Deep understanding leads to trust in China

In a meeting with international business representatives in late March, President Xi Jinping said that partnering with China will bring more opportunities; believing in China is believing in tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future.

In China one can find a trustworthy partner for in-depth cooperation. But understanding is the prerequisite for dispelling any prejudice, while trust arises from recognizing a nation's development logic and philosophy of social governance.

China's new development philosophy — featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development — provides a scientific solution to the development challenges, while answering questions about development drivers and pathways as China's economy enters a new stage of development.

The world today is grappling with challenges such as insufficient momentum of economic growth, widening income disparities, environmental pollution, climate change, headwinds against globalization, and the concentration of development fruits among a few. Prevailing international solutions have struggled to address these issues. In this context, China's new development philosophy effectively outlines a path out of the current global predicament and contributes to humanity's long-term development.

China has consistently upheld international justice, demonstrating commitment to the responsibilities of a major country. A nation with a peace-loving tradition since ancient times, the country adopted the Confucian philosophy of governance, seeking respect rather than economic gains or military dominance over others even in its heyday.

As a socialist country, China never draws lines based on ideology; nor does it export ideological products. Instead, it holds that all countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equal. China's Belt and Road Initiative as a global public good, the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative have been gaining appeal. In contrast to certain countries' contempt for international order, China emphasizes the importance of adhering to international law and upholding the postwar international system.

China's economy has long been a driving force for global prosperity and stability. Since the launch of the reform and opening-up policy, the country's rapid economic growth has served as an engine for regional and global economic growth, creating extensive investment opportunities, offering vast export market and supplying quality goods. As its economy has expanded to a substantial scale, with stable growth, China has become an anchor of stability for the world economy.

Unlike some countries that treat market access as their privilege, China remains committed to advancing institutional opening-up, focusing on expanding independent and unilateral opening-up in an orderly manner. It tailors cooperation models to fit the national conditions of different countries, offering the world more opportunities for exports and investment.

Currently, some in the United States and the West have been falsely accusing China, which supplies high-quality, cost-effective products to the international market, of "exporting industrial overcapacity". They also wrongfully label China's investment cooperation with partner countries as subsidizing State-owned enterprises for overseas expansion and attempts to control global supply chains.

In fact, China's industrial competitiveness arises from its institutional strengths, economies of scale, governance efficacy and the hard work of its people. This is a contribution to the world, not a threat. The competitiveness of Chinese companies is forged in robust market competition. There is no large-scale, structural "industrial overcapacity", nor is there a continuous export of such capacity. Trade surpluses in certain years are due to differing economic cycles with other nations and market-driven supply-demand adjustments, which helps meet overseas consumer demand. As for overseas investments by Chinese State-owned enterprises, they generally adopt joint venture models, strictly adhere to localization requirements, and actively contribute to local communities. The allegation that they are "seeking control" is entirely unfounded.

Chinese culture exudes a strong appeal and embodies a country that is trustworthy, lovable, and respectable. With a history spanning thousands of years, the characteristics of Chinese civilization — trustworthiness embedded in its ethos of civility, the lovableness reflected in its emphasis on harmony, and the respectability embodied in its pursuit of a common good — represent the core of the Chinese civilization, and resonate with the shared values of all humanity.

"Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times." Recent years have seen a significant increase in international travelers visiting China, who are experiencing the real China firsthand. In the first half of this year, the number of entries and exits by foreigners reached 38.05 million, marking a year-on-year increase of 30.2 percent. Of these, visa-free entries hit 13.64 million, surging by 53.9 percent.

Livestreams by foreign influencers visiting China have gained immense popularity among young audiences worldwide. These firsthand, grassroots narratives have dispelled "preconceptions about China" for countless internet users abroad, allowing them to appreciate a modern, friendly, peaceful, progressive and safe China.

The article is an abridged translation of an article appearing in People's Daily.
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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