By Dr Austin Maho
“The new era”,
“Chinese modernization”,
“Chinese rejuvenation”;
Are concepts that are collective and interchangeable in line with China’s thrust and pathways towards achieving its second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country that is prosperous in all ramifications.
Chinese modernization, is a home grown political m
solution to the question of development, it is at the core of China’s Communist Party development model which is different from Western style prescriptive model of development.
The concept of Chinese style modernization has a long root, dating back to Chinese opening up under Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. The father of Chinese opening up. He is famously quoted to have said: “You cross the river by feeling the stones”. The Chinese have not proceeded to opening up and modernization brashly and irrationally they have proceed gradually and cautiously, feeling your way forward step by step, rather than rushing into something without a clear understanding of the situation. It has been pragmatic and result oriented
Chinese modernisation has gained traction in recent years, as China focuses on its second centenary goals having achieved its first millennium goal of eliminating poverty by lifting over 800 million Chinese citizens out of poverty and significantly reducing global poverty.
Chinese modernization is expected to further drive the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, achieving material abundance, by building a prosperous modern socialist nation that is prosperous and a model to the world that communism as a system of government works. Chinese Modernization is expected to contribute to world peace and prosperity.
Through modernisation, China aims to achieve a well rounded social progress human capital development and ensure that the gains of modernization benefits all Chinese people and the global community. China has always maintained that its growth and development would be through peacefully means and not seeking subjugation, expliotation of other nations. It has uphold this value by seeking global peace and a rule based global order with the United Nations at its core.
The second centenary goal would see greater opening up and higher quality development of China, advancement of high quality development and higher quality workforce is central to China’s thrust of building a modern socialist state. This would advance global stability and prosperity .
President Xi Jinping at the 20th CPC National Congress in October 2022, laid out what can be termed the locus classicus of Chinese modernization in the new era:
“From this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization,”
China under the leadership of the CPC, has redefined modernisation within the confines of socialism.
China is a modern miracle, a gift to the global south. China has demonstrated that there is a path to development that is peaceful and non- hegemonic and exploitative. It has shown that nation states can rise without beating the drums of war or firing a gun.
The Chinese under the communist government to the consternation of the rest of the world has in less than four decades made steady strides towards modernization.
It has attained rapid economic progress and stability that has no parallel in modern human history. It has reduced global poverty by terminating the evil of poverty within its territory. China is prosperous by all standards and its people are enjoying the benefits of economic prosperity and modernization.
The average life expectancy in China is today put at 78.2 years from 74.8 years from a decade ago and 43.5 in 1945 when the Chinese Communist Party came to power.
Compared to many Western nations China has one of the world’s largest and most efficient and effective social security and health care systems.
It is estimated that over one billion Chinese citizens enjoys a good measure of old-age insurance while over 95 percent of the population enjoy basic medical insurance.
With a GDP of about $18 trillion China has established itself as an economic power house. In nominal terms it is the world’s second largest economy, behind the United States and accounts for about 19% of the global economy. It GDP growth rate since it commenced its policy of gradual opening up in 1979 to date is estimated at an average of 8.93% per year.
As the second largest economy in the world, China has become a major trading partner with over 140 countries. China is a global leader in total volume of trade in goods and seen as the world’s factory for manufactured goods.
The value of trade between Africa and China has been on a consistent rise. It rose by 35% from 2020 to $254 billion in 2022, according to data released by China’s customs service. The growth is mainly due to an increase in Chinese exports to the continent and increased bilateral relations with African countries.
South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Egypt, are among China’s top trading partners in Africa.
Africa is a major beneficiary of China’s economic prosperity and modernization. Apart from trade, Chinese funds and technology have brought massive development of infrastructure across the continent.
It is worthy of note that China’s economic miracle and march to modernization has not led to a neglect and decimation of the environment.
History has shown that economic development and industrialisation do come at a high price. There is no doubt that climate change poses a significant threat to China’s long-term march towards achieving prosperity and modernization. However China has adequately positioned itself to meet its climate obligations and commitments to a greener world.
With advanced technological capabilities the pathway is open for China to attain carbon neutrality and in the process open new avenues for development.
According to a 2022 report by the World Bank, China has reduced carbon emission intensity by 34.4 percent over the past decade and has also pledged to attain a peak in carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Environmental sustainability is at the core of China’s modernization.
Evidently, the successful pursuit of Chinese modernization is a demonstration to all and sundry that economic growth and prosperity can be domesticated and made to suit national conditions. This lesson must not be lost to countries of the global south.
China through its modernization efforts is showing the world that a new form of advancement can be attained by pursuing a peaceful path and protecting the environment sustainably.
This is great lesson to the global south. Who must now learn the lesson that modernisation can be home grown by charting their own course of development and challenging the prescriptive model of western backed institutions.
Dr Auatin Maho is an International Affaires specialist and Editor-in Chief Daybreak Nigeria
