Speech at the Seminar for Readers of the Spanish Editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China

Ladies, gentlemen and friends,

Good afternoon.

It is my pleasure to be here with you in Madrid, a gateway to Europe, to conduct exchanges at this seminar for readers of the Spanish editions of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. On behalf of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council Information Office of China, I would like to extend our warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all guests present here.

The two volumes of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China are collections of important speeches and written works by Chinese President Xi Jinping. They serve as authoritative guides to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Volume I was published in 2014 and Volume II in 2017. They have been published in 24 languages and 39 editions, and distributed to more than 160 countries and regions, eliciting a positive response from readers around the world.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. Over the past 40 years, and especially since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Chinese people have made tenacious efforts under the leadership of the Party and effected profound changes to our country, moving socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era. From 1978 to 2017 China’s GDP grew at an annual rate of 9.5%. As the second-largest economy in the world, China has contributed 30% to world economic growth every year since 2012. China also brings benefits to the rest of the world through promoting opening up worldwide and providing a steady impetus for global economic growth.

I know that the people of Spain, in common with many other countries, wish to understand the reasons behind the success of China, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China opens an insightful window on China’s achievements, development drivers, and future prospects. Taking this opportunity, I would like to share with you some of my thoughts on the book.

First, the book gives insights into the trends of history and the fundamental questions “where have we come from and where are we going?”We can obtain a clear understanding of our country’s present and future only when we have a full knowledge of its past. China’s achievements are deeply rooted in its history. The development path and social system we have adopted are the results of 40 years of experience with reform and opening up, 70 years of experimentation since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, 170 years of transformation from decay to prosperity since the mid-19th century, and a 5,000-year history. China’s unique culture, history and national conditions demand a development path adapted to our needs. President Xi emphasizes that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental reward of the hard work and great sacrifices made by the Party and the people, and that we must resolutely uphold and develop Chinese socialism in a pioneering spirit. Our goals are to complete a moderately prosperous society by 2020, realize overall socialist modernization by 2035, and build China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious. By then, the Chinese people will enjoy a better life, and have the capacity to make a greater contribution to world peace and development. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China helps readers better understand China’s past, present and future, and its development path and future prospects.

Second, the book expounds on the fundamental purpose of development and the source of strength for development. A better life for the people is the ultimate goal of all the works of the CPC and the Chinese government. President Xi summarizes his philosophy of governance as serving the people and fulfilling all his responsibilities, and takes the people’s aspiration for a better life as our mission. Since 18th CPC National Congress, President Xi has led the Chinese people inimplementing the overall plan for economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress, putting into practice the Four-pronged Strategy, and modernizing the national governance system. All these efforts pivot on the principle of people-centered development. For the same purpose, the fight against poverty has helped approximately 70 million people emerge from poverty, with the poverty headcount ratio dropping from 10.2%in 2012 to less than 3.1% at the end of 2017. China became the first developing country to meet the UN target for poverty reduction. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China gives the readers a better understanding of the Party’s mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and President Xi’s commitment to putting the people first, staying close to the people. and respecting the people.

Third, the book elucidates China’s proposals for a global community of shared future.In the current round of development and reform, the world is still in a phase of instability and uncertainty. Protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise and economic globalization has suffered a setback. All countries are faced with the question of how to promote the trend of development amid tremendous changes, and build a better world. President Xi has proposed building a global community of shared future, and presented a vision of a world of lasting peace, common security, and common prosperity, an open and inclusive world, and a clean and beautiful world. He calls for the transformation of the global governance system, broader international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and an open, inclusive and innovative world economy. His proposals provide unequivocal answers to the global question of what is happening in the world and how we should respond, and exhibit a profound vision of the future of humanity and the development trends of China and the world. These proposals have elicited positive comment and widespread recognition from the international community. Over the past five years, more than 140 countries and international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China under the Belt and Road Initiative. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank currently has 87 member states from around the world, including Spain as founding member. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China gives a better understanding of China’s future vision of the development trends of the world, the times and humanity.

Ladies, gentlemen and friends,

Although geographically distant, China and Spain are closely linked. China and Spain have a long history of friendly contacts. The two country established trade relations through the Maritime Silk Road 400 years ago. In the 17th century Spanish sinologist Diego de Pantoja studied Chinese and Chinese culture for two decades in China. In recent years, China-Spain relations have maintained a good momentum, with expanded cooperation in many fields and intensified cultural exchanges. China is Spain’s largest trade partner outside Europe. A freight railway route between Yiwu and Madrid is in operation. Bilateral trade reached 30.9 billion US dollars in 2017, up 12.7% from 2016, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples. 89 institutions of higher learning in China offer programs in Spanish, with an enrollment of more than 13,000 students. More than 50,000 people in Spain have taken the Chinese Proficiency Test, the highest number among European countries. Real Madrid and Barcelona football clubs enjoy great popularity among Chinese football lovers.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of China-Spain diplomatic relations. President Xi is going to pay a state visit to Spain. I sincerely hope that the two countries can take these opportunities to drive deeper economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, forge closer ties between the peoples, and enhance our comprehensive strategic partnership.

In conclusion, I wish every success to this readers’ seminar, and health and happiness to the Spanish people.

Thank you.

(Madrid, November 22, 2018)

Wang Xiaohui, Executive Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee