Ambassador Ji Ping, Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar

In recent days, political leaders and government officials from many countries, as well as friendly foreign personalities, have sent telegrams and letters of warm congratulations to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary General Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the CPC's founding. On July 3, in Antananarivo, Mr. Siteny RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO, President of Madagascar's National Assembly, along with Malagasy government officials, media representatives, think tank members, friendship organizations, and parliamentarians from various political parties, attended a reception organized by our Embassy. During this event, I was frequently asked: how has a century-old party managed to endure more than a century without weakening, and what are the secrets of its success?

It is a fact that over a century ago, China, cradle of a great ancient civilization, had fallen into semi-colonialism and semi-feudalism; the country was sinking into uncertainty and the Chinese nation was suffering all manner of trials. In July 1921, the Communist Party of China was born, profoundly transforming the destiny and future of the Chinese nation and people. More than a century later, the CPC has grown from a small group of about fifty members to become the world's largest party, with 101.286 million members. It has united and led the peoples of all ethnic groups in China through the flames of the new democratic revolution, founded the People's Republic of China in 1949, achieving national independence and people's liberation and establishing the basic socialist system; it opened, in 1978, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, transitioning from a self-sufficient planned economy to an open socialist market economy in all respects; in 2010, it achieved a historic leap, moving China from a poor and technologically backward country to the world's second-largest economy in terms of GDP; in 2020, it fulfilled on schedule the new era's objective in the fight against poverty, eliminating absolute poverty and widespread regional poverty, and achieving the historic transition from mere subsistence to the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society, enabling China to keep pace firmly with the rhythm of its times.

China currently practices a system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation. The CPC and eight democratic parties maintain a relationship of close collaboration, cooperation, and mutual supervision rather than opposition, with the CPC occupying the leading position and that of ruling party—a political consensus forged by the peoples of all ethnic groups in China through their long revolutionary, constructive, and reform practices. If history and the people have chosen the CPC, and if it has been able, throughout its 105 years of struggle, to achieve success after success, this is fundamentally due to the distinctive qualities it has developed after facing and overcoming many trials:

First, unwavering pursuit of truth. The Party is committed to revealing and applying truth through the movement of social contradictions, testing and developing it in practice, and constantly guiding new practices with new theories, to ensure that the Party's and people's cause progresses in the right direction.

Second, deep roots in the people. The Party keeps in mind that "power belongs to the people, the people are power itself," adheres to the principle of building the Party for the public good and exercising power for the people's benefit, implements the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, and stands resolutely alongside the people, sharing their thoughts and actions.

Third, assumption of historical mission. The Party articulates long-term objectives and staged objectives, adapts its central task to changes in society's principal contradictions, and defines and implements correct lines, principles, and policies, thereby ensuring mastery of direction and initiative in the development of the cause.

Fourth, adaptation to the current of development. The Party demonstrates at all times a high historical consciousness and an expanded global vision, grasps national reality and the theme of the era with clarity, actively seizes, adapts to, and anticipates changes, and moves forward with a spirit of innovation.