On 1 October, 2022, the Nation and the Today, two largest-selling newspapers in Seychelles, published an article entitled Strive Together for a Better Future - The signed article of Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mrs. GUO Wei on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the full text is as follows:
The 1st October of 2022 marks the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past 73 years, The Communist Party of China (CPC) has united and led the Chinese people in establishing socialism as our basic system and carrying out socialist construction. We have achieved great success in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, which enabled China to achieve the historic leap from a country with relatively backward productive forces to the world’s second largest economy. We have realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, bringing about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China. China’s national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability.
I. Over the past decade China has achieved remarkable success in economic and social development.
Following the CPC’s 18th National Congress in 2012, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era. Over the past 10 years, we have promoted coordinated progress in the economic, political, cultural, social and eco-environmental fields, achieving historical progress.
1. China has deepened reform across the board, and achieved high-quality development by fostering a new pattern of development. Over the past 10 years, China’s economic, scientific and technological development, and overall national strength have all jumped to a new level. China’s GDP has topped 114 trillion yuan (about $16.94 trillion) in 2021, accounting for over 18 percent of the global total, rising from 11.4 percent in 2012, with per capita GDP reached $12,500. China’s urbanization rate has raised to around 65 percent and its middle-income population has exceeded 400 million. In 2021, total R&D investment in China increased to 2.79 trillion yuan (about $442 billion), from 1.03 trillion yuan in 2012. China ranked 12th in Global Innovation Index 2021, up 22 places from ten years earlier. China has now become the largest trading partner to more than 120 countries with its trade volume topped $6 trillion for the first time in 2021. As the world’s largest industrial country, largest trader in goods, biggest destination for FDI and biggest holder of foreign exchange reserves, China has contributed an average of 30% annually to world economic growth for many years in a row as the powerhouse for global growth.
2. China has advanced law-based governance in all respects and actively developed whole-process people’s democracy. Committed to a people-centered approach, China has been improving democracy and diversifying its forms. All the Chinese people, in accordance with law, engage in democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight and participate in various ways and forms in the management of state, economic and social affairs. Upholding law-based governance in all respects, we have improved the Chinese socialist system of laws, safeguarded social fairness and justice and made historic achievements in promoting human rights in China.
3. China has been striving for common prosperity for all by committing to improving people’s living standards. We have brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty, with nearly 100 million rural residents lifted out of poverty, making tremendous contributions to the global poverty reduction. We have built the world’s largest education system, social security system, and health care system. People’s average life expectancy has risen from 75.4 to 77.9 years old. The average annual wage in China has increased from $1392.3 in 2000 to $12805.9 in 2021. People’s standard of living and quality of life have seen continuous improvement.
4. China has fully promoted the development of ecological civilization by adhering to the notion that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and pursuing green and low-carbon development. China has taken comprehensive measures to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including enhancing pollution prevention and control and ecological conservation, consolidating the gains in our endeavors to keep our skies blue, waters clear, and lands pollution-free, and promoting transition to eco-friendly production and ways of life. Attaching a great importance to addressing climate change, China has made a major push to develop new energy sources and cultivated energy-saving and environmental protection industries to ensure the conservation and efficient use of resources. In 2021, global electric vehicles (EV) sales reached 6.6 million, with China accounting for 53 percent of global sales. We will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
5. China has championed the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and strived to foster a new type of international relations. China has always been working to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and preserve international order. As a staunch supporter of true multilateralism and committed to the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, China has made every effort for peace and development and shoulder the responsibility for solidarity and progress. We are devoted to making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all, upholding the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and keeping the global economy open. We have launched the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative to address various global challenges, and fought against COVID-19 in solidarity with the international community, offering its wisdom and approach to advancing the welfare of mankind.
II. China promotes its economic and social development in all aspects in 2022
The year 2022 is an extraordinary year in the history of China. In February, following a green, inclusive, open and clean approach, China has present to the world a streamlined, safe and splendid Winter Olympic Games. In July, China has ceremoniously celebrated the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. “One country, two systems” has been tested repeatedly in practice, serving the fundamental interests of not only Hong Kong and Macao, but also the whole country and the nation. It has gained wide support from the 1.4 billion-plus Chinese people including the residents of Hong Kong and Macao. It has also been widely praised by the international community.
Facing the protracted and resurging pandemic, we have adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, and taken well-coordinated steps to respond to COVID-19 and pursue economic and social development. We have protected people’s lives and health and ensured overall stable performance in economic and social development to the maximum extent possible. China's GDP has grown 2.5 percent in the first half of 2022. The fundamentals of the Chinese economy namely resilience, enormous potential, vast room for maneuver and long-term sustainability remain unchanged. They will provide great dynamism for the stability and recovery of the world economy and broader market opportunities for all countries. On 16 October, 2022, the CPC will convene its 20th National Congress in Beijing. This Congress will, in response to the expectation of all the Chinese people, set well-conceived goals and tasks for China's development in the next five years and beyond, and it will draw an overarching plan for China's future development.
