Party to interact with world in more positive way, expert says

The century-old Communist Party of China will interact with the world in a more positive way and at the same time it's capable of responding to challenges from the West, Xie Chuntao, a renowned scholar of Party history, has said.

Talking about the challenges China faces in the international arena, Xie, who is vice-president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said the most difficult one is that China's rapid development has made some countries "uneasy and even frightened", as for a long time some Westerners felt that their system and culture were the best in the world.

Such a superiority complex was spurred by the upheaval experienced in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in the 1980s. Some Westerners even claimed that this proved that the "End of History" theory was correct, and believed that capitalism was the best system in human history and socialism was over, he said in a recent interview.

"However, it didn't go as they hoped," Xie said. Under the leadership of the CPC, China has made continuous progress since the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, and particularly since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, when Xi Jinping became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Looking back, although China had lagged behind Western countries for decades in terms of modernization, Chinese Communists have been trying to find a way forward, he added.

"Chinese Communists found the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics after long-term exploration, including detours," he said. "They have established and developed the theoretical system and made socialist culture with Chinese characteristics thrive and prosper."

Xie said that in recent years, the United States and some Western countries have deliberately engaged in ideological confrontation and conflict with China on different occasions.

They made up many so-called facts such as the "genocide" in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. "They used many 'beautiful' phrases, including so-called Western democracy and human rights," he said.

"They seemed to care more about China's development and the wellbeing of the Chinese people than the Chinese leaders, but what they actually did was different from what they said."

However, the country has tackled well the challenges posed by Western countries, including the issues of Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan. During the process, "their real intention was seen clearly by the Chinese people, especially the younger generation", Xie said.

Mike Pompeo, former US secretary of state, had tried to drive a wedge between the Chinese people and the Party, but Xie said his efforts were in vain.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Chinese people's sense of happiness and security has experienced unprecedented growth and the people support the Party from the bottom of their hearts, he said.

"The image of a country, a ruling party or a government, depends not entirely on what it says, but more on what it does," Xie said, adding that the Chinese people clearly know what the CPC has done for the country and the people in its century-old history, especially in the past more than 70 years as the country's ruling party.

The CPC had very few members 100 years ago. When the Party held its first national congress in 1921, there were only 13 participants, who represented about 50 members nationwide.

"At that time, China had about 200 to 300 political parties. Obviously, the CPC did the best job," Xie said, adding that the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC was formed by history.

In 1945, when the country won the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the Kuomintang broke an agreement to build a coalition government with the CPC and other political parties, and started to attack the liberated areas under the leadership of the CPC and kill people from other political parties.

The CPC and other political parties had to unite against the KMT, and after it was close to victory in 1948, the CPC called on other political parties to attend a political consultative conference to discuss building the new country together. The political parties expressed their support and accepted the CPC taking the leading role.

"The ruling position of the CPC was the choice of history and the people," Xie said. "Until today, the Chinese people continue to make the same choice."

"People know from their own personal experience that the CPC works for their interests and is committed to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. By following the Party, they can lead a better life," he added.

Goodwill toward CPC

Xie said the practices of the CPC have made it clear to the world that China's system, philosophy, values and culture have a unique charm and value.

While visiting many developing countries and communicating with foreign politicians and scholars, Xie said he felt they were full of goodwill toward the CPC, the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

Some political leaders in developing countries said they have been cheated by "Western democracy "and what they learned from the West led to internal strife and even civil war, he said.

"They are increasingly admiring the path the CPC has blazed for the Chinese people," Xie said.

In their view, the CPC seeks not only happiness for the Chinese people, but also peace for the world. While developing rapidly at home, it also creates development opportunities for other countries, according to Xie.

President Xi has put forward building a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative. On many occasions, he has raised Chinese proposals on how to deal with the common economic, political and environmental problems faced by human society.

"The ideas and thoughts of Xi have won warm and widespread recognition around the world. China's propositions have become increasingly influential, with more countries and regions accepting them," Xie said.

Xie said that there will still be some people and forces that do not agree with China, and they will continue to create trouble and obstacles for China.

However, certain countries do not represent the international community, nor do their media and its opinions, and their practices and rules do not represent the rules of the international community, he said.

President Xi has underlined the significance of bolstering the nation's capacity in engaging in international communication to foster an image of China that is trustworthy, lovable and respectable.

In remarks made at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in late May, Xi underscored that telling China's stories well, making the nation's voices heard and presenting a true, multidimensional and panoramic view of China is a key task in strengthening the nation's capacity in international communication.

"The country hopes the world can understand and respect its development, system and culture by getting to know China's stories," Xie said.

"China's purpose has never been to spread its ideology or export its social system, which is also impossible because it should be the choice of the government and people of any country or region."

Xie said he believes that China's global image will surely get better, as will the international environment for its development, and China will be able to interact with more members of the international community in a sound and positive way.

"No matter what Western countries will do to China, China has its own focus, direction and rhythm," he said. "Despite the difficulties, China is still going steadily and doing well."