China's path to modernization offers global inspiration

Relations between Nepal and the People's Republic of China are age-old and deep rooted.

The relations have always been cordial. The historic and multifaceted relations between the two countries have evolved since the days of Nepali monk and scholar Buddhabhadra, who translated Indian Buddhist texts into Chinese in the early 5th century, and the visits of Chinese monks and scholars like Fa Xian to Nepal in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420).

Nepal and the PRC established diplomatic relations in 1955, and their subsequent relations have been marked by friendliness, understanding, mutual support, cooperation and respect for each other's sensitivities. Both countries advocate for and put into practice the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Nepal is firmly committed to one China and is also committed to not allowing any inimical activities against China on its soil.

Reaffirming the friendly relations between the two countries, China has kindly donated to Nepal large amounts of medical supplies to help it in its struggle against the novel coronavirus, including Chinese vaccines that have proved very effective and beneficial for Nepal. Nepal is very thankful to China for all the support and help that it has provided during the pandemic.

China's modernization has brought remarkable achievements, and Nepal can learn from its experience.

Prosperity is the objective of all countries in their pursuit of modernization, but Chinese-style modernization pursues common prosperity.

Chinese-style modernization was formed in the process of continuous exploration by the Chinese people.

After the founding of the PRC, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people to continuously explore the path of Chinese-style modernization. Many great achievements have thus been made and have attracted worldwide attention, not least the country's rapid economic development and long-term social stability, the result of the successful exploration of its own development path.

At a ceremony on July 1, 2021, marking the centenary of the CPC's founding, President Xi Jinping emphasized that "as we have upheld and developed socialism with Chinese characteristics and driven coordinated progress in material, political, cultural-ethical, social and ecological terms, we have pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization, and created a new model for human advancement".

Poverty alleviation has been a fundamental task. When the PRC was founded, China was among the poorest countries in the world. Since the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, 770 million rural poor living below the poverty line have been lifted out of poverty.

The 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012 heralded a new era in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. In China's massive poverty alleviation battle, all of the 98.99 million rural poor people have been lifted out of poverty, and all the 832 poverty-stricken counties have eliminated poverty.

At the important moment of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, President Xi solemnly announced that China has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects and has brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China.

Chinese-style modernization is committed to the all-around development of human beings and the all-around progress of society. At the beginning of the PRC, about 80 percent of the country's population was illiterate, the average life expectancy was only 35 years, and social security was almost nonexistent.

The process of China's continuous modernization is also a process in which the quality of the population has been significantly improved and the people's livelihoods and well-being have been continuously improved. Today, China's higher education gross enrollment rate has reached 54.4 percent, and the average life expectancy has reached 77.3 years. In addition, China has built the world's largest social security system.

Common prosperity of all the people highlights the socialist nature of Chinese-style modernization, enriches the connotations of the modernization process, and contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to human problems.

Chinese-style modernization is modernization in which man and nature coexist in harmony. It not only creates more material wealth and spiritual wealth to meet people's growing needs for a better life, but also provides more high-quality ecological products to meet the people's growing needs for a healthy environment and beautiful ecology.

China actively advocates the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, upholds mutual respect and equal consultation, and adheres to a new path of modernization.

The author is president of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.