中国式现代化问与答（二）——中国式现代化与中外关系

中国式现代化与中外关系

1. 为什么说中国式现代化是世界发展的重大机遇？ 

实践表明，中国的发展是世界的机遇。中国式现代化道路越走越宽广，将更好发展自身、造福世界。

一个人口规模巨大的现代化，必将为世界经济发展提供更强大引擎。中国拥有近14亿人口、4亿多中等收入群体，这是中国经济发展的重要基础，也是世界经济发展的重大契机。世界银行2022年的报告显示，2013-2022年间中国对世界经济增长的平均贡献率高达38.6%，超过G7国家贡献率的总和，是推动世界经济增长的第一动力。

一个全体人民共同富裕的现代化，必将为各国共同发展开辟更广阔空间。例如，共建“一带一路”倡议和全球发展倡议是中国给国际社会提供的公共产品，也是实现共同发展、共同富裕的开放平台。2013-2022年，中国与“一带一路”沿线国家货物贸易额从1.04万亿美元提升至2.07万亿美元，年均增长率为8%，为促进各国共同发展提供了广阔空间。

一个物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，必将为人类社会进步开创更美好的前景。现代化的本质是人的现代化，现代化的最终目标是实现人自由而全面的发展，这意味着不仅要在物质上富足，更要在精神上富有。习近平主席提出全球文明倡议，倡导重视文明传承和创新，倡导尊重世界文明多样性，坚持文明平等、互鉴、对话、包容。中国式现代化所蕴藏的文明观将为世界和平繁荣和人类发展进步贡献更多中国智慧。

一个人与自然和谐共生的现代化，必将为建设清洁美丽世界提供更加切实可行的方案。近年来，气候变化、生物多样性丧失、荒漠化加剧、极端气候事件频发，给人类生存和发展带来严峻挑战。中国坚持可持续发展，坚持节约优先、保护优先、自然恢复为主的方针，像保护眼睛一样保护自然和生态环境，特别是中国向世界作出2030年碳达峰、2060年碳中和的庄严承诺，从碳达峰到碳中和只要30年，将比美国、欧盟少用十几年到40多年。

一个走和平发展道路的现代化，必将为世界和平稳定带来更多确定性。迄今，中国是全球唯一将“坚持走和平发展道路”载入宪法的国家，是派遣维和人员最多的安理会常任理事国，是有核国家中唯一承诺不首先使用核武器的国家。中国已加入20多项多边军控条约，并推动五大常任理事国达成防止核战争的联合声明。习近平主席提出的全球安全倡议为世界和平稳定作出了巨大贡献。

2. 在中国式现代化演进过程中，是否曾借鉴西方现代化发展经验？

实现现代化是近代以来中国人民矢志奋斗的梦想。中国共产党100多年来团结带领中国人民追求民族复兴的历史，也是一部不断探索现代化道路的历史。经过数代人不懈努力，我们走出了中国式现代化道路。中国式现代化既基于自身国情、又借鉴各国经验。

新中国成立之初，以苏联为代表的一些国家对中国进行了大量的经济技术援助。从1950年开始，中国同苏联签订了多批协议书，到1957年末，苏联援建中国的项目达到166项。还有德意志民主共和国、捷克斯洛伐克、波兰等国也为新中国建设提供了援助项目。中国共产党提出了建设现代农业、现代工业、现代国防和现代科学技术的社会主义强国的目标，领导人民开展全面的大规模的社会主义建设。经过几个五年计划的实施，中国建立起独立的比较完整的工业体系和国民经济体系，农业生产条件显著改变，教育、科学、文化、卫生、体育事业取得很大发展。

1978年改革开放后，中国共产党把对外开放确立为基本国策，从兴办深圳等经济特区、开发开放浦东、推动沿海沿边沿江沿线和内陆中心城市对外开放再到加入世界贸易组织，从“引进来”到“走出去”，充分利用国际国内两个市场、两种资源，目的就是借鉴吸收各国现代化的有益经验。经过持续推进改革开放，我国实现了从高度集中的计划经济体制到充满活力的社会主义市场经济体制、从封闭半封闭到全方位开放的历史性转变。

党的十八大以来，中国更加注重借鉴吸收各国现代化的有益经验，积极主动推进高水平开放、制度型开放，加快构建开放型经济新体制，在“一带一路”建设、自主开放、自贸区战略实施、外贸竞争新优势培育等方面取得了重大进展。

现代化不是少数国家的“专利品”，也不是非此即彼的“单选题”，不能搞简单的千篇一律、“复制粘贴”。一个国家走向现代化，既要遵循现代化一般规律，更要立足本国国情，具有本国特色。什么样的现代化最适合自己，本国人民最有发言权。尽管借鉴了各国现代化经验，但中国式现代化是我们党领导全国各族人民在长期探索和实践中历经千辛万苦、付出巨大代价取得的重大成果，我们必须倍加珍惜、始终坚持、不断拓展和深化。

3. 有人认为中国式现代化是基于美国领导的国际秩序和西方国家的现代化，正是因为西方国家的投资和中国窃取西方国家技术让中国走向了现代化。如何理解？

西方发达国家是一个“串联式”的线性发展过程，按照工业化、城镇化、农业现代化、信息化顺序发展，发展到目前水平用了二百多年时间。我们要后来居上，把“失去的二百年”找回来，决定了我国发展必然是一个“并联式”的过程，工业化、信息化、城镇化、农业现代化是叠加发展的。不能因为我们用几十年时间走完了发达国家几百年走过的工业化历程，就误认为中国式现代化完全得益于西方国家的投资，也不能得出中国“窃取”西方国家技术的结论。

