Du Zhanyuan: Highlighting the Power of Thought and Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations
Since the launch of its first volume at the Frankfurt International Book Fair in October 2014, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has seen the publication of four volumes in 42 languages. Its overseas distribution covers more than 180 countries and regions, and it is available for loan in nearly 1,700 major libraries worldwide. Having received extensive attention and high praise from the international community, it has become one of the most widely translated, broadly distributed, and influential works by a leader in the world today. It serves as an authoritative text and essential document for the international community to understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Communist Party of China (CPC), contemporary China in the New Era, and Chinese-path modernization. For over a decade, the publication and distribution of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has ignited a surge in the international dissemination of Chinese thought and theory, with every overseas promotional and exchange event receiving active responses and enthusiastic participation from various sectors. Through unremitting efforts, the