China’s 75-year journey to modernisation

August 1, 2021 marks the 94th anniversary of founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Over the past 94 years, China's military, which had experienced numerous battles and endured countless hardships, has dazzled its history with glorious victories and notable achievements. The PLA traces its roots to the "Nanchang Uprising" of August 1, 1927, the day the Communists led by stalwarts Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and many others rose against the nationalist forces.

Over the past 75 years, China has undergone dramatic transformations and epoch-making changes. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have successfully opened the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, advancing and expanding Chinese modernization. The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible historical course.

In July this year, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC made decisions to further deepen reforms and promote Chinese modernization, laying out a grand blueprint for advancing the great cause of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursuing national rejuvenation. The bright prospects of China's development will certainly create new and greater opportunities for countries worldwide including Bangladesh.

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The comparative study of Chinese economic development reveals that in 1949, China was one of the world's poorest countries. However, China has moved from an impoverished, underdeveloped country to a global economic giant and a major player in global governance. China has successfully pulled more than 800 million people out of poverty. China is on track to becoming the strongest growth engine globally with its contribution to the global GDP standing at around 18 percent. The latest economic data has confirmed that China's GDP grew by 5.2 percent in 2023. It is the top trading partner with over 125 countries across the globe. In 2022, China maintained its position as the second FDI destination in the world.

At constant prices, the total economic output in 2023 had increased 223 times compared to 1952, with an annual growth rate of 7.9 percent. Specifically, China's GDP surpassed 126 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion US dollars) in 2023. The GDP in 1952 was just 67.9 billion yuan. The living standard of the Chinese people has progressed from mere subsistence to moderate prosperity in all aspects. Over the past 75 years, the per capita disposable income of Chinese people has increased 76-fold, adjusted for inflation. The total grain output rose from 113.18 million tonnes in 1949 to 695.41 million tones in 2023. Industrial production capacity has been constantly improved. In 2023, the added value of the manufacturing industry topped 33 trillion yuan, and the services sector has gradually grown to become the largest industry in the national economy. China's average contribution to global economic growth exceeded 30 percent, making it the largest driving force behind world economic growth. In 2023, the contribution rate of final consumption expenditure to economic growth reached 82.5 percent, further enhancing the role of consumption as the main engine. As an innovation-oriented country, China has continuously strengthened its growth momentum. China's ranking in the Global Innovation Index rose from 34th in 2012 to 12 in 2023. The country has set the ambitious targets of peaking its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

China's primary and old-age insurance plans covered about 1.34 billion people and more than 1 billion people respectively. The country's education system has improved significantly, with high enrollment rates in secondary and higher education. The rate of domestic savings is 43 percent of GDP in China, much higher than in any other economy in the world. In summary, China has become an icon of electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, which collectively surpassed US$ 146 billion in 2023. Emerging industries such as biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology also witnessed significant expansion, with their combined output exceeding USD 55 billion.

Equal access to food, education, and healthcare has contributed to the development of a scientifically advanced society in China. The Chinese people have built technologically advanced infrastructure, new cities, ports, airports, and high-speed rail networks that are more efficient than their capitalistic counterparts in America and Europe. China's Lunar and Mars mission exemplifies the significant progress the country has made in space exploration and scientific innovation. Despite the rapid modernization, the resilient people have not forgotten to reclaim their cultural heritage, celebrating their diversity through art, culture, film, music, literature, and fashion.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation and dedicates itself to promoting human progress and world harmony. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a major proposal introduced by President Xi Jinping based on his deep insights into the future of humanity and the development trends of China and the world, intending to realize mutually beneficial cooperation and shared development for various countries. At present, China has signed over 200 cooperation agreements related to the BRI with 152 countries on all five continents, covering 83 percent of all nations that have diplomatic relations with China, and 32 major international organizations. The BRI's primary objective is to construct an extensive network of infrastructure development that includes transportation, energy, and mining projects, railways, highways, ports, airports, and pipelines, connecting China to numerous countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa. China has provided substantial aid to the Global South over the past decade and established various organizations such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which reflect China's principles of equality, inclusiveness, and sustainability.

Under the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and Global Security Initiative (GSI) successively from 2021 and 2023. These three initiatives focus on addressing world development challenges, eliminating global security dilemmas, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. It is time to expose the hypocrisies of the West and celebrate the achievements of the Chinese people over the last 75 years. These achievements offer hope for working-class people around the world. China is the first to reduce tariffs to zero for all goods from least developed countries including Bangladesh.

China and Bangladesh are good neighbors with mutual political trust. China is our time-tested friend. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, the two countries have treated each other with respect and equality, and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation. China is committed to helping the development of Bangladesh, and the BRI cooperation projects have created historic miracles for Bangladesh's development. Recently, the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said that China and Bangladesh are traditionally friendly neighbors and comprehensive partners. No matter what changes have taken place in the domestic situation of Bangladesh, China's commitment to developing China-Bangladesh relations is unchanged. He also said, China firmly supports Bangladesh in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, maintaining national unity and stability. Both the country is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025.

China at 75 has made the successful transition from a regional power to a global power, or as President Xi Jinping told the CPC's 19th Congress on October 18, 2017 in Beijing that China has now " become a great power in the world, and it is time for us to take centre stage in the world and to make a greater contribution to humankind"

Today, China has become the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget, the second largest contributor to peace-keeping operations, and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. China has always been committed to promoting world peace and development.

The writer is Chairman of the Centre for East Asia Foundation

China’s PLA quest for global peace and development

By Nasim Mahmud



Published : 28 Jul 2022 08:17 PM | Updated : 28 Jul 2022 08:19 PM

August 1, 2022 marks the 95th founding anniversary of the People's Libera¬tion Army (PLA) of China. The PLA is an army of the people built and led by the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Over the last 95 years, the PLA has built on past achievements and grown stronger through a battle with good development results. The PLA has won timeless honors for the CPC and the Chinese people. They are the backbone for China to preserve the nature governance as well as national dignity. The Chinese people have always loved peace. They have never started a war or infringed on an inch of foreign soil. China sticks to the path of peaceful development as outlined in the constitution of the CPC and the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The PLA has reshaped its leadership and management system, optimized its structure, and reformed its military policies and institutions since 2015. Under the pragmatic leadership and guidance of President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the reform of national defense and the modernization of the military have expanded significantly. The PLA has transformed from a quantity-oriented to a quality-conscious force. President Xi Jinping laid out plans in 2017 to complete the modernization of the PLA by 2035 and transform it into a world-class military by 2049. The Chinese defense budget in 2022 is 1.45 trillion (about $230 billion), which is an increase of 7.1% over the last year. The increased defense expenditure will help to provide the forces with better training and more advanced equipment. It will also support the military in tackling non-conventional security threats. Therefore, the increase in defense expenditure is not only to maintain its own security but also to help maintain world peace. China has also reassured that it will not pose any military threat even as it has accelerated its military modernization and ramped up its defense expenditure.

The PLA has changed over the last two decades due to expanding defense budgets, technological acquisitions, and a raft of reforms that focus on making the defense sector more competitive. China now has the ability to develop advanced fighters, aircraft carriers, and new-generation intercontinental ballistic missiles, drones, and other advanced platforms. The PLA has also sought to modernize its capabilities and improve its proficiencies across all warfare domains so that as a joint force it can conduct a range of land, air, and maritime operations as well as space, counter-space, and electronic warfare, and cyber operations. China has been boosting up research into all sorts of missiles, from those that can destroy satellites in space to advance nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, as part of an ambitious modernization scheme. The PLA should now endeavor to become a higher-caliber military, conduct training under computer-simulated conditions, and enhance its integrated combat capability based on extensive application of information technology. The Chinese military forces have significantly downsized their active forces, with the previous 18 group armies reorganized into 13 new ones.

Chinese armed forces have made great progress in independent innovation in strategic, cutting-edge, and disruptive technologies, and succeeded in developing strategic high-tech products such as the Tianhe-2 Supercomputer.

The PLA is optimizing the overall composition of weaponry and equipment. A system is created that mainly comprises new high-tech weaponry and equipment, such as Type 15 tanks, type 052D destroyers, J-20 fighters, and DF-26 intermediate and long-range ballistic missiles.

The launching ceremony of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, on June 17, 2022, in Shanghai, China.

Among the most crucial areas of Chinese military modernization is the expansion of its naval capabilities. China has launched a new-generation aircraft carrier on 17 June, 2022. The launch marked a milestone in the country’s push for a “blue water navy” capable of operating far from Chinese shores as well as President Xi Jinping’s multiyear drive to modernize the country’s military. The launching ceremony was held in Shanghai's Jiangnan shipyard and the event was attended by General Xu Qiliang, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Vice-Chairman of the CMC. The aircraft carrier Fujian, also known as the Type-003, is the 'first electromagnetic Catapult' aircraft carrier wholly designed and built domestically in China. Its full load displacement is over 80,000 tonnes. Paris-based Naval News says this carrier catapults China’s navy into the 21st century and that it’s the first non-US carrier in the world “ to even come close” to a US carrier. China has two other aircraft carriers in service. The Liaoning was commissioned in 2012, and the Shandong entered service in 2019. These warships use a Ski-Jump style platform for jets to take off and do not have a catapult system. It’s heard that the next aircraft carrier China plans to build is expected to be nuclear-powered.

China's Blue Helmets have become a key force in United Nations Peacekeeping. Chinese armed forces are actively participating in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). China is the biggest contributor of peacekeeping troops among five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second-largest financial contributor to the UN Peacekeeping program, has the potential to become a world leader in Peacekeeping. Since the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, the Chinese military has not only made outstanding contributions to the prevention and control of the pandemic in China but also has been actively cooperating with other countries’ defense establishments. Currently, the PLA is more engaged in international military and security dialogues. What is worth mentioning is that the military-to-military ties China seeks to strengthen are not based on alliances, are not confrontational, and do not target any third country.

Peace needs to be fought for and safeguarded. China is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and hopes that other countries will also pursue peaceful development and cooperation. Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe said at the last Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore that China's development is not a threat to others. On the contrary, it is a huge contribution to global peace and development. General Wei Fenghi also said the Chinese armed forces will fight to the very end if anyone dares to split Taiwan out of China. Taiwan is an integral part of China, the Taiwan question belongs to China's internal affairs, and national reunification will definitely become a reality. If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will not hesitate to fight, and will resolutely crush any 'Taiwan independence' attempts at all costs, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China has eradicated absolute poverty and achieved a landmark victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. It is now on a new journey toward socialist modernization. China today is completely different from the China of ten years ago and it certainly will continue to change over the next ten years. It is no longer a rising power. It has in fact arrived as a world power who is a decisive force for world peace and development.

The writer is the Editor of The Belt and Road Magazine, Bangladesh.

PLA in the new era and Bangladesh-China defence relations

August 1, 2021 marks the 94th anniversary of founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Over the past 94 years, China's military, which had experienced numerous battles and endured countless hardships, has dazzled its history with glorious victories and notable achievements. The PLA traces its roots to the "Nanchang Uprising" of August 1, 1927, the day the Communists led by stalwarts Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and many others rose against the nationalist forces.

It played a key role in the successful culmination of the Communist revolution in 1949. The Chinese PLA was founded and has been led by the CPC. It has been performing the CPC's ideological, organizational and political framework.

The PLA is the world's largest standing army with an estimated two million service members, it protects the world's fastest-rising economic power. The priority mission of the PLA is resolutely safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, deter and resist aggression, to safeguard national political security, the people's security and social stability, oppose and contain "Taiwan independence", safeguard China's national sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security, protect China's maritime rights and interests, promote China's overseas interests, and to support the sustainable development of the country.

China's military modernization began long before Xi Jinping became chairman of the CMC in November 2012. But the pace and scope of that effort have greatly accelerated under President Xi Jinping. Key changes includes introduction of advanced weapons and equipment, structural reforms to make the PLA a more effective force and root out corruption from the Chinese society. Today China is building stronger armed forces and has changed its defensive national law in January 2021. It was approved at the session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. There are several reasons why the national defense law was amended during this time.

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The Chinese nation has always advocated peace and opposed militarism. China is speeding up its defense and military modernization and make an integrated effort to build a prosperous country and a strong military, according to the draft outline of the 14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025) for the National Economic and Social Development and the Long Range Objectives through the year 2035. The Chinese officials designated 2027 will be the Centennial anniversary of the PLA - as the year in which China will field a "Fully Modern Army".

The Chinese military has made impressive strides in the past decade. The PLA has achieved progress in key technological areas, ranging from precision-guided missiles to advance surface ships, combat aircraft and is rapidly advancing in space technology. Currently, Chinese defence strategy places great emphasis on 'integrated networked attack and defense air, sea, land, cyber and space operations. The PLA has upgraded its command, control, communications, computers and intelligence surveillance and its ability to conduct "electronic warfare". The Chinese call this "information oriented" warfare, and with it, they hope to transform the PLA into a modern, network-enabled fighting force, capable of projecting sustained power in the regions. By 2025 China in regional terms will have completed the unprecedented development into both a continental and maritime military power.

In recent years, the Chinese military has conducted exchanges and cooperation with counterparts in other countries, provided abundant international public security products, responded to common security threats and challenges, and made important contributions to maintain world peace and stability and build a community with a shared future for mankind. All these demonstrate that the PLA is committed to honoring its international responsibilities and obligations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) reaffirmed the CPC's absolute leadership over the PLA which is a "fundamental guarantee" for the army to maintain its great cohesion, creativity, and combat capabilities. The country's military is deeply rooted in its people and has made great contributions to achieving national independence as well as the liberation of the people in terms of economic development, poverty eradication, flood-fighting, rural vitalization, agricultural demonstration, village governance, educational assistance, disaster relief, medical facilitation, rural infrastructure, water supply, road communications, conduct patriotic and national defense education activities and protecting people's life and property.

