Recently, the fifth plenary session of the 19^th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted the 14^th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. China's development concerns the whole world. As Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus, I wish to share my thoughts with Cypriot friends on China's new blueprint to open up new prospects for China-Cyprus cooperation.

What is the governing philosophy of the Chinese Communist Party and how is it implemented?

The Communist Party of China has consistently pursued a "people-centered" philosophy, which says that the purpose of development is to meet people's aspirations for a better life, and strive to translate economic achievements into improved livelihood, making development beneficial to all. For the people and by the people- this is the source of power for China's continuous growth.

China is committed to implementing the "people-centered" philosophy by advancing the overall deployment of the "Five in One" strategy of economic, political, cultural, social and ecological construction, aiming to build a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful. China will achieve the goals of the 13^th Five-Year Plan this year and its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

This year, China is expected to become the only major economy worldwide to achieve positive growth with GDP exceeding US$15 trillion and per capita GDP over US$10,000. Since the end of the 12^th "Five-Year Plan", China's share in the world economy has risen from 14.8% to 17%, and its contribution to global economic growth has increased by 5% to over 30%. In the past five years, China has steadily promoted the modernization of its national governance system and capabilities, by adopting a series of legislations including its first-ever Civic Code, Hong Kong National Security Law, and public health laws and regulations, achieving remarkable results in the rule of law. China's per capita disposable income has increased by 39.9%, and expenditures in people's livelihood has risen from US$1.5 trillion to US$1.9 trillion.

More than 60 million urban jobs have been created. The world's largest social security system has been established, with basic medical insurance covering over 1.3 billion people and basic pension insurance covering nearly 1 billion people. Take this year's anti-COVID-19 efforts for example, all medical expenses of Chinese citizens have been covered by medical insurance and the government expenditure. What is more, 832 national-level poverty-stricken counties have all got rid of poverty, 55.75 million rural poor population in China have come out of absolute poverty (with an annual income of less than US$600) and have guarantee in food, clothing, free compulsory education, basic medical care and accommodation.

What kinds of new concepts, patterns and goals has China proposed in advancing the 14^th Five-Year Plan?

China has entered a new stage of development from building a moderately prosperous society in all respects to building a modern socialist country in an all-round way. At this stage, China will uphold the new development concepts of innovation, coordinated, green, open and shared development, pay more attention to high-quality and sustainable development, and promote a dual-cycle growth pattern relying on both domestic and international economic cycles and with the domestic cycle being the mainstay.

To implement the 14^th Five Year Plan and promote future economic growth, China has proceeded from its national conditions, advantages and domestic demand potential, and proposed a dual-cycle growth pattern relying on both domestic and international economic cycles and with the domestic cycle being the mainstay. Currently, China is the world's largest consumer market. The 3^rd China International Import Expo just concluded in Shanghai recorded a historic intended turnover totaling US$72.62 billion, giving a strong boost to global trade during the pandemic.

Against the backdrop of a weakening momentum for economic globalization, extreme trade protection measures adopted by some countries, and the severe impact on the stability of the global industrial and supply chain by COVID-19, China will tap its own domestic demand potential by adopting measures such as supply-side structural reforms and energy consumption reduction, to improve the quality of its domestic industrial chain, upgrade its supply chain, work for coordinated development of upstream and downstream industries, and build a close link between production, supply and marketing.

At the same time, this cycle system mainly driven by domestic demand is also open and closely linked to the global market. China will make full use of the domestic and international markets and resources in both markets as a whole for mutual promotion and complementarity. This marks a major change in the way China engages in the world economy, which means that China will by mean of boosting its own vitality bring more and greater new opportunities for the long-term recovery, continued prosperity and development of the world economy in the future.

A few days ago, China and ASEAN members, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand signed the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership" (RCEP) agreement, creating a free trade zone covering the world's largest population and economy, vigorously driving economic integration in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific, injecting strong impetus into post-pandemic global economic recovery.

By advancing the new development concepts and patterns, China has defined the six goals for the 14th Five-Year Plan, namely achieving new progress in economic growth, reform and opening up, civility in society, ecological development, people's livelihood and efficiency of national governance. On this basis, China is set to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035 and reach the level of a moderately developed country, including making major breakthroughs in key core technologies, realizing new industrialization, informatization, urbanization and agricultural modernization, achieving the modernization of national governance system and capabilities, building a country, government and society ruled by law, reaching a higher level of comprehensive guarantee for education, culture, health, safety and ecological environment for all, and improving the level of social civility and people's senses of gain, happiness, and security.

What does China's development herald for the world and Cyprus?

In the 14^th Five-Year Plan, China made it clear that it will continue to hold high the banner of peaceful development and win-win cooperation and proactively foster global partnerships. Therefore, China will never engage in hegemony and bullying. China will firmly uphold international fairness and justice, always be a promoter of peace and stability, a contributor to development and prosperity and a defender of multilateralism. China will pioneer a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, so as to build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind with lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, cleanness and beauty. China and Cyprus are good brothers, friends and partners. China-Cyprus relationship has set a successful example of peaceful coexistence, equal-footed treatment and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes.

China and Cyprus have similar national conditions and share common positions in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China unswervingly opposes any unilateral provocations and actions that undermine regional peace, and will continue to play a constructive coordinating role in promoting dialogue in facilitating the resolution of the Cyprus Question, UNFICYP mandate renewal, and implementation of relevant UN resolutions, to uphold fairness and justice, and urge all parties to address Cyprus' concerns to the maximum.

China and Cyprus have common challenges and potential for cooperation in economic recovery, transformation and upgrade. Cyprus' LNG terminal project undertaken by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering has been officially launched. After completion, Cyprus' carbon emission is expected to reduce by 30%. Huawei has been actively working with Cyprus in the country's digital transformation and building of a Smart island, and is committed to providing high-quality, efficient, safe and stable 5G equipment and technologies. Cyprus companies have successively participated in the China International Import Expo to tap the huge Chinese market. Many Chinese companies are positive about the business environment in Cyprus and have shown strong interest in investing and forging partnerships in Cyprus. Looking forward, China and Cyprus have broad prospects for cooperation of mutual benefits and win-win results.

China and Cyprus share common tasks in fighting COVID-19 and protecting the health of their people. During the initial outbreak, China and Cyprus showed each other support. China donated medical supplies worth €250,000 to Cyprus in a timely manner. China remains ready to carry out anti-pandemic cooperation such as experience-sharing and vaccine development in accordance with the needs of our Cypriot friends. Through joint efforts, we will be able to achieve an early victory over COVID-19.

Link to article: https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/11/28/the-blueprint-is-ready-for-a-brighter-future/