mutual benefits and win-win outcome. He also reminded that both countries have continued to support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interest and of each other’s concern and deepen exchanges between political parties, legislative bodies and local governments and share experience on state governance.

During the New Era under Xi Jinping, Kenya has been a strong player in the Forum on China – Africa Co-operation (FOCAC). The Forum has promoted a productive win-win co-operation and political trust between China and Africa in delivering a leap forward from a strategic partnership to a “Comprehensive Strategic and Co-operative Partnership, ambassador Mutinda noted.  He further observed that

China has set a good example for the world in epidemic prevention and control as well as economic recovery.

China has also set a good example for the world in epidemic prevention and control as well as economic recovery. The people of China have stood with the Kenya people during these challenging times of Covid 19. China has extended tremendous support both moral and material to Kenyans a show of the true mark of friendship, ambassador Mutinda said.

On the partnership between China and Kenya, the Jubilee party representative noted that the partnership has indeed augmented the delivery of our developmental blue- print of vision 2030 and the Big 4 Agenda. For example the Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa to Nairobi to Naivasha is a flagship project under Kenya vision 2030 and a shining star of the China-Kenya strategic cooperation under the belt and road initiative.

The Chinese Ambassador to Kenya his Excellency Zhou Pingjian informed participants that the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. To understand China’s development and governance, it is essential to have a good understanding of China’s history and the CPC. 

“With an uninterrupted history dating back to more than 5000 years, the Chinese nation created a splendid civilization, made remarkable contributions to humanity, and became one of the world’s great nations,” Chinese ambassador said.   But with the Opium War of 1840, China was plunged into the darkness of domestic turmoil and foreign aggression; its people, ravaged by war, saw their homeland torn apart, and lived in poverty and despair.  The founding of the CPC in July 1921 was thus an epoch-making event in the history of the Chinese nation.

the CPC completed the socialist revolution and established a fairly complete industrial system and national economic system, accumulating experience for socialist construction by firmly relying on the people, ambassador  Zhou Pingjian noted.  

 The CPC united the Chinese people and led them in launching the great new revolution of reform and opening up, in removing all ideological and institutional barriers to China’s development, and in embarking on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.  China was therefore able to stride ahead to catch up with the times.

the leadership of the CPC with General-Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, the historic achievements in China’s reform, opening up, and socialist modernization have touched every area and broken new ground; the historic changes in China over the past nine years remained profound and fundamental; socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era; ambassador Zhou Pingjian further noted.

The founding of the PRC, the CPC has led the Chinese people in creating two miracles. The first is rapid economic growth. In only a few decades China has achieved a degree of industrialization that took developed countries several centuries. China is now the world’s second largest economy. The second miracle is lasting social stability. China has maintained social harmony and stability for a long period of time, and the Chinese people live happy and stable lives. China is recognized as one of the countries whose people enjoy a strong sense of security.

China is closer, confident and capable than ever before of making the goal of national rejuvenation a reality, noted the Chinese ambassador.

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