Following a stronger collaboration with the civilian science and technology community, the PLA also put greater emphasis on new capabilities such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and big data. This reflects a shift to what the PLA terms "intelligentization" of the modern battlefield. The PLA is also expanding its research collaboration with universities outside China. Since 2010, the PLA has sponsored more than 2,500 military scientists and engineers to study at foreign universities, those scientists work in strategic and emerging technology sectors such as quantum physics, signal processing, cryptography, navigation technology, autonomous vehicles, radar, explosions and supercomputers.

China's traditional reluctance to intervene has become a major contributor to UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO). China is the second-largest donor to the UNPKO fund. It has contributed more than 10 billion US dollars to the UNPKO. So far it has dispatched about 40,000 peacekeepers to 25 missions. Their peacekeepers have built and rehabilitated roads over 17,000 Kilometres and are disposed of more than 14,000 landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Defence ties between Bangladesh and China are considered a major strength of our bilateral ties. Military-to-military relations are an important part of the overall bilateral relation. The countries are committed to further enhance existing defense cooperation and join hands in safeguarding regional peace and stability. Notably, China is the only country with which Bangladesh signed a defence agreement. The friendship and brotherhood between the two armed forces are strong and time-tested. And China is the biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh. China supplied military hardware and many consignments in the 1980's free of charge or on special goodwill price. Bangladesh defence forces are equipped with Chinese arms including tanks, missile launchers, fighter aircraft and several weapon systems. The Bangladesh Navy has purchased two submarines from China in 2016 which are armed with torpedoes and mines.

This has made Bangladesh Navy a "Three Dimensional Force" which was designed by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Moreover, China provides advanced training facilities to the officers of Bangladesh Army. Both countries are striving to push the Bangladesh-China strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. Bangladesh is staunch supporter of "One China Policy" and continues to support China resolutely on issues concerning Hong Kong, Taiwan and human rights. It is worth mentioning that the PLA hospital ship "Peace Ark" has visited Chittagong port twice, respectively in 2010 and 2013 and provided free medical treatment to destitute peoples.

Chinese State Councillor and Minister of National Defence General Wei Fenghe paid a successful visit to Bangladesh in April, 2021. General Wei met with Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and former Chief of General Staff General Aziz Ahmed. During the meeting, Abdul Hamid said, Bangladesh and China are time tested friends and reliable strategic partners. In return, General Wei said, China and Bangladesh have been friendly neighbours since ancient times and have a long history of bilateral ties.

He also expressed a keen desire to "jointly maintain regional peace and stability" while thwarting "alliance and hegemonic influences of external powers in South Asia". On the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, the Chinese Defence Minister paid a rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his birth centenary. He lauded the economic development and progress of Bangladesh achieved under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He assured China's substantial cooperation in achieving Bangladesh's Vision-2041.

The writer is a geopolitical analyst

CPC’s birth centenary

July 1 2021, The Communist Party of China (CPC), the political ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC), celebrated its 100th birthday since it was founded in Shanghai in 1921. The CPC has grown from a small Party of some 57 members represented by 13 deputies back in 1921. Currently, the CPC has grown into the world's largest political party, with more than 90 million members and 4.6 million primary-level party organizations.

With long-term armed struggles and the close coordination of various aspects and forms of struggles, the CPC finally achieved a victory in 1949 which under the leadership of the working class and based on the workers-peasants' alliance, upholds the people's democratic rule. The victory and success of the CPC and people were due to strong leadership and struggling in difficult conditions. It was from these difficult experiences that China succeeded. In 1945 Mao Zedong became the Chairman of the Chinese Communist.

Chairman Mao Zedong was a Communist revolutionary who became the father of communist China in 1949. His thoughts influenced the formation of the new People's Republic of China as a state system and social life and still influence the Chinese political life prominently. On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, marking the beginning of a new historical era in China, a period of an absolute rule of the CPC.

The emergence of the CPC was a major event, which profoundly changed the course of Chinese history in modern times, the fate and future of the Chinese people and nation, and the direction and pattern of world development. Over the past 100 years, under the pragmatic leadership of the CPC, China has become the world's biggest market and second-largest economy and the first developing country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on poverty alleviation.

The CPC has managed to preserve the unity and harmony of 1.4 billion multi-ethnic people. The Chinese people ardently support the CPC leadership. According to a survey conducted by the American Harvard Kennedy School that spanned over 10 years, Chinese citizens' satisfaction with and support for the CPC and the Chinese government is as high as 93 percent. Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has taken the happiness of the people and rejuvenation of the nation as its aspiration and led the people to fight for a better life over the decades. Now Chinese people enjoy more freedom of expression and access to information.

The legal system inside China has improved, and people feel safer and more secure in China. Many people in the West think that there's no democracy in China as the country is under the rule of one party, the Communist Party of China (CPC). But the fact is that China's Socialist democracy has been developed based on its national context after numerous trails, just like the country's political system. China's socialist democracy, with the feature of party's leadership, ensures the consistency of policymaking as well as the sustainability of development goals.

Beginning in 1978, the CPC followed the needs of national development and the will of the people to carry out reform and opening-up policies. Deng Xiaoping emerges as a paramount leader of the PRC, widely recognized as the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up policies, which have lasted more than four decades. As a result, the Chinese economy transformed from a centralized economy to a market-driven economy. China had embarked on the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics that had been established in the Deng era. The basic line, principles, and policies formulated in this period are still employed by the CPC. China should be thankful to Deng Xiaoping for his remarkable role in introducing China to the world.

China is expected to declare a moderately prosperous society in all respect in the middle of this year, which means that the country has achieved its first centenary goal on schedule in 2021. In 2049, China will achieve its second centenary goal of building "a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious". Under the CPC leadership, China has established a socialist market economic system and made outstanding achievements, this signifies a great deepening and exploration of Marxism.

In over four decades following the reform and opening-up, China eradicated absolute poverty by lifting more than 850 million people out of poverty. This contributed to 70 percent of poverty relief around the world. In 2020, Chinese GDP exceeded100 trillion Yuan (15.42 trillion US dollars) and its per capita income rose above 10000 US dollars. China's total imports and exports soared from 20.6 billion US dollars to more than 4.5 trillion US dollars, making the country the world's top trading nation.

China has also proposed several approaches for global governance and development, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank, Forum on China-Africa cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China is a huge country and the CPC is the backbone of China. It provides the country with a vision and transits this vision into reality. Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese President and also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), when came to the office nine years ago, he made a big promise. Xi said, "We'll continue to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

This grave responsibility is for the well-being of the people". Xi soon used the "Chinese Dream" to inspire people and provide hope. The 'Chinese Dream' now has comprehensive theories and content. And Xi's thoughts are the basis for China's overall development in the long term. It is undeniable that China has made gigantic progress in many areas under Xi's magnificent leadership.

