By Corneliu Vlad
Thursday, October 1st, will be a beautiful day at Beijing, without a burning sun and without rain, as meteorologists assure us. An ideal weather for the 100 000 demonstrators which will celebrate in the Tien Anmen Square 60 years since the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China, next to all the 1,3 billiard inhabitants of the world’s most populated country.
A memorable day, greeted as it should be: a new subway line was opened in Beijing; Chinese researchers realized a three-dimensional high-resolution map, of the Moon, based on the data obtained by the first Chinese lunar probe; at the military parade in Beijing will be presented 108 new or modernized rocket models; at Qufu, Confucius’ birthplace, was held the second World Confucian Conference; Ford started the construction of a plant which will annually deliver 150 000 Focus automobiles (the third biggest plant in China, comprising 100 ha) and the list of examples can be continued.
In six decades, China made a huge historical step, as never in history the life of millions and millions of people was changed to better in such a short time, as a Chinese newspaper remarked.
China is now engaged in an extensive reform program, named by President Hu Jintao “a new kind of Great Revolution”. The aim is to build a democratic, civilized, harmonious and modern state, a country which has already become one of the most powerful world economies, which continues to develop in an tireless rhythm, in an international context strongly affected by crisis.
It is “a moment to rejoice and to reflect”, as a Beijing newspaper wrote last autumn, when a homage was rendered to the Chinese inauguration of a new era of reforms and opening towards the world . In the 30 years that have passed since then, remarkable progress was achieved, but the agenda of the following years must contain “more, and not less, reforms”, because, as Deng Xiaoping was underlining, the reform architect, the country “will be confronted with more problems as it develops then it had at the time when it was at an underdeveloped level”.
Poverty was drastically reduced, national wealth problems (like those on health and education) are getting more and more complex, modern market economy is recording ascendant rhythms. In the same time, President Hu Jintao underlines, ”the aim is the reform, of course, but it must be achieved as a benefic development”, through a “slow advance strategy”, not through a shock therapy, like in other states.
Still, China’s performances are not at all “slow”, they surprise with their amplitude and their rapidity. The country’s foreign trade grew from 20 billion dollars in 1978 to 2 700 billion dollars in 2008, and the GDP for the same period, grew over 70 times. Of a great importance is country’s stability, because a Chinese saying says that “stability is of a capital importance”. Dutch politologist Willem van Kemenade, who worked two decades as a journalist in the Chinese area, recently observed that “a great achievement of China is maintaining its national unity and a general stable situation related to the whole nation”. China’s ascension, he added, generated in the Occident discuttions about the “Chinese danger “, but China brought and is bringing a considerable contribution to world prosperity and peace. Chinese products, cheap and of a good quality, are spreading all over the world (an American writer even informed in the title of his book that each fifth object in every house in the world is “Made in China”). The products, the Occidental politologist said, “contribute to the rising of the living standard in many countries, inclusively maintaining prosperity in Occidental countries”. China does not have the ambition to become a global political power, he added, on the contrary, it is serving a constructive role in maintaining world peace.
Presenting ideological, politic and organizatory orientations of Chinese communists, President Hu Jintao stressed, among others, managing with calm situations that are of interest for China’s sovereignty and security; overcoming political and economic difficulties, and also natural risks; rendering homage to the memory of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, to past generations of revolutionists; the necessity of democracy on order to achieve socialism and socialistic modernization; the necessity to learn from all that is good in the human society civilization, but without ever copying the model of Occidental politic institutions; wisely participating in economic globalization by means of keeping independence; harmonizing domestic and international tasks and rendering contribution to world peace and development. China cannot develop independently from the world, and the world needs China in order to develop – stated the leader of the Chinese party and state. China’s problems must be solved but the Chinese people in a Chinese way, without the interference of foreign powers into China’s domestic affairs; reform and opening politics must be harmonized with the Party and with the popular will, but also according to the time’s tendencies.
In the 60 years of existence, P. R. of China became an appreciated protagonist in the international life. China has diplomatic relations with 171 states, compared with 18 in 1949, assumed responsibility in solving world problems and obtained great successes in its international relations, especially in the economic, cultural and social fields.
Romania was one of the first states of the world which recognized and established diplomatic relations with P. R. of China. Romanian-Chinese relations are traditionally friendly and were never shaded. They developed through the years in reciprocal interest, but in front of them lie large expansion perspectives, waiting to be exploited as soon as possible.