Nation sets signposts for brighter future

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which concluded on Saturday, was in the media spotlight worldwide. Great attention was paid to the congress, as the world hopes to better understand what kind of country China will be in the future, which, in turn, will have a major impact on what the world will look like in the future.

The report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the congress displayed China's confidence and determination to continue on the Chinese path to modernization.

Modernization is a necessary path and a development pursuit for all countries in the world, and it is closely related to people's happiness. As the report stresses, China aims to modernize in its own way. The report indicates that China will remain grounded and not pursue grandiose goals, but it will confidently explore its own development path.

The Chinese path to modernization outlined in the report indicates the direction for China's future development. While its modernization process will contain elements that are common to the modernization processes of developed countries, it will be characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context and can provide signposts for other countries around the world that are also pursuing modernization.

According to the report, China's gross domestic product has increased from 54 trillion yuan ($7.44 trillion) to 114 trillion yuan over the past 10 years, and it now accounts for 18.5 percent of the world economy, having grown at an average annual growth rate of 6.6 percent. China contributed 38.6 percent of the world's economic growth over that period, making it the No 1 driver of global economic growth.

More important, China's poverty alleviation efforts have lifted nearly 100 million people out of absolute poverty, and China has formed the world's largest middle-income group.

One amazing achievement after another has given China the confidence to continue its reform and opening-up, and has given the vast number of developing countries hope that they too can realize comprehensive social development.

The next five years will be a critical period for China in its efforts to build itself into a modern socialist country that leads the world in terms of composite national strength and international influence.

The blueprint for the next five years outlined in the report reflects extraordinary political wisdom and determination, demonstrating China's intention to boost its international standing and influence and play a greater role in global governance, while adhering to a path of peaceful development.

The report expressed China's resolute opposition to hegemonic behavior and power politics in the international arena, and emphasized that it will always decide its position and policies based on the merits of the matter concerned. It is widely believed that in the future, more countries will form their own development path, participate in global governance together and form a harmonious international order.

Finally, it is clearly outlined in China's 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2021-25) that the implementation of the common prosperity agenda needs to be based on the five major development concepts of innovation, coordination, greening, opening-up and inclusiveness. This path can inspire nations around the world to dream of a brighter future and work together to build a community with a shared future for humankind.

Through Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, the world is recognizing a leadership based on dialogue and mutual respect.

The author is former minister of tourism of Brazil and a professor of public policy at the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.