从投资关系看，中国与世界各国互惠互利。中国从世界各国获得投资，中国的投资也遍布世界各国。从规模上看，2013-2021年，中国对外直接投资流量累计超过1.3万亿美元，年均增长6.5%，稳居世界前三。截至2021年末，对外直接投资存量2.8万亿美元，占当期全球存量的6.7%，比2012年提高4.4个百分点，排名上升到第3位。从布局上看，对外直接投资遍及全球190个国家（地区），设立境外企业约4.6万家，其中在“一带一路”沿线国家设立企业超过1.1万家。2013-2021年，中国对“一带一路”沿线国家累计直接投资1640亿美元，“一带一路”沿线国家已成为我国企业对外投资的重要目的地。境外经贸合作区高质量发展，成为贸易投资融合发展的重要载体，给当地创造了税收、带动了就业，支持和帮助广大发展中国家加快发展，给当地百姓带来了实实在在的获得感。

从技术关系看，不应违背契约精神指责中国进行强制技术转让。中国与美国等发达国家在合作过程中的技术转移，源自发达国家企业出于利益最大化考虑而进行的主动技术转让及产业转移。产品生命周期理论表明，任何一种产品都会因新技术的应用而经历一个由盛到衰的生命周期。跨国公司在努力开发新技术的同时，需要不断向发展中国家转让已落后或是已标准化的技术，以延长依靠旧技术获取利润的时间，并为新技术研发应用腾出空间和要素资源，也间接分担研发成本，因此，技术转让和许可是常用的商业合作模式。20世纪90年代以来，微软、英特尔、高通、宝洁、通用电气、朗讯等美国公司相继在中国设立研发机构，目的是更好适应和开发中国市场。多年来，美国在华企业通过技术转让与许可获得了巨额利益回报，是技术合作的最大受益者。在中外企业合作中，中国政府没有强制要求外商投资企业转让技术，中外企业技术合作和其他经贸领域的合作完全是基于自愿原则实施的契约行为，双方都从中获得了实际利益。除此之外，中国在某些领域的股权合作符合中国的国际义务、各国惯例和实践，不能被混淆为“强制技术转让”。而且，近几年中国对外商投资的股权限制不断放开，外国企业自由选择权不断扩大。在此过程中，中外企业股权合作仍然不断深化，完全是双方基于商业考虑的自由选择。

关于中国“偷盗”先进技术的指责是对中国科技进步的污蔑。中华民族是勤劳智慧、善于创造的民族，中国政府高度重视科学技术和教育发展，中国的科技进步是中国长期实施科教兴国战略和创新驱动发展战略的结果，是全体人民特别是科技工作者辛勤劳动的成果。2000年以来，中国全社会研发经费投入以年均近20%的速度增长。全社会研发经费从2012年的1万亿增加到2022年的3.09万亿，研发投入强度从1.91%提升到2.55%；基础研究投入从2012年的499亿元提高到2022年约1951亿元，占全社会研发经费比重由4.8%提升至6.3%。研发人员总量从2012年的325万人年提高到2022年预计超过600万人年，多年保持世界首位。引用排名前千分之一的世界热点论文占全球总量的41.7%，高被引论文占27.3%。世界知识产权组织发布的“全球创新指数2022”排名中，中国由2016年的第22名升至第11名。美国前财政部长、著名经济学家拉里·萨默斯说：“你问我中国的技术进步来自哪里，它来自于那些从政府对基础科学巨额投资中受益的优秀企业家，来自于推崇卓越、注重科学和技术的教育制度。它们的领导地位就是这样产生的，而不是通过在一些美国公司持股产生的。”

4. 一些西方国家利用“全球南方”概念，分化发展中国家阵营。如何理解实现中国式现代化和中华民族伟大复兴与全球南方发展问题的关系？

作为发展中国家、“全球南方”的一员，我们始终同其他发展中国家同呼吸、共命运，坚定维护发展中国家共同利益，推动增加新兴市场国家和发展中国家在全球事务中的代表性和发言权。

新兴市场国家和发展中国家大多是从殖民主义的历史泥淖中走出来的。我们历经千辛万苦，付出巨大牺牲，获得了民族独立，不断探索符合自身国情的发展道路。我们所做的一切，说到底就是要让人民过上幸福生活。当今时代，以金砖国家为代表的新兴市场国家和发展中国家群体性崛起，正从根本上改变世界版图。新兴市场国家和发展中国家过去20年对世界经济增长的贡献率高达80%，过去40年国内生产总值的全球占比从24%增至40%以上。

2013年习近平主席提出“一带一路”倡议，十年来中国与沿线国家共建“一带一路”取得丰硕成果。世界银行报告显示，共建“一带一路”使参与方贸易增加4.1%，外资增加5%，使低收入国家GDP增加3.4%。受益于“一带一路”建设，2012-2021年，新兴市场国家与发展中国家GDP占全球份额提高3.6个百分点。据世界银行测算，到2030年，共建“一带一路”每年将为全球产生1.6万亿美元收益，占全球GDP的1.3%。2015-2030年，760万人将因此摆脱绝对贫困，3200万人将摆脱中度贫困。

中国将始终是世界发展的重要机遇。作为一个超大规模经济体，中国将坚定推进高水平开放，扩大市场准入，缩减外资准入负面清单，提升现代服务业开放水平。我们将持续优化营商环境，落实外资企业国民待遇，打造市场化、法治化、国际化的一流营商环境，构建面向全球的高标准自由贸易区网络。我们将继续推 进生态文明建设，加快建设美丽中国，积极稳妥推进碳达峰碳中和，促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型。展望未来，随着中国14亿多人口整体迈进现代化，中国必将对世界经济作出更大贡献，为各国发展提供更大空间。

5. 有人认为中国式现代化的出现和推广，就是要否定西方现代化的原则和标准，建构一套自己的现代化的标准和体系。如何理解中国式现代化是对西方现代化的超越？“超越”是否意味着中国式现代化优于西方现代化？

