The Global Significance of Chinese-Path Modernization

The 20th National Congress of the CPC put forward and elaborated on the theory of Chinese-path modernization as a major theoretical innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Practice has proved that Chinese-path modernization is workable and stable, and is the only correct path for building a strong country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” [1]1 The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in October 2022, at which Xi Jinping delivered the report and the concept of Chinese-path modernization was systematically elaborated. Chinese-path modernization has not only fundamentally changed China itself, but has also changed the world through developing itself, rewriting the paradigm of world modernization and creating a new form of human civilization.

党的二十大概括提出并深入阐述中国式现代化理论，是一个重大理论创新。习近平总书记强调：“实践证明，中国式现代化走得通、行得稳，是强国建设、民族复兴的唯一正确道路。”中国式现代化不但根本性地改变了自己，还通过发展自己改变世界，改写了世界现代化范式，创造了人类文明新形态。

Chinese-Path Modernization as a Major Transcendence of Western Modernization Theory and Practice

中国式现代化是对西方式现代化理论和实践的重大超越

In modern times, Western countries took the lead in embarking on the path of modernization, a path of economic monopoly-style modernization. Opening the way with violence and using industrialization as a lever, Western countries rapidly extended the capitalist organizational system to the whole world, forming a capitalist “modern world system” that effectively safeguarded monopoly interests. According to research by Thomas Piketty, author of *Capital in the Twenty-First Century*, since the 1980s, wealthy countries have pretended to support fair and open markets and universal development, but in reality, the organization and regulation of financial markets have caused huge amounts of income to be transferred from “Global South” countries to Western countries, and this amount grows year after year. [2]2 “Global South” is a term broadly referring to developing countries and regions, primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, often characterized by lower levels of industrialization and income relative to the “Global North.” Western countries also use their early industrial advantages to extract monopoly profits, a process full of unequal and predatory behavior. The world system dominated by Western countries is not only economic in nature but also a political system: the economic advantages gained through early industrialization give rise to a theory of cultural superiority, ultimately forming a hierarchical international system that protects monopoly interests. This international contradiction between monopoly and development is concretely embodied in Sino-US relations. One important reason the United States suppresses China’s technological progress and industrial development is its attempt to maintain a monopoly over advanced productive forces.

近代以来，西方国家率先走上现代化道路，那是一种经济垄断式现代化。西方国家以暴力开路、以工业化为杠杆，在很短时间内将资本主义组织体系拓展到全世界，形成资本主义“现代世界体系”，有力保障了垄断利益。根据《21世纪资本论》作者皮凯蒂的研究，上个世纪80年代以来，富裕国家假装支持公平开放的市场、全民发展等，但实际上，金融市场的组织和监管方式导致巨额收入从“全球南方”国家转移到西方国家，而且年复一年增长；西方国家还利用其先发的工业化优势攫取垄断利润，充满着不平等的掠夺性。西方国家主导的世界体系不但具有经济性质，还是一种政治体系，即通过先发工业化而拥有的经济优势催生出文化优越论，并最终形成维护垄断利益的等级式国际制度。这种垄断与发展的国际矛盾，在中美关系中得到了具体体现，美国之所以遏制中国技术进步和产业发展，一个重要原因就是试图保持对于先进生产力的垄断。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Chinese-path modernization is a major achievement of the people under the leadership of the Party through long-term exploration and practice.” Chinese-path modernization is a historical process of a “relay race.” After the founding of New China, our Party united and led the people in carrying out socialist revolution, achieving the most extensive and profound social transformation in China’s history, establishing an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system, and providing valuable experience, theoretical preparation, and material foundation for modernization. During the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, our Party made scientific decisions and overall plans, established the basic line of “one central task and two basic points,” implemented the reform of the socialist market economy system, and promoted opening up to the outside world. [3]3 The basic line of “one central task and two basic points” was formulated at the 13th National Congress of the CPC in 1987. “One central task” refers to economic development; “two basic points” refer to upholding the Four Cardinal Principles and upholding reform and opening up. This created the miracle of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, providing institutional guarantees full of new vitality and material conditions for rapid development for Chinese-path modernization.

习近平总书记指出：“中国式现代化是我们党领导人民长期探索和实践的重大成果”。中国式现代化是一个“接力赛”的历史进程。新中国成立后，我们党团结带领人民进行社会主义革命，实现了中华民族有史以来最为广泛而深刻的社会变革，建立起独立的比较完整的工业体系和国民经济体系，为现代化建设提供了宝贵经验、理论准备、物质基础。改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，我们党科学决策、统筹谋划，确立了“一个中心、两个基本点”的基本路线，实施社会主义市场经济体制改革，推行对外开放，创造了经济快速发展和社会长期稳定的奇迹，为中国式现代化提供了充满新的活力的体制保证和快速发展的物质条件。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has promoted comprehensive deepening of reforms, continuously improved the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advanced the modernization of national governance system and governance capacity. [4]4 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In 2024, China’s economic aggregate has reached over 134 trillion yuan, and its average contribution to world economic growth over the past five years is around 30%. This provides more complete institutional guarantees, a more solid material foundation, and a more proactive spiritual force for Chinese-path modernization. It can be said that Chinese-path modernization has rewritten the traditional liberal globalization narrative and constitutes a major transcendence of Western modernization theory and practice.

