China Explores a New Model of Global Development

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “There is no modernization model that is unanimously recognized as the sole authority in the world, nor is there a modernization standard that is applicable everywhere.” [1]1 A classical Chinese phrase meaning “unanimously recognized as the sole authority,” often used to describe a single dominant or unquestioned model. In the tide of the times, each country is seeking a path that suits itself. The Western development model once led the trend, but with the development of the times, its shortcomings have gradually emerged, especially its capital-centered development concept, which can no longer provide effective guidance for global sustainable development. In sharp contrast, China, based on its own national conditions, has carved out a unique path of Chinese-path modernization, and is bringing hope to countries seeking to solve development problems with its vigorous vitality.

习近平总书记指出：“世界上既不存在定于一尊的现代化模式，也不存在放之四海而皆准的现代化标准。”在时代发展的浪潮中，各国都在探寻契合自身的前行道路。西方发展模式曾一度引领潮流，然而随着时代的发展，其弊端逐渐显现，特别是其以资本为中心的发展理念，已难以为全球可持续发展提供有效指引。与之形成鲜明对照的是，中国立足自身国情，开拓出一条独具特色的中国式现代化之路，正以蓬勃的生命力，为各国破解发展难题带来曙光。

The three major global initiatives [2]2 The three major global initiatives refer to the Global Development Initiative (2021), the Global Security Initiative (2022), and the Global Civilization Initiative (2023), proposed by President Xi Jinping. and the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative inspire new models of global pluralistic development.

三大全球倡议与共建“一带一路”实践启发全球多元发展新模式

At a time when the world is deeply mired in multiple “deficit” predicaments, China resolutely shoulders the responsibility of a major country and proposes the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. These three major global initiatives carry the wisdom of Chinese-path modernization and provide a pragmatic and forward-looking Chinese solution to global problems.

在当今世界深陷多重“赤字”困境之时，中国毅然扛起大国责任，提出全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议。这三大全球倡议承载着中国式现代化的智慧结晶，为化解全球性难题提供了一份务实且充满前瞻性的中国方案。

The Global Development Initiative focuses on the core demands of development and guides the world toward a new course of development. China’s targeted poverty alleviation campaign [3]3 The targeted poverty alleviation campaign (2015-2020) that lifted nearly 100 million rural poor out of poverty. has achieved remarkable results that have attracted worldwide attention, building a towering monument to global poverty reduction. Adhering to the principle of “inclusiveness and benefit for all,” China-Africa agricultural cooperation has brought new vitality to the African continent. “Innovation-driven” efforts have enabled China’s 5G, high-speed rail and other cutting-edge technologies to shine on the international stage, empowering industrial upgrading and iteration in various countries. Under the guidance of the concept of “harmonious coexistence between man and nature,” China’s new energy industry has risen, and ecological protection projects have been solidly implemented, building a solid barrier for the green mountains and clear waters of the earth.

全球发展倡议聚焦发展核心诉求，引领全球迈向发展新航道。中国脱贫攻坚取得举世瞩目的成就，为全球减贫事业筑起巍峨丰碑。秉持“普惠包容”原则，中非农业合作让非洲大地焕发新生机。“创新驱动”助力中国5G、高铁等前沿技术在国际舞台大放异彩，赋能各国产业迭代升级。在“人与自然和谐共生”理念的引领下，中国新能源产业崛起，生态保护工程扎实落地，为地球家园的绿水青山筑牢屏障。

The Global Security Initiative directly addresses the reality of global turbulence, acting as a solid bridge to promote joint efforts among countries to resist traditional and non-traditional security threats, safeguard development actions, and protect development achievements. Whether in close cooperation on the anti-terrorism front, or in security protection in cyberspace; whether in joint prevention and control of disasters caused by climate change, or in full cooperation on food security, China always advocates that the international community pool strengths and jointly build an indestructible security line of defense.

