October 18th-24th, 2017, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing. The new thoughts and concepts proposed by President Xi Jinping in his report have attracted world-wide attention.

By watching the 19th CPC National Congress live and documentaries, Institute of China Studies organized the international students to follow and learn about the report of the 19th CPC National Congress so that they could understand the new thoughts of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Many MCS graduates also paid close attention to the 19th CPC National Congress. The Laotian MCS graduate of class 2015 Leokham Inthavong even sent us his reading of the congress which was written in Chinese, in order to share his perception with the MCS teachers and students.

Leokham Inthavong was the secretary of Consulate General of Laos in Hong Kong and Deputy Director of North Asia Office in the Asia, Pacific and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos. He studied in Nanjing University as an undergraduate. In 2014, Leokham won the “Scholarship for Youth of Excellence Scheme of China – Master Program (YES China)” and thus did the master's degree of China Studies in Zhejiang University. After graduation, he returned to Laos and was worked as the Director of North Asia Office. In May 2017, he was promoted to Deputy Consul General of Consulate General of Laos in Guangzhou.

During his study in China, Leokham showed strong interest in China Studies. He carefully observed the Chinese society and took a lot of notes about Chinese macro-economy policy, infrastructure construction, energy conservation, environmental protection and daily life. He also actively participated in varieties of practical activities organized by Institute of China Studies.

Because of his good command of Chinese language, Leokham came out top in the study of many courses. His thesis was 'In Comparison Anti-Poverty Policy between the Lao PDR and the PRC', which was praised by the defense committee for the illuminating opinion and accurate case analysis. As he wrote in the thesis, 'the Laotian government pays much attention to people's well-being and devotes itself to eradicating poverty nationwide by 2020. In my opinion, as far as anti-poverty is concerned, China sets the best example for Laos.'

The full text of Leokham's perception of the 19th CPC National Congress is as follows:

As a diplomat who once lived and studied in china and has been engaged in the foreign affairs with China for a long time, I feel greatly honored to talk about my perception of the 19th CPC National Congress.

It is commonly acknowledged that Laos and China have always been good friends and neighbours. The people of the two countries support each other in the course of defending national independence and development and construction, so that the traditional friendship has been enhanced and consolidated. On April 25th, 1961, Laos and China established the formal diplomatic relations, which was the milestone in the history of Laos-China relations. In recent half century, as is cherished and concerned by the national leader of different generations, the cooperation between the two countries has been constantly improved and strengthened. Especially in 21st century, the cooperation has been obviously deepened. November 2000, President Jiang Zemin visited Laos officially and the two countries signed a joint statement in which they established the development direction of bilateral relations as 'long-term stability, good neighborliness and friendliness, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation'. September 2009, President Choummaly visited China and reached an significant consensus with President Hu Jintao in promoting Laos-China relations to comprehensive strategic partnership, which served as solid foundation for the constant development of Laos-China relations in the new era. Since then the high-level reciprocal visits has been frequent and the leaders exchange experience of governing, which continuously promotes Laos-China relations fast, deeply and effectively. In the field of economic and trade investment, the two countries collaborate most and in result China has been the No.1 source of foreign investment. The Number of Chinese tourists to Laos has increased yearly. By now, the Chinese government has offered aids to Laos by means of non-reimbursable aid and concessional loan. Especially the Laos-China Railway and Laos No.1 satellite have been the most strategical and historic cooperation projects. In addition, the Chinese government has also provided thousands of Laotian students and government officials with scholarship and training places. The Laos-China cooperation is fruitful and realistic. It has not only contributed greatly to the social development and construction of Laos and the very interests of people, but also maintained and promoted the regional peace, friendship and cooperation.

Personally, I think the Communist Party of China loves peace, values development and advocates win-win cooperation. The party pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and has made great contributions to the global peaceful development. The CPC emphasizes that the development of China depends on the regional and global peace, development and stability. The Chinese development mode leaded by the CPC can offer beneficial experience for the development of other countries including Laos. Last month, the CPC successfully held its 19th National Congress which was politically significant for China, the friendly neighbouring countries including Laos and and the whole world. In this congress, the general policies and guideline of the future development of CPC and China were formulated, and the grand blueprint for Chinese development and construction from the present to the middle of this century. By 2020, China will build a moderately prosperous society in all respects; from 2020 to 2035, the socialist modernization will be basically realized; from 2035 to the middle of this century, China will be built into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. These general policies are of great referential value for the governing of Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the harmony, stability, and economic development of Laos.

I also note that CPC and Chinese government have paid much attention to anti-poverty project in the five years since the 18th National Congress. The achievement of taking targeted measures to help people lift themselves out of poverty, and the future plan of the fight against poverty are among the important parts of the report of the19th National Congress. President Xi said in the report that, 'The original aspiration and the mission of Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and to struggle for the cause of human progress.' His words deeply impressed me.

As good friends and neighbors, there is great potential for the cooperation of Laos and China. In my opinion, we should effectively implement the Belt and Road initiative proposed by President Xi and the important agreement reached by leaders of the two countries. We should strengthen still further the cooperation in fields such as interconnection and interoperability of infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing process and import and export trade, green agricultural product and ecological tourism so that the two countries can complement each other's advantages.

I assume that the future of Laos-China cooperation must be bright as long as the two countries maintain the traditional friendship and work together. I will spare no efforts to contribute to the Laos-China relationship in my own way.

