Walking a Shared Path

Hong Liang

From October 18 to 24， 2017， the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China （CPC） was successfully held in Beijing. It was a meeting of great importance that had profound influence on China and the rest of the world. The theme of the Congress was： remain true to our original aspirations and keep our mission firmly in mind， hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics， secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects， strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and work tirelessly to realize the great Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. The Congress established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era， outlined a roadmap and schedule for developing China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous， strong， democratic， culturally advanced， harmonious and beautiful by the middle of the century and provided a guideline to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The Congress reviewed the historical achievements made in reform and opening-up and socialist modernization since the 18th CPC National Congress. Over the past five years， the Chinese economy has maintained a medium-high rate of growth. With gross domestic product rising from 54 trillion to 80 trillion yuan （US$8 trillion to US$12 trillion）， China has maintained its position as the worlds second largest economy， contributed more than 30 percent of total global economic growth and improved peoples livelihood. We have made major breakthroughs in deepening reform， taken major steps in developing democracy and the rule of law， made notable progress in building an ecological civilization and initiated a new stage in strengthening and revitalizing the armed forces. We have made all-round efforts in the pursuit of major country diplomacy. With this， we have seen a further rise in Chinas international influence， ability to inspire and power to shape events. China has made great new contributions to world peace and development.

As stated in the report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Congress， socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era， which is a new historic juncture in Chinas development. This report shows that the Chinese people， who have overcome numerous challenges in the past century， have stood up， grown rich and become strong and ready to embrace the brilliant prospects of rejuvenation. It means that scientific socialism is full of vitality in 21st century China， that the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics now flies high and is proud for all to see， and that the path， theory， system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics continue to develop， blazing a new trail for other developing countries seeking to achieve modernization. It offers a new option for other countries and nations wanting to accelerate development while preserving their independence， as well as Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach to the issue of solving the problems facing mankind.

In terms of Chinas diplomacy for a new era， the report proposes that we should follow a path of peaceful development and work to build a new form of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. China will uphold its fundamental foreign policy goals of preserving world peace and promoting common development. China remains firm in its commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence， and forging a new form of international relations characterized by mutual respect， fairness， justice and win-win cooperation. The proposal of building a community with a shared future for mankind is based on the basic judgment made by China with regard to the world situation and the theme of the era. We believe that peace and development remain irreversible global trends， but as human beings we also face many common challenges. No one country alone can address the challenges facing mankind； nor can any country afford to retreat into self-isolation. People from all countries should work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind， to build an open， inclusive， clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace， universal security and common prosperity.

The report points out that China remains firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace. We respect the rights of people of all countries to choose their own development path. We endeavor to uphold international fairness and justice， and oppose acts that impose one countrys will on another or interfere in others internal affairs， as well as the practice of the strong bullying the weak. China will never pursue development at the expense of others interests， but nor will China ever give up its legitimate rights and interests. No one should expect us to accept anything that undermines our interests. China pursues a national defense policy that is by nature defensive. Chinas development does not pose a threat to any other country. No matter what stage of development it reaches， China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion. With regard to neighboring countries and other developing countries， China will deepen relations with its neighbors in accordance with the principle of amity， sincerity， mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendship and partnership with its neighbors. Guided by the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests and the principle of sincerity， real results， affinity and good faith， China will work to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries. We will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with political parties and organizations in other countries， and encourage peoples congresses， militaries， local governments and peoples organizations to engage in exchanges with other countries.

The above diplomatic philosophy is of great practical significance in guiding future friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Myanmar. With a common border of over 2，200 kilometers， China and Myanmar have enjoyed long-lasting Pauk-Phaw （“brotherly”） friendship. We are friendly neighbors that share good times and bad and together form a community with a shared future. Currently， Myanmar and its people aspire to achieve national reconciliation and everlasting peace， promote development and improve peoples livelihood， for which China stands ready to offer help. We also hope that Myanmars political parties can unite with one mind and cooperate in good faith to hand in hand build and develop Myanmar. President Xis report highlights cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative as an important component of Chinas economic development and diplomacy； this is an important opportunity for Myanmar to join the cooperation and realize its vision of national development. In May 2017， our two governments signed an MOU on jointly pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative in a ceremony witnessed by leaders of the two countries. Strongly supported by the Myanmar Government， the Myanmar military， civilian political parties and Myanmar people from all walks of life， the Belt and Road Initiative is the current and future main platform for China-Myanmar cooperation. To be specific， pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative in Myanmar will jointly build the road to peace， to development and to welfare of the people.

