China News Agency, Brussels, September 27th: "Looking at China" before the 20th National Congress, how did China go through the past?

　　——Interview with Julio Rios, a well-known expert on China in Spain

　　China News Agency reporter De Yongjian

　　The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is about to be held in Beijing.

The development and changes of China in the past ten years and the trends of China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China are attracting the attention of the world.

　　Xulio Ríos, a well-known Spanish expert on China, is one of them.

As the founder and honorary president of the Galician Institute of International Relations in Spain, Rios founded the China Policy Observation Network. Over the years, he has written many books on China and translated "Sun Tzu's Art of War". , was awarded the annual Culture and Society category of the "Asia House", a subsidiary of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

　　At the beginning of September, Rios stepped down as director of China Policy Observation Network and other positions, and announced to the outside world that he "returned to the countryside", but his eyes on China are still eager.

Recently, Rios accepted a written interview with China News Agency's "East and West Questions", reviewed the way China has come in the past ten years, and looked forward to the new journey China will embark on after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The following is a summary of the interview transcript:

China News Agency reporter: Looking back on China in the past ten years, what developments and changes have impressed you?

Rios:

This decade has been very complicated, and China has shown great determination and resilience.

First, resolutely promote the construction of a new development model, eradicate extreme poverty, and achieve an extraordinary achievement of truly historic significance, with remarkable progress in science and technology and the environment; Seek common development; third, prudently respond to US competition with China, such as the "trade war", "tech war" launched by the United States, and creating tensions on the Taiwan issue; fourth, decisive response to the new crown pneumonia epidemic will protect people's lives Safety comes first.

　　In short, China has proved itself as a responsible member of the international community, with a clear definition of its own interests, a firm will to achieve its goals, and a high level of flexibility to deal with the uncertainties of the past decade. Now ushering in a historical turning point - China will become a major "protagonist".

On the evening of September 25, the giant flower and fruit basket "Blessing the Motherland" in Beijing's Tiananmen Square lights up.

Photo by Jia Tianyong

China News Agency reporter: How do you evaluate China's measures and performance in response to the new crown pneumonia epidemic?

Rios:

The epidemic is a severe test for everyone. It is inevitable that there will be different options for dealing with it. It is necessary to analyze and draw lessons to better cope with similar challenges in the future.

China's response to the epidemic is based on blocking infections, and it has persisted until now after making great efforts.

If you compare data such as infections and deaths, you can see that China is doing better than other countries, including those with significantly better medical resources than China.

However, the epidemic is not over yet, and it is still necessary to persevere and balance prevention and control and production, so as to reduce losses.

On April 26, in Shanghai, medical staff conduct nucleic acid testing and sampling for citizens.

Photo by Yin Liqin

China News Service: You once said that China's worldview is completely different from that of the West. The West is not familiar with the "code" and "key" of the Chinese worldview. Can you elaborate?

Rios:

I think the West actually has very little understanding of China, and ignorance is the biggest source of misunderstandings, such as the "China threat theory" and "China hegemony"... International order" (an order that stipulates that nothing can change, although the world today is very different from the world of 1945), attempts to shape China into a certain "image", and takes the opportunity to fabricate the "hostility" needed to maintain this order .

　　In this context, it should be kept in mind that China's population accounts for almost one-fifth of the world's population; as the world's second-largest economy, China still has to make strenuous efforts to overcome its structural shortcomings, and has much to do to expand domestic demand.

China insists on its own path, which excludes "imposing on others"; China is committed to promoting world multi-polarization, which also rejects hegemonism; this is another way of looking at the world, focusing on cooperation rather than confrontation, mainly The focus is on development, inclusion and sustainability.

For China, the key to maintaining peace and security lies in development.

The signing ceremony of the 7th China-Asia-Europe Expo.

Photo by Liu Xin

China News Service: How should Western countries get along with China at present?

Rios: We

need to accept that China's successful development is a foregone conclusion, and trying to contain China's development will be a big mistake.

The West must also recognize that China has every right to decide on a development model based on its own unique history, culture and civilization; on this basis, dialogue with China can bring about mutual promotion and coexistence; trying to suppress China or make China dependent on the West is a problem. A wrong approach that could even have dire consequences for everyone.

China News Service: For developing countries, how should they go beyond ideological differences to seek common development?

Are the BRICS countries setting an example?

Rios:

Conspiracy for development is a vivid example that cooperation is more effective than ideological confrontation in promoting the well-being and progress of respective societies; on the contrary, some people emphasize the "exclusive security" in the era of hegemony, if it becomes the general rule, we will Continuing to conflate "liberalization" with progress, as it is now, is not the only viable model.

　　In this sense, the BRICS countries are setting an example every day, and we can see how the relationship between some BRICS member countries and China has evolved over the years, transcending differences to focus on investment, trade and exchanges, in short, "achieving progress”; the space for constructive policies is expanding by advancing the common good.

The 2022 BRICS New Industrial Revolution Partnership Forum was held in Xiamen, Fujian.

Photo by Zhang Bin

China News Agency reporter: From studying Sinology to publishing many books on China and translating Sun Tzu's Art of War, what nutrition and wisdom have you drawn from Chinese culture?

Rios:

I think if you want to understand China, even if you just want to get a preliminary understanding of contemporary China, you can’t ignore Chinese history, culture, philosophy, etc. They elucidate the main factors that have continued to affect China’s changes since ancient times; without these parameters, I just want to apply To understand China with Western cultural parameters, it will never be in place; don’t try to “cultural colonize” China. The diversity of Chinese civilization is very commendable. Today, under the protection of economic, political, technological, strategic and other forces, it has become more Pervasive and powerful; investing in this knowledge is investing in the future.

On September 26, the theme flower bed appeared on Chang'an Avenue in Beijing.

Photo by Jiang Qiming

China News Service: The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is about to be held in Beijing, and China will stand at a new starting point.

What are your views and suggestions for China's future?

Rios:

This conference is very important.

After celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 2021, it is the starting point for the Chinese Communist Party to move towards its second centenary.

China has put forward the long-term goal of 2035 and the goal of the second centenary in 2049 (the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China). These two goals are the real touchstone for testing the Communist Party of China.

Because it is conceivable that national governance will face various tensions, and the future will be full of difficulties and obstacles.

　　If the goal is achieved in the Chinese way and the Chinese way, it will have a significant impact, and many of China's experiences will undoubtedly be learned from; it can be said that the Chinese Communist Party shoulders a heavy responsibility for both the Chinese society and the international community.

(Finish)

Interviewee Profile:

　　Xulio Ríos, born in Galicia, northwestern Spain in 1958, graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela with a major in law; founded the Galician Institute of International Relations in Spain and the China Policy Observation Network , wrote several books on China and translated "Sun Tzu's Art of War"; in 2021, due to his dedication to introducing "real China" and making important contributions to the construction of sinology in the Spanish-speaking world, he was awarded the annual "Asia House" by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Culture and Society Category Award.