And finally, I wish that the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Laos and China would live long. I wish that China would realized China Dream. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank my motherland, Chinese government, Zhejiang University and Nanjing University for their support and the chances they have given me .

Leokham

From Guangzhou, November 2017

With the successful conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, socialism with Chinese characteristics provides wisdom and new thoughts for global development, drawing extensive attention around the world. Giusto Patricio Javier, graduate student of the class of 2017 from Institute of China Studies, Zhejiang University, and professor of Politics at Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, shared his views on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics in interviews with China Radio International (CRI) and CCTV.

Patricio is the winner of the “Scholarship for Youth of Excellence Scheme of China – Master Program (YES China)” and the graduate student of the class of 2017 from Institute of China Studies, Zhejiang University.

Patricio is the winner of the “Scholarship for Youth of Excellence Scheme of China – Master Program (YES China)” and the graduate student of the class of 2017 from Institute of China Studies, Zhejiang University.

Academic degree photo

During his time in Zhejiang, Patricio outstandingly has completed all necessary courses and thesis procedures. The courses he has taken included several fields of China Studies, ranging from Chinese history, Chinese Revolution, Chinese society and Chinese life. His thesis focused on the diplomatic thoughts of Xi Jinping and its meaning and expectation for the relationship between China and Latin-America, which was highly praised by the defense committee.

Patricio making presentation in class

The Program of China Studies lays emphasis on the exploration of Chinese society through “The Second Classroom”, with its curriculum covering many fields such as Chinese history, reforms, society and lifestyles. From east to west, from city to countryside, many places in China have witnessed the footprints of Patricio and his MCS-YES classmates during their study. He benefited from the fieldtrips a lot. Especially through the fieldtrip of Yan’an, the holy place of Chinese revolution, Patricio gained general comprehension of the history, present and future of the Socialism with Chinese characteristics, and got deep acquaintance with the contribution of China wisdom to the world, in particular the meaning of Chinese Anti-Poverty enterprise for the developing countries.

The visit of Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Museum(Patricio, the eighth one from left)

Giusto Patricio Javier expressed his confidence in the great rejuvenation of Chinese nation in the new era under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. He said in the interview that “I believe that the main achievements of Xi's administration in the past first five years have been: deepening the economic development with a focus on technology and innovation; implementing the "One Belt, One Road" Initiative (the largest infrastructure plan in the history of mankind), the green development with an impressive transformation of China's energy mix and the relentless anti-corruption campaign. Undoubtedly, these achievements will be part of his legacy. It's deepening in the next five years is what will pave the way to achieving the goals of the "two centennials”.

Appendix: the full text of Patricio’s interview with CRI

The last speech of President Xi Jinping is of enormous significance, for China and for the world. This is undoubtedly the Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which has attracted more international attention in history. This has to do with the leading place that China occupies today, a superpower on the rise, ready to surpass the United States. But it also has to do with the consolidation of Xi's undisputed and assertive leadership in China and its growing influence as a global leader, in times of much uncertainty, since Donald Trump came to power in the United States.

China has become a decisive factor of stability for the global order, as never before in its millennial history. In that sense, Xi's long speech defines a very clear path for China, facing the goals of the "two centenaries" (2021 and 2049). But Xi has also invited the rest of the world to follow the successful development model and join China, which, as Xi has said, "it will become more and more open." The greater openness of the Chinese economy is good news for the world, at the same time the United States closes and isolates, raising fear and uncertainty to its historical partners.

I believe that the main achievements of Xi's administration in the past first five years have been: Deepening the economic development with a focus on technology and innovation; implementing the "One Belt, One Road" initiative (the largest infrastructure plan in the history of mankind), the green development with an impressive transformation of China's energy mix and the relentless anti-corruption campaign. Undoubtedly, these achievements will be part of his legacy. Its deepening in the next five years is what will pave the way to achieving the goals of the "two centenarians".

The future of the CPC and the "Socialism with Chinese characteristics"

To achieve the economic goals, Xi has ratified the unquestionable leadership of the Communist Party for the government and transformation of China. To do this, it is essential to keep moving forward with the purging of the corrupt elements, while generating a "new thinking, for a new era". Precisely, "new era" is one the expression that Xi repeated most during his speech. Following the historical theories of Marxism-Leninism, and the contributions of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaponig, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, Xi proposed that both the Party and the “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” must be adapted to the new global context, which will have China emerging peacefully as the greatest global power by the middle of this century. 

It was very relevant that Xi remarked that China will never seek hegemony and expansionism. Chinese history backs it up. I believe that the great challenge that the Party faces now is the renewal of its cadres to expand the participation of members of the so-called “sixth generation”, who will be the ones who will lead China in the coming decades.

China in the face of tough global challenges

China emerges as the great superpower of the 21st century in a very complicated and uncertain world, full of problems and tough challenges. For instance: the slow recovery of the world economy, the growing threat of terrorism and separatism (which mainly affects Europe), along with the declining and growing isolationism of the United States. 

This means that China will have to assume a global role that it has never had in its history. At the same time, China will have to face an additional effort to implement its policies at the global level, mainly the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. This will also require additional support from China to its main partners in Asia and other regions of the world. This is coupled with the challenge of maintaining, in this context, a cooperative and peaceful relationship with the United States, basically due to commercial disputes and strategic issues arising from the reaffirmation of Chinese sovereignty in the East and South China Sea.