China's road is based on history and reality

The China Road refers to the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. To understand this road's nature and future, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of China's past and present, its history and cultural traditions, as well as its development objectives and strategy.

This development road has been taken on the basis of combining China's history and reality. In a speech in Belgium in April, President Xi Jinping said that "one needs to learn China's history to respect its choice". China has made both brilliant contributions to world civilization in its 5,000 years' history and experienced subjugation and national infamy in late 1800s and early 1900s. It was after trying all kinds of social systems that originated in the West that China chose socialism. In other words, the choice of the current road was decided by China's cultural traditions, history and conditions. We have met difficulties and setbacks on the road but we are still progressing forward.

Especially after the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has impressed the world with its miraculous prosperity, which is solid evidence that it has chosen the right road. Currently China has already formed a pattern of broad and overall opening-up with multiple layers. China insists that every nation's right to choose its own path of development be respected, including itself. Just as Xi said, China cannot copy the political system or development mode of other countries or that would cause disastrous results.

It is important to learn China's achievements in order to better understand the trend of China's development. China has maintained high-speed stable growth, which is a result of its socialist system and liberation of its production force; it also has ensured the people's political rights under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Besides, China has also made remarkable cultural and ecological achievements.

The future of the China Road lies in realizing the Chinese Dream, or the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In his speech on the 50th anniversary of China and France establishing diplomatic relations, President Xi said that China's historical culture, historical fate and historical conditions decide the Chinese people must realize their dreams via the road chosen by themselves.

To that end China has many advantages: it is the second-largest economy in the world and still developing at a fast speed; with the political leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people are uniting with common resolve; following the principle that various kinds of cultures are developing freely; and, most important of all, China enjoys social stability inside the country and has many friends in the international community.

Of course, China faces many challenges in its future development, but the Chinese people are confident in solving them by following their unique road. China needs to hold on to the features of its road, namely stability, efficiency, harmony and peace, as it develops in the future. The 18th Congress of the Party has made clear the guiding strategy to follow for the country to move forward.

There are two fundamental objectives for China's development in the near future, namely that by 2021, the 100th anniversary of the founding of CPC, it should develop the country into a xiaokang, or moderately well-off society in an all-around way; and by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, it should realize a general modernization.

At the same time, the Chinese Dream is also a dream of peace and the contribution China can make to world peace and progress and the opportunities its rise can bring to the world. Just like President Xi said, we expect the outside world will observe China in a more objective, historical and multi-dimensional way. Of course, China will also make its points more clear and let more nations understand its policies and objectives, so as to promote cooperation with them.

China will never stop marching forward along its chosen road. The Chinese people are confident enough to build a socialist country that is rich, democratic, civilized and harmonious, as well as make further contributions to the human civilization as a whole.

The author is a professor and secretary-general of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau.