Building a beautiful world of common prosperity free from poverty
Song Tao
Address at the Thematic Briefing on “Stories of CPC: Guizhou’s Achievements in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”
Guiyang, 22 September 2020
Let me begin by welcoming all of you to the thematic briefing on “Stories of CPC: Guizhou’s Achievements in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”.
Against the backdrop of raging COVID-19 amid the acceleration of changes unseen in a century across the world, the event we are attendingtoday is of special significance in that it is the first everthematic briefing on “Stories of CPC” convened via video link, and with Latin American political parties as the primary target audience. Continued interaction and communication in various forms between the CPC and political parties of Latin American countries and beyond are conducive to distinguishing clearly between right and wrong in face of the complex changes in the international situation and stay on the right course. Moreover, they are also conducive to exploring new ways of achieving recovery and growth through mutual support and cooperation in times of economic and social difficulty.
The briefing today has identified “The Decisive Battle Against Extreme Poverty” as its theme. To eradicate poverty is not only an ideal the humanity has yearned for since ancient times, but also one of the basic rights of all peoples in their pursuit of a better life. The Communist Party of China (CPC), from day one of its existence, has affirmed the commitment ofseeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as its original aspiration and mission. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, and in particular after the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, the CPC has led the Chinese people in waging one battle after another against poverty and succeeded in exploring ways and means of alleviating poverty through development compatible with socialism with Chinese characteristics.More than 700 million people in China have been lifted out of poverty, a feat applauded as the “greatest success” in the human history of poverty eradication.
In 2012, the CPC held its 18th National Congress. Since then, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at its core has reaffirmed that to lift the entire rural population above the current poverty line constitutes the most basic task and the most discernible indicator in the endeavour to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realise the first centenary goal. Chinese people of all ethnic groups were thus rallied in this final decisive battle against poverty under the leadership of the CPC. General Secretary Xi Jinping has since personally visited the poverty-stricken areas dozens of times to examine the performance at the forefront of poverty alleviation. In the words of General Secretary Xi Jinping, “Poverty alleviation has always been one of the top priorities on my work agenda, to which I devote the greatest amount of energy.” Under the personal direction and planning of General Secretary Xi Jinping, China’s decisive battle against extreme poverty since 2012 has pressed ahead with unprecedentedintensity, scale and outcome. The average annual decrease of 13.7 million poor population proves to be the greatest poverty reduction achievement China has ever recorded in history.
The year 2020 has been designated as the time frameto secure the decisive victory in eradicating poverty. Though there only remains some 5.5 million poor people in China, the sudden onslaught of COVID-19 has compounded the already arduous task of poverty eradication. Even so, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that to lift the entire rural population out of poverty by the end of this year is a solemn pledge the CPC Central Committee has made to the nation and it must be fulfilled on schedule. Amid the disturbing COVID-19 situation in China, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a meeting on 6 March, which was the largest gathering the CPC had convened on poverty eradication since its 18th National Congress in 2012. At the meeting, the General Secretary called for all-out efforts and further mobilisation to minimise the impact of COVID-19 and ensure timely accomplishment of the decisive battle against extreme poverty. As a result, the confidence and resolve of the whole nation were bolstered for a resounding victory. This speaks volumes about the high sense of political responsibility Chinese communists have in honouring pledges and taking resolute actions.
Under the leadership of the CPC, China has become the world’s pace-setter in both epidemic control and economic recovery. In the second quarter of this year, China’s GDP grew by 3.2 percent, making it the first to achieve positive growth among all major economies. Apart from sufficient support in policy, funding and workforce, China’s fight against poverty has also been blessed with rich experience accumulated over the years. We are fully confident that China will have won the decisive battle against extreme poverty as scheduled when this year draws to an end.The efforts of this generation of Chinese Communists will have brought to an end, once and for all, the extreme poverty that has shackled the Chinese nation for millennia.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
China's decisive battle against extreme poverty is an important component of the joint global endeavour to eradicate poverty. By the end of this year when this battle is won, China will have achieved the poverty reduction goal set in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. For years, China has provided support and assistance to the best of its ability to povertyalleviation in other developing countries. Likewise, we are more than willing to share without reservation China’s experience and practice in poverty eradication with political parties of Latin American countries and indeed all countries of the world.
As experience in many countries has shown, the performance on poverty reduction serves as a “touchstone” of ideals and beliefs of political parties and how they turn their ideals and beliefs into reality. It puts to test whether a political party upholds the principle that development is by the people and for the people and whether it regards people’s pursuit for a better life as what the party strives for. It puts to test whether a political party is capable of making practical plans and roadmaps and leveraging all policy tools to reach the set goal. It also puts to test whether a political party has the ability to mobilise the strength of its structures at different levels and that of various social sectors to strive for a common goal and deliver tangible benefits to its people at the earliest possible date.
The CPC, with tremendous achievements in poverty reduction, has not only succeeded in meeting the aspiration of the Chinese people, but also contributed Chinese vision and input to the global endeavour of poverty eradication. The recently-published book entitled Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (III) represents a vivid account of China’s great undertakings and major progress since the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017. It also serves to offer a comprehensive and systematic perspective of the thrust of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In this book, an entire section dedicated to the decisive battle against extreme poverty focuses on the important thinking, strategic considerations and concrete arrangements of General Secretary Xi Jinping through the years in this regard. To help our international friends better understand the gist of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (III), China Insight, the online English magazine of my Department has just launched a special issue. And what’s more, the Spanish version of the issue is now available exclusively for today’s briefing, in both printed and electronic formats.
As General Secretary Xi Jinping often remarked, just as one does not expect a single prescription to cure all diseases, one should not expect an all-purpose model for all countries. China’s experience and practice in the decisive battle against extreme poverty can only serve as a kind of reference for other countries. Just as different countries have different realities, they should and must have the right to explore development paths suitable to their own national conditions. The recent vicissitudes in the international situation has taught us that for countries to succeed and prosper, the only choice is to stay committed to one’s own development path and running one’s own affairs well to withstand all challenges and pressures. We are willing to further strengthen the sharing and mutual learning of poverty alleviation experience with political parties of Latin American countries and work together to promote international cooperation and safeguard world peace and stability for the building of a beautiful world of common prosperity free from poverty and a community with a shared future for mankind.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
Guizhou, the place where we are today, was once the number one province in China in terms of poor population. During the period from 2012 when the 18th National Congress of the CPC was held, the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee has acted resolutely in applying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Guided by the decisions and instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, an all-out battle has been fought in Guizhou against extreme poverty. Today, Guizhou is known as the number one province in China in terms of decrease in poor population, a “model province” in the battle against poverty. Now, let’s welcome to the stage Mr. Sun Zhigang, Secretary of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee, who will tell us more about Guizhou’s success stories in fighting the decisive battle against extreme poverty.
Thank you.
(Song Tao is Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee)
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