by Ong Tee Keat
I'd like to take this propitious opportunity to warmly congratulate the Communist Party of China (CPC) on marking the 105th anniversary of its founding. In retrospect, the party's birth in 1921 was not merely a political milestone, but also a timely, historically necessary response to a nation then languishing under the subjugation, intimidation and sovereign aggression perpetrated by the foreign imperialist powers.
From its very inception, the CPC's revolutionary trajectory has been indissolubly intertwined with the well-being of the Chinese people and the future of the nation, remaining firmly rooted in the popular interests it vows to represent.
The founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, forged through the blood, toil, tears and sweat of the Chinese people, marked the emergence of a transformed China on the world stage.
Crucially, the dire, immediate necessity of rebuilding a nation did not deter the New China from proactively partaking in the formulation of the Ten Principles of Bandung. These principles laid the indispensable foundations for the Non-Aligned Movement during the height of the Cold War.
By steadfastly standing alongside the developing world, the CPC chose the right side of history. This unwavering alignment has long resonated with the deepest aspirations of the global majority. Today, China's consistent, unyielding commitment to the United Nations (UN) Charter continues to rekindle global hopes for upholding the current international order that has been repeatedly muddled by the unilateral overreach of the reigning hegemon. In fact, in resisting hegemony, China has consistently been recognized as a steadfast flag-bearer for the oppressed.
Furthermore, the strategic rollout of global initiatives corroborates Beijing's readiness to assume greater institutional responsibilities in contemporary global governance. This sophisticated suite of initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and the latest Global Governance Initiative (GGI), forms a comprehensive and mutually reinforcing architecture. Together, they constitute Chinese solutions to pressing systemic challenges, all of which are inextricably linked to the preservation of sustainable peace and collective order.
The GDI, launched in 2021, zeroes in on sustainable development, thereby aligning seamlessly with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
China's monumental achievement in lifting over 800 million people out of poverty over the past four decades stands as an undeniable testament to the CPC's commitment to emancipating its populace from destitution. Eradicating absolute poverty ten years ahead of the UN schedule is a miraculous feat that serves as an inspirational blueprint for others to emulate.
To the Global South, the GDI offers an alternative paradigm: practical, demand-driven and horizontally integrated cooperation, backed by dedicated mechanisms like the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. A concrete manifestation of this cooperative spirit is the sustainable development center in Shanghai, established in partnership with the UN Development Program to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Parallelly, the GSI, launched in 2022 and supported by over 130 countries and international organizations, champions the profound doctrine of indivisible security, asserting that no state should unilaterally enhance its own security at the expense of others' legitimate concerns.
This year marks the third anniversary of the GCI. The initiative, which focuses on robust civilizational dialogue, has been pivotal in restoring civilizational confidence across the developing world. By flatly rejecting assertions of cultural superiority, it successfully debunks the West-centric myth that Westernization represents the singular path to modernization.
The global resonance of this narrative is clearly reflected in quantifiable metrics. According to a barometric Global Civilization Initiative poll surveying over 15,000 participants across 40 countries, approximately 70 percent of respondents view Chinese civilization as an important stabilizing force for global governance, finding its core values deeply relevant to developing nations. This further corroborates the trend that China's success story has evolved into an inspiring template for emerging economies striving for shared prosperity.
Ultimately, the CPC has proven its profound vigor in evolving from a grassroots-based revolutionary party into a governing force that remains highly innovative in changing times. In this context, the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization is a clear case in point. Formed as a critical pillar within China's Global AI Governance Action Plan, the organization is well-poised to coordinate international AI regulation, foster inclusive technological development, and decisively bridge the digital and intelligence gaps that threaten to leave the Global South behind.
From the Chinese perspective, the core issue of our era is not merely technological competition within a framework of zero-sum rivalry; rather, it is about how the global majority can harness innovation to improve productivity, expand human opportunities and strengthen collective competitiveness. Plainly put, the CPC's modern statecraft remains anchored in the structural interests of the global majority, vividly aligning its future trajectory with the very ideals that defined its inception 105 years ago.
Editor's note: Ong Tee Keat is the president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific, former deputy speaker of the Lower House of the Malaysian Parliament.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.
