Unveiling New Concepts: Chinese modernization explained: What is it? Why is it important? How will China achieve it?

"Chinese modernization" is currently one of the buzzwords in China's official discourse. This Q&A piece sheds some light on the fresh concept.

Xi Jinping, top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has recently called on the party members to correctly understand and vigorously advance "Chinese modernization," a term defining the country's journey to rejuvenation.

He made the remarks while addressing a study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, which was attended by newly-elected members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee, as well as principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

Widely dubbed as the "first class of 2023," the study session featured Xi's latest assertions and instructions regarding Chinese modernization since the theory was written into the Party Constitution during the 20th CPC National Congress last year.

What is Chinese modernization?

"Chinese modernization" first came under the limelight when Xi addressed the grand ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the CPC in 2021.

Xi, during a 2021 speech in front of a group of officials, summed up the theory by saying that "the modernization China is pursuing is the CPC-led socialist one," and the country must push forward national rejuvenation by following a "unique Chinese path to modernization."

According to China's two-step strategic plan to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects, socialist modernization will be basically realized from 2020 to 2035. From 2035 to the middle of the century, China will become a great modern socialist country that is "prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful."

While containing elements that are common in the modernization processes of all countries, Chinese modernization is grounded in China's realities and, according to Xi, characterized by five major features.

“It is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development.”

—— Xi Jinping

During the recent study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, he depicted Chinese modernization as "a new model for human advancement" and stressed, in particular, that it dispels the myth that "modernization is equal to Westernization."

"There is no set model of modernization in the world, nor is there a universal criterion for modernization that fits all," he said.

Chinese modernization is deeply rooted in the country's traditional culture while drawing wisdoms from all glorious human civilizations. It has blazed a trail to modernization that is different from that taken by the West, according to Xi.

Why should China walk its own path to modernization?

Western countries spent over 200 years modernizing themselves. For China, who has vowed modernization at all front by the mid-21st century -- around the centennial since it was founded, the timeframe will be much shorter.

This means that China must take a path where industrialization, digitalization, urbanization and agricultural modernization progress simultaneously, while its Western counterparts had ample time to finish them one after another, said Zou Yinan, a scholar with Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Furthermore, Western modernization focused on material abundance, whereas China places equal emphasis on material, ecological, cultural-ethical and civilizational development in its modernization drive, Zou said.

Photograph of Widnes, England in the late 19th century, showing the effects of industrial pollution

The majority of the world is pursuing modernization, but no more than 30 countries or regions, covering less than 1 billion people, have fully realized it.

China, with a massive population of over 1.4 billion, is modernizing itself on an unparalleled scale. As Xi once put it, China's modernization is an unprecedented phenomenon in the human history that will reshape the "global landscape of modernization".

Despite the arduousness, Xi has notably said that the country must "walk its own path," rather than follow suit. As the world's most populous country, China has adhered to a "people-centered" philosophy in the pursuit of modernization, aiming to ensure common prosperity when creating wealth for its people.

Chinese modernization also corresponds to the country's shift from industrial civilization to ecological civilization, with lessons learnt from the Western modernization that came at expense of ecological environment.

"It would not work if we modernized on the old American or European path, as a few more Earths would not be enough for us to consume," Xi once said. "Using up resources or polluting the environment is an unsustainable way of modernization."

The country, instead, seeks to advance modernization while maintaining a harmonious coexistence between the mankind and Nature.

How does China push forward its modernization?

In his recent Party School speech, Xi said that advancing Chinese modernization is not only a systematic endeavor, but an exploratory undertaking.

With many areas yet to be explored, reforms and innovation are what the country needs to boost modernization. It should also enhance its strategic vision and grasp the trends of development, so as to foresee both opportunities and challenges lying ahead, Xi said.

Whatever the circumstances are, the country should take the initiative by combining strategical consistency with tactical flexibility.

Specifically, innovation must be placed in a prominent position in overall national development. Efforts must be made to achieve higher efficiency than capitalism while maintaining fairness in the society more effectively.

Infograph: China’s path to growth (Allianz Global Investment)

The country should also open up to the world at a higher level, and involve deeper in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation.

Xi also stressed the importance of the work during this year, saying that the decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee must be fully implemented and the economy must be improved.

China has earlier announced that the "Two Sessions," a crucial yearly gathering of lawmakers and political advisors, will take place in March in Beijing. During the political event, the Chinese government will outline the annual work plan for economic and social development throughout 2023.

"The cause of promoting Chinese modernization, which is an unprecedented and pioneering venture, will inevitably encounter all kinds of risks, challenges, difficulties and even dangerous storms, some of which we can foresee and others we cannot."

—— Xi Jinping

As he called on the Chinese to harness their indomitable fighting spirit to open new horizons for the cause, the whole country has embarked on an exciting new journey, rain or shine.