To adaptive development governance
By Dr. Upendra Gautam
It is indeed a pleasure to share some thoughts on the promotional event of the English version of the 4th volume of the book on The Governance of China by the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the appropriate occasion provided by “the South Asia International Book Fair November, 2023.” On a happier note, the promotional event is taking place in the mid-Trans-Himalayan neighborhood of South Asia and China.
For China Study Center Nepal, it is a delightful moment. Our Center is delighted to participate in the event as a co-organizer joining hands with the organizing institutions, each with an advantageous comparative role in planning and managing the promotional event.
It is a matter of importance for our Center to have all along remain contractually associated with the translation, publication, and dissemination of the previous three volumes of The Governance in China in the Nepali language. The Nepali language version of the third volume of the book is yet to be published. The relevant contracting publication and agencies may have been playing their required role to meet the objective of the contract. The Center’s secretary Prakash Babu Paudel is scheduled to sign the translation and publication agreement for the Nepali version of the fourth volume in a ceremony in the second week of December, in Beijing.
Xi’s books are a key source of communication of China with the contemporary world building a bridge of better understanding between China and the world. After I had the opportunity to read.
Xi’s The Governance of China, Vo. I, I have expressed my impression about the book in this line, the book is an essential read for the people who want to understand China, its internal strength and character. And my forgone conclusion was: “With China, Nepal loses nothing but Chains” (The Rising Nepal Daily, 19 January 2017).
In changing times, China Study Center Nepal has remained instrumental in building communication between Nepal’s political leaders and important Chinese institutions. In 2007 July, CPN-Maoist leaders had an extensive discussion on Nepal and regional politics with Prof. Li Shaoxin, Vice-president of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR). In 2008, March, He YaFei, China’s Assistant Foreign Minister, during a reception organized by the Center in Kathmandu, socialized with people from all walks of life including rebel and mainstream political parties, security and civil organizations. The direct bilateral communication has continued all these years.
Last September, during his official visit to China, Prime Minister Prachanda had communication with President Xi and Premier Li. His visit was outstanding in reshaping Nepal-China development cooperation to get mainly structured on local governance. Adapting development cooperation to the needs and aspiration of the people in the autonomous local governments reflect the institutional values of Nepal and continuous reform and resilience in the second BRI golden decade of cooperation.
China Response
Xi’s fourth volume is a manifesto of confidence in China’s cultural and civilizational strength and its rejuvenation supported by pro-people governance. Xi, the confidence in China has led him to share his people-based inclusive, justice-oriented and resilient governance system to adapt to emerging geo-ecological and socio-economic equilibrium. This confidence explains what Xi visualizes when he says Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Indeed, Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era increasingly looked to synthesizing Marx’s social class struggle with Confucius’s human harmony inspiring people’s fascination with how and when Confucius and Marx started connecting each other in China.
It is important to read this book to understand China’s internal strength and the confidence it derives from its strength. It is also the way we can sincerely connect with China. May I conclude the promotional event with the words of Confucius! As if he is telling Xi: You have been discharging your key responsibility to develop for the good of the whole. You should be proud to have played a key role in enabling them to reach their full potential.[i] I hope Xi’s book promotional event in Kathmandu enables us to realize our full potential.
[i] The Confucius saying is slight adaptation of Chapter 18 of Book 14 of the Analects of Confucius.
The writer is the Secretary General of the China Study Center Nepal
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.
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