by Αlexia Kosina
Member of the Greek JUADN, Journalist, Communication Specialist Analyst of World Politics, bankingnews.gr (webpage) & ONTime (newspaper), Greece
Impressions of China after “Belt and Zone” tour in Chongqing: The triumph of Chinese. “Realpolitik” in development and economy.
No matter how much you read or study, what you see in pictures or in the news, about China, nothing prepares you for what you will see when you experience the country itself. China was a main part of my BA degree and postgraduate studies, that means I’ve studied its politics, economy, culture, evolution through the years, but I had to get to Chongqing, to see how a vision becomes reality. Chongqing is a city and area which destined to implement one of the major projects of the Chinese strategy, the «peaceful rise» to the world and in 20 years, became an example of how theory is interpreted into action, contributing to the opening of the Chinese economy into the global economy.
The model:
Located in the southwestern part of China in the Sichuan Basin at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River, Chongqing , has a unique geography as it is surrounded by green hills and mountains formatting dramatic and intriguing landscapes. The city serves as a gateway to the extraordinary Three Natural Bridges in Wulong. Along with the above natural-made miracle, the man-made miracles, such as the Baiheliang Underwater Museum, the protection and reproduction of the endangered panda, complete the interesting story of the city.
Chongqing was developed as a «special economic zone» and was transformed into a huge commercial center and the most important economic and transportation hub in western China, as a guest can note, after a visit in the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park and the connected transportation hubs. All together, constitute the “Chongqing’s Three Bases and Three Ports” logistic master plan. At the Hub and at the Chongqing Planning Exhibition Gallery one can see in the fifteen minutes of an audiovisual presentation, the evolution of the city, from a small town to a commercial metropolis, exporting and transporting from fruits and vegetables, to microchips and vehicles. In more than 20 years of development covers 39 out of 41 industrial categories in the country, having become the world’s largest producer of laptop computers by annual output. In order to lead all this production abroad, Chongjing turned into an international transportation high speed network, a “4 rings + 22 Radial Roads + 60 Link Roads”, express network and a Yangtze River Trunk Route + 4 National Routes + 6 Regional Routes. The annual throughput capacity of river terminals has surpassed 200 millions tons. The numbers are impressive, as impressive is, its unique, iconic stable monorail train, symbol of the rapid metamorphosis of the city which follows the path of Chinas change after 1978.
The Background
With a vision of a new path to the future, Deng Xiaoping starting from 1978 succeeded to transform and renew chinese society, economy and strategy, following a concept to engrave its own path into the world economy and securing a position as a strong and thriving country. Deng gives a utilitarian interpretation to socialism, as “internal wealth” and carries out a series of reforms, without any changes in the essence of the political system. Through a series of policies, Deng Xiaoping bridged the gap between China and the world while maintaining the strong leadership of the Communist Party. “Deng’s Theory” of the economic development of China succeeds, creating a socialist economy with “Chinese colours”: China creates with new neighbors, old and new partners economic relations mutual beneficial, stressing at the infrastructure development or these countries, so to open new silk roads, to get raw materials for its industry and create new markets for its products. Deng’s silk roads, became… highways under the «Belt and Road Initiative» of Xi Jinping (BRI since 2013), which enables the country to keep experiencing a remarkable economic, strategic growth, standing strong through worldwide crises, (pandemic), remaining the world’s second-largest economy.
China Nowadays
Ιn the first half of 2024, China’s GDP grew by almost 5% and the final plenary announcement, indicates the “unwavering” goal for the second half of the year. This goal emphasizes to empower domestic consumption and create a “new momentum” to boost exports and imports. As stated at the official paper of the plenum of China’s Communist Party, “We must deliberately attach greater importance to further deepen reforms as a whole, 1) to promote Chinese modernization in order to better cope with complex developments both in the country and abroad, 2) adapt to the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and 3) to meet the new expectations of our people». The paper emphasizes also in two points, i) further deepen the reforms as a whole, ii) «remain committed to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Three Representatives Theory and the Scientific Perspective on Development so to fully implement the thought of Xi Jinping on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era», based on long followed policies, adapted to new challenges.
Nowhere in the world, does one find a government focused on drawing up five-year plans for economic development – including agricultural land development, tax reform, environmental protection, national security, the fight against corruption and cultural development, as General Secretary Xi Jinping’s government. His new ideas, views and conclusions on the comprehensive deepening of reforms, and fully and faithfully implement the new development philosophy on all fronts, are explained in details.
When the term “reform” appears at least 53 times in the final announcement of the plenum, it means that the CPC is determined to improve governance and increase efficiency. And all these goals must be achieved. Science and technology will lead again the way, as a continuity of the “Made in China 2025” strategy.
Emphasis is expected to be placed, a) on better integrating the digital economy into the real economy, b) upgrading infrastructure, c) enhancing ‘resilience’ in the industrial supply chain, d) to “correct market failures” and e) to the support and guidance of the “non-state sector” and “all forms of ownership” “on an equal footing”. As far as it concerns GDP per capita, that concerns its people, Beijing’s goal is boosting it, to match the West’s by 2035. If that happens, with or without a US trade war then GDP per capita could be around 30,000 dollars (from 12,300 dollars, last year), sooner. What matters to the Politburo and President Xi is how the country will keep achieving the economic, social, environmental and geopolitical goals set by him for the next five years and its up to the markets to adjust to this.
Strongly connected with the country’s above goals are the future goals of Chongqing which play a central role to the economic scenery of the country as it will support the development “script”: Chongqing plans to build a Modern Manufacturing Clusters System driven by three leading industries: intelligent connections, new energy vehicles, next generation electronics and information manufacturing and advance materials, each targeting a value of over RMB 1 trillion. It is also accelerating the development of four major innovation hubs in smart technology, life sciences, new materials, green and low carbon technologies. Having the advantage of a thriving digital economy, is moving rapidly towards a Key Centre for Advanced Manufacturing in China, a Financial Center in Western China and an international Consumption Centre. Finally, Chongqing targets the expansion of its international cooperation and communication, to build an improved and accessible ecosystem globally attractive.
Long ago, China decided to interact with the world to secure its own steps in the future following its own values. In an unstable world environment China follows a foreign policy, focusing on expanding its influence regionally and globally, insisting in peaceful coexistence, equality, mutual respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference, prioritizing diplomacy, cooperation, mutual understanding and security, in bilateral and multilateral basis. And in this world that is steps away from another war, China holds the lead of a New World Order that is on the rise, having Chongqing as its driving force.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.