Hello and welcome to Wise Words, New Interpretations.

In this series, we will explain the whys, whens and wherefores of classical international quotations used by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In this episode, we will be explaining the line:

Aber ein neues Programm ist doch immer eine öffentlich aufgepflanzte Fahne, und die Außenwelt beurteilt danach die Partei.

That’s German, written by philosopher and revolutionary socialist Friedrich Engels.

It means a new program is after all a banner planted in public, and the outside world judges the party by it.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/xMgK6xBIoMY

On October 23, 2014, Xi quoted the sentence in his speech at the second full assembly of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee.

A banner guides the direction of a country’s development. The direction determines the path, and the path determines the future. Xi underlined that there is no room for ambiguity when it comes to China’s path. The CPC must send a clear and correct signal to the public.

Throughout its endeavors over the past century, the Party has sought out a path in line with China’s realities—the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is the fundamental reward of the hard work and great sacrifices by the Party and all those under its leadership. Only by gaining an understanding of the path they have explored, can one truly understand China and the CPC.

The Party’s 18th National Congress in 2012 ushered in a new era for socialism with Chinese characteristics.Xi has since outlined a roadmap for China’s development,which has delivered transformational changes.

China has eliminated extreme poverty for the first time in its millennia-long history, contributing to global poverty alleviation. The goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been accomplished. China’s economy continues to provide strong impetus for global economic stability and growth. Its average contribution to world economic growth in the past 10 years has exceeded 30 percent, ranking first globally. As observers give more thought to China’s development trajectory, a clear consensus emerges: To understand today’s China, the world must understand the CPC. In February 2022, Argentine President Alberto Fernández came to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and during his time in the Chinese capital, he requested a visit to the Museum of the Communist Party of China. When meeting with President Xi, Fernández described his experience, expressing respect for all that the CPC has achieved for the Chinese people. Sabino Vaca Narvaja, Argentine Ambassador to China, told Xi in Chinese, “Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China.”

The reason why this particular line resonated so strongly is that the path pioneered by the Chinese people under the Party’s leadership has gained increasing recognition. As a window through which to understand China and the CPC in the new era, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, a compilation of Xi’s major works in four volumes, with the first published in September 2014 and the fourth in July 2022, has been translated into dozens of languages and roused enthusiasm among readers worldwide.

In 2018, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, now President of the United Arab Emirates, requested two copies signed by President Xi: one for himself and the other to be kept at the presidential palace library.

The upcoming 20th CPC National Congress will see the eyes of the world focus on China and the CPC again. It will be an important conference at a crucial moment in China’s quest to build a modern socialist country. The key is to uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics. Keeping to this path means China will continue to meet its people’s desire for a better life, promote common prosperity for all and contribute to human advancement as well as world peace and development.

Company Name: Center for the Americas, China International Communications Group
Contact Person: Tao Zihui
Email: taozihui2020@163.com;
taozihui@cicgamericas.com
Country: People’s Republic of China
Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMgK6xBIoMY