In fighting COVID-19, the CPC values the people's lives and health as paramount. The key to China's success in bringing the pandemic under control is that the CPC and the Chinese government have organized efforts properly and that the Chinese people have a strong sense of discipline. More than 4.6 million of its primary-level organizations served as strongholds against the pandemic. Nearly 39 million CPC members fought against the COVID-19 at the front line. More than 400 CPC members have defended other's lives and safety at the cost of their own.

China is a firm believer in making COVID-19 vaccines as a global public product. During the fight against the pandemic, the Socialist system with Chinese characteristics has shown great advantages, and the CPC, as well as the Chinese people have shown a strong sense of mission and pro-activity. China has provided more than 350 million doses of vaccines to the international community, including vaccine aid to more than 80 countries, exporting vaccines to 43 countries and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine research, development and production to date.

Last year, when COVID-19 propelled, China and Bangladesh stood in strong solidarity in the fight against COVID-19, in coordination with the international community as a whole. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic leadership in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and rolling out a nationwide vaccination program is very successful. Bangladesh has already received 1100000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines as gifts from China. The Bangladesh government has also taken an initiative for co-production with the Chinese companies in Bangladesh.

China's achievements in development are attributed to the strong leadership of the CPC. China has been actively taking part in international affairs and committed to safeguarding multilateralism. Historically, China used to be the most powerful country in the world, but never invaded or plundered other countries. Since the founding of the PRC, China has followed an independent foreign policy of peace, and promoted the establishment of a solid and reasonable international order.

China's more proactive action in setting the agenda for global growth and governance is exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).The initiative proposed by the Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to promote trade and financial integration, infrastructure inter-connectivity, IT connectivity, health security and bolstering people-to-people exchanges along and beyond the ancient Silk Routes linking Asia with Europe and Africa.

By linking countries and regions belonged to more than 60 percent of the world population and 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, the BRI is a public road open for all. All interested countries can join to take part in the cooperation and share its benefits. Bangladesh is also a proud member of this comprehensive initiative.

Over the decades, China has made miraculous achievements in various fields, especially in environmental protection, infrastructure development, education, health care, sound macroeconomic management, good governance with strong delivery of public services, social inclusiveness, aerospace, international humanitarian relief, military power, e-commerce, agricultural demonstration, UN peace-keeping mission, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G high -speed mobile networks, which would not be possible without the exceptional leadership of the CPC. At the beginning of the 21st century, China had no high-speed railways. Today China has the world's largest network of high-speed railways. The network is expected to double in length again, to 70000 kilometers, by 2035.

According to the 14thfive year plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and Long- Range Objectives through the year 2035, an essential part of China's modernization would be the harmony between Man and Nature. To mitigate the impact of climate change, China has announced that it would achieve Carbon neutrality by 2060.

China's space agency had an extraordinary gift for the ruling Communist Party's 100thbirthday: a rover on Mars. The historic landing on May 15, 2021 of Zhurong, a rover named after the god of fire in ancient Chinese folklore. It not only demonstrated the country's growing capabilities in space but also served a timely reminder of how far the country has walked since its founding.

Recently, Chinese lawmakers voted for an anti-food waste law. The law, designed to help establish a long-term mechanism to preventing food waste is vital to ensure national food security. Approximately, 18 billion kg of food is wasted every year in China's urban catering industry, and over 35 billion kg of grain loss is estimated at the pre-consumption stages. The law will also help promote social awareness and in promoting a healthy, rational, green life style and better consumption behavior of the citizens.

A series of events were held to celebrate the birth centenary of the CPC, reawakening collective memories and patriotic sentiment among the people. The activities included an ongoing party-wide campaign on CPC history learning and education. Major publications including a book on the CPC's100-year history were compiled and released. Commemorative stamps and coins were issued to focus on grass-roots party activities and promote "Red Tourism".

Elementary students in some cities were advised to create paintings and calligraphy extolling the "Chinese Dream". Buses and subways were broadcasting nationalistic messages about revolutionary heroes with television networks releasing documentaries and dramas related to the anniversary such as "Mining Town", a popular series that depicts the Party's poverty alleviation works in China.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) also held a series of activities to mark the anniversary, including theoretical seminars and themed forums, as well as a massive exhibition at the Military Museum on the Chinese People's Revolution. The Military also produced and released several movies. Central Military Commission (CMC) conferred distinguished officers and soldiers with awards.

More than 2000 years ago, Confucius said, "yan bi xin, xing bi guo", which means "One must be true to their word and determined in their work". The CPC has remained true to the phrase throughout its development process and commitment. Chinese President Xi Jinping said, "The Chinese civilization emphasizes that 'word must be kept, promise must be delivered' and 'with dishonest people, reliability becomes questionable'.

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The writer is a research associate at the Centre for East Asia Foundation and editorial assistant at 'The Belt and Road Magazine' Bangladesh

China-Bangladesh relations stronger than ever before

Over the past 45 years, the relationship between China and Bangladesh has been developing, with mutual cooperation and friendship on both sides. In the international arena, Bangladesh has, to the best of its capacity, maintained unwavering support for the "One China Policy" and China's peaceful rise.

The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was associated with China during his political life. He travelled to China in 1952 for an international conference. During the visit, he met Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, the heroes of the Chinese Revolution. He was impressed by New China. After the independence of Bangladesh, the work of establishing diplomatic relations with China under the leadership of Bangabandhu began after overcoming many adversities.

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Sadly, Bangabandhu was killed before formal diplomatic relations were initiated, but undoubtedly, it was in his hands that the work of establishing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China began. Last year, the present Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming and all diplomats from the Chinese Embassy visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. At that time, they paid homage to Bangabandhu. The curator of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum said that the Chinese embassy was the first foreign mission of Bangladesh, whose diplomats had visited the historic building together.

Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming said, "China will show the highest respect to the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his birth centenary this year, which also corresponds with the celebration of the 45th anniversary of Dhaka-Beijing diplomatic ties. While all of Bangladesh is celebrating "Mujib Borsho", the Chinese embassy will also implement initiatives to celebrate this significant event with our Bangladeshi friends to show the Chinese people's highest consideration and respect towards this great man."

Following in the footsteps of Bangabandhu, his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proved her worth as a visionary leader by leading the unprecedented development of Bangladesh in recent years. Under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, Bangladesh is ready to move ahead alongside China as a reliable ally in the days to come. Already, relations between the two countries have reached a unique height. In recent years, China has established itself as a major development partner of Bangladesh.

Proposed in 2013 by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, The Belt and Road Initiative has become a most popular platform for international cooperation, with very bright prospects in a world mired with protectionism and unilateralism. Bangladesh is a proud member of this initiative and can play a significant role in the advancement of this epic project.