全球安全倡议直击全球动荡现实，恰似坚固桥梁，推动各国携手抵御传统与非传统安全威胁，保障发展的行动，维护发展的成果。无论是反恐前沿的紧密协作，还是网络空间的安全守护；无论是应对气候变化引发灾害的联防联控，还是粮食安全保障的通力合作，中国始终倡导国际社会凝聚合力，共筑坚不可摧的安全防线。

The Global Civilization Initiative is like a spring breeze and rain, [4]4 A Chinese idiom meaning “beneficial influence like spring breeze and rain,” often used to describe subtle and nurturing influences. adhering to equal exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, with respect as the cornerstone, eliminating cultural barriers and prejudices between different countries and nations, allowing ancient civilizations to spark brilliant collisions in the new era, injecting a steady stream of vitality into the progress of human civilization, and safeguarding the dissolution of the clash of civilizations brought about by monolithic modernity and the adherence to pluralistic development paths.

全球文明倡议如春风化雨，坚持文明平等交流互鉴，以尊重为基石，消弭不同国家、民族间的文化隔阂与偏见，让古老文明在新时代碰撞出绚烂火花，为人类文明进步注入源源不断的活力清泉，为消融一元现代化所带来的文明冲突、坚持多元的发展路径保驾护航。

High-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative closely links China with many countries, including those of the Global South, weaving a splendid tapestry of common development. After the opening of the China-Laos Railway, the efficiency of freight transport in Laos has achieved a qualitative leap, and industrial parks along the line have flourished, becoming a vivid example of the Belt and Road Initiative empowering the development of partner countries. In the field of infrastructure construction, China has helped Southeast Asian countries build modern transportation networks, with port handling capacity increasing day by day and roads crisscrossing, attracting foreign investment; in energy cooperation, it has forged strong alliances with Central Asian countries to jointly develop oil and gas resources, with cross-border energy pipelines operating safely and steadily, driving local economic take-off; and so on.

高质量共建“一带一路”将中国与包括“全球南方”国家在内的众多国家紧密相连，编织出共同发展的锦绣画卷。中老铁路通车后，老挝的货物运输效率实现质的飞跃，沿线产业园区蓬勃兴起，成为“一带一路”赋能共建国家发展的生动范例。在基础设施建设领域，中国助力东南亚国家搭建现代化交通网络，港口装卸能力与日俱增，公路纵横交错，吸引外资纷至沓来；在能源合作层面，与中亚国家强强联合，共同开发油气资源，跨国能源管道安全稳定运行，带动当地经济腾飞；等等。

The monolithic modernity concept of the Western development model urgently needs to be broken through.

西方发展模式的一元现代性理念亟待突破

The Western development model originated in the Age of Discovery in the 15th century. This model promotes a single modernization path, ignoring differences in history, culture, and social structure among countries, leading to inequality between the North and South, economic dependence, and cultural conflicts, with a relationship of domination and subordination between the North and South. Countries of the Global South are forced to serve as suppliers of cheap raw materials and markets for high-priced goods, and their sovereignty and cultural diversity have been seriously eroded. The channels for equal exchange and cooperation within the Global South have been severely blocked, the global development balance has been tipped, and contradictions and difficulties have arisen.

西方发展模式发轫于15世纪的大航海时代。这一模式推行单一的现代化路径，忽视不同国家历史、文化和社会结构差异，导致南北不平等、经济依赖和文化冲突，南北之间呈现出支配与被支配的关系。“全球南方”国家被迫充当廉价原料供应地和高价商品市场，主权和文化多样性遭到严重侵蚀。南南之间平等交流合作通道被严重阻塞，全球发展天平失衡，矛盾与困境丛生。

The West regards its own development model as a standard and authority, [5]5 A Chinese idiom meaning “to regard as a standard or authority,” originally referring to a divination instrument. believing that there is only one path to modernization in the world, and in international affairs, it forcibly interferes and controls other countries, trying to bring all countries into the orbit of Western development. In international economic organizations, Western developed countries often use their rule-making power to promote trade policies favorable to themselves, putting countries of the Global South at a disadvantage in international economic competition.

