Five years ago, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the international community reflected on the journey of the Communist Party from different perspectives. Over the subsequent years, the world’s situation has undergone profound changes, and humanity faces even more complex challenges. As we mark the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, it remains of great significance to revisit how the party has responded to these contemporary issues.

One of the key reasons for the success of the Communist Party of China is its ability to draw upon traditional Chinese culture for wisdom and practical experience in governance, and to continuously transform and refine these in the course of modernization. Since the 20th century, China has undergone profound changes and has accumulated extensive experience in reform, opening up, and modernization. It is within this historical context that one can better understand what “Chinese-style modernization” entails.

I have been observing China for over 60 years, always keeping an eye on the development of Chinese culture and politics. Although China and Europe have many differences, they both face a common challenge: how to advance modernization within the context of complex historical traditions, regional disparities, and social diversity. For China, this diversity not only shapes the country’s development landscape but also enables it to address complex governance issues by balancing national overall development with global cooperation, while also exploring locally tailored governance paths based on regional realities.

In this process, traditional Chinese culture has provided rich intellectual resources. The ideas of thinkers such as Confucius, Mencius, Zhu Xi, and Wang Yangming have all offered wisdom that can be drawn upon for modern governance. Even today, these cultural traditions continue to play a role in China’s national governance.

Chinese civilization boasts remarkable continuity. This continuity enables Chinese culture to forge consensus and maintain identity amidst change, continually shaping the Chinese nation as a whole. China’s ability to maintain stability in the face of change and preserve its unique characteristics in an era of openness is inextricably linked to the continuity of Chinese civilization.

In recent years, as its own development level and international influence have continued to rise, China has been playing an increasingly important role in international affairs. In response to the challenges facing the world today, China has proposed ideas on international cooperation, peaceful development, and multilateralism. The “Belt and Road” Initiative has also enabled China to become a significant global player in the fields of economy, trade, and finance. The concept of “harmony amidst diversity” derived from Confucius reflects the wisdom of seeking harmony in the face of differences.

The Communist Party of China possesses both an international perspective and a deep understanding of China’s own history, culture, and current national conditions. It is this spirit of openness, which is rooted in the local context and oriented towards the world, that has laid the foundation for international cooperation and has also helped various parties to harmonize their interests and build consensus through peaceful means. Looking to the future, I wish the Communist Party of China to continue its openness towards the world, continually seeking new possibilities while maintaining its traditions and engaging in open exchanges. (Looking into the New Era)