At the main entrance of Zhongnanhai in downtown Beijing stands a traditional screen wall inscribed with a slogan in Chinese "为人民服务", meaning "serve the people". This concept is the base to understand the inspiration of China's Communist Party, and how China is governed in contemporary times. Recently this year, in President Xi Jinping's book "The Governance of China Vol. IV", among the various quotes based on Chinese ancient sayings, he brought to the fore one which is particularly important: "the essence of government is livelihood, and the essence of livelihood is sufficiency", he declared. In other words, the capacity to deliver. Thus, as the first elements of the key role of the CPC I would stress.

First, efficiency, meaning capacity to deliver. In perspective, the CPC has delivered and in doing so, with a distinctive style. China declared the victory of eliminating absolute poverty within the country in 2021 with nearly 100 million rural poor lifted out of poverty during the last decade. Indeed, as we all know, it has lifted more than 850 million people out of poverty in the last 40 years (the most overwhelming figure in the history of mankind and endorsed by international organizations, including the United Nations).

Second, and related to the previous point: humanistic approach. Furthermore. By the end of last decade several cities and rural areas were clearly closing gaps with advanced countries life expectancy. In 2019 that indicator showed that in Beijing life expectancy was already 82 years, while in Washington 77, just to quote the most astonishing statistic. But it is still more impressive than that. According to the most recent data in September 2022, China passed United States in life expectancy. The figure is the outcome of the governance of a country which represents one fifth of the world's population and it should be a headline, not only in the West, but globally. 

As a result, third, I stress a wholistic and comprehensive approach. A country like China, an agricultural nation about 70 years ago today boasts the world's most extensive education and social welfare system, the largest high-speed railway network and cutting-edge technologies in many sectors, thanks to its innovative development concepts and forward-looking and viable long-term plans. 

The recent 20th CPC Congress underscored the achievement of China becoming the major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions, leading the globe in the total volume of trade in goods. It accounts for 18.5 percent of the world economy, up 7.2 percentage points over the past decade. 

Fourth: uniqueness. In view of the results accomplished by the Chinese development over the last decades some international analysts may assume that China is advocating its own model or trying to persuade other countries to copy its path. 

Xi himself has declared several times that each country has its unique characteristics, and that, above all, it is not wise for a country to try to copy a foreign model without considering its own circumstances. China, thanks to its own history, size and culture (including its political culture) has been following its own path.

The CPC leadership reiterated the point that China's modernization "will not be a replica of the Western one since the Chinese path works well." Certainly such an evidence is an obvious certainty for several analysts of international affairs worldwide.

And fifth, and last but not least: flexibility. "We must keep to our path and not sway in our commitment. We must not return to the isolation and rigidity of the past, or veer off course by changing our nature or abandoning our system," Xi said during recent CPC's 20th Congress. This remark is remarkable, as it is the recognition of the successful path adopted by a country coming from the margins of power and influence several decades ago to the global forefront in the last decade, reflecting perseverance and self-confidence ahead.

Excerpt from Augusto Soto's Speech at "Hong Ting Forum: Understanding the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China".