On October 14, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bangladesh on a historic visit. During that visit, China announced huge investments in various sectors of Bangladesh. The implementation of those investment projects is now in full swing. Among the ongoing projects are the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, Karnafuli Tunnel, Dhaka-Chittagong Highway Four Lane Upgradation, Payra Port Development, Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Railway Project, Power Grid Network Strengthening Project, Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, Dhaka-Sylhet Four Lane Highway etc. Mutual cooperation is not limited to the government level but is also at the private level. Cultural exchanges between the people of both countries underwent significant developments in 2019, as over 37,000 Bangladeshi tourists travelled to China and more than 5,000 Bangladeshi students are studying in China. It is undeniable that the unprecedented development of Bangladesh's agriculture and garments sector is also due to the support of Chinese technology.

Moreover, a total of 8,256 Bangladeshi products will now be exempted from tariff when exporting to China. Bangladesh has described this as a success in economic diplomacy. This treatment is in addition to the preferential duties that we are already enjoying from China under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement.

China has established itself as Bangladesh's most trusted ally in the defence sector as well. China's valuable involvement in water resource development and management also has enormous potential for Bangladesh. Recently, there have been reports of China's cooperation in the overall development of the Teesta basin, which, if implemented, could radically change certain sectors, including agriculture and industry, in a large area of North Bengal.

Apart from infrastructural development, China is doing commendable work in cultural exchanges with Bangladesh. The Confucius Institute has been set up in various institutions of higher learning in the country. To facilitate Chinese language education for Bangladeshis, Chinese language courses have been introduced in various educational institutions including the University of Dhaka and North South University. Every year, a large number of Bangladeshi students are going to study in different universities of China with scholarships. Cultural groups are coming and going every year as part of cultural interactions. However, these activities should be allowed to spread outside Dhaka city. Organising carnivals, fairs and exhibitions at the district level can be fruitful in this regard.

China has also established itself as Bangladesh's only all-weather friend by extending a hand of sympathy and support to Bangladesh during ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. China's well-planned and regulated strategies to dealing with the pandemic is an important part of learning for the world. China had earlier announced that if the Covid-19 vaccine was discovered, Bangladesh would be given priority in obtaining it.

In Bangladesh, a Chinese company has been allowed to run the third phase trial of the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine. Under the pragmatic initiative of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has sent medical accessories, including masks, gowns, caps and gloves, to China. The Prime Minister also wrote a letter to the Chinese President Xi Jinping. In return, the Chinese government sent 10 members of a medical expert team to support Bangladesh's fight against Covid-19. The medical experts have provided consultations regarding pandemic control, patients' treatment and laboratory tests, and guidance and training for Bangladeshi medical professionals.

China has also provided Bangladesh with over three million surgical and N-95 masks, over 110,000 sets of personal protective equipment and a large number of test kits, thermometers, ventilators, and sanitisers. Moreover, the Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) said it would lend USD 100 million to Bangladesh to help the country deal with the pandemic.

The Chinese president has outlined the vision of the Chinese dream, which is to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation. The steady process of attaining the Chinese dream will not only benefit China, but also the world at large. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, the Chinese dream of national renewal is about the pursuit of happiness by every Chinese citizen, and it has much in common with the dreams of the people of Bangladesh, as we are on the way to achieving the goal of becoming a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041.We are hopeful that Bangladesh and China, with joint efforts, will be able to develop and maintain practices and policies that will make these dreams come true.

China Deserves Praise for Poverty Eradication

- Nafees Sakhawat

On July 1, 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Grand celebrations were held nationwide. Under its leadership, China has achieved spectacular development and succeeded in eradicating extreme poverty all over the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping formally declared complete victory in alleviating absolute poverty in the country during a conference in Beijing on 25 February 2021. The announcement of this great miracle in the human history of poverty alleviation came four months before the centenary of the founding of the CPC which leads the world's most populous nation. Over the past century, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in the battle against poverty with unwavering faith and will. The CPC leadership made historic achievements in wiping out absolute poverty facing the Chinese nation for thousands of years. No country has been able to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in such a short time. This is one of the greatest world stories of the 21st century.

Moreover, China has already achieved its first centennial development goal- building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and is marching in confident strides toward the second centennial goal of building the nation into a great modern socialist country. And the country meets its poverty alleviation targets under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 10 years ahead of schedule. Eliminating poverty in a country with a population of 1.4 billion may sound too ambitious as a mission of impossible for some western critics. But it is a mission that must be accomplished for China because achieving mutual prosperity is a goal of socialism. The CPC has achieved such commendable achievements without following the western path.

Chinese poverty alleviation is a political economy theory of distribution conducive to both poverty reduction and development. Its core principle is to maintain the goal of national common prosperity and relies on precise means to build a 'pro-poor market' in which the government, market and society jointly work to emancipate the productivity of the poor and make them contributors to growth. The result is a more balanced and fairer development by turning the recipients of targeted poverty alleviation into productive members of society.

The key to effective poverty alleviation lies in identifying the real poor people. The strategy of targeted poverty alleviation is a magic weapon for China to win the battle. China has identified every poor individual in every village and a personal file is created in the national poverty alleviation information system. The Chinese government has established a poverty eradication management network with the central government acting as the coordinator, provincial governments taking overall responsibility, and municipal and county governments overseeing implementation. China has been applying 10 poverty models to alleviate rural poverty since reform and opening-up started in 1978. The models are poverty alleviation through financial aid, micro-finance, industrial development, relief for work, education, science and technology, relocation, village-wise advancement, mobilize the social forces and, systematization of individual's positive factors.

The political will of the ruling CPC has played an important role, which put the fight against poverty and China's rural revitalization high on the agenda of the leadership. From 1978 to 2020, China's GDP rapidly increased from 367.9 billion Yuan ($ 56.67 billion) to 101.6 trillion Yuan ($ 15.7 trillion), upgrading the country from a low income to a middle-income one. The per capita disposable income of the rural poor people increased from RMB 6079 in 2013 to RMB 12,588 in 2020, up by 11.6% per annum on average. By the end of 2020 impoverished areas had gained 1.1 million kilometers of reconstructed highways and 35000 kilometers of new railways, and over 98% of poor villages had access to Optical Fibre Communications (OFC) and 4G mobile network. A total of 10.21 million unprivileged women had received skills training, and 11.2 million children had benefited from nutritional improvement projects for unprivileged areas.

All the 200,000 dropouts from the compulsory education coming from poor families have returned to school. More than 8 million middle and high school graduates from poor families have received vocational training and 5.4 million poor students have received higher education. Moreover, a social welfare system for the poor population of advanced age, incapable seniors and the disabled person had been fully established, benefiting 36.89 million seniors and over 24 million disabled people. The number of e-businesses in all 832 poor counties grew from 1.32 million in 2016 to 3.11 million in 2020. E-commerce has helped 500,000 poor people increase their income, and their per capita income derived from this sector rose from 430 Yuan in 2015 to 930 Yuan in 2020.