西方将自身发展模式奉为圭臬，认为世界只有一种现代化路径，在国际事务中对其他国家强行干涉和控制，试图将所有国家都纳入西方的发展轨道。在国际经济组织中，西方发达国家常常利用规则制定权，推行有利于自身的贸易政策，使“全球南方”国家在国际经济竞争中处于劣势。

In the process of pursuing economic growth, the Western modernization model has led to widening wealth gaps and severe social stratification. Wealth is highly concentrated in the hands of a few elite groups, while the bottom-level people face difficulties in employment, housing shortages, and insufficient education and medical resources. In terms of the ecological environment, the long-held concept of a binary opposition between man and nature, overexploitation of natural resources, has caused great damage to the ecological environment, triggering a series of ecological disasters. The shortcomings of the Western development model in terms of concept, distribution of results, and ecology reveal the unsustainability and limitations of its monolithic modernity concept, and also highlight the urgency and necessity of exploring new models of modernization.

西方现代化模式在追求经济增长的过程中，导致贫富差距不断扩大、社会阶层分化严重。财富高度集中在少数精英阶层手中，底层民众面临就业困难、住房短缺、教育医疗资源不足等问题。在生态环境方面，长期秉持人与自然二元对立的观念，过度开发自然资源，对生态环境造成了极大破坏，引发一系列生态灾难。西方发展模式在理念、成果分配、生态等维度的弊端，揭示了其一元现代性理念的不可持续性与局限性，也凸显了探索新型现代化道路的迫切性与必要性。

Chinese-path modernization realizes the transcendence of the old Western model through multi-level practices.

中国式现代化在多层次实践中实现对西方旧模式的超越

Chinese-path modernization breaks the myth that “modernization equals Westernization,” presents another picture of modernization, provides a Chinese solution for humanity’s exploration of better social systems, and is a major transcendence of Western modernization theory and practice. This transcendence is not only reflected in the systematic planning and precise implementation in the domestic development process, but also in the rich practices of international cooperation, contributing Chinese wisdom to global modernization development.

中国式现代化打破了“现代化=西方化”的迷思，展现了现代化的另一幅图景，为人类对更好社会制度的探索提供了中国方案，是对西方现代化理论和实践的重大超越。这一超越性不仅体现在国内发展进程中的系统性规划与精准执行，也彰显于国际合作的丰富实践中，为全球现代化发展贡献了中国智慧。

Chinese-path modernization carries the historical mission of leading an ultra-large population as a whole toward modernization. Its difficulty and complexity place extremely high demands on national governance. In this context, strong leadership and efficient coordination become key engines driving development. Guided by long-term scientific development plans, China has achieved coordinated development nationwide through systematic institutional arrangements and correctly handling the relationship between the government and the market. At the same time, Chinese-path modernization is modernization that emphasizes common prosperity for all the people. The state continues to increase investment in education, medical care and other areas related to people’s livelihoods, and through policy guidance, it promotes the tilt of resources toward grassroots and rural areas, ensuring that all people fair share the fruits of modernization development, effectively avoiding the common problems of unbalanced regional development and resource mismatch in the Western modernization process, demonstrating the scientific nature and superiority of Chinese-path modernization in top-level design [6]6 A term from Chinese governance referring to high-level strategic planning and design from the central leadership, often contrasted with “grassroots” or “bottom-up” approaches. and implementation.

中国式现代化承载的是超大规模人口整体迈向现代化的历史使命，其艰巨性和复杂性对国家治理提出了极高要求。在此情境下，强大的领导力和高效的统筹力成为驱动发展的关键引擎。中国以科学的长期发展规划为指引，通过系统性的制度安排，正确处理政府和市场的关系，实现了全国范围的协调发展。同时，中国式现代化还是强调全体人民共同富裕的现代化。国家在教育、医疗等民生领域持续加大投入，并通过政策引导促进资源向基层和农村地区倾斜，确保全体人民公平享有现代化发展成果，有效避免了西方现代化进程中常见的区域发展失衡、资源错配等问题，彰显了中国式现代化在顶层设计与执行层面的科学性和优越性。

In the overall layout of modernization construction, China pays attention to the coordinated development of material civilization and cultural-ethical progress. While promoting rapid economic growth, it attaches great importance to ideological and moral construction, cultural heritage and innovation, and the development of cultural undertakings and industries, using core socialist values to lead social trends, realizing the synergistic progress of economic hard power and cultural soft power, breaking through the limitation of imbalance between material and spiritual development in the Western modernization process.

