Publisher's Notes
President Xi Jinping said, “The world today is more connected than ever before. And China is open wider to the world than ever before. The relationship between China and the world is undergoing historic changes. China needs to learn more about the world, and the world needs to learn more about China.”
China is increasingly approaching the center of the international arena. In a world that is characterized by transformation and uncertainty, one in which the pattern of global powers is rapidly changing, increasing attention is directed to China. People are interested in the path the country has travelled and the direction it is heading to, and more importantly, they want to know what China can do for the world. All these may boil down to a seemingly simple question:How to understand China? This is a question that is too broad to be answered in just a few words.
The history of a large nation is bound to have twists and turns. Some people in other countries are biased against China,largely because of misunderstandings. The purpose of this series is to clarify these misunderstandings.
China in Focus is our response to questions asked by those who are interested in the country. These books offer a glimpse into the history and way of governance of the Communist Party of China, the great success of reform and opening up, the country's anti-corruption efforts, its role in global governance,the Belt and Road Initiative, the targeted poverty alleviation strategy, environmental protection policies and other aspects of the development pathway of the country. Among China-related topics, these are what people in other countries care about most.The information provided by these books can help readers better understand China.
To better understand China, a historical view is needed.The Chinese civilization dates back over 5,000 years and boasts a rich cultural heritage. The wisdom and beliefs of the ancient oriental country have passed down from generation to generation. The thoughts of great Chinese philosophers such as Confucius, Mencius, and Laozi still shine like beacons, guiding generation after generation of Chinese people. The age-old idea of harmonious coexistence is the cornerstone of the concept of “a community of shared future for all mankind”. “Delicious soup is made by combining different ingredients.” This ancient saying explains one of the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative:to celebrate the beauty of unity in diversity. China has been a staunch supporter of this ancient philosophy of governance.Under the leadership of the CPC, China has embarked on a development path with Chinese characteristics.
To better understand China, one also needs to take a developmental view. China is still a developing country.Like other countries, it inevitably faces various obstacles and challenges in its pursuit of growth. Forty years ago, China rolled out the reform and opening-up policy. Today, China has stood up, grown rich, and is becoming strong. It is determined to further pursue the reform to fuel sustained growth. China, which has lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty, has prioritized environmental protection as it pursues sustainable development. Chinese people value the environment and are trying to protect the environment for future generations.
To better understand China, one needs to view the country from a global perspective. China wants to embrace the world. The dreams of the Chinese people are not so different from the dreams of other peoples. China is committed to building a community of shared future. It will unswervingly pursue the path of peaceful development and will stay determined to build world peace, contribute to global prosperity and uphold the international order. As the largest developing country, China will get actively involved in global governance and assume a corresponding role in global development.
To better understand China, one needs to put aside prejudices. Views about China and the CPC vary widely across the world. Some have even perceived China's rise as a threat to their country. China, like any other country, is not perfect.However, under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese people have embarked on a socialist development path with Chinese characteristics and worked hard to build a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful. Moreover, peace-loving Chinese people are more than willing to share the fruits of development with the rest of the world.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Ever since the day of its founding, the world's largest developing country has embarked on an independent journey towards development. China has successfully pulled itself out of widespread poverty and grown into a prosperous country in just 70 years. As the proverb goes, “The facts speak louder than words.” Facts are what this series is all about.
This series is expected to serve as a window into China,allowing more people a glimpse of what is happening in the country.