In June this year, five foreign experts from the Foreign Languages Press Publishing House (FLP) on occasion of 70th Anniversary of FLP sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing their deep feelings about participating in the translation of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" and other books and works, expressing their honor in doing this job and letting the world understand China better. On August 25th, President Xi Jinping wrote back, expressing sincere greetings to all employees of the FLP and cordial encouragement to foreign experts. Timofey Bakhvalov, one of the five experts, has lived in China for 17 years. Since 2018, he has been working as a foreign language cooperating translator and has participated in many leading books published by FLP, such as "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China", "Xi Jinping: The Belt and Road Initiative", "Xi Jinping: Eradicating Poverty" and many other translations and revisions. Our magazine sincerely invites him to present his opinion and understanding of Chinese-style modernization from an international perspective.
Author: Timofey Bakhvalov (Russia)
International Relations, Political and Economic Expert, LLM
I was greatly honored to receive a reply from Chinese President Xi Jinping. I am sure that all of our foreign experts must value and strive to fulfill the requirements and expectations set out in his letter. Today, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and we must work harder than ever. Only by working harder everyday we can help the better worldwide understanding of China. We can only shape a positive image of China on the political stage, but also make this image deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. And foreign experts mustn’t stop here. We should not only read classical literature, but also keep up with the pace, follow the cultural trends, follow the political situation of the country. Only in this way can we guide more foreign readers to understand China, and make new contributions to promoting exchanges between China and other countries in the world, and also promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
The main idea in Xi Jinping’s reply letter was that today the Communist Party of China leads the people to successfully walk the path of Chinese-style modernization and creating a new form of human civilization. Through accurate and vivid translation and introduction, the world can better understand China in the new era, which is a great significance for promoting exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations.
From an international perspective, I would like to say the following points about the understanding of the “Chinese-style modernization path”:
First, we must deeply understand the significance of the Chinese-style modernization path. Especially for foreigners, what is important is not to take the words and conception of “Chinese-style modernization road” literally, but to analyse the tangible results that China has achieved in its development. China has built the world’s largest social security system, 1.02 billion people have basic endowment insurance and 1.36 billion people have basic medical insurance. People's lives have been improved and continue improving in all aspects significantly. China's economy has embarked on a higher-quality, more efficient, more equitable, more sustainable and more secure development path.
Second, China’s ecological and environmental protection has undergone historical, turning point and significant changes. The Communist Party of China deeply realizes that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. As the ancients said: “天不言而四時行，地不語而百物生 (The sky doesn’t speak, yet the seasons change as they should; the ground doesn’t talk, yet all species grow as they should.)”. The protection of the ecological environment is the protection of the productive forces itself, as well as improving of the ecological environment is the development of productive forces.
Third, what is the key of creating the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability? General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that respecting objective laws is the basic requirement for adhering to the path of Chinese-style modernization. Carrying forward the core socialist values and deepening the construction of spiritual civilization, the cohesion and centripetal force of the whole society have been greatly improved. That is to say, it is crucially necessary to apply the rule of law, and to come up with new ideas that are correct and in line with today’s reality.
Fourth, “事在人為、為者常成”. All thoughts based on and in line with objective facts are correct thoughts, and all the actions based on correct thoughts are correct actions.
Fifth, To follow the path of Chinese-style modernization well, we must respect objective laws, act in accordance with objective laws, we must seek the truth from facts, take the initiative, be down-to-earth, and work hard for a long time. Along the way, many changing factors must be considered, facts analysed, and correct conclusions and predictions must be drawn. As well as everyone should do their best at work, do their job the right way.
Sixth, since the economic crisis in 2008, the superiority of the socialist system and the achievements of socialist economic construction have been well reflected. In order to cope with the global economic crisis, to get rid of the vicious circle of capitalist economic crisis, and lead the theory and practice of global economic development, the Communist Party of China leads Marxist theorists to study and analyse the problems faced by the Chinese economy, carry out researches on Marxist political economy, and contribute to the development of the Chinese economy. And this development creates new conditions. As a socialist country, the summary of China’s theoretical and practical experience in socialist construction may point out the future development direction for the people of the world.
Seventh, the Chinese-style modernization path is based on China’s reality and serves the overall development of the world. The development achievements of the socialist countries represented by China have, to a large extent, created realistic conditions for replacing the capitalist social and economic system.
At the end of his reply, President Xi Jinping said, I wish you a smooth work and a happy life! This moved and inspired me. President Xi Jinping expressed his sincere concern for foreign experts, as well as his respect and appreciation for our work. I also wish all foreign experts and colleagues success in their work.
(The article is collected by Bauhina Magazine October issue.)
