Ahead of its National Congress scheduled for October, the party engaged with the political parties of Sri Lanka
The National Congress serves to select office bearers for the next five-year term
In contrast, he said that the CPC was pursuing a consultative democracy in his country
Globalisation is a concept that dates back to ancient history. It started with the cross-border trade and engagement during that period. The concept thrived on the added dimensions in the modern current era with the United States of America being at the fulcrum of it.
Today, globalisation faces changes due to nationalism and protection even in western countries that embraced and advocated it. Against this backdrop, China, under its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is trying to provide new impetus to it. The Communist Party of China (CPC), that has ruled the country for decades, is now opening out to the world with more and more engagements with the Governments and political parties of all hues in the rest of the world.
Ahead of its National Congress scheduled for October, the party engaged with the political parties of Sri Lanka. The representatives of Sri Lanka’s Communist Party, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and others were invited to Beijing early this month to brief them about the future course of the party.
Alongside, it engaged with the media from the countries that have teamed up with the BRI initiative.
One party system
China’s rule is based on a one party system. It has evoked criticism from those advocating multi-party democracy, though. However, the CPC, in an interactive session with journalists from the Asian region, countered this argument in perspective shedding new new light on consultative democracy and meritocracy as the way for the forward march of the society.
SHI Guohui, the Deputy Director - General of the party’s Bureau of Foreign Affairs Coordination said in a meeting with media personnel from a dozen of Asian countries that there were different interest groups in multi- party democracies . He said any group obtaining 51 percent or more votes at an election, was entitled to rule the country.
The idea, he tried to drive home, was that the other interest groups, are left out of the system, given such a situation. In contrast, he said that the CPC was pursuing a consultative democracy in his country.
One can’t say that his argument doesn’t hold water. Divergent opinions, during certain instances, dampen hopes of development. Decision making is hampered in some multi-party democracies as the opposition parties are oppositional for the sake of being in the opposition. In developing countries, it’s difficult to find common consensus even regarding key matters. This is because the political parties with different interests pull in different directions. Regarding such situations, China has offered a classic example. Under its one party rule, based on consultative democracy, it has sustained robust economic growth for the past 30 years. Its middle class is expanding by the day. China attributes its success story to the current form of administration.
Asian media
The interaction took place to brief the Asian media about the ideals of the CPC ahead of its National Congress to be conducted in October. The National Congress serves to select office bearers for the next five-year term.
Asked about his message to the left leaning political parties in Sri Lanka, he said he was not familiar with the conditions in Sri Lanka, but noted the need for such political entities, both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the developing world ,should reach common ground to achieve development and well-being of people.
Forty years after the introduction of economic reforms in China, the CPC makes increased engagements with the stakeholders of other countries to readjust itself to improve connectivity
He said the division between the left wing and right wing parties in the world was based on past experiences, hence they took at different directions when performing their separate roles.
“Left wing and right wing parties have to find common ground,” he said.
He said the CPC was different from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
“Some parties dislike the words Communist Party. The name itself doen’t represent the whole picture. The CPC, right from the beginning, has had its vision and direction,” he said.
Communist ideology
It points to the fact that the CPC believes in communist ideology in principle. According to this official, communist ideology is still a valid concept for the achievement of goals such as equality and social well-being. However, the CPC has modified it with Chinese characteristics . It is socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The CPC’s rigorous engagement with the rest of the world is understandable in the current context. For its next level of development, China has to enhance its connectivity with the world. As the largest exporter of the world, it has to find markets for its products. Likewise, it needs materials from the world for its manufacturing industry. International trading has to be developed further for it to reach the next income category. Therefore, the CPC, as the ruler, is bound to forge ties with the other Governments.
Forty years after the introduction of economic reforms in China, the CPC makes increased engagements with the stakeholders of other countries to readjust itself to improve connectivity. In addition to its relations with the Governments in the world, it is maintaining party to party relations.
The communist ideology or socialism didn’t make headway in most of the countries. However, the CPC moves ahead. The reason, it seems, is the application of it in conformity with Chinese values and traditions. That is yet another point being highlighted here. Consultative democracy based on meritocracy is the ideal being presented ahead of the National Congress.
Amendments
According to the Chinese media, the CPC is also slated to incorporate a few amendment to its Constitution. The National Congress will take place with the participation of 2000 delegates selected from 40 electoral units. It will elect the next set of office bearers for the next five-year term. In a way, this can be likened to a national election being conducted once in five years, similar to countries like Sri Lanka.
The message, given by the CPC for both the right wing and left wing political parties in the countries, including Sri Lanka, is to have a common stance on vital subject matters. In its engagements with Sri Lanka, China experienced bumps on the road due to policy inconsistencies between the two main parties. The projects, the previous Government launched with China’s financial assistance were reviewed by the present regime. It led to certain disagreements between the two countries. As a result, it is now learned that China is awaiting important legislations to be enacted by the Government of Sri Lanka before it invests in the industrial park in Hambantota.
Communist ideology is still a valid concept for the achievement of goals in China
