A Peacefully Developing China
Speech Text of Ambassador Dr Han Zhiqiang at Suva Rotary Club
2009-10-29 13:03
 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. In this special year, I am honored to be invited to Rotary Club of Suva, a very influential organization, to exchange views with all of you present today. My speech today is entitled "A Peacefully Developing China".

A. Achievements and Prospect

 During the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the founding the People's Republic of China, we were overwhelmed by compliments and high praises from world leaders, experts and friends. As Chinese, we must remain sober-minded. However, we are aware that their comments are all based on China's great achievements toward prosperity. 

During the past 60 years, especially the recent 30 years, China's economy sustained fast growth. China's GDP enjoyed an annual increase of 9.8%, 6.8% higher than the world average. China's GDP in 2008 reached US$3.86 trillion, 6.4% of the total of the world and ranking 3rd among all countries. 

China now ranks among the highest of the world in many areas. In industry, among 22 broad categories of International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), China ranks first for 7 and among top three for other 15. China's output of many products rank first in the world, such as steel, coal, fertilizer, cement, cloth and TV set, photocopier, microwave oven, cell phone, digital camera and computer. In agriculture, according to the statistics of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), China ranks at the first place in many produces, such as rice, peanuts, cotton,tea and fruits. During the 60 years, income for urban and rural citizens has annually increased by 5.2% and 7.2% respectively. Chinese people once lacking basic living necessities now enjoy initial prosperity. 

More importantly, when looking ahead, people see great potential and bright future. Firstly, China's further development has the guarantee of science and technology and abundant human resources. China's annual spending on research and development has reached US$70 billion, ranking sixth in the world. China has 4.544 million scientific and technical workers among which 1.614 million are scientists and engineers. Every year, over 6 million students graduate from universities in China, ranking first in the world. Secondly, as a developing country, China is still in the process of industrialization, urbanization and internationalization. China's per capita income is below the world's average. We have much to do to satisfy people's growing material and cultural needs. The central and western area of China remains under-developed. The rural market has huge potential for domestic consumption. Thirdly, it is an unswerving goal for the Chinese government and people to realize modernization. China so far has completed the first two steps of its Three-Step Development Strategy, and is now in the process of the third. Upon the completion of the third step, Chinese people's living standard will have reached the level of medium-developed country. This is the set goal for the Chinese communist party, the Chinese government and the Chinese people. And this is the political guarantee for a more prosperous China following the path of peaceful development. 

B. Key to China's Success

What has contributed to China's success? Everyone wants to find the answer. I googled  "Chinese road for prosperity" at the internet and got 4.69 million items. This shows people's great interest in the question. It took China a long and twisted journey to achieve its success. There's a Chinese saying "Failure is the mother of success". I think we might be able to find the key by studying the history.

China is a country with 5000-year history and ancient civilization. It had enjoyed a long period of prosperity and glory. However, since the mid of the 19th century, China began to slip into backwardness and decline. In 1840, the British imperialists started the Opium War in China. From then, old western powers invaded and plundered China, carved up China's territory. In 1931, Japanese imperialists waged the aggressive war against China, which lasted for 14 years. During the 100 years since the Opium War, the Chinese people were plunged into an abyss of suffering by the feudal dynasty of Qing, separatist regime of warlords, military dictatorship, political corruption and economic downturn. The 100-year modern history is of darkness and pain. Some men of vision tried very hard to pull China out of abyss. They started Westernization Movement and Reform Movements in the year of Wuxu (1898). However, both were focused on reform patching the Qing Dynasty's system and e