世界上既不存在定于一尊的现代化模式，也不存在放之四海而皆准的现代化标准。中国式现代化是对西方现代化的超越，这种超越突出表现在中国式现代化的中国特色上。

西方现代化的最大弊端，就是以资本为中心而不是以人民为中心，追求资本利益最大化而不是服务绝大多数人的利益，导致贫富差距大、两极分化严重。一些发展中国家在现代化过程中曾接近发达国家的门槛，却掉进了“中等收入陷阱”，长期陷于停滞状态，甚至严重倒退，一个重要原因就是没有解决好两极分化、阶层固化等问题。中国式现代化是全体人民共同富裕的现代化，这是中国式现代化的本质特征，也是其区别于西方现代化的显著标志。

西方早期的现代化，一边是财富积累，一边是信仰缺失、物欲横流。今天，西方国家日渐陷入困境，一个重要原因就是无法遏制资本贪婪的本性，无法解决物质主义膨胀、精神贫乏等痼疾。中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，既要物质财富极大丰富，也要精神财富丰盈充实、在思想文化上自信自强，这是中国式现代化的崇高追求。

近代以来，西方国家的现代化大都经历了对自然资源肆意掠夺和生态环境恶性破坏的阶段，在创造巨大物质财富的同时，往往造成环境污染、资源枯竭等严重问题。我国人均能源资源禀赋严重不足，加快发展面临更多的能源、资源和环境约束，这决定了我国不可能走西方现代化的老路。中国式现代化是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，尊重自然、顺应自然、保护自然，促进人与自然和谐共生，这是中国式现代化的鲜明特点。

西方国家的现代化，充满战争、贩奴、殖民、掠夺等血腥罪恶，给广大发展中国家带来深重苦难。中华民族经历了西方列强侵略、凌辱的悲惨历史，深知和平的宝贵，决不可能重复西方国家的老路。中国式现代化是走和平发展道路的现代化，坚持和平发展，在坚定维护世界和平与发展的同时谋求自身发展，又以自身发展更好地维护世界和平与发展，推动构建人类命运共同体，这是中国式现代化的突出特征。

6. 中国式现代化创造了人类文明新形态，展现了不同于西方现代化模式的新图景。和西方文明形态相比，人类文明新形态不同在哪里，新在何处？

中国式现代化，深深植根于中华优秀传统文化，体现科学社会主义的先进本质，借鉴吸收一切人类优秀文明成果，代表人类文明进步的发展方向，展现了不同于西方现代化模式的新图景，是一种全新的人类文明形态。

人类文明新形态体现在领导力量的先进性。中国式现代化是中国共产党领导的现代化，之所以要强调党在中国式现代化建设中的领导地位，是因为党的领导直接决定中国式现代化的根本方向、前途命运和最终成败。与一些资本主义国家政党纷争、党派偏私，政策前后不一、朝令夕改截然不同，我们党始终坚守初心使命，坚持把远大理想和阶段性目标统一起来，一旦确立目标，就咬定青山不放松、一张蓝图绘到底。党的先进性决定了创造中国式现代化新道路、创造人类文明新形态的必然性。

人类文明新形态还体现在中国式现代化打破了“现代化=西方化”的迷思，消解了以西方文明定义现代化的思维定势，为人类文明谱系贡献了新样态，为人类文明发展提供了新方案。西方很多人习惯于把中国看作西方现代化理论视野中的近现代民族国家，没有从五千多年文明史的角度来看中国，这样就难以真正理解中国的过去、现在、未来。中国式现代化蕴含的独特世界观、价值观、历史观、文明观、民主观、生态观等及其伟大实践，是对世界现代化理论和实践的重大创新。天下为公、民为邦本、天人合一、自强不息、厚德载物……这些内嵌于中华五千年文明、流淌在中国人血脉之中的文化基因，奠定了中国式现代化、人类文明新形态的精神之基。

人类文明新形态更体现在借鉴吸收一切人类优秀文明成果。中国式现代化彰显了中华文明的强大包容性，展现了中国共产党作为世界最大的马克思主义执政党的格局与担当。中国共产党愿同各国政党交流互鉴现代化建设经验，共同丰富走向现代化的路径，更好地为本国人民和世界各国人民谋幸福。当前，人类文明行至错综复杂的岔路口，是奉行“丛林法则”“零和博弈”，还是坚持开放合作、互利共赢，成为世界各国必须面对的选择题。中国式现代化秉持平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，必将以文明交流超越文明隔阂，以文明互鉴超越文明冲突，以文明共存超越文明优越，为人类文明发展注入蓬勃生机。

中国式现代化与借鉴意义

7. 有国外舆论称，包括日本、韩国、新加坡和中国大陆、台湾地区在内的几乎所有成功的亚洲经济体，都采用了同样的“现代化范式”来实现繁荣，所谓中国式现代化并非是中国模式。请问对此有何评价？

人类社会发展进程曲折起伏，各国探索现代化道路的历程充满艰辛。实现现代化是世界各国人民的共同追求，但每个国家的历史传承、文化传统、基本国情不同。世界上既有欧美西方的现代化模式，也有日本、韩国、新加坡、中国台湾地区的“现代化范式”，同时还有中国式现代化道路。中国式现代化既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色。因此，不能以不同国家现代化道路存在一定的共同特征，来抹杀中国特色。

