Political figures from Laos, the Republic of Congo, Switzerland, Nigeria and Germany said Xi Jinping's speech marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China highlighted China's people-centered governance, modernization drive and role in global development.
In the July 1 speech, Xi, general secretary of the CPC, focused on Chinese modernization, the Party's ties with the people and China's efforts to promote a community with a shared future for humanity.
Asoka Rasphone, Deputy Director-General of the Institute of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, said China had taken a more active and responsible role on the world stage under Xi's leadership.
"Since 2012, under the outstanding leadership of President Xi, China has embarked on a new path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. China has stepped onto the world stage with a more active, confident and responsible approach, working with all parties to build a community with a shared future for humanity. This is also an important vision that Laos and China are actively putting into practice today," Rasphone said.
Parfait Iloki, Permanent Secretary of the Congolese Party of Labor, said China's progress showed the importance of steady leadership in a complex international environment.
"Xi Jinping is a great leader, a truly great leader. He has brought China from where it once was to where it stands today. In a diverse world, China has a leader who knows how to steer the country through rough and troubled waters," Iloki said.
Several interviewees said the CPC's strength lay in its close ties with the people.
Massimiliano Ay, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Switzerland, said Xi's remarks on the relationship between the country and the people reflected what he had seen during his visit to China.
"I saw a party deeply rooted in the people. As President Xi emphasized in his speech, the country is the people, and the people are the country. This is not just a rhetorical phrase. It is the reality of an organization that has no interests apart from those of the people and acts on their behalf. Its ability to keep pace with the times sets an example for all fraternal communist parties," Ay said.
Dayo Abdullahi Israel, National Youth Leader of Nigeria's All Progressives Congress, said he was struck by Xi's emphasis on seeking truth from facts and by China’s approach to modernization based on its own national conditions.
"He talked about one of the very strong CPC party and the Chinese ideology of seeking the truth from fact, to ensure that truth is the highlight of what the Chinese party do. The CPC and President Xi's practice of advancing China's modernization, in particular, peculiarly to Chinese style of modernization, backed by China's own national conditions, that promote common prosperity for all," Israel said.
Patrik Kobele, Chairman of the German Communist Party, pointed to China's defeat of Japanese aggression, the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the elimination of absolute poverty as achievements with significance beyond China.
"I think the past 105 years have been an extraordinary history of profound changes. I would like to highlight three points in particular, which I believe are important not only for China, but for the world. First, China defeated the Japanese aggressors, making a major contribution to the global fight against fascism and war. Second, after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, China began building socialism. And third, what impresses me most is that China has eliminated absolute poverty. That is a truly remarkable achievement in human history," Kobele said.
Political figures say CPC speech highlights China's extraordinary development path
