admin
Features Correspondent
In July this year, while commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Guo Shaochun made an important observation regarding the longevity of the party, and the nation itself.
“The CPC is brave in self-revolution,” remarked Mr Guo.
“Self-revolution is the most distinctive character and the advantage of CPC. The reason that the Party overcame difficulties and kept its vigor and vitality finds its root in its self-revolution.
“And with that the Party draws experience from history and learns lessons from mistakes and setbacks and constantly strengthens its ability to purify, improve, reform, and excel itself.”
He also said: “Together with the Chinese people, the Party embarks on a new journey towards its second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.”
China’s history was difficult, and it went through incredible setbacks before it attained Independence 72 years ago.
There are so many parallels that can be drawn between China and Africa, and the majority of the developing world.
China underwent painful periods of colonialism that were eventually banished with the ushering of Independence. The long night of colonialism, came with its key lessons that China is using to this day.
The first encounter with colonialism came during the so-called Opium Wars between 1839 and 1842; and 1856-1860, as Britain used incredible power of its military to subjugate Chinese people and force them to take drugs as a bargain in trade.
China had enjoyed favourable trade because of its natural endowments and manufactured products.
The British then forced the Qing dynasty to accept a series of humiliating treaties (1842-44, 1854, 1858, 1860) committing to pay an unusually high amount of compensation over the years, and grant sovereign control over the major ports of China in the coastal region.
According to historians, the sovereign control of the treaty ports included rights for the victorious imperialists to trade freely and even to fix tariffs on their own (1854).
The treaties of 1858 and 1860 opened doors for the western powers to trade, and extend their influence into the interior regions of China.
Another painful episode came in 1937 when Japan took military control of China.
This period ended with the defeat of Japan in World War II, in 1945.
In many ways, Chinese experiences living through and defeating colonialism, have shaped the China of today.
Self-determination has allowed China to craft its unique path as a polity, a people and member of the global family of nations.
China equally identifies with countries in Africa, including Zimbabwe, having undergone colonialism: it takes both empathy and pride that it never colonised any country in Africa.
As part of its foreign policy toolkit, China uses its kindred spirit to identify, empathise and share friendship with other countries.
In turn, China becomes a good brother and model.
Its dynamism embodied in the self-revolution espoused by the Party, is one of the great gifts of Independence.
As Mr Guo has argued, China is energised through self-revolution, born out of experience from history and lessons from mistakes and setbacks, hence its ability to adapt and advance.
The world, especially developing countries, pay close attention.
China has made its success something that goes beyond mysticism but a real lived experience, with real situations and difficulties, as well as the ultimate victories.
Part of this lies in leadership.
The ruling party, CPC, and the Government of China have enjoyed a good turnover of leadership — from Mao, through Deng to the present leader, Xi Jinping.
Many of these leaders have had distinct and impressive standing in their individual rights, and have all perfected the self-revolution continuum.
This is full of promise for the future.
China will continue giving the world, and especially developing nations, remarkable examples that are relatable. With the rest of the world learning from China, its rise as a global super power is a welcome prospect because it is not out of force — like the imperialism and colonialism of yore, which it also suffered — but an attractive and persuasive force.
Online Reporter