By Nirmal P. Acharya
Seventy-seven years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it has evolved from a poor and weak semi-colony into today’s superpower. According to official Chinese statements, the core force driving China forward is the Communist Party of China. July 1st marks the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Let us take an initial look at this “core force” of China.
The Communist Party of China was founded on July 1, 1921. It has gone through a difficult yet glorious 105-year journey and has been in power for 77 years.
When observing the Communist Party of China within the context of the world’s political parties, a common conclusion is that it is not a traditional “political party” in the Western sense, but rather a unique political organization. Its uniqueness and the achievements it has created are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. Distinctive internal characteristics
1) Representing “overall interests” rather than “partial interests”: Western political parties are often regarded as “part-interest parties” that represent specific groups in society. In contrast, the Communist Party of China is positioned as an “overall-interest party”, aiming to represent and safeguard the overall and fundamental interests of the Chinese people. This characteristic enables it to focus on the long-term perspective and overcome the constraints of departmental interests. Bearing “historical missions” rather than stopping at “electoral politics”: Many Western political parties’ core goals are to win elections, which can be called “electoral politics parties”. The Communist Party of China is defined as a “mission-fulfilling party”, having assumed the historical mission of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation since its establishment, and is capable of formulating and implementing national development plans spanning several decades.
2) Playing the role of “leadership core” rather than acting as a “philosophical club”: Western political parties debate and compete in parliaments, often criticized as “philosophical clubs” or leading to “soft government”. The Communist Party of China is the “leadership core” of the country and society, possessing strong organizational mobilization capabilities, and can efficiently implement national strategies to the grassroots level.
3) Implementing “multi-party cooperation” rather than “competitive political party system”: China implements the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. The various political parties are participating parties, and have a cooperative relationship with the Communist Party of China as “long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, sharing joys and sorrows, and mutual assistance” – different from the opposition parties, anti-party groups, or rotational governance models in the West.
2. Extraordinary Historical Achievements
Driven by the above-mentioned traits, the Communist Party of China has led China to score a host of remarkable accomplishments:
1）Leapfrog economic growth
China’s gross domestic product (GDP) surged from 67.9 billion yuan in 1952 to 134.91 trillion yuan in 2024; GDP per capita rose from USD 155 in 1978 to USD 13,400 in 2024, elevating China to the world’s second-largest economy .
2）Historic eradication of absolute poverty
Since the reform and opening-up drive kicked off, over 700 million people have been lifted out of poverty. In the new era, nearly 100 million poor rural residents have all escaped poverty under the current poverty standards.
3）Quantum leaps in science, technology and infrastructure
The “Two Bombs, One Satellite” program laid a solid foundation for national security. Continuous breakthroughs have been made with the global networking of BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System, lunar sample retrieval by Chang’e-5, and 10,000-meter deep-sea dives by the Fendouzhe manned submersible. China has built the world’s largest high-speed rail network.
4）Improved comprehensive national strength and global influence: China has fostered the world’s most complete industrial chain, and its manufacturing sector ranks first globally. China has put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, contributing Chinese wisdom to global governance.
5）Theoretical innovation and institutional foundation building
It has pioneered Sinicized achievements of Marxism including Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. China has established fundamental political systems such as the system of people’s congresses, as well as the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
6）Social progress and improvement of people’s wellbeing
China has nurtured the world’s largest middle-income group. It promulgated the first Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China, pressed ahead with the development of a law-based China, and exercised full and strict governance over the Party.
These characteristics and achievements together constitute the distinctive appearance of the Communist Party of China, which is different from many other political parties in the world.
Nepal has numerous political parties, but none of them can serve as the core force to lead the country. Even if it’s just one person, lacking a core force makes it difficult to even walk. If a country lacks a core force, where will it go?
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