Chinese communists address the future

by New Worker correspondent

In July 1921, 13 delegates met in Shanghai for a meeting that led to the formation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It now has a membership of 91,914,000 building “Socialism with Chinese characteristics”.
    One of the commemorative events took place last Thursday, when its
International Department hosted an online World Symposium for Marxist Political Parties. This was attended by over 160 representatives, including 70 leaders from 58 parties in 48 countries across the globe, including delegates from the New Communist Party. NCP leader Andy Brooks and other members of the Central Committee joined communists from all around the world taking part in this virtual conference.
    Although it was to commemorate a century of struggle, it was neither a backwards-looking occasion nor a purely celebratory one. The focus was firmly on the future of developing Marxism, on China and its future role in the world. Nor did the hosts omit criticism of the party’s present condition. One pointed out the CPC was busily engaged in rooting out corrupt officials.
    Highlighting the importance of the event was the fact that it was opened by Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, who read a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping himself.
    Amongst the introductory addresses was one from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, which pointed that credit is due to the CPC for saving China from colonialism and for pulling its people out of poverty.
    Three specialist panels followed. The first was on People-centred Philosophy and Poverty Eradication, which was not merely a celebration of China’s success in lifting all its people out of absolute poverty, particularly in the rural areas and western China. This success, said Song Tao, was no reason for complacency and was not the end of the road. He described China as having achieved a level of “moderate prosperity” with a per capita income of $10,000 dollars. This means that much more needs to be done. These achievements were envied by the ruling Congolese Party of Labour, who thanked China for much needed aid and reminded us that across the globe millions still lack safe water supplies.
    The second panel was devoted to New Development Philosophy and High-quality Development, in which a CPC speaker noted that high technology innovation is vital for China to build on recent achievements. Many other poor countries, such as the former socialist countries of eastern Europe, made similar progress to China but never became advanced economies. A speaker from the All India Forward Bloc warned that that high glass towers are not always a positive development if they do not meet the legitimate aspirations of the people.
     Thirdly and finally, the implications of China’s Belt and Road Co-operation (B&R) was discussed. Jiao Yang from China’s National Development and Reform Commission said that the B&R was essential for generating green development and a more positive globalism than exists at present. Alexei Sokol of the Communist Party of Belarus said China has helped many neighbouring countries, a point endorsed by a representative of the ruling Laotian People’s Revolutionary Party.
    The Chinese speakers were at pains to suggest that China’s example should not be taken as a model to be mechanically applied, the CPC’s success was due to not slavishly following the Soviet model but due to the party creatively applying Marxism to local conditions, an example other parties must heed.