Chinese-style modernization ( zh, s=中国式现代化, hp=), also called the Chinese modernization or the Chinese path to modernization, is a political slogan promoted by the

Chinese Communist Party The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victorious in the Chinese Ci ...

(CCP), boasting a model of modernization that purportedly contrasts with Western-style development, and emphasizing the strengths of the Chinese economic and political model.

History

The term dates back to 1979, when Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who mentioned it during a March 1979 speech about the

Four Cardinal Principles The Four Cardinal Principles () were stated by Deng Xiaoping in March 1979, during the early phase of Reform and Opening-up, and are the four issues for which debate was not allowed within the People's Republic of China. The Four Cardinal Princi ...

. It became a standalone phrase in its own right under CCP general secretary

Xi Jinping Xi Jinping ( ; ; ; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus as the paramount leader of China, ...

when, in April 2021, the '' People's Daily'' launched several articles on "dissecting Chinese-style modernization", leading rest of the Chinese state media to do the same.

Wang Huning Wang Huning (; born 6 October 1955) is a Chinese politician and one of the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He has been a leading political theorist and ideologist in the country since the 1990s. He has been a member of the CCP' ...

, top political theorist under Xi, is considered to be related in developing the term. The term featured prominently at the CCP " historical resolution" under Xi, that passed in 2021. The resolution said that Chinese-style modernization would further drive the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation". The term appeared 11 times at Xi's political report to the 20th CCP National Congress, held in October 2022. The term also was featured prominently at

the first session ''The First Session'' is an Extended play, EP by American alternative rock band Hole (band), Hole, released on August 26, 1997 on Sympathy for the Record Industry. The EP features the entire recording of the band's first studio session on March ...

of the

14th National People's Congress The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is the sitting electoral term of the "supreme organ of state power" of the People's Republic of China. It convened in Beijing, on 5 March 2023, and is scheduled to continue until March 2028. Elections for ...

in March 2023.

Overview

The term has been seen as an effort by Xi to focus on strengthening China's position in the world. It has also been used by Chinese leaders to envision a new type of development in the world; Xi said that Chinese-style modernization "breaks the myth of ‘modernization equals

Westernization Westernization (or Westernisation), also Europeanisation or occidentalization (from the ''Occident''), is a process whereby Society, societies come under or adopt Western culture in areas such as Manufacturing, industry, technology, science, educ ...

". According to Xi, Chinese-style modernization has "five characteristics" (), "nine basic demands" (), and "five major principles" (): In particular, achieving common prosperity is considered one of the key tenets of Chinese-style modernization under Xi; Zhang Zhanbin, an official at the CCP Central Party School wrote to the ''People's Daily'' that understanding the role of common prosperity is crucial to "clearly recognizing the major differences between Chinese-style modernization and the Western modernization path." Xi has stated that "Chinese modernization is socialist modernization", and that the leadership of the CCP is vital for Chinese-style modernization. He stated that without Party leadership, Chinese-style modernization "will veer off course, lose its soul, or even bring about catastrophic mistakes."

References

{{Xi Jinping Xi Jinping Thought Ideology of the Chinese Communist Party Chinese political catchphrases

History

Overview

See also

References