By Fernando Castro
Communication and Technology Coordinator of Unión de Trabajadores de Prensa Buenos Aires -/DATA.U, Argentina
(Translated to English by Catalina Camaño Amato, member of Buenos Aires Press Workers’ Union)
Approaching Chinese culture for the first time means leaving behind many categories we usually use to interpret reality in the West. What may seem contradictory at first glance—a blend of millennia-old history with cutting-edge technology, or a socialist system with a market economy—reveals itself as a different logic, one that unfolds coherently within its own cultural, political, and philosophical coordinates.
These first impressions invite not only awe but also reflection. For those of us trying to understand the place China occupies in the world today, it’s not enough to observe its surface: we must revisit our categories and open ourselves to a more complex reading. From that point, the following analysis unfolds.
All cultures we do not live in first person tend to fall into stereotypes. This happens both when the West comments on the East and vice versa. Melting pots always exist, and within them reside both criticism and appreciation. In China’s case, as observers, we are compelled to examine our preconceptions. Moreover, we find that China’s multilateral relations with the world are fluid and open. There are many spaces for dialogue that bring people closer together not only in cultural terms but also in productive, commercial, and technological aspects.
At the same time, the culture of this Asian country displays a logic of its own, supported by a millennia-old history and an unprecedented technological projection. The contradiction between the socialist model and the capitalist economic system is often pointed out, with China being an amalgam referred to as “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Here, we find a socialist organization combined with a market economy, but with strong state planning. This long-term planning, which considers both current affairs and the decades to come, is what truly sets it apart.
This process, which began more than 40 years ago, has allowed China to now compete for the top positions in the global economy. Beyond the current repercussions of shifting tariffs imposed by the U.S., we can see that the world’s largest companies find stability in deploying their factories and products in the Chinese market. That trust is built by offering stable conditions. Its leadership and political planning through the Party-State model provide certainty on its path. Staying the course without abrupt changes results in a series of data, statistics, achievements, and advancements that deserve analysis.
According to official figures, China had lifted more than 800 million people out of extreme poverty. Over a 40-year period, China contributed to over 70 percent of poverty reduction worldwide. These changes are understood to be the result of effort, not of a welfare state that flattens people’s ambitions by offering handouts. This is reflected in the fact that by 2020, China had achieved 97% adult literacy and a minimum of nine years of education for 95% of its population. This whole process has led to an increase in life expectancy—from 35 years in 1949 to 79 today.
Educational content planning allows the country to ensure that its universities and research centers produce the professionals needed to meet the challenges of this millennium.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and communication networks are the spearhead of technology. For those of us who believe in technological development that serves humanity, AI in particular presents itself as a critical battleground. Defining the moral boundaries for its use should occur within a coordinated global discussion, much like what happened with nuclear technology. Its potential to change the fate of our societies in both the short and long term is comparable—or even greater.
China is also a key player in the discussion around sustainable development: it is currently the world’s leading producer of solar panels and electric vehicles, among other technologies.
On the international stage, China promotes a policy of cooperation. Its diplomacy is based on respect for the sovereignty of nations, multilateralism, and collaboration over confrontation, embracing an anti-war stance. The Belt and Road Journalists Network, which already brings together over 100 journalist organizations, is a concrete example: trade, infrastructure, bilateral and multilateral agreements.
In contrast to the dominant Western discourse, which still claims the right to define what democracy is and how it should be used, the Chinese experience poses a challenge. “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” combines factors such as state planning, a high degree of industrial and technological development, social inclusion, and cultural sovereignty. This model is the result of decades of strategic development, and that’s why China today strongly contends for power positions that influence key global decisions China is not only redefining its own destiny but also the global board on which we all play. In a world in transition, it doesn’t seem to be adapting to change— it’s driving it.
*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.