第一，中国式代化是人口规模巨大的现代化。我国14亿人口要整体迈入现代化社会，其规模超过现有发达国家的总和，将彻底改写现代化的世界版图，在人类历史上是一件有深远影响的大事。第二，我国现代化是全体人民共同富裕的现代化。共同富裕是中国特色社会主义的本质要求，中国式现代化坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，自觉主动解决地区差距、城乡差距、收入分配差距，促进社会公平正义，逐步实现全体人民共同富裕，坚决防止两极分化。第三，中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化。中国式现代化坚持社会主义核心价值观，加强理想信念教育，弘扬中华优秀传统文化，增强人民精神力量，促进物的全面丰富和人的全面发展。第四，我国现代化是人与自然和谐共生的现代化。中国式现代化注重同步推进物质文明建设和生态文明建设，走生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展道路，否则资源环境的压力将不可承受。第五，我国现代化是走和平发展道路的现代化。一些老牌资本主义国家走的是暴力掠夺殖民地的道路，是以其他国家落后为代价的现代化。中国式现代化强调同世界各国互利共赢，推动构建人类命运共同体，努力为人类和平与发展作出贡献。

8. 中国式现代化的本质要求之一是坚持中国共产党领导。这是否意味着其他国家在借鉴中国式现代化时，也必须采取一党执政的政党制度？

中国式现代化之所以取得成功，在于它符合中国实际、反映中国人民意愿、适应时代发展要求，是我们党扎根中国大地、独立自主探索出来的现代化道路。中国式现代化既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色。坚持中国共产党领导，是中国式现代化最鲜明的特征和最突出的优势，是推进中国式现代化必须坚持的最高原则。中国共产党的领导决定中国式现代化的根本性质，确保中国式现代化锚定奋斗目标行稳致远，激发建设中国式现代化的强劲动力，凝聚建设中国式现代化的磅礴力量。只有毫不动摇坚持党的领导，中国式现代化才能前景光明、繁荣兴盛；否则就会偏离航向、丧失灵魂，甚至犯颠覆性错误。

一个国家走的道路行不行，关键要看是否符合本国国情，是否顺应时代发展潮流，能否带来经济发展、民生改善、社会稳定，能否得到人民支持和拥护，能否为人类进步事业作出贡献。实现现代化是世界各国人民的共同追求，但每个国家的历史传承、文化传统、基本国情不同，一个国家走向现代化，既要遵循现代化一般规律，更要立足本国国情，具有本国特色。其他国家在借鉴中国式现代化的经验时，并非也必须采取一党执政的政党制度。相反，什么样的现代化最适合自己，本国人民才有发言权和决定权。发展中国家有权利也有能力基于自身国情自主探索各具特色的现代化之路。要坚持把国家发展进步的命运牢牢掌握在自己手中，尊重和支持各国人民对发展道路的自主选择，共同绘就百花齐放的人类社会现代化新图景。

9. 有外媒称，中国改革开放40余年，经济改革的模式只影响到越南等社会主义国家。在成为世界第二大经济体后，也没有非社会主义国家效仿中国政治体制及经济制度取得现代化的成功。因此，对于其他国家来说中国模式不可借鉴。请问对此有何回应？

中国式现代化的借鉴意义不在于照搬政治体制或经济制度。一个国家走向现代化，既要遵循现代化一般规律，更要立足本国国情，具有本国特色。中国式现代化之所以取得成功，就是因为它符合中国实际、反映中国人民意愿、适应时代发展要求，是中国共产党扎根中国大地、独立自主探索出来的现代化道路。在中国式现代化道路上，我们创造了人类文明新形态，拓展了发展中国家走向现代化的新途径，给世界上那些既希望加快发展又希望保持自身独立性的国家和民族提供了全新选择。

中国式现代化的发展模式深刻影响着广大发展中国家，尤其是全面脱贫、经济绿色转型等一系列经验，切中一些非社会主义国家的需求。例如，埃塞俄比亚在体制上与中国不同，但在经济发展模式上学习借鉴中国国有企业制、对外开放制、经济特区制等经济制度。从1991年起，埃塞俄比亚就开始以基础设施建设和制造业为突破口，进行对外开放、吸引外资，成为非洲经济增速最快的国家之一。肯尼亚借鉴中国经济发展模式和治理模式，走上工业化、现代化发展之路，建设经济特区、工业园区、出口加工区等吸引外资。2015年9月，肯尼亚通过了国家历史上第一部经济特区法案，推动经济特区成立，加快肯尼亚工业化进程。

历史表明，一百年来，中国共产党既为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴，也为人类谋进步、为世界谋大同，以自强不息的奋斗深刻改变了世界发展的趋势和格局。中国式现代化强调同世界各国互利共赢，推动构建人类命运共同体，努力为人类和平与发展作出贡献。中国共产党为解决人类重大问题，建设持久和平、普遍安全、共同繁荣、开放包容、清洁美丽的世界贡献了中国智慧、中国方案、中国力量，成为推动人类发展进步的重要力量。党的十八大以来，中国以前所未有的广度、深度、力度参与全球治理，贡献中国智慧，提供中国方案，展现中国担当，为充满不确定性的世界注入正能量，为人类实现现代化提供了新的选择。

Chinese Modernization and China’s Foreign Relations

1. Question: Why is Chinese modernization considered a significant opportunity for the global development? 

Answer: It has been shown that China’s development is an opportunity for the world. As the path of Chinese modernization broadens, it will see better development of China and bring more benefits to the world.

The modernization of a huge population will undoubtedly provide a stronger engine for global economic development. China has more than 1.4 billion people and over 400 million middle-income group members. This is a crucial foundation for China’s economic development and a significant opportunity for global economic development. The World Bank’s 2022 report shows that from 2013 to 2022, China’s average contribution to global economic growth was as high as 38.6%, surpassing the combined contribution of G7 countries, making China the primary driver of global economic growth.

A modernization of common prosperity for all will undoubtedly open up broader horizons for the common development of all countries. For example, the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative are public goods provided by China to the international community, and they are open platforms for achieving common development and common prosperity. From 2013 to 2022, the volume of trade in goods between China and countries along the Belt and Road increased from USD 1.04 trillion to USD 2.07 trillion, with an average annual growth rate of 8%, providing vast space for promoting common development among countries.

A modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement will undoubtedly create a brighter future for the progress of human society. The essence of modernization is the modernization of people, and the ultimate goal of modernization is to achieve the free and comprehensive development of individuals. This means not only material abundance but also cultural-spiritural richness. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, which advocates for emphasizing civilizational inheritance and innovation, respecting the diversity of world civilizations, and adhering to civilizational equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness. The perspective on civilization embodied in Chinese modernization will offer more Chinese wisdom to world peace, prosperity, and the progress of human development.

A modernization of harmony between humanity and nature will undoubtedly provide more practical and feasible solutions to building a clean and beautiful world. In recent years, climate change, biodiversity loss, exacerbated desertification, and frequent extreme weather events have posed severe challenges to human survival and development. China adheres to sustainable development, prioritizing conservation, protection, and natural restoration. It protects nature and the ecological environment as one would protect his eyes. Notably, China has made a solemn commitment to the world to achieve carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. The transition from carbon peak to carbon neutrality will take only 30 years, which is several decades shorter than the process in the United States and the European Union.

A modernization of peaceful development will undoubtedly bring more certainty to world peace and stability. To date, China is the only country in the world to enshrine “adherence to the path of peaceful development” in its constitution, the permanent member of the UN Security Council that has dispatched the most peacekeepers, and the only nuclear-armed state to commit to a no-first-use policy. China has joined more than 20 multilateral arms control treaties and has promoted a joint statement among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to prevent nuclear war. The Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping has made a significant contribution to world peace and stability.

2. Question: In the process of the evolution of Chinese modernization, has there been any reference to the development experience of Western modernization?

Answer: Achieving modernization has been the dream that the Chinese people have pursued since modern times. The history of the Communist Party of China uniting and leading the Chinese people in pursuit of national rejuvenation for over 100 years is also a history of continuous exploration of the path to modernization. Through the relentless efforts of several generations, we have forged a path of Chinese modernization. Chinese modernization is based on our own national conditions and also draws on the experiences of other countries.

Soon after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, countries such as the Soviet Union provided substantial economic and technical assistance to China. Starting in 1950, China signed multiple agreements with the Soviet Union, and by the end of 1957, the Soviet Union had assisted China in 166 projects. The German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and other countries also provided aid projects for the construction of the People’s Republic of China. The Communist Party of China proposed the goal of building a strong socialist country with modern agriculture, modern industry, modern national defense, and modern science and technology, leading the people in comprehensive and large-scale socialist construction. After the implementation of several five-year plans, China established an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system. The conditions for agricultural production significantly changed, and there was huge progress in education, science, culture, health, and sports.

With the reform and opening-up initiated in 1978, the Communist Party of China established opening-up to the outside world as a fundamental national policy. From setting up special economic zones like Shenzhen, developing and opening up Pudong, promoting the opening up of coastal, border, river, and inland central cities, to joining the World Trade Organization, from “bringing in” to “going out”, China has fully utilized both international and domestic markets and resources. The purpose is to learn from and absorb the beneficial experiences of modernization from various countries. By continuously advancing reform and opening-up, China has achieved a historic transformation from a highly centralized planned economy to a vibrant socialist market economy, and from a closed or semi-closed state to comprehensive openness.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has placed greater emphasis on learning and absorbing beneficial experiences from the modernization of various other countries. It has proactively promoted high-level and institutional opening-up, accelerated the establishment of a new open economic system. It has made significant progress in the Belt and Road Initiative, the independent opening-up, the implementation of the free trade zone strategy, and the cultivation of new competitive advantages in foreign trade.

Modernization is not the exclusive property of a few countries, nor is it a single choice of either A or B. It cannot be a simple, uniform, “copy-paste” approach. For a country to achieve modernization, it must not only follow the general laws of modernization but also base itself on its own national conditions and have its own characteristics. The people of the country have the most say in determining what kind of modernization is most suitable for them. Although we have drawn on the modernization experiences of various other countries, Chinese modernization is a significant achievement obtained through arduous efforts and great sacrifices over the long years of exploration and practice with our Party leading the people of all ethnic groups in the country. We must cherish it, adhere to it, and continuously expand and deepen it.

3. Question: Some allege that Chinese modernization is based on the international order led by the United States as well as the modernization of Western countries. They argue that it is the investment from Western countries and China’s theft of Western technology that have led China to modernization. To what extent do we agree or disagree?

Answer: The modernization process of Western developed countries is a serial linear development process, following the sequence of industrialization, urbanization, agricultural modernization, and informatization. It has taken more than two hundred years for them to reach the current level of development. The fact that China must catch up with the West and recover the “lost two hundred years” determines that our development will inevitably be a parallel process, with industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization developing concurrently. It is mistaken to conclude that Chinese modernization is entirely attributable to the investment from Western countries, or that China “stole” technology from Western countries, just because China completed within a few decades the industrialization process on which developed countries spent hundreds of years.

From the perspective of investment relations, we can see that China and other countries around the world benefit mutually from each other. While China receives investments from other countries around the world, it has also made investments across the globe. In terms of scale, from 2013 to 2021, China’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) exceeded USD 1.3 trillion in total, with an average annual growth rate of 6.5%, consistently ranking among the top three in the world. As of the end of 2021, the stock of China’s outward FDI was USD 2.8 trillion, accounting for 6.7% of the global stock at that time and increasing by 4.4 % from 2012, rising to the 3rd position. In terms of distribution, China’s outward FDI covers 190 countries (regions) worldwide, with approximately 46,000 overseas enterprises established, including over 11,000 enterprises in countries along the Belt and Road. From 2013 to 2021, China’s cumulative FDI amounted to USD 164 billion in countries along the Belt and Road, which have become important destinations for Chinese enterprises’ outbound investment. The high-quality development of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones has become an important carrier for the integrated development of trade and investment. It has created tax revenues and driven employment locally, helping many developing countries accelerate their development, and bringing tangible benefits to the local people.