Those lifted out of poverty are free from worries over food and clothing and have access to compulsory education, basic medical services and safe housing, as well as clean drinking water. Furthermore, by the end of 2020, China has built more than 300,000 industrial bases, created 12000 local agro products brands, 14,400 leading enterprises above the city level, and 719,000 rural cooperatives operated by farmers with a team of 289,800 technicians and a fund of over RMB 20 billion China has set up 1290 innovative platforms and business start-ups. And over 9.6 million people from inhospitable areas have shaken off poverty through relocation. The government channelled 1.6 trillion Yuan ($251 billion) into this endeavour. What is worth mentioning here that China's corporate sector also invested over 1 trillion Yuan ($157 billion) in poverty-stricken areas. The above figures are a vivid manifestation in explaining the Chinese government's "people-centered" governance. Despite the achievement in poverty alleviation, China remains the biggest developing country globally. It still faces acute problems caused by unbalanced and inadequate development.

Globally, there has been marked progress on reducing poverty over the past decades but the Chinese experience remains unparalleled. Over the past eight years, the final 98.99 million unprivileged rural residents living under the current poverty line have all been lifted out of poverty and in this period, China has invested 1.6 trillion Yuan ($ 246 billion) for combating poverty. All the 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 impoverished villages have been removed from the poverty list. According to the World Bank's report, more than 700 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty over the past 40 years, contributing to over 70% of global poverty reduction. China considers extreme rural poor are those with annual per capita income of less than $620, or about $ 1.69 a day at current exchange rates, which compared closely with the World Bank's minimum standard of $ 1.90 a day.

President Xi Jinping has guided China’s battle against poverty. His important discourses on poverty reduction have laid the ideological and theoretical foundations for Chinese poverty alleviation. It comprises the CPC’s goals and the spirit of the Chinese nation, and reflects patriotism, socialist ideas and Chinese values. In the past nine years, President Xi Jinping has presided over the Central Poverty Alleviation Work Symposium seven times and conducted more than 50 studies on poverty alleviation. He travelled through 14 contiguous poor areas and talked face-to-face with impoverished rural residents about their family lives and incomes. Despite China's remarkable success in the anti-poverty battle, President Xi Jinping also stressed that shaking off poverty is not the finish line, but the starting point of a new life and new endeavour.

Poverty alleviation is a great cause for the prosperity and happiness of the people. Poverty relief work has been led by the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC with its 93 million members. Party chiefs at all levels were required to assume the primary responsibility for achieving the campaigns of these ambitious targets. More than, 3 million well-educated civil servants and bureaucrats were sent from cities and towns to villages to fight against poverty on the front lines. They exchanged hard work sacrifice for the happiness of the people. Over 1800 party members and, officials have lost their lives in the case of poverty alleviation.

It is believed that China's long practice of poverty eradication and, the experience accumulated can be a classic example for developing countries especially for the South Asian countries. Though the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic added a new dimension to the poverty challenges globally, China's 40-year experience with poverty reduction remains relevant for developing countries including Bangladesh. China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all have great development potential. They have much to offer each other and contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. Their foreign ministers agreed at a virtual meeting to create a China-South Asia Poverty Reduction and Development Centre to share best practices. China strongly considers South Asian countries not only its good neighbours but also its trusted friends for years and reiterated its commitment to provide all necessary cooperation for the economic and social development of these countries.

The Writer is Assistant Editor of the Belt and Road Magazine, Bangladesh.

Happy Birthday, Communist Party of China

- Commemorating CPC's Birth Centenary

July 1 2021, The Communist Party of China (CPC), the political ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC), is celebrating its 100th birthday since it was founded in Shanghai in 1921. The CPC has grown from a small Party of some 57 members represented by 13 deputies back in 1921. Currently, the CPC has grown into the world’s largest political party, with more than 90 million members and 4.6 million primary-level party organizations. With long-term armed struggles and the close coordination of various aspects and forms of struggles, the CPC finally achieved a victory in 1949 which under the leadership of the working class and based on the workers-peasants’ alliance, upholds the people’s democratic rule. The victory and success of the CPC and people were due to strong leadership and struggling in difficult conditions. It was from these difficult experiences that China succeeded. In 1945 Mao Zedong became the Chairman of the Chinese Communist. Chairman Mao Zedong was a Communist revolutionary who became the forefather of communist China in 1949. His thoughts influenced the formation of the new People's Republic of China as a state system and social life and still influence the Chinese political life prominently. On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, marking the beginning of a new historical era in China, a period of an absolute rule of the CPC.

The emergence of the CPC was a major event, which profoundly changed the course of Chinese history in modern times, the fate and future of the Chinese people and nation, and the direction and pattern of world development. Over the past 100 years, under the pragmatic leadership of the CPC, China has become the world's biggest market and second-largest economy and the first developing country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on poverty alleviation. The CPC has managed to preserve the unity and harmony of 1.4 billion multi-ethnic people. The Chinese people ardently support the CPC leadership. According to a survey conducted by the American Harvard Kennedy School that spanned over 10 years, Chinese citizens’ satisfaction with and support for the CPC and the Chinese government is as high as 93 percent. Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has taken the happiness of the people and rejuvenation of the nation as its aspiration and led the people to fight for a better life over the decades. Now Chinese people enjoy more freedom of expression and access to information. The legal system inside China has improved, and people feel safer and more secure in China. Many people in the West think that there’s no democracy in China as the country is under the rule of one party, the Communist Party of China (CPC).But the fact is that China’s Socialist democracy has been developed based on its national context after numerous trails, just like the country’s political system. China’s socialist democracy, with the feature of party’s leadership, ensures the consistency of policymaking as well as the sustainability of development goals.

Beginning in 1978, the CPC followed the needs of national development and the will of the people to carry out reform and opening-up policies. Deng Xiaoping emerges as a paramount leader of the PRC, widely recognized as the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up policies, which have lasted more than four decades. As a result, the Chinese economy transformed from a centralized economy to a market-driven economy. China had embarked on the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics that had been established in the Deng era. The basic line, principles, and policies formulated in this period are still employed by the CPC. China should be thankful to Deng Xiaoping for his remarkable role in introducing China to the world.

This year China is preparing for celebrating the centenary of the founding of the CPC and formulates and implements the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). China is expected to declare a moderately prosperous society in all respect in the middle of this year, which means that the country has achieved its first centenary goal on schedule in 2021.In 2049, China will achieve its second centenary goal of building “a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious”. Under the CPC leadership, China has established a socialist market economic system and made outstanding achievements, this signifies a great deepening and exploration of Marxism. In over four decades following the reform and opening-up, China eradicated absolute poverty by lifting more than 850 million people out of poverty. This contributed to 70 percent of poverty relief around the world. In 2020, Chinese GDP exceeded 100 trillion Yuan (15.42 trillion US dollars) and its per capita income rose above 10000 US dollars. China’s total imports and exports soared from 20.6 billion US dollars to more than 4.5 trillion US dollars, making the country the world's top trading nation. China has also proposed several approaches for global governance and development, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank, Forum on China-Africa cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).China is a huge country and the CPC is the backbone of China. It provides the country with a vision and transits this vision into reality. Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese President and also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), when came to the office nine years ago, he made a big promise. Xi said, “We’ll continue to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This grave responsibility is for the well-being of the people”. Xi soon used the “Chinese Dream” to inspire people and provide hope. The ‘Chinese Dream’ now has comprehensive theories and content. And Xi’s thoughts are the basis for China’s overall development in the long term. It is undeniable that China has made gigantic progress in many areas under Xi’s magnificent leadership.