党的十八大以来，我们党推动全面深化改革，不断完善中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，2024年我国经济总量已经达到134万亿元以上，近5年来对世界经济增长的贡献率平均在30%左右，为中国式现代化提供了更为完善的制度保证、更为坚实的物质基础、更为主动的精神力量。可以说，中国式现代化改写了传统的自由主义全球化叙事，是对西方式现代化理论和实践的重大超越。

Chinese-Path Modernization Benefits the “Global South”

中国式现代化惠及“全球南方”

In recent decades, “Global South” countries have developed rapidly. From 2001 to 2021, the share of developed economies in the world’s total economic output fell from 78.84% to 59.08%, with the share of the G7 falling from 64.68% to 44.72%. [5]5 The G7 (Group of Seven) is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, representing major advanced economies. The economic aggregate of “Global South” countries has approached that of developed economies, and China has become the world’s largest exporter of goods for many years running. Chinese industrial products have not only undergone “quantitative change” but also “qualitative change,” and China has become one of the three hubs of the global value chain. According to customs statistics, China’s exports of electromechanical products in 2024 increased by 8.7%, accounting for 59.4% of total export value. The price advantage of Chinese products makes China the largest importer for many countries, while its huge market demand also makes China an important export destination for many countries. Economic development supports the realization of a truly modern lifestyle in China. China’s progress is also evident in terms of educational attainment, average life expectancy, and the construction of a social security net.

近几十年来，“全球南方”国家迅猛发展。2001—2021年，发达经济体占世界经济总量的份额由78.84%下降到59.08%，其中七国集团的份额由64.68%下降至44.72%，而“全球南方”国家的经济总量已经逼近发达经济体，其中中国连续多年成为全球最大的货物贸易出口国。中国工业制品不仅有“量变”，还有“质变”，已经成为全球价值链的三大枢纽之一。据海关统计数据，2024年我国机电产品的出口增长了8.7%，占出口总值的比重达到59.4%。中国产品的价格优势使得中国成为众多国家的第一大进口国，而巨大的市场需求又使得中国成为众多国家的重要出口国。经济的发展，支撑着真正现代化的生活方式在中国不断变为现实。在受教育程度、人均预期寿命、社会保障网建设等方面，中国的进步也有目共睹。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, pursue a mutually beneficial and win-win opening-up strategy, and constantly provide new opportunities for the world through China’s new development.” Based on China’s ultra-large market, complete industrial system, and full supply chain, and especially its spirit of independence, China has effectively promoted the “de-monopolization” of major world industrial products through independent research and development. By developing itself, China benefits the world, allowing people in other countries, especially “Global South” countries, to enjoy the conveniences brought by modern technology. For example, China is not only one of the world’s largest smartphone markets but also the world’s largest shipper of smartphones. Among “Global South” countries, Chinese mobile phones attract a large number of users due to their good quality and low price. China’s technological innovation also promotes the harmonious development of people, nature, and technology in unique ways around the world. For example, by providing high-quality, low-cost photovoltaic products, China is helping “Global South” countries seize the opportunities brought by economic globalization and promote the transformation and upgrading of the global energy structure.

习近平总书记指出：“我们要始终高举和平、发展、合作、共赢旗帜，奉行互利共赢的开放战略，不断以中国新发展为世界提供新机遇。”基于中国超大规模市场、完整工业体系和全产业链条，尤其是独立自主精神，中国通过自主研发有力地推动世界主要工业制品“去垄断化”，以发展自己而造福世界，让其他国家尤其是“全球南方”国家人民可以享受现代科技带来的便利。比如，中国不仅是全球最大的智能手机市场之一，还是全球最大的智能手机出货地，在“全球南方”国家中，中国手机因其物美价廉吸引了大量用户。中国的科技创新还以独特方式促进了世界范围内人、自然、科技的和谐发展。比如，通过提供高质量、低成本的光伏产品，中国正在帮助“全球南方”国家抓住经济全球化带来的机遇，推动全球能源结构转型升级。

In addition to hardware and infrastructure, Chinese internet enterprises are also actively participating in the process of economic globalization, helping “Global South” countries achieve digital communication by providing access to mobile broadband, thereby integrating them into the global economy. With the participation of Chinese enterprises, the proportion of internet users in Mexico increased from 44% in 2014 to 75% in 2023. Research shows that digital technology and economic growth are positively correlated. In Latin America, a one-percentage-point increase in mobile broadband penetration drives a 0.2 percentage point increase in GDP growth rate. In “Global South” countries, internet access is not a byproduct of economic growth but a driver of it; it is China that promotes the development of digital infrastructure in relevant countries.

