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 Communist Party of China (CPC), also translated into English as Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in 1921, the CCP emerged victorious in the ...

(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 at a conference of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), during the early phase of the Reform and Opening-up period, and are the four issues for which debate was not allowe ...

. It became a standalone phrase in its own right under

CCP general secretary The general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party ( zh, s=中国共产党中央委员会总书记, p=Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Wěiyuánhuì Zǒngshūjì) is the leader of the Chinese Communist Party ...

Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...

when, in April 2021, the ''

People's Daily The ''People's Daily'' ( zh, s=人民日报, p=Rénmín Rìbào) is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It provides direct information on the policies and viewpoints of the CCP in multiple lan ...

'' 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 who is one of the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He is currently the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, chairman of the National C ...

, 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 great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a political slogan used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regarding its stated goal of strengthening the Chinese nation. The term was first coined by CCP general secretary Jiang Zemin in 2001. CCP ...

. 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 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 China, People's Republic of China. It convened in Beijing, on 5 March 2023, and is scheduled to continue until March 2028. Electio ...

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, see spelling differences), also Europeanisation or occidentalization (from the ''Occident''), is a process whereby societies come under or adopt what is considered to be Western culture, in areas such as industr ...

". 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