In fighting COVID-19, the CPC values the people's lives and health as paramount. The key to China's success in bringing the pandemic under control is that the CPC and the Chinese government have organized efforts properly and that the Chinese people have a strong sense of discipline. More than 4.6 million of its primary-level organizations served as strongholds against the pandemic. Nearly 39 million CPC members fought against the COVID-19 at the front line. More than 400 CPC members have defended other's lives and safety at the cost of their own. China is a firm believer in making COVID-19 vaccines as a global public product. During the fight against the pandemic, the Socialist system with Chinese characteristics has shown great advantages, and the CPC, as well as the Chinese people have shown a strong sense of mission and pro-activity. China has provided more than 350 million doses of vaccines to the international community, including vaccine aid to more than 80 countries, exporting vaccines to 43 countries and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine research, development and production to date. China has sent medical supplies to more than 150 countries and international organizations, providing more than 280 billion masks, 3.4 billion protective suits and 4 billion testing kits to the world. China also provided 2 billion US dollars in assistance for the COVID-19 response for the developing countries. In the last Global Health Summit held on 21 May, 2021, President Xi Jinping announced to provide additional 3 billion dollars in international aid over the next three years to the developing countries for social and economic recovery and in combating the pandemic.

Last year, when COVID-19 propelled China and Bangladesh have stood in strong solidarity in the fight against COVID-19, in coordination with the international community as a whole. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic and visionary leadership in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and rolling out a nationwide vaccination program is very successful. Bangladesh has already received 1100000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines as gifts from China. The Bangladesh government has also taken an initiative for co-production with the Chinese companies in Bangladesh.

China's achievements in development are attributed to the strong leadership of the CPC, and China's success represents the success of the CPC. China has been actively taking part in international affairs and committed to safeguarding multilateralism. Culturally, China does not have the gene of the hegemony of their blood. Historically, China used to be the most powerful country in the world, but never invaded or plundered other countries. Since the founding of the PRC, China has followed an independent foreign policy of peace, and promoted the establishment of a solid and reasonable international order. China’s more proactive action in setting the agenda for global growth and governance is exemplified by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).The initiative proposed by the Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to promote trade and financial integration, infrastructure inter-connectivity, IT connectivity, health security and bolstering people-to-people exchanges along and beyond the ancient Silk Routes linking Asia with Europe and Africa. By linking countries and regions that account for more than 60 percent of the world population and 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, the BRI is a public road open for all. All interested countries can join to take part in the cooperation and share its benefits. As of the end of January, 2021, a total of 171 countries and international organizations had signed 205 cooperation agreements with China on the joint building of the BRI. Bangladesh is also a proud member of this comprehensive initiative.

Over the decades, China has made miraculous achievements in various fields especially environmental protection, infrastructure development, education, health care, sound macroeconomic management, good governance and the strong delivery of public services, social inclusiveness, aerospace, international humanitarian relief, military power, e-commerce, agricultural demonstration, UN peace-keeping mission, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G high -speed mobile networks, which would not be possible without the splendid leadership of the CPC. At the beginning of the 21st century, China had no high-speed railways. Today, it’s a completely different picture. China has the world’s largest network of high-speed railways. No fewer than 37000 kilometers (about 23500 miles) of lines crisscross the country, linking its major mega-city clusters. The network is expected to double in length again, to 70000 kilometers, by 2035.

According to the 14th five plans (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and Long- Range Objectives through the year 2035, an essential part of China's modernization will be the harmony between Man and Nature. To mitigate the impact of climate change, China has announced that it would strive to peak Carbon Dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve Carbon neutrality by 2060. China's space agency has an extraordinary gift for the ruling Communist Party's 100th birthday: a rover on Mars. The historic landing on May 15, 2021 of Zhurong, a rover named after the god of fire in ancient Chinese folklore, was a crowning moment for China. It not only demonstrated the country's growing capabilities in space but also served as a timely reminder of how far the country has come since its founding.

Recently, Chinese lawmakers voted for an anti-food waste law. The law, designed to help establish a long-term mechanism to preventing food waste is vital to ensure national food security. Approximately, 18 billion kg of food is wasted every year in China's urban catering industry, and over 35 billion kg of grain loss is estimated at the pre-consumption stages. The law will also help promote social awareness and in promoting a healthy, rational, green lifestyle and better consumption behavior of the citizens. Such sort of drive will help Chinese individuals in food security and will be edifying for the entire world.

A series of events will be held to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the CPC, reawakening collective memories and patriotic sentiment among the people. The activities include an ongoing party-wide campaign on CPC history learning and education. Major publications including a book on the CPC's 100-year history will be compiled and released. Commemorative stamps and coins will be issued. It will also focus on grass-roots party activities and promote "Red Tourism". Movie theaters in China are going to screen patriotic films with titles like "The Sacrifice “and "The Red Sun”. Elementary students in some cities are advised to create paintings and calligraphy extolling the "Chinese Dream”. Buses and subways are broadcasting nationalistic messages about revolutionary heroes. Television networks are releasing documentaries and dramas related to the anniversary such as "Mining Town”, a popular series that depicts the Party's poverty alleviation works in Ningxia, a region in Northwest China. Moreover, a grand gathering will be held, during which President Xi Jinping will deliver an important speech. He will also present “July1 Medal and Certificate” to party members for the first time who have made tremendous contributions.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will also hold a series of activities to mark the anniversary, will include theoretical seminars and themed forums, as well as a massive exhibition at the Military Museum on the Chinese People’s Revolution. The Military will also produce and release several movies to mark the centenary. Moreover, Central Military Commission (CMC) will confer awards to distinguished officers and soldiers who are Party members and to outstanding party organizations inside the armed forces. However, there is no arrangement for a military parade.

More than 2000 years ago, Confucius said,"yan bi xin, xing bi guo", which means "One must be true to their word and determined in their work”. The CPC has remained true to the phrase throughout its development process and commitment. Chinese President Xi Jinping said,"The Chinese civilization emphasizes that 'word must be kept, promise must be delivered' and 'with dishonest people, reliability becomes questionable'. Today, faced with unprecedented uncertainties and changes worldwide, the CPC remains committed to fulfilling its mission of serving the people, leading them toward the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and working with other peoples in the rest of the world toward the greater progress of humankind.

- Nafees Sakhawat is Research Associate at the Centre for East Asia Foundation and Editorial Assistant at “The Belt and Road Quarterly”, Bangladesh.