The Road to Peace. First and foremost， the Belt and the Road Initiative is the road to peace， a common enterprise for both China and Myanmar. The report proposes that “we should commit to settling disputes through dialogue and resolving differences through discussion”. Under this idea， China will play a constructive role in promoting national peace and reconciliation in Myanmar. The Chinese government has appointed a special envoy for Asian affairs who has made efforts to encourage dialogue among relevant parties for peace. The China-Myanmar 2+2 High-level Consultations mechanism led by foreign ministries and defence ministries has been established with the aim of jointly safeguarding and promoting the peace and stability of the China-Myanmar border areas. With the assistance of China， seven ethnic armed organizations from northern Myanmar attended the second Union Peace Conference–21st Century Panglong in May 2017 and the Myanmar Peace Commission delegation recently visited Wa and the Special Region-4 of Shan State. China supports all relevant parties adherence to the “Panglong Spirit” as they conduct friendly negotiations towards reaching a political consensus characterized by national unity and high degree of autonomy under the framework of the Myanmar constitution， all aimed towards achieving at an early date a sustainable peace and lasting stability.

The Road to Development. The 19th CPC National Congress report proposes that “we should stick together through thick and thin， promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation， and make economic globalization more open， inclusive， and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all”. As Myanmars biggest trading partner and foreign investor， China is willing to work with Myanmar in accordance with Myanmars national development plan and actual needs to discuss the construction of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor from Yunnan， China in the north across the China-Myanmar border to Mandalay， Myanmar in the south and then extending east and west respectively to Yangon New City and the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone （SEZ）. China would also like to work with Myanmar to ensure the smooth operation of the China-Myanmar Oil & Gas Pipeline， launch the Kyaukpyu SEZ project at an early date， establish the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone， enhance the connectivity of roads and railways and electricity infrastructure， undertake comprehensive management of the Irrawaddy River and construct Yangon New City. All these cooperative projects will surely inject new energy into the development and prosperity of Myanmar.

Peace and development complement each other. The experience of Chinas development shows that peace is the precondition for development and that development is the way to achieve peace. This notion has been applied by China to help Myanmar address the Rakhine State issue. China has taken a just and objective position on this issue， supporting Myanmar in its endeavor to safeguard the peace and stability of Rakhine State. Not long ago， Chinese Foreign Minister visited Bangladesh and Myanmar respectively， during which he proposed a three-phase solution to address the Rakhine State issue： In the first phase， an on-site ceasefire and end to violence should be called for and social stability should be recreated so that the people can live in peace without being homeless. In the second phase， all parties and the international community should jointly encourage Myanmar and Bangladesh to keep in touch and strengthen communication so as to determine as quickly as possible feasible approaches to this issue through friendly consultation on an equal footing. China appreciates the arrangement on repatriation which has recently been signed by Myanmar and Bangladesh and hopes that this arrangement can be implemented as soon as possible to achieve visible results. In the third phase， priority should be given to strategies addressing the root cause of this issue. China believes that poverty is the root cause of turbulence and conflicts and calls for support and investment in this area to promote development through poverty alleviation and achieve stability through development. China is willing to make contributions towards this end and believes that this three-phase solution will bring ethnic harmony， social stability and economic development to Rakhine State at an early date.

The Road to Welfare of the People. The report by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Congress stresses that China will uphold justice while pursuing shared interests so as to enhance cooperation with other developing countries. China has launched a series of livelihood promotion projects in Myanmar in order to bring greater benefits to the Myanmar people. In 2015， China was the first country to lend a helping hand to Myanmar when the country was hit by its worst floods in 50 years. This assistance proved that though nature can be merciless， there is always love and help among Pauk-Phaw brothers. Last year China provided humanitarian assistance to Myanmar people when the country suffered from the H1N1 epidemic. Over the past two years， China also dispatched Brightness Journey medical teams to Myanmar to undertake free cataract surgeries for 6，000 patients. In addition， China has built nearly 20 China-Myanmar Friendship Schools around the country， and China-Myanmar Friendship Scholarships have been awarded to thousands of Myanmar students. At the same time， each year we provide more than 2，000 training opportunities for Myanmar students studying in China to support the countrys talent-training efforts.

The report also reiterated that the focus of our efforts must be the aspirations of the people to live a better life. Likewise， the aspirations of the peoples of China and Myanmar to lead better lives must always be the focus of cooperation between our two counties. I believe that under the guidance of this common goal， Myanmars road to peace， development and the welfare of the people will be broader and smoother and that China-Myanmar relations will steadily move towards a brighter future.