The Seminar on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era & Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (II) Book Review was held in Cape Town, South Africa on Dec. 7. The event was sponsored by the Chinese embassy in South Africa and Independent Media, the largest print media in South Africa.
Lin Songtian, Chinese ambassador to South Africa, and Cedric Frolick, House chairperson of the National Assembly of South Africa, delivered keynote speeches at the seminar. Huang Youyi, chief translator of "Xi Jinping: the Governance of China" Volume I and II, Iqbal Survé, executive board chairperson of Independent Media, Ari Sitas, board chairperson of BRICS Think Tank Council as well as other experts also spoke at the seminar.
Lin said Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is a systematic and succinct summary of the new thinking, new ideas, new strategy and new measures of Xi over the past five years, which have been proven in practice as being effective and immensely popular; it also offers the guiding philosophy and the basic policy to unite and lead the Party and the Chinese people to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and provides the diplomatic guidance for China to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Frolick and Survé said they believed that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era provides the ideological guidance and points out a new course for the world today, and contributes Chinese wisdom and solutions to world peace, development and prosperity, which "has a universal guiding significance." Other speakers from South Africa also spoke about their belief that the CPC has always been putting the people first, seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and upholding the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, which has created a miracle of the world economy, and set up a model for the developing countries in Africa and other continents.
Attendees also agreed that there is an essential distinction between major initiatives put forward by Xi and the approach of the West. Xi's initiatives include the Belt and Road Initiative, a new type of international relations, and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Attendees said Xi's ideas show a vision beyond the ideology and carry distinctive characteristics of the time, hence injecting positive energy into the building of a better world.