China-Bangladesh 45 Years of Diplomatic Relations

- Deference and Optimism

Although the age of formal diplomatic relations has barely touched 45 years, in reality China and Bangladesh are bound by many centuries of friendship. The traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh by land across the Himalayas and along the silk routes date back to over 2000 years. Trade relations across the oceans developed in the 15th century, when a Squadron of the Chinese fleet of Zheng He, commanded by Hong Bao visited Sonargoan (near Dhaka),the then capital of Bengal Sultanate. In Chinese descriptions, the honesty and efficiency of the people of Bengal are repeatedly recognized. After formal diplomatic relations between the two countries which turned a brand-new page in the history of China-Bangladesh good relations. Over the past 45 years, China-Bangladesh relationship has been developing in a healthy and smooth manner. In the International community, Bangladesh for its part has to have the best of its capacity maintained in unwavering support to "One China Policy" and China's peaceful rise.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, was associated with China during the rising of his colorful political life. He traveled to China in 1952 for an international conference. During the trip, he met Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, the heroes of the Chinese Revolution. New China greatly influenced his mind. This was made clear in a recently read book by Bangabandhu titled 'Amar Dekha Naya Chin'. He also visited China for the second time in 1956. After the independence of Bangladesh, the work of establishing diplomatic relations with China under the leadership of Bangabandhu began after overcoming many adversities. Although Bangabandhu was not alive when the formal diplomatic relations were initiated due to procedural reasons, it is true that it was in his hands that the work of establishing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China began. China appreciates its connection with Bangabandhu. Last year, present Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming and all diplomats from the Chinese Embassy visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. At that time they paid homage to Bangabandhu. The curator of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum said that the Chinese embassy was the first foreign mission of Bangladesh, whose diplomats had visited the historic building together. Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming has said, “China will show highest respect to the greatest Bengali of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his birth Centenary this year that coincides the celebration of the 45th anniversary of Dhaka-Beijing diplomatic ties. The whole Bangladesh is celebrating the year "Mujib Barsha", and the Chinese embassy will also implement initiatives to celebrate this significant event with our Bangladeshi friends to show Chinese People's highest consideration and respect towards this great man.”

As his worthy daughter in the continuity of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proved her worth as a visionary leader by leading the unprecedented development of Bangladesh by overcoming various obstacles in recent years. Under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, Bangladesh is ready to move forward side by side with China as a reliable ally and partner in the days to come. Already, relations between the two countries have reached a unique height. In recent years, China has established itself as a major development partner of Bangladesh. The common people of Bangladesh have embraced it with warmth.

Proposed in 2013 by the Chinese President Xi Jinping 'The Belt and Road Initiative' has become the most popular public goods and platform for international cooperation with the brightest prospects in the world amid protectionism and unilateralism. Bangladesh is a proud member of this magnificent initiative and it can play a significant role for the advancement of this epic project. On October 14, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bangladesh on a historic visit. During that visit, China announced huge investments in various sectors of Bangladesh. The implementation of those investment projects is now in full swing. Among the ongoing projects are the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, Karnafuli Tunnel, Dhaka-Chittagong Highway Four Lane Upgradation, Payra Port Development, Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Railway Project, Power Grid Network Strengthening Project, Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, Dhaka-Sylhet 4 Lane Highway etc. Mutual cooperation is not limited to the government level, but also at the private level. More practically,China-Bangladesh people- to- people and cultural exchanges underwent significant development in 2019 as over 37000 Bangladesh tourists traveled to China and more than 5000 Bangladeshi students are studying in China. It is undeniable that the unprecedented development of Bangladesh's agriculture and garments sector is due to the support of Chinese technology. China is truly a true friend of Bangladesh. A total of 8256 Bangladeshi products are coming under the 97 percent of products that would be exempted from tariff. Bangladesh describes it as success of its economic diplomacy. This treatment is in addition to the Preferential duties that we are already enjoying from China under Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA).

China has established itself as Bangladesh's most trusted ally in the defense sector. With the help of China, Bangladesh is about to become a world-class military power. However, we are hopeful that the field of ongoing cooperation in the defense sector will continue to expand. China's valuable involvement in water resources development and management has created enormous potential for Bangladesh. Recently, there have been reports of China's cooperation in the overall development of the Teesta Basin, which, if implemented, could radically change the socio-economic sectors, including agriculture and industry, in a large area of North Bengal. We hope that similar development projects will be undertaken in cooperation with China on more different rivers like Teesta, such as old Brahmaputra, Madhumati, Gorai, Mahananda, Dharla, Dudhkumar etc. China's participation in the proposed Ganga Barrage is also highly desirable.

Apart from infrastructural development, China is doing commendable work in cultural exchange with Bangladesh. The Confucius Institute, originated from China, has been set up in various institutions of higher learning in the country. To facilitate Chinese language education for Bangladeshis, Chinese language courses have been introduced in various educational institutions including Dhaka University and North South University. Every year a large number of Bangladeshi students are going to study in different universities of China under the scholarship. Cultural groups are coming every year as part of cultural exchange from China. However, these activities should be allowed to spread outside Dhaka city. Organizing carnivals, fairs and exhibitions at the district level can be fruitful in this regard.

China has also established itself as Bangladesh's only all-weather friend by extending a hand of sympathy and support to Bangladesh at a time like the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in the world. But China itself became the first and one of the biggest victims of Covid-19. China's well regulated resistance to the pandemic is an important part of education for the world. China had earlier announced that if the Covid-19 Vaccine was discovered, Bangladesh would be given the first priority in obtaining it. China has kept its word. In Bangladesh, a Chinese company has been allowed to run the third phase trail of the Sinovac Coronavirus Vaccine. Under the pragmatic initiative by the Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has sent medical accessories including masks, gowns, caps and gloves to China. The Prime Minister also wrote a letter to the Chinese President Xi Jinping. In return, Chinese government has sent 10 members of a medical expert team to support Bangladesh's fight against Covid-19 pandemic. The medical experts have provided consultations of pandemic control, patients treatment and laboratory tests, and guide and train Bangladeshi medical professionals. China has also provided Bangladesh with over 3 million surgical and N-95 masks, over 110000 sets of personal protective equipment and large number of test kits, thermometers, ventilators, and sanitizers. Moreover, Beijing backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in a statement said it would lend $100 million to Bangladesh to help the country deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chinese President has outlined the vision of the Chinese dream which is to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation. The steady process of attaining the Chinese dream will not only benefit China, but also the world at large. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, the Chinese dream of national renewal is about the pursuit of happiness by every Chinese citizen, and it has much in common with the dream of the people of Bangladesh, as we are on the way to achieve the goal of becoming a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041.We are hopeful that Bangladesh and China with joint efforts will be able to develop and maintain practices and policies that will make these dreams come true not only for their own people, but also for the Bay of Bengal littorals to attain commensurate levels of happiness and peaceful growth.

Research Associate

Centre for East Asia (Foundation)