From the perspective of technological relationships, we can see that it is inappropriate to accuse China of forced technology transfer in violation of contractual spirit. The technology transfer between China and the United States or other developed countries during their cooperation stems from the voluntary technology transfer and industrial relocation by enterprises from developed countries driven by profit maximization considerations. The product life cycle theory indicates that any product will experience a life cycle from prosperity to decline due to the application of new technologies. While multinational companies strive to develop new technologies, they need to continuously transfer outdated or standardized technologies to developing countries to extend the profitability period of old technologies, free up space and resources for new technology development and application, and indirectly share R&D costs. Therefore, technology transfer and licensing are common models for business cooperation. Since the 1990s, American companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Qualcomm, Procter & Gamble, General Electric, and Lucent have successively established R&D institutions in China to better adapt to and expand the Chinese market. For many years, American enterprises in China have gained huge profits through technology transfer and licensing, making them the biggest beneficiaries of technological cooperation. In the cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises, the Chinese government does not mandate foreign-invested enterprises to transfer technology. The technological cooperation and other economic and trade collaborations between Chinese and foreign enterprises are entirely contractual actions based on voluntary principles, from which both parties have gained tangible benefits. Moreover, equity cooperation in certain sectors in China aligns with China’s international obligations, as well as international norms and practices, and thus should not be confused with “forced technology transfer”. Additionally, over recent years, China has continuously relaxed equity restrictions on foreign investment, thereby expanding the freedom of choice for foreign enterprises. In this process, equity cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises has continued to deepen, which is entirely based on the free choice of both parties driven by commercial considerations.

The accusations of China “stealing” advanced technology are slanders against its scientific and technological progress. The Chinese nation is a diligent, wise, and creative one. The Chinese government places great emphasis on the development of science, technology, and education. China’s scientific and technological progress is the result of the long-term implementation of the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education and the innovation-driven development strategy. It is the fruit of the hard work of all the people, especially scientists and technicians. Since 2000, China’s total R&D expenditure has grown at an average annual rate of nearly 20%. Total R&D expenditure increased from 1 trillion yuan in 2012 to 3.09 trillion yuan in 2022, and the R&D investment intensity rose from 1.91% to 2.55% during this period. The investment in basic research increased from 49.9 billion yuan in 2012 to about 195.1 billion yuan in 2022, with its proportion of total R&D expenditure rising from 4.8% to 6.3%. The total number of R&D personnel increased from 3.25 million man-years in 2012 to an estimated over 6 million man-years in 2022, maintaining the world’s top position for many years. China’s proportion of the world’s top 0.1% most cited papers accounted for 41.7%, and that of the highly cited papers accounted for 27.3%. In the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index 2022 ranking, China rose from the 22nd place in 2016 to the 11th place. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and renowned economist Larry Summers said: “You ask me where China’s technological progress is coming from. It’s coming from terrific entrepreneurs who are getting the benefit from huge government investment in basic science. It’s coming from an educational system that’s privileging excellence, concentrating on science and technology. That’s where their leadership is coming from, not from taking a stake in some US company.”

4. Question: Some Western countries use the concept of the Global South to divide the camp of developing countries. How should we understand the relationship between achieving Chinese modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the one hand, and the development of the Global South on the other?

Answer: As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China has always shared the same breath and destiny with other developing countries, firmly safeguarding their common interests, and promoting the increase of representation and voice of emerging market countries and developing countries in global affairs.

Most emerging or developing countries have emerged from the historical quagmire of colonialism. They have gone through untold hardships and made great sacrifices to achieve national independence, and have continuously explored a development path that suits their own national conditions. Ultimately, everything they do is to enable their people to live a happy life. In today’s era, the collective rise of emerging market and developing countries, represented by the BRICS, is fundamentally changing the world map. Over the past 20 years, emerging market and developing countries have contributed up to 80% of the world’s economic growth. Over the past 40 years, their share of the global GDP has increased from 24% to over 40%.

In 2013, President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, China and countries along the Belt and Road have achieved fruitful results in jointly building the Belt and Road. The World Bank report shows that the joint construction of the Belt and Road has increased trade among participants by 4.1%, foreign investment by 5%, and the GDP of low-income countries by 3.4%. Benefiting from the construction of the Belt and Road, emerging markets and developing countries saw their GDP share of the global total increasing by 3.6 percentage points from 2012 to 2021. According to World Bank estimates, by 2030, the joint construction of the Belt and Road will generate USD 1.6 trillion in annual benefits globally, accounting for 1.3% of the global GDP. From 2015 to 2030, 7.6 million people will be lifted out of absolute poverty, and 32 million people out of moderate poverty as a result.

China will always be an important opportunity for global development. As a super-scale economy, China will firmly promote high-level opening-up, expand market access, reduce the negative list for foreign investment, and enhance the level of openness in the modern service industry. It will continue to optimize the business environment, and implement national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises. It will create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, and build a high-standard free trade zone network that is globally orientated. It will continue to advance ecological development, and accelerate the building of Beautiful China. It will actively and steadily promote carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and promote a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. Looking ahead, as its population of over 1.4 billion people collectively advances towards modernization, China is bound to make a greater contribution to the world economy and provide more opportunities for the development of other countries.

5. Question: Some believe that the emergence and promotion of Chinese modernization is intended to negate the principles and standards of Western modernization and to construct its own set of standards and systems for modernization. How should we understand that Chinese modernization transcends Western modernization? Does “transcend” mean that Chinese modernization is superior to Western modernization?

Answer: There is neither a single model of modernization that is universally applicable nor a set of standards that can suit all countries in the world. While Chinese modernization transcends Western modernization, this transcendence is prominently reflected in the unique characteristics of Chinese modernization.