We have been resolute to realize China's complete reunification. China upholds the basic principles of peaceful reunification and “One Country, Two Systems” in realizing national reunification by peaceful means.Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. On 2 August, in disregard of China's strong opposition and serious representations, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China's Taiwan region, which seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has been compelled to take legitimate countermeasures, which are justified, lawful, necessary and proportionate. The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community which is firmly supported by the international community including Seychelles.
We encourage more exchanges and interactions among different ethnic groups in China. People with all ethnic background has closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate and worked jointly for common prosperity and development of motherland. Xinjiang affairs are China’s internal affairs. On our journey in the new era, we balance development and security imperatives, endeavor to build Xinjiang into a beautiful place that is united, harmonious, and prosperous, with an advanced culture, a happy life for all and sound ecological environment. Xinjiang has taken resolute action to fight terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law, effectively contained the once frequent terrorist activities. Today’s Xinjiang enjoys security, stability and a sustained momentum of development. People’s rights to life, health and development have been well safeguarded.
III. China has worked closely with African countries including Seychelles to promote common development
The COVID-19 pandemic has kept resurfacing, while global security faces uncertainty and global economic recovery is fragile and unsteady.Having reached a new historical starting point, China is willing to work with other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and embrace an even better world.
In November 2021, the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was successfully convened in Dakar, Senegal. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the launch of nine programs for China-Africa cooperation. We have made good progress in implementing the outcomes of the conference. In September this year, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with the rotating Chairperson of the African Union and Senegalese President Macky Sall on the 20th anniversary of the AU’s founding and the establishment of China-AU diplomatic relations. President Xi said, China stands ready to take the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the AU as a new starting point, to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, fully implement the outcomes of the Eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference, firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and continue to increase the representation and say of developing countries in international affairs, making new contributions to the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
China and Seychelles are both peace-loving countries. We have common goal which is making country prosperous and people happier. China and Seychelles have supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns on the basis of mutual respect for national sovereignty. The two countries have maintained close coordination on major international and regional issues to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the interests of developing countries and promote the shared human values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. Seychelles has firmly adhered to the one-China principle with regard to the Taiwan question, and supported China’s peaceful reunification over the years, which China appreciates a lot.
In 2021, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Seychelles which injected new impetus into the development of bilateral relations. China and Seychelles have worked together to combat COVID-19 for economic recovery, consolidating friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In August, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs Xu Jinghu visited Seychelles and met with President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan and Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vivianne Fock Tave. Both sides agreed to make joint efforts to strengthen cooperation in various areas to bring bilateral relations to a new stage.
So far this year, China-Seychelles relations and cooperation have been advancing steadily. The "Nine Programs" project pool has been dynamically adjusted and improved, the economic and technical cooperation between the Chinese and Seychellois side has achieved new progress. The SBC Project has been actively promoted and will be completed and put into use in the near future. In June, President Wavel Ramkalawan and Ambassador Guo Wei visited the project and highly affirmed its quality. The agreement on the Digital Forensic Laboratory Project has been officially signed, and the follow-up work has been carried out in an orderly manner. The low-carbon Demonstration Zone Project has been steadily implemented. The Renovation of Palais de Justice Buildings Exterior Wall Painting Project has been successfully delivered. All these projects bring real benefits to the local economic and social development.
The 9th Seychelles-China Day and Happy Chinese Spring Festival activities have been successfully held by the Chinese Embassy and the Seychelles side despite of the epidemic. The “Celebrating Spring Festival” activity, co-organized by the Chinese Embassy, Confucius Institute at the University of Seychelles, and Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, had created a festival atmosphere in Seychelles. The Embassy held the “Talk with Taikonauts” event which saw the active participation of Seychellois youth, motivating them to work in the aerospace industry and contributing to the Agenda 2063 of African Union. As China has resumed visa services for foreign students, the Embassy is working actively to help Seychellois students go back to China. This year, another 6 Seychellois students got Chinese government Scholarship and the China Alumni Association in Seychelles was successfully launched.
The 18th Chinese medical team is working hard in their respective positions in Seychelles. The Confucius Institute continued to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries with an active participation of Seychellois in the 21st Chinese Bridge - Chinese Proficiency Competition and the online Chinese Song Competition. For many years, the Chinese Embassy has been deeply concerned about the development of women, youth and children in the local community, and actively responded to their demands, lent its support to the cultural activities and people’s well-being development of different districts and organizations, such as the Children’s Day and Beach Management events. Chinese businessmen and enterprises have invested and run their business in Seychelles with a win-win approach, significantly contributing to the development of Seychelles trade and economy.
With bilateral relations having travelled an extraordinary journey of 46 years, the Chinese side is ready to work with the Seychellois side to deepen exchange and cooperation in various areas, and elevate this relationship to new heights.