Advance Chinese Modernization, And Usher in a New Chapter for China-Belgium Cooperation

by Fei Shengchao, Ambassador of China to Belgium

Two months ago, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully concluded. At the session, the Central Committee considered and adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization (hereinafter referred to as the Resolution), had in-depth assessment of the new context and new challenges of Chinese modernization, and laid out systemic planning for further deepening reform comprehensively. This plenum is also an important window to learn about China in a more balanced and all-round manner. I want to take this opportunity to explain why this plenum is so important with the help of three keywords.

The first keyword is reform. Reform is the source of strength of Chinese modernization. Since the 1980’s, from reform to deepening reform comprehensively and to further deepening reform comprehensively, China has kept unleashing productive forces, adjusting  the relations of production, and unlocking social vitality. China has created the twin miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability. The third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee is the tenth third plenum themed around reform. At the plenum, the overall objectives for further deepening reform comprehensively were made clear: to continue improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernize China’s system and capacity for governance. By 2035, we will have finished building a high-standard socialist market economy in all respects, further improved the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, generally modernized our system and capacity for governance, and basically realized socialist modernization. All of this will lay a solid foundation for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century. The Resolution rolled out over 300 important reform measures, all of which will be completed by 2029. This shows China’s resolve to see reform through and a strong sense of responsibility in fulfilling these objectives.

The second keyword is opening up. Opening up is the defining feature of Chinese modernization. Reform and opening up are mutually reinforcing. To promote reform and development through opening up has proven to be successful in China’s reform and development. It was pointed out in the Resolution that we must remain committed to the basic state policy of opening to the outside world, enhance our capacity for opening up while expanding international cooperation and develop new institutions for a higher-standard open economy. At the plenum, the Central Committee made planning for steadily expanding institutional opening up, deepening the foreign trade structural reform, further reforming the management systems for inward and outward investment, optimizing the layout for regional opening up, and improving the mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. China has contributed over 30 percent to world economic growth for years, kept shortening the negative list for foreign investment, and established platforms for international economic and trade cooperation such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the China International Consumer Products Expo. China has opened its door wider, which will not only enable the international community to better benefit from China’s development, but also make it an international consensus that China’s development is promising.

The third keyword is high-quality development. High-quality development is our primary task in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects. It is essential that we apply the new development philosophy to steer reform and ground our efforts in the new stage of development. We must deepen supply-side structural reform, improve incentive and constraint mechanisms for promoting high-quality development, and strive to create new growth drivers and strengths. In the first half of 2024, the value added of China’s high-tech manufacturing above the designated size accounted for 15.8 percent of industrial enterprises above the designated size. Investment in high-tech industries increased by 10.6 percent year-on-year. The output of smart and green products such as new energy vehicles, service robots, integrated circuits, and solar cells maintained double digit growth. The newly released Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first 3A game, has become a smash-hit among global gamers as it recreates Chinese legend by using advanced digital technology. All these are vivid examples of China’s efforts to channel various types of advanced production factors toward the development of new quality productive forces. China will continue to advance Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development and create new opportunities for the world with China’s new development.

Chinese modernization will bring new opportunities for China-Belgium cooperation. Belgium was among the first countries that had warmly welcomed China’s reform and opening up policy more than 40 years ago, and one the first western countries to invest and set up businesses in China. Earlier this month, Mr. Benjamin Herman, a college student from Belgium won the championship of the 23rd “Chinese Bridge” global finals. The Chinese embassy in Belgium held the 2024 Farewell Reception for CSC Belgian Students last month, contributing to mutual understanding between the Chinese and Belgian youth. In March this year, Belgian pork products entered the Chinese market again, benefiting almost 6,000 Belgian pig farmers. In 2023, China-Belgium trade reached EUR36 billion, twice as much as that of ten years ago. The Alibaba Cainiao Liège eHub has cemented Belgium’s position as a logistics hub in Europe, and the COSCO Shipping (Port) Zeebrugge Terminal has raised Belgium port’s international profile. Reform and opening up has provided strong underpinning for China and Belgium to expand practical cooperation, and Chinese modernization will inject unremitting impetus for China and Belgium to usher in a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s historic state visit to Belgium and the establishment of China-Belgium all-round partnership of friendly cooperation. The Chinese side will work with the Belgian side to continue to actively implement the common understandings reached by leaders of our two countries, jointly promote development, security and civilization progress, and pool strength to build a community with a shared future for humankind, advance the modernization process of the world, and create a better future for humanity.