The biggest drawback of Western modernization is that it centers on capital rather than people, pursuing the maximization of capital interests rather than serving the interests of the vast majority. This has led to a large wealth gap and severe polarization. Some developing countries, during their modernization process, have come close to the threshold of developed countries but have then fallen into the middle-income trap, remaining stagnant for a long time or even regressing severely. One important reason is the failure to address issues such as polarization and class solidification. Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all. This is the essential characteristic of Chinese modernization and a notable mark of its significant distinction from Western modernization.

In the early modernization of the West, there was both wealth accumulation and a loss of faith replaced by rampant materialism. Today, Western countries are increasingly in trouble, one important reason being the inability to curb the greedy nature of capital and to solve the chronic issues of inflated materialism and cultural impoverishment. Chinese modernization is a modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. It aims for both great material wealth and abundant cultural-ethical advancement, with confidence and strength in ideology and culture. This is the noble pursuit of Chinese modernization.

Since modern times, the modernization of Western countries have mostly undergone a stage of wanton exploitation of natural resources and massive damage to the environment. While creating tremendous material wealth, this has also caused environmental pollution, resource depletion, and other serious problems. On the part of China, our per capita energy and resource endowment is far from sufficient, and we face greater energy, resource and environmental constraints as we accelerate our development. This makes it impossible for us to follow the old path of the Western modernization. Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. Respecting, adapting to, and protecting nature and preserving harmony between humanity and nature constitute a distinctive feature of Chinese modernization.

The modernization of Western countries was fraught with wars, slave trade, colonization, and plundering, bringing immense suffering to many developing countries. The Chinese nation has experienced the tragic history of invasion and humiliation by Western powers, and thus deeply understands the value of peace. It will never repeat the old path of Western countries. Chinese modernization is a modernization of peaceful development. Adhering to peaceful development, China explores its own development while firmly safeguarding world peace and development, better maintains world peace and development through its own development, and promotes the building of a global community with a shared future for mankind. This is a prominent feature of Chinese modernization.

6. Question: Chinese modernization has created a new model of human advancement, showcasing a new landscape different from the Western modernization model. How is the new model of human advancement different from the Western civilization? And what is new about it?

Answer: Chinese modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, and embodies the advanced essence of scientific socialism. Drawing on all outstanding achievements of human civilization, it represents the development direction of progress of human civilization. It is a completely new form of human advancement, showcasing a new landscape different from the Western modernization model.

The new model of human advancement is reflected in the advanced nature of the leading force. Chinese modernization is led by the Communist Party of China. The reason for emphasizing the Party’s leadership position in Chinese modernization is that the Party’s leadership directly determines the fundamental direction, future destiny, and ultimate success of Chinese modernization. In stark contrast to the infighting, partisan bias, inconsistent policies, and frequent policy reversals seen in some capitalist countries, the CPC has always adhered to its original mission, consistently aligning long-term ideals with short-term goals. Once a goal is set, we remain steadfast and committed to its realization, following a single blueprint to the end. The Party’s advanced nature determines the inevitability of creating a new path of Chinese modernization and a model form of human advancement.

The new model of human advancement is also reflected in how Chinese modernization breaks the misconception that modernization equals Westernization, dispels the mindset of defining modernization solely by Western civilization, and offers a new model to the spectrum of human civilization, providing a new solution to its development. Many people in the West are accustomed to viewing China as a modern nation-state through the lens of Western modernization theory, rather than approaching China from the perspective of its more than five thousand years of civilization. This makes it difficult to truly understand China’s past, present, and future. The unique perspectives on the world, values, history, civilization, democracy, and ecology encapsulated in Chinese modernization, as well as their exceptional implementation, demonstrate a significant innovation in the theory and practice of global modernization. The ideas such as “the world is for the public”, “the people are the foundation of the state”, “the unity of heaven and man”, “self-improvement”, and “great virtue accommodates all things” are cultural genes embedded in the Chinese civilization that has a history of over five thousand years. These are rooted in the DNA of the Chinese people. Such ideas have laid the foundation of inner motivation for Chinese modernization and a new model of human advancement.

The new model of human advancement is more reflected in drawing on all the outstanding achievements of human civilization. Chinese modernization highlights the strong inclusiveness of the Chinese civilization and demonstrates the vision and responsibility of the Communist Party of China as the world’s largest Marxist ruling party. The Communist Party of China is willing to conduct exchanges with political parties in various other countries and learn from their modernization experiences, thereby jointly enriching the paths to modernization and better seeking happiness for the people of their own countries and around the world. At present, human civilization is at a complex crossroad, facing the choice between adhering to the law of the jungle and zero-sum game on the one hand, and insisting on open cooperation and mutual benefit on the other. It has become a choice that all countries in the world must make. Chinese modernization upholds the concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations. It will surely transcend civilizational alienation through exchanges, overcome civilizational conflicts through mutual learning, and transcend civilizational superiority through coexistence, injecting vigorous vitality into the development of human civilization.

Chinese Modernization and Its Significance

7. Question: Some foreign media claim that almost all successful Asian economies, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China’s mainland and Taiwan region, have adopted the same modernization paradigm to achieve prosperity. They argue that Chinese modernization is not a unique Chinese model. What is your comment on this?

Answer: The development process of human society is full of twists and turns, and the journey of various countries and regions exploring modernization is fraught with hardships. Achieving modernization is a common pursuit of people in all countries, but each country has its different historical heritage, cultural traditions, and basic national conditions. In the world, there are not only the modernization models of Western Europe and the United States, but also the modernization paradigms of Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China’s Taiwan, as well as the path of Chinese modernization. Chinese modernization has both the elements common to the modernization processes in all countries or regions. But it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. Therefore, the existence of certain common characteristics in the modernization paths of different countries or regions cannot be used to obliterate the unique Chinese characteristics.

