Many foreign political parties and leaders said that the important meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was a major event affecting the world and themselves. And goals, tasks, and policies for the cause of the party and the country for the next five years and beyond were made at the 20th National Congress of the CPC.
By the afternoon of October 23, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee had received 1,665 congratulatory messages from 173 heads of state and government, political parties and their leaders, former political leaders, and important organizations. Many leaders of political parties and heads of state and government in Nepal have congratulated the opening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC in succession. Prachanda, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and a former Prime Minister of the government; Oli, the chairman of the CPN-UML and a former Prime Minister of the government; Bijukchhe, the chairman of the Nepal Workers and Peasant Party (NWPP); Nepali President Bidhya Bhandari; Bhattarai, the chairman of the Nepal Socialist Party and former Prime Minister. Besides, President Bhandari and Oli also congratulated Xi Jinping, who was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
The Nepali media also reported on the 20th National Congress of the CPC, emphasizing its significance to China and the CPC, introducing China’s new central leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and the influence of the diplomatic section of the report on Nepal.
In fact, the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC is very rich and embodied in the political report of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and President of China. The report contains many new statements, generalizations, and conclusions, but the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC is centered on the theme of this Congress report. Each part of the report is a comprehensive and detailed explanation of the theme of this Congress. To understand the 20th National Congress of the CPC, people must first have a thorough understanding of the theme of the congress.
The theme encapsulates the content and spirit of this Congress, as well as the general principles for the development of the CPC and all Chinese endeavors. The theme of this Congress clearly illustrates such major issues as what banner the CPC will raise, what path it will take, what spirit it will adopt, and what goals it will continue to pursue on the new journey of the new era. To be specific, it is "holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics," "fully implementing the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," "carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, staying confident and building strength, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, forging ahead with enterprise and fortitude," and "striving in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts."
The CPC and the Chinese people have this spirit of "driving nails" that has achieved rapid economic development, long-term social stability, and sustained peaceful rise. It was pointed out at the Congress that from this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. At the same time, the general and specific features, essential requirements, major principles, and strategic steps of Chinese modernization were discussed at this Congress.
From the perspectives of history and reality, theory and practice, and the combination of China and the world, the theme of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, including the banner, the path, the spirit, and the goal, are a summary of the CPC’s experience and mission. All this has great inspiration for political parties in developing countries, including Nepal, to promote social development, strengthen self-building, and carry out foreign exchanges. China and Nepal are close neighbors linked by the same mountains and rivers and enjoy a long-standing friendship. China and Nepal have a strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity, which calls for greater mutual support and win-win cooperation between the two countries and their political parties. The bright theme of the 20th National Congress of the CPC has taught us four important things.
First, party politics should focus on continuity to turn its blueprint for development into reality. Over the past decade, Nepal has had its 35th to 42nd prime ministers from different major political parties with no party affiliation. Although the parties involved also support each other, there are sometimes instances where "one term of work is separated by one term" or "one term of work is the opposite of one term." Due to the lack of an ideological foundation, policy propositions, and continuity of development goals, it is often difficult to concentrate on and persevere in important, difficult, and urgent tasks. There are many political parties in Nepal, but if they want to win the sincere support of the people, parties need to continuously strengthen their capacity building in terms of ideology, organization, conduct, and system.
Second, Nepal should take solid steps to enhance its comprehensive national strength and ensure the benefits of the people. A thousand-mile journey begins with the first step. Every country requires actionable and evaluable measures and channels to achieve national goals. Nepal is an agricultural country. The most difficult and onerous task for national development lies in the rural areas. Nepal should promote the development of rural industries, education, human resources, culture, ecology, and organizations, and promote urban-rural integration and coordinated development among regions. The transformation of a landlocked country into a landlinked country requires infrastructure connectivity and multilateral opening up. Nepal has good tourism, hydropower, and ecological resources.
It should accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, foster new industries and new forms and models of business, and promote effective qualitative and quantitative economic growth. The development of a country needs a solid material and technological foundation. Meanwhile, it needs to improve the capacity and level of national security work and balance development and security. Since the promulgation of the new constitution, the rule of law in Nepal has continued to develop. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure sound legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice, and widespread observance of the law, as well as to ensure that all state business is conducted in accordance with the rule of law.
The new constitution defines Nepal as a Federal Democratic Republic, with "democracy" written into the nation name. People’s democracy is integral to the country in all respects. As a ruling party, it must protect the people’s fundamental interests, improve their well-being, and work tirelessly to ensure that development is for and by the people and that its fruits are shared by the people. It must do a better job of ensuring that the benefits of national development are distributed fairly to all citizens.
Third, Nepal needs to work hard together to ensure its independence. Nepal's prosperity and development must be dealt with by Nepali people in light of the Nepali context, rather than simply transplanting institutions or copying models. Nepal has multiple ethnic religions and languages, which is a huge advantage for the country's development. Nepal's national emblem has a profound meaning, not only has the equality and inclusiveness between regions and genders, (Mother and Motherland are Greater than Heaven) but also highlights the patriotism spirit. Nepal has a splendid culture and a great spirit. Pursuing reform and opening up in the right direction of independence, mobilizing the enthusiasm of Nepalis around the world, establishing a broad patriotic united front, thinking and working together, enhancing national cohesion and developing self-confidence, then Nepalese people can seize development opportunities, overcome difficulties and create a better future.
(Wang Donghong, Center for Silk Road People-to-people Exchange, Shaanxi Normal University; Shao Shuai, postgraduate student, School of Marxism, Shaanxi Normal University)
