By Zhang Xiao, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Kazakhstan
From July 15 to 18, 2024, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held. The session outlined systematic plans and arrangements for China to further deepen reforms comprehensively, which is of great epochal significance. The most important outcome was the review and adoption of the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reforms to Promote Chinese-Style Modernization.”
The decision passed at the plenary session proposed more than 300 important reform initiatives covering all levels of the system and mechanisms, with all the reforms outlined in the “Decision” scheduled to be completed by 2029, marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This sends a powerful signal that reforms and openness will not stop. We have every reason to believe that China’s further deepening of reforms and promotion of Chinese-style modernization will open new opportunities for the development of countries around the world, provide strong momentum for the further development of China-Kazakhstan relations, and serve as an important guide for the development of both countries. I would like to share some thoughts.
First, we must continue to jointly promote high-quality cooperation in building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The “Decision” proposes improving the mechanism for promoting the high-quality implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, creating a multidimensional interconnected network within the framework of the BRI. Kazakhstan, where the initiative was first announced, holds a unique and irreplaceable position in the high-quality construction of the BRI. Cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in building the BRI began early, has a strong foundation, and has achieved fruitful results, setting a model and benchmark for global cooperation. During President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Kazakhstan in July this year, the two leaders exchanged in-depth views on developing strategic cooperation between China and Kazakhstan and further advancing high-quality BRI construction. Reaching a new important consensus on cooperation, both sides outlined new plans and arrangements for the next stage of cooperation and pointed to new directions for development. China and Kazakhstan must faithfully implement the agreements reached by the two heads of state, continue the high-quality joint construction of the BRI, and further promote bilateral cooperation in practical areas such as the economy, trade, industrial capacity, connectivity, and agriculture, constantly achieving new breakthroughs and delivering greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Second, we must further strengthen humanitarian exchanges and foster closer ties between our peoples. The “Decision” emphasizes the need to establish a mechanism for implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, simplify management procedures for international cultural exchanges, and expand cooperation in international humanitarian exchanges. Humanitarian cooperation is a key part of China-Kazakhstan relations and plays an irreplaceable and important role in enriching the content of bilateral ties and strengthening the foundation of public opinion in favor of friendship between the two nations. During President Xi Jinping’s visit in July, both countries achieved fruitful results in humanitarian cooperation. Several cooperation agreements in education, science and technology, culture, media, local cooperation, and other fields were signed, and cultural centers of both countries and a Kazakh branch of Beijing Language and Culture University were successfully opened. China has decided to open a second “Luban Workshop” in Kazakhstan and will host the “Year of Chinese Tourism” in Kazakhstan next year. Both sides will expand cooperation in media, think tanks, film, television, and other fields, encouraging more provinces and cities to establish strong connections to foster positive public opinion. However, today, some countries seek hegemony and dominance, forming exclusive groups and interfering in the internal affairs of other states. In the international community, there are persistent rumors like the “civilization superiority theory” and the “clash of civilizations theory.” In this regard, China and Kazakhstan must strengthen cooperation and work together, actively promoting shared human values and implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, taking a clear stance against ideological confrontation, and advocating for exchanges, dialogue, cooperation, and mutual learning among civilizations.
Third, we must adhere to the path of peaceful development and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The “Decision” highlights that Chinese-style modernization follows the path of peaceful development. China will practice universal human values of peace, development, justice, fairness, democracy, and freedom, sincerely implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, promote fair and orderly multipolarity, inclusive and open economic globalization, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind. China and Kazakhstan are active supporters, participants, and contributors to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, setting a good example of cooperation in promoting global multipolarity and reforming the global governance system. President Xi Jinping’s visit to Kazakhstan in July holds great significance for continuing the traditional friendship between China and Kazakhstan, strengthening good-neighborly relations, and building a China-Kazakhstan community of shared destiny characterized by eternal friendship, high mutual trust, and interconnectedness.
I want to emphasize that peaceful development is the inevitable choice for Chinese-style modernization. Unlike some modern Western countries that embarked on modernization through war, colonization, and plunder, China has enshrined its commitment to peaceful development in the Charter of the Communist Party of China and the Constitution, proposing to foster a new type of international relations characterized by mutual respect, fairness, justice, and mutually beneficial cooperation. China has embarked on a new path that is completely different from the rise of traditional powers. China and Kazakhstan advocate the implementation of the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, striving to achieve global peace, development, and a fair international order. Both sides must continue to closely interact within the framework of the UN, SCO, CICA, and other multilateral platforms, actively supporting each other’s constructive initiatives in international cooperation, and resolutely safeguarding common strategic interests, security, and development.
China’s further deepening of reforms and its efforts to promote Chinese-style modernization will give new impetus to China-Kazakhstan relations.
We hope that both countries will continue to be fellow travelers on the path of reform, good partners on the road to development, and work diligently together to create another “golden thirty years” of China-Kazakhstan relations.