First, Chinese modernization is one of a huge population. The population of 1.4 billion people surpasses the combined population of existing developed countries. China’s transition to a modern society, therefore, is fundamentally reshaping the global landscape of modernization. This is a significant event with far-reaching implications in human history. Second, Chinese modernization is one of common prosperity for all. Common prosperity is the essential requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Chinese modernization adheres to a people-centered development philosophy, proactively addressing regional disparities, urban-rural gaps, and income distribution differences to promote social equity and justice. It aims to gradually achieve common prosperity for all and resolutely prevent polarization. Third, Chinese modernization is one of material and cultural-ethical advancement. Chinese modernization adheres to core socialist values, strengthens education on ideals and beliefs, and promotes fine traditional Chinese culture. It enhances the cultural-ethical strength of the people, and promotes the comprehensive enrichment of materials and the well-rounded development of people. Fourth, Chinese modernization is one of harmony between humanity and nature. Chinese modernization emphasizes the simultaneous progress in both material and ecological advancement, following a path of development that ensures economic growth, affluent living, and a good ecological environment. Otherwise, the pressure on resources and the environment would be unbearable. Fifth, Chinese modernization is the one of peaceful development. Some old capitalist countries followed the path of violent plunder and colonization, achieving modernization at the expense of other countries' backwardness. Chinese modernization emphasizes mutual benefit and win-win cooperation with countries around the world, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and striving to contribute to global peace and development.

8. Question: One of the essential requirements of Chinese modernization is to uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Does this mean that other countries must adopt a one-party ruling system when learning from Chinese modernization?

Answer: The success of Chinese modernization lies in its alignment with China’s realities, reflecting the will of the Chinese people, and meeting the demands of the times. It is a modernization path independently explored by the CPC, rooted in the Chinese context. Chinese modernization has the elements common to the modernization processes in all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. Adhering to the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most distinctive feature and the greatest advantage of Chinese modernization. It is the highest principle that must be upheld to advance Chinese modernization. The leadership of the Communist Party of China determines the fundamental nature of Chinese modernization, and ensures that Chinese modernization remains anchored to its goals and progresses steadily. It stimulates strong momentum for building Chinese modernization, and unites the powerful forces for its construction. Only by unwaveringly adhering to the Party’s leadership can Chinese modernization have a bright and prosperous future. Otherwise, it will deviate from its course, lose its essence, and even lead to subversive mistakes.

Whether the path a country takes is viable depends on whether it aligns with its national conditions and follows the trend of the times. It also depends on whether it brings economic development, improves people’s livelihood, ensures social stability, gains the support and endorsement of the people, and contributes to the progress of humanity. Achieving modernization is a common pursuit of people in all countries, but each country’s historical heritage, cultural traditions, and basic national conditions are different. A country’s path to modernization must not only follow the general rules of modernization but also be based on its own national conditions and have its own characteristics. Other countries, when drawing on the experience of Chinese modernization, do not necessarily have to adopt a one-party ruling system. On the contrary, the people of a country have the right to determine what kind of modernization is most suitable for them. Developing countries have the right and the ability to independently explore modernization paths with their own characteristics based on their national conditions. We must firmly grasp the destiny of national development and progress in our own hands, respect and support the independent choice of development paths by the people of all countries, and jointly create a kaleidoscopic picture of modernization in human society.

9. Question: Some foreign media claim that China’s reform and opening-up over the past forty years or more have only influenced socialist countries like Vietnam in terms of economic reform models. Since China became the world’s second-largest economy, no non-socialist country has achieved success in modernization by emulating China’s political system and economic system. Therefore, other countries cannot learn from the Chinese model. What is your response to this?

Answer: The significance of Chinese modernization for other countries does not lie in their copying the political system or the economic model. For a country to achieve modernization, it must follow the general rules of modernization while also basing itself on its own national conditions and having its own unique characteristics. The reason why Chinese modernization has been successful is that it aligns with China’s realities, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the demands of the times. It is a path of modernization that the Communist Party of China has explored independently, rooted in Chinese soil. On the path of Chinese modernization, we have created a new form of human advancement, expanded the pathways for developing countries to achieve modernization, and provided a new option for nations around the world that wish to accelerate development while maintaining their independence.

The development model of Chinese modernization profoundly influences many developing countries. In particular, a series of experiences in China, such as comprehensive poverty alleviation and green economic transformation, address the needs of some non-socialist countries. For example, Ethiopia, despite having a different system from China, has learned from China’s economic systems and practices, such as state-owned enterprises, opening up to the outside world, and special economic zones in the economic development model. Since 1991, Ethiopia has begun to use infrastructure construction and manufacturing as breakthroughs for opening up to the outside world and attracting foreign investment, and has become one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. Kenya has drawn on China’s economic development model and governance model, embarking on the path of industrialization and modernization. It has established special economic zones, industrial parks, and export processing zones to attract foreign investment. In September 2015, Kenya passed the first economic zone bill in its national history, promoting the establishment of economic zones and accelerating its industrialization process.

History has shown that over the past century, the Communist Party of China has been seeking not only happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation but also progress for humanity and harmony for the world. Through unremitting efforts, it has profoundly changed the trend and pattern of world development. Chinese modernization emphasizes mutual benefit and win-win cooperation with countries around the world, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and striving to contribute to global peace and development. The Communist Party of China has contributed Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions, and Chinese strength to solving major problems of humanity and to building an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. It has thereby become an important force in promoting the development and progress of humanity. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has participated in global governance with unprecedented breadth, depth, and intensity. It has contributed to Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions, and demonstrated Chinese responsibility, injecting positive energy into a world full of uncertainties, and offering new choices for humanity to achieve modernization.