What are we yearning for?

Hello, Cebu!

When I arrived in Cebu in the middle of April, the smiles on the faces of those I met either on the street or in different offices evoked warmth and lots of goodwill.

People’s smiling faces often make me ponder on what makes people around the world cheerful and smile. What exactly do we need? What are we yearning for?

In my work as a diplomat for the past 30 years, I have traveled to a lot of places in the world. I have seen a colorful world full of diversity. However, one thing is in common, i.e. people love peace and strive for a good life.

Growing up in China, I have witnessed the great changes happening in my home country. One of the major changes is people now have a strong sense of happiness and sense of security.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October 2022 outlined a blueprint for China’s future development with a clear commitment to rejuvenating the Chinese nation in an all-round way through Chinese-style modernization. It promotes modernization coupled with peaceful development, common prosperity for all people, harmonious co-existence between nature and mankind and between material and spiritual civilization.

Chinese-style modernization has injected strong momentum into the global economy. Over the past decade, China has contributed more to global growth than the G7 combined. Today’s China has become a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions. As over 1.4 billion Chinese people enter into modernization, China’s super-large-scale market advantages and domestic demand potential will continue to be released, adding a strong impetus to global economic recovery and growth. Since the beginning of this year, China’s economy has continued to show a recovery trend, with strong growth momentum, and major economic indicators such as consumption and an improving investment landscape.

Chinese-style modernization has opened up a broader path for the common development of different countries. There is neither a single modernization model in the world nor a universal modernization standard. Chinese-style modernization is open and inclusive. Over the past ten years, more than 3,000 cooperation projects have been formed under the Belt and Road Initiative, stimulating investment of nearly one trillion U.S. dollars and creating 420,000 jobs for countries along the route. The Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping has been supported by more than 100 countries and international organizations. Meanwhile China actively and comprehensively implements the G20 debt reduction initiative, and contributes as much as 63% of the debt suspension quota.

Chinese-style modernization creates a better prospect for the progress of human society. President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating respect for global diversity and adhering to equality, mutual learning, dialogue and tolerance among civilizations. Chinese-style modernization pursues material and spiritual harmony, and its ultimate goal is to realize the free and comprehensive development of human beings. Chinese-style modernization is based on the extensive and profound Chinese civilization, and will contribute more Chinese wisdom to human development, world peace, progress and prosperity.

Chinese-style modernization provides a solution for building a clean and beautiful world. China consciously shoulders the responsibility of protecting the ecological environment and addressing climate change. It has created many world firsts: the scale of its artificial forestry is the largest in the world, accounting for 1/4 of the world; renewable energy development and utilization rank first in the world, with the installed capacity of wind power and solar energy accounting for more than 1/3 of the world; production and sales of new energy vehicles also rank first in the world with half of the world’s new energy vehicles driven in China.

Chinese-style modernization brings more certainty to world peace and stability. China has never sought and will never seek hegemony. China is the only country in the world that “adheres to the path of peaceful development” as enshrined in its constitution. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council that dispatches the most peacekeepers, China has always advocated the peaceful settlement of international or regional disputes through consultation and dialogue. With China’s mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran have resumed diplomatic relations, leading the “wind of reconciliation” in the Middle East, driving more countries to shake hands and make peace.

Modernization is the common cause of mankind. Chinese-style modernization fully demonstrates that modernization does not have a fixed model. As long as a path in line with one’s own national conditions and conducive to the well-being of the people is found and followed, any country can realize its dream of modernization. China not only bases modernization on its own national conditions, but also learns from the experience of other countries. China is willing to work with other countries to explore modernization paths, better social systems, and promote building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Modernization is not a privilege monopolized by a few countries. As developing countries, China and the Philippines are both facing new opportunities and challenges of modernization. The 9th of June will be the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. History has proved that mutual respect, friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation serve the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. During President Marcos’ visit to China early this year, China and the Philippines issued a joint statement affirming that the two countries should be good neighbors, good relatives and good partners. The realization of this vision will surely bring more tangible benefits to the two countries as well as to regional peace and development.

When I finished writing the above words, I looked out of the window and the city was already sparkling with lights. Good luck, Cebu. Wish you a better tomorrow!