China Media Group: 

It is widely recognized that the Chinese people have made remarkable achievements under the leadership of the CPC. What do you think have been the Party's major contributions over the past 100 years? Thank you.

Qu Qingshan:

This is a question that is both important and has attracted wide attention.

From 1921 to 2021, the CPC has undertaken a splendid journey. In the past century, the Party has achieved many victories through trials and tribulations with the support of the Chinese people. How did we navigate those difficulties and win those victories? In my opinion, it is the CPC that has united and led the people to write a magnificent historical chapter with blood, sweat, tears, courage, wisdom, and strength. Looking at the great contributions made by the CPC to the Chinese nation and the Chinese people in the past 100 years, I think we can understand and grasp them from the following four aspects, which I will summarize into four profound changes.

The first "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the country, which completely changed China's miserable fate of being poor and weak and bullied and humiliated since the advent of modern times. China's modern history began in 1840. After the Opium War, China had gradually transformed from a feudal society to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal one. Due to foreign aggression and the feudal government's corruption, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. Therefore, the task of anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism became the major goal of pursuing national independence and the liberation of the people since modern times. Since its founding, the CPC has united and led Chinese people in toppling the three mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism through a bloody, 28-year battle and the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), which opened a new epoch in Chinese history. Thanks to more than 70 years of unremitting efforts, China's economic, technological, national defense, and comprehensive national strength have ranked at the forefront of the world. In 2010, China's economic aggregate ranked second in the world. As its international status raised unprecedentedly, the Chinese nation, with an entirely new posture, stands tall and firm in the East. This is the first "profound change" I wanted to discuss, which is in terms of contribution to the country.

The second "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the Chinese people, which completely changed Chinese people's miserable position of being oppressed, enslaved, and exploited. Under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese people realized liberation and became their own masters. In the old society, the Chinese people, especially the farmers who accounted for the vast majority of the population, became increasingly impoverished and even went bankrupt and suffered from hunger and cold without any political rights. Since the founding of the PRC, the Chinese people have become the masters of the country, society, and their own destinies. The people's sense of gain, happiness, and security has been enhanced continuously, and the essence of common prosperity has gradually been reflected in real life. The average life expectancy of the Chinese people has increased from around 35 years before the liberation to 77.3, which is the epitome of historical change. This is the second "profound change."

The third "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the Chinese nation, which completely changed the future of the entire nation. Before the founding of the PRC, the Chinese nation was constantly bullied by imperialist powers. The CPC united and led our people in the pursuance of national independence through unyielding struggle and in completely abolishing all unequal treaties and imperialist privileges imposed on China. In modern Chinese history, imperialist countries, big or small, have invaded China numerous times, and signed a variety of unequal treaties. The founding of the PRC achieved a tremendous transformation for the Chinese nation, which went from being mocked as the "Sick Man of Asia" to standing up. In the new era of China's reform and opening-up and the building of socialist modernization, the Chinese nation has achieved another tremendous transformation: from standing up to growing prosperous. Nowadays, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and the Chinese nation is expected to achieve a new tremendous transformation as it will go from being prosperous to growing stronger. The Chinese nation will embrace bright prospects in realizing rejuvenation. This is the third "profound change."

The fourth "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the world. Some researchers generalized this part as the CPC's great contribution to world socialism, while others summarize it as the CPC's great contribution to the cause of peace and progress of mankind. Others conclude that it is the CPC's great contribution to Marxism. I would like to say that it is the CPC's great contribution to the world, which changed the development trend and pattern of the world. The CPC is a political party that strives for happiness of the Chinese people as well as the cause of human progress. Since its founding, the CPC has had its own goal, while keeping the world's well-being in mind. Its original aspiration and mission was to seek happiness for the Chinese people, rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and progress for humanity. Therefore, the CPC always adheres to the principle of independence, firmly upholds the interests of developing countries and equal rights for countries no matter big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, and resolutely opposes colonialism, hegemonism, and power politics. The CPC holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the world. In my opinion, the CPC's great contribution to world socialism is making socialism with Chinese characteristics become the mainstay of world socialism, and injecting great vigor and vitality into scientific socialism in China in the 21st century. It provides new options for countries and nations worldwide to pursue rapid development while maintaining independence. It offers Chinese wisdom and approaches to solve problems in the face of humankind.

As I just mentioned, in 2019, I went to Togo and Côte d'Ivoire to promote the French version of "On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future." During the event, the Togolese president met with me and said he loved President Xi Jinping's books so much that he kept a copy by his bed, carried one when he went abroad, and read an article every day. The president also said that President Xi's books provided lots of wisdom for countries like Togo on how to develop and pursue the happiness of the people. I took 100 books to each of the two countries I visited, which were handed out immediately. I gave a presentation during the event and deeply felt that these books were very popular. That's my answer to this question, thank you.