Yang Guangbin: The Global Significance of Chinese-path Modernization
The 20th National Congress of the Party outlined and profoundly expounded upon the theory of Chinese-path modernization, representing a major theoretical innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Practice has proven that Chinese-path modernization is feasible and stable; it is the only correct path for building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation." Chinese-path modernization has not only fundamentally transformed China itself but has also changed the world through its own development—rewriting the paradigm of global modernization and creating a new form of human civilization.
Chinese-path Modernization as a Major Transcendence of Western Modernization Theory and Practice
Since the dawn of the modern era, Western countries were the first to embark on the path of modernization, which was a form of economic-monopoly modernization. Paving the way with violence and using industrialization as leverage, Western nations expanded the capitalist organizational system across the entire world in a very short period, forming a capitalist "modern world system" that effectively secured monopoly interests. According to the research of Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century, since the 1980s, wealthy nations have feigned support for fair and open markets and universal development. In reality, however, the organization and regulation of financial markets have caused massive amounts of income to be transferred from "Global South" nations to Western nations, increasing year after year. Western nations have also leveraged their first-mover industrial advantage to seize monopoly profits, characterized by unequal predation.
The world system dominated by Western nations is not only economic in nature but is also a political system. Specifically, the economic advantages possessed through early industrialization gave rise to theories of cultural superiority, ultimately forming a hierarchical international system that maintains monopoly interests. This international contradiction between monopoly and development is concretely manifested in China-U.S. relations. A primary reason the United States contains [1] China's technological progress and industrial development is its attempt to maintain a monopoly over advanced productive forces.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Chinese-path modernization is a major achievement of our Party leading the people through long-term exploration and practice." Chinese-path modernization is a historical process resembling a "relay race" [2]. After the founding of New China, our Party united and led the people in carrying out the socialist revolution, achieving the most extensive and profound social transformation in the history of the Chinese nation. We established an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system, providing precious experience, theoretical preparation, and the material foundation for modernization. During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, our Party made scientific decisions and coordinated planning, establishing the basic line of "one center, two basic points" [3]. We implemented the reform of the socialist market economy system and pursued opening up to the outside world, creating miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. This provided the institutional guarantee full of new vitality and the material conditions for rapid development required for Chinese-path modernization.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, our Party has promoted the comprehensive deepening of reform, continuously improved the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advanced the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity. By 2024, China's total economic output has reached over 134 trillion yuan, and its average contribution to world economic growth over the last five years has been approximately 30%. This has provided a more perfect institutional guarantee, a more solid material foundation, and more proactive spiritual strength for Chinese-path modernization. It can be said that Chinese-path modernization has rewritten the traditional narrative of liberal globalization and represents a major transcendence of Western modernization theory and practice.
Chinese-path Modernization Benefits the "Global South"
In recent decades, "Global South" countries have developed rapidly. From 2001 to 2021, the share of world economic output held by developed economies fell from 78.84% to 59.08%, with the G7's share falling from 64.68% to 44.72%. Meanwhile, the economic output of "Global South" countries has approached that of developed economies, and China has remained the world's largest exporter of goods for many consecutive years. Chinese industrial products have undergone not only a "quantitative change" but also a "qualitative change," and China has become one of the three major hubs of global value chains. According to customs statistics, China's exports of mechanical and electrical products grew by 8.7% in 2024, accounting for 59.4% of the total export value. The price advantage of Chinese products has made China the largest source of imports for many countries, while massive market demand has made China a vital export destination for many nations. Economic development supports the continuous realization of a truly modernized lifestyle in China. China's progress in areas such as educational attainment, average life expectancy, and the construction of social security networks is also obvious to all.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must always hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, pursue an opening-up strategy of mutual benefit and win-win results, and continuously provide new opportunities for the world through China’s new development." Based on China's ultra-large-scale market, complete industrial system, and full industrial chains—and especially its spirit of independence and self-reliance—China has effectively promoted the "de-monopolization" of major global industrial products through independent research and development. By developing itself, China benefits the world, allowing the people of other countries, especially "Global South" countries, to enjoy the conveniences brought by modern technology. For example, China is not only one of the world's largest smartphone markets but also the world's largest source of smartphone shipments. Among "Global South" countries, Chinese mobile phones have attracted a large number of users due to being high-quality and inexpensive [4]. China’s scientific and technological innovation also promotes the harmonious development of people, nature, and technology worldwide in a unique way. For instance, by providing high-quality, low-cost photovoltaic products, China is helping "Global South" countries seize the opportunities brought by economic globalization and promoting the transformation and upgrading of the global energy structure.
Beyond hardware and infrastructure, Chinese internet enterprises are actively participating in the process of economic globalization. By helping "Global South" countries access mobile broadband, they have promoted digital communication in multiple nations, helping them integrate into the global economy. With the participation of Chinese enterprises, the proportion of internet users in Mexico rose from 44% in 2014 to 75% in 2023. Research proves that there is a positive correlation between digital technology and economic growth. In Latin America, for every percentage point increase in mobile broadband penetration, the GDP growth rate increases by 0.2 percentage points. In "Global South" countries, internet access is not a byproduct of economic growth, but rather a driver of it; it is China that is driving the development of digital infrastructure in these countries.
Numerous studies show that China's foreign aid projects can not only promote industrial development and economic growth at the economic level but also promote ethnic harmony, alleviate social conflict, and enhance the recipient countries' state governance capacity, helping underdeveloped countries escape the trap of neoliberal globalization. Chinese-path modernization not only drives domestic development but also allows the fruits of modernization to benefit "Global South" countries, providing a brand-new modernization model for the global community.
Chinese-path Modernization Creates a New Form of Human Civilization
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To achieve modernization is the right and the inevitable choice of the people of all countries; the key is to find a development path that conforms to national conditions and the laws governing the development of human society." Western modernization was accompanied by plunder, exploitation, oppression, and hierarchical characteristics. Taking this system as a starting point, the standard for judging "progress" or "regression" lies in whether the development of the world order conforms to Western logic—a view rooted in a deep-seated "Western-centric" cognitive bias. Scholars holding "Western-centric" views attribute the rise of the Western world to superiority in institutions, culture, and even race, which allows their darker aspects to be deliberately concealed. The Western modernization model has caused a serious imbalance in the global distribution of wealth, leaving many developing countries trapped in the plight of "dependent development."
If we stand from a non-Western perspective, what we witness is the continuous advancement of a new type of economic globalization. On one hand, the capitalist world system is in constant oscillation, and Western-led global expansion is facing the predicament of "de-globalization" [5]. On the other hand, under the Framework of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more countries are seeking cooperation within an interactive network of equality and justice. Economic globalization led by Chinese-path modernization continues to grow in strength. Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, embodies the advanced nature of scientific socialism, draws upon all the outstanding achievements of human civilization, represents the developmental direction of human civilizational progress, and displays a new vision different from the Western modernization model. It is a brand-new form of human civilization.
Differing from the order that the rise of the West brought to the world, the new form of human civilization created by Chinese-path modernization will be characterized by shared development rather than "beggar-thy-neighbor" policies, common security rather than a security paradox, and mutual learning among civilizations rather than a clash of civilizations. It sets an example for "Global South" countries to move toward modernization independently and self-reliantly and will inevitably be drawn upon by other nations.
(The author is the Dean of the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China)
Source: People's Daily (February 5, 2025, Page 09)
Web Editor: Hui Hui