On September 28th, 2022, the Kaselehlie Press, the only newspaper in the FSM (bi-weekly), published, in its Vol. 22 and Iss. 19, an article by H.E. Huang Zheng, Chinese Ambassador to the FSM, titled New Development in China, New Opportunities for the World. Below is its full text:
In a few days, on October 1st, the People's Republic of China will celebrate its 73rd anniversary. Over the past 73 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has undergone an earth-shaking change, ushering in an era for the Chinese people to stand up and become richer and stronger. China has realized the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This means that it has put an end to absolute poverty, and is now marching in confident strides towards the Second Centenary Goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects.
Over more than 5,000 years of history, the great and ancient Chinese nation made indelible contributions to the progress of human civilization. But after the Opium War of 1840, Western powers came to act with impunity on Chinese lands, and feudal rulers were rendered weak and ineffectual. China was gradually reduced to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society. With our country humiliated, our people subjected to great pain, and our civilization plunged into darkness, the Chinese people and nation suffered greater ravages than ever before. Since that time, countless noble-minded patriots who kept fighting and exploring new ways to save the nation, have been through all kinds of trials and tribulations but remains indomitable. It was not until the CPC came into being that it changed the direction of the development of the Chinese nation. The CPC united and led the Chinese people in fighting bloody battles with unyielding determination to secure our nation's independence and liberate our people, opening a new page in history for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially over the past four decades of reform and opening up, China has made a historic transformation from a highly centralized planned economy to a socialist market economy brimming with vitality, from a country that was largely isolated to one that is open to the outside world across the board, and from a country with relatively backward productive forces to the world's second largest economy, largest manufacturer and biggest trader of goods. It took a few decades for China to complete the industrialization process that took Western developed countries hundreds of years, and China created the "two miracles" rarely seen elsewhere in the world, namely rapid economic development and long-term social stability.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, in the face of a complex and challenging development environment both at home and abroad, and under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has effectively coordinated the Covid-19 response with economic and social development. Thus, to the greatest extent possible, we have both safeguarded the life and health of the people and ensured overall economic and social development.
In 2021, China's economic growth rate ranked among the top in major economies worldwide, with the GDP growing by 8.1% year-on-year. Its GDP reached US$17.7 trillion, ranked second globally and was estimated to account for more than 18% of the global economy. The per capita GDP was US$12,551. At the end of 2021, China's foreign exchange reserves stood at more than US$3.2 trillion, the largest in the world. Total goods imports and exports exceeded US$6 trillion for the first time. China has now become the largest trading partner of more than 120 countries.
China's development achievements do not fall into our lap automatically. Rather, it is derived from the great practice of the People's Republic of China since its founding 73 years ago, and it is the great achievement of the CPC and the Chinese people made through countless hardships.
China's development and rejuvenation is underpinned by clear historical logic and strong internal driving force. The modernization drive of more than 1.4 billion people is tremendous progress of the humanity, not a threat or challenge to the world. What we rely on is the strong leadership of the CPC, the unity, hard work and perseverance of the Chinese people, and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Our goal is open and above board: to deliver a better life for the people and make greater contributions to the world, not to replace or challenge anyone else. We are now advancing reform and opening-up and pursuing win-win cooperation at a higher level. Such efforts will lead to a better tomorrow for China, and make the world a better place.
On October 16th, the CPC will convene its 20th National Congress. It will be an important meeting to be held at a crucial moment as China embarks on a new journey toward its Second Centenary Goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects. At this national congress, the CPC will formulate action plans and major policies to develop the cause of the CPC and the country in the next five years and beyond. This will not only be of great significance to the development of the CPC and China, but also have a profound impact on the world. It will also bring new opportunities and inject new impetus into the growth of China-FSM relations.
33 years ago, the leaders of the FSM who conformed to the trend of the times and firmly abode by the one-China principle, made the correct decision to establish diplomatic ties with China, opening a new chapter for China-FSM relations. Over the past 33 years, the FSM has firmly adhered to the one-China principle and continuously strengthened the political foundation of China-FSM relations. The political mutual trust between China and the FSM has been deepened, and practical cooperation across the board has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two countries and two peoples.
China and the FSM have been standing in solidarity, offering mutual assistance and working together to fend off the virus since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bilateral trade volume between China and the FSM increased by more than 30 percent last year, fully demonstrating the potential for cooperation. China and the FSM have also maintained close cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, enriching our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Our world today is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, which has posed more challenges to China, the FSM and other developing countries. In this context, we need to foster a sense of community of shared future, live up to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and abide by basic norms governing international relations such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping have contributed China's wisdom to the efforts of mankind in tackling peace and development deficit and achieving common security and prosperity, which have all been widely welcomed and supported across the international community.
When developing friendly relations with Pacific Island Countries including the FSM, China stays committed to equality of all countries regardless of size, uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, and follows the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith. The facts over nearly half a century have proved that the exchanges between China and Pacific Island Countries did not and will not affect regional security and stability. What we focus on is economic development, and what we care about is improving people's well-being. What we are doing in Pacific Island Countries is building roads and bridges rather than increasing military presence.
China and the FSM, both developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, are good friends and good partners of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. Moving forward, we believe that the FSM will firmly abide by the one-China principle. China will continue to pursue "four-pronged adherence" to develop relations with the FSM, namely adhere to treating each other as equals, adhere to mutual respect, adhere to win-win cooperation and adhere to openness and inclusiveness. China stands ready to continue working with the FSM to deepen friendship and mutual trust, expand practical cooperation in various fields and promote greater development of China-FSM Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
China will continue to follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy in particular, actively participate in international affairs, act with a sense of responsibilities as a major country, advance the building of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and work tirelessly for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
"By setting sail together, we could ride the wind, break the waves, and brave the journey of ten thousand miles." Let us keep the steering wheel steady and paddle in the right direction so that the ship of the "Great Friendship" between China and the FSM will ride wind, break waves and sail to a brighter future.