在现代化建设的整体布局上，中国注重物质文明与精神文明的协调发展，在推动经济快速增长的同时，高度重视思想道德建设、文化传承创新以及文化事业和文化产业发展，以社会主义核心价值观引领社会风尚，实现了经济硬实力与文化软实力的协同共进，打破了西方现代化进程中物质与精神发展失衡的局限。

Chinese-path modernization emphasizes the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Green development is China’s clear proposition in leading modernization, focusing on stimulating the connotation of traditional Chinese culture, promoting the development concept of harmony and coexistence, actively guiding the development of green emerging industries, supplying high-quality wind power equipment and photovoltaic modules to the world, and making tangible contributions to global green development and ecological protection.

中国式现代化强调人与自然和谐共生。绿色发展是中国引领现代化的明确主张，注重激发中国传统文化内涵，推行和合共生的发展理念，积极引领绿色新兴产业发展，为全球供应了高质量的风电装备和光伏组件，为全球绿色发展和生态保护做出了实实在在的贡献。

Taking the path of peaceful development is a distinctive feature of Chinese-path modernization, reflecting China’s sense of responsibility as a major country and its global perspective. Taking China-Africa cooperation as an example, China and Africa support each other in international affairs and economic cooperation, promote the reform of the global governance system, and strive for rights and a good environment for countries of the Global South. The open and win-win economic cooperation model is a highlight of the China-Africa modernization practice. The two sides complement each other’s advantages, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and provide a model for economic cooperation among countries of the Global South. The people-centered development concept runs through all areas of China-Africa cooperation. Chinese medical teams, schools built with Chinese aid, and other actions improve the well-being of African people and safeguard their rights; diverse and inclusive cultural exchanges promote cultural prosperity on both sides and break the Western cultural hegemony. China-Africa cooperation profoundly interprets the global value and exemplary significance of Chinese-path modernization.

走和平发展道路是中国式现代化的鲜明特征，体现了中国作为大国的责任担当与全球视野。以中非合作为例，中非在国际事务与经济合作中相互支持，推动全球治理体系变革，为“全球南方”国家争取权益与良好环境。开放共赢的经济合作模式是中非现代化实践的亮点，双方优势互补、互利共赢，为“全球南方”国家经济合作提供范例。人民至上的发展理念贯穿中非合作的各个领域，中国医疗队、援建学校等行动提升非洲民生福祉，保障人民权益；多元包容的文化交流促进双方文化繁荣，打破西方文化霸权。中非合作深刻诠释了中国式现代化的全球价值与示范意义。

Strategic resolve [7]7 A term frequently used in Chinese political discourse to describe the ability of the Communist Party of China to maintain a steady course and long-term goals despite external pressures or changes. is a solid guarantee for the steady advancement of Chinese-path modernization. China adheres to the basic socialist economic system. The public sector of the economy provides a solid foundation for achieving social fairness and justice and stable economic development, while the non-public sector fully stimulates market vitality and innovation dynamics.

战略定力是中国式现代化稳步推进的坚实保障。中国坚守社会主义基本经济制度，公有制经济为实现社会公平正义和经济稳定发展提供了坚实基础，非公有制经济则充分激发了市场活力和创新动力。

With its unique concepts, practices and tremendous achievements, Chinese-path modernization provides the world with a new development model and path choice. In the wave of global development, Chinese-path modernization is leading countries of the Global South to jointly explore a more fair, sustainable and inclusive development path, injecting continuous impetus into building a community with a shared future for mankind and achieving world peace and prosperity. Its great practice and far-reaching influence will surely leave a brilliant chapter in the history of human development.

中国式现代化以其独特的理念、实践和巨大成就，为世界提供了一种全新的发展模式和路径选择。在全球发展的浪潮中，中国式现代化正引领“全球南方”国家共同探索更加公平、可持续、包容的发展道路，为构建人类命运共同体、实现世界和平与繁荣注入源源不断的动力，其伟大实践和深远影响必将在人类发展史上留下浓墨重彩的篇章。

(The authors are respectively a distinguished chair professor of arts at China Agricultural University and dean of the College of International Development and Global Agriculture at China Agricultural University)

（作者分别为中国农业大学文科资深讲席教授、中国农业大学国际发展与全球农业学院院长）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