除了硬件和基础设施，中国的互联网企业也在积极参与经济全球化过程中，通过帮助“全球南方”国家接入移动宽带促进多个国家实现了数字化通信，帮助他们融入全球经济。在中国企业的参与下，墨西哥的互联网用户比例从2014年的44%提升到2023年的75%。研究证明，数字技术与经济增长是正相关关系。在拉美，移动宽带普及率每提高一个百分点，就会带动GDP增长率提高0.2个百分点。在“全球南方”国家，互联网接入不是经济增长的副产品，而是推动经济增长的动力，是中国推动着相关国家数字基础设施的发展。

Many studies show that China’s foreign aid projects can not only promote the industrialization and economic growth of relevant countries at the economic level, but also promote ethnic harmony, reduce social conflict, improve the governance capacity of recipient countries, and help backward countries escape the trap of neoliberal globalization. [6]6 Neoliberal globalization refers to the global spread of free-market policies, deregulation, privatization, and trade liberalization since the late 20th century, often criticized for increasing inequality and weakening state sovereignty in developing countries. Chinese-path modernization has not only promoted China’s own development but also enabled the fruits of modernization to benefit “Global South” countries, providing the world with a brand-new modernization model.

许多研究表明，中国对外援助项目不仅可以在经济层面推动相关国家的工业化发展与经济增长，还能够推动族群和谐相处、减缓社会冲突，提升受援国的国家治理能力，帮助落后国家摆脱新自由主义全球化的陷阱。中国式现代化不仅推动了本国发展，而且让现代化成果惠及“全球南方”国家，并为全球提供了一种全新的现代化模式。

Chinese-Path Modernization Creates a New Form of Human Civilization

中国式现代化创造人类文明新形态

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Realizing modernization is the right and inevitable choice of the people of all countries. The key is to find a development path that suits one’s national conditions and conforms to the laws of human social development.” Western-style modernization is accompanied by plunder, exploitation, oppression, and hierarchical characteristics. Based on this system, the criterion for judging “progress” or “retrogression” is whether the development of the world order conforms to Western logic, stemming from a deeply ingrained cognitive bias of “Western-centrism.” [7]7 Western-centrism is a worldview that regards Western civilization, institutions, and values as the universal standard for judging all other societies, often leading to biased perceptions of non-Western development paths. Scholars holding “Western-centrism” attribute the rise of the Western world to the superiority of its institutions, culture, and even race, thereby deliberately concealing the dark side of the West. The development model of Western-style modernization has caused a severe imbalance in the distribution of global wealth, leaving many developing countries trapped in a “dependent development” predicament.

习近平总书记指出：“实现现代化是世界各国人民的权利和必然选择，关键是找到符合国情、符合人类社会发展规律的发展道路。”西方式现代化伴随着掠夺、剥削、压迫以及等级特性。以这一体系为出发点，判断“进步”或“倒退”的标准在于世界秩序的发展是否符合西方逻辑，源于根深蒂固的“西方中心主义”认知偏误。持有“西方中心主义”的学者将西方世界的兴起归因于制度、文化乃至人种方面的优越性，这使得它们的阴暗面被刻意掩盖。西方式现代化的发展模式造成了全球财富分配严重失衡，使许多发展中国家陷入“依附性发展”困境。

If we stand on a non-Western position, what we witness is the continuous advancement of a new type of economic globalization. On the one hand, the capitalist world system continues to oscillate, and the global expansion led by the West encounters the predicament of “deglobalization.” On the other hand, under the initiatives of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more countries seek cooperation in equal and just interactive networks. The economic globalization led by Chinese-path modernization continues to grow. Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, embodies the advanced essence of scientific socialism, draws on and absorbs all outstanding achievements of human civilization, represents the direction of progress in human civilization, presents a new picture different from the Western modernization model, and constitutes a completely new form of human civilization.

如果站在非西方的立场，我们见证的则是新型经济全球化的不断推进。一方面是资本主义世界体系持续震荡，西方主导的全球扩张遭遇“逆全球化”困局；另一方面则是在构建人类命运共同体和共建“一带一路”倡议下，越来越多的国家在平等、公正的交互网络中寻求合作，中国式现代化引领的经济全球化不断壮大。中国式现代化，深深植根于中华优秀传统文化，体现科学社会主义的先进本质，借鉴吸收一切人类优秀文明成果，代表人类文明进步发展方向，展现了不同于西方现代化模式的新图景，是一种全新的人类文明形态。

Unlike the order brought to the world by the rise of the West, the new form of human civilization created by Chinese-path modernization will feature shared development rather than beggar-thy-neighbor policies, common security rather than security dilemmas, and mutual learning among civilizations rather than the clash of civilizations. It sets a model for “Global South” countries to independently move toward modernization, and will inevitably be drawn upon by some countries.

不同于西方崛起带给世界的秩序，中国式现代化创造的人类文明新形态将会是共享发展而非以邻为壑、共同安全而非安全悖论、文明互鉴而非文明冲突。它为“全球南方”国家独立自主迈向现代化树立了典范，必然会为一些国家所借鉴。

(The author is Dean of the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China)

（作者为中国人民大学国际关系学院院长）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