Ouyang Yujing, Ambassador of China to Malaysia

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The birth of the CPC in Shanghai resembles a burning torch in the night that brings a ray of light and hope to generations of Chinese people who were ravaged by wars and disasters.

Facing an old China that was war-torn and in shambles, the CPC united the Chinese people to fight a 28-year bloodshed struggle to achieve the nation’s independence and people’s liberation with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which ended the history of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal society of old China. Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly declared to the world that the Chinese people have stood up.

Facing a new China that is poor and with numerous tasks to be completed, the CPC led the Chinese people to commit themselves to establish socialism, laying down the fundamental political preconditions and institutional foundation for the development and progress in contemporary China. In 1978, the CPC took a historical step in reform and opening-up, which enabled China to catch up with the times and become the second largest economy in the world. The Chinese people have realized a tremendous transformation from standing up to growing rich.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has ushered in a new era. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core now leads the Party, the military and the people of all ethnic groups to implement new development philosophy, build new development pattern, and promote high-quality development, which significantly improved the people’s sense of gain, happiness and security and enhanced the comprehensive national strength. The Chinese people have realized a tremendous transformation from growing rich to becoming strong.

For the past hundred years, the CPC has always put the people at the center. The original aspiration and the mission of the CPC is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that pursuing the people’s happiness is a top priority of the country. The history of the CPC’s hundred-year struggle is a history that pursues the people’s happiness. Ahead of the CPC’s centenary, we have achieved a complete victory in the fight against poverty, solving the issue of absolute poverty that has plagued the Chinese people for thousands of years. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPC put the people and their lives first, acting swiftly to control the outbreak and restore economic and social development to ensure the people's health and well-being are protected.

For the past hundred years, the CPC has always adhered to the development path with Chinese characteristics. Whether the shoe fits or not, only the wearer him(her)self knows. With the right development path, China’s economic, technological and comprehensive national strength continues to increase, allowing the people’s living standard to rise with each passing day. In a survey conducted by Harvard University in 2020, Chinese people’s satisfaction with the Chinese government stands at a level of over 90%. The CPC understands that there is no one-size-fits-all development path and model. China does not follow other countries’ model, nor do we export the Chinese model, nor do we ask other countries to replicate China’s methods. But instead, we advocate mutual respect for the development path and model independently chosen by each respective country.

For the past hundred years, the CPC has always maintained an independent foreign policy of peace. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has actively promoted the building of a community with shared future for mankind, advocated jointly building the Belt and Road, and took a proactive part in the reform of global governance. China does not follow the beaten path of a big power in seeking hegemony. In fact, China opposes any form of hegemony. However strong it may grow, China will never seek hegemony and expansion. Instead, China will always remain a builder for world peace, a contributor to global development, and an upholder of international order.

China and Malaysia are good neighbors with a millennial friendship, where the CPC and political parties from Malaysia have maintained close interactions. In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the CPC’s founding, many political parties from Malaysia have extended their best wishes via letters. Both sides will continue to carry out even more, even deeper exchanges and cooperation, share governance experience, and benefit the peoples of the two countries.

The CPC bears its eternal great cause in mind, and the centenary only ushers in the prime of life. Standing at a new historical starting point, the CPC will lead the Chinese people on a new journey to comprehensively build a modern socialist country, making new contributions to the better life of the Chinese people, peaceful development of the world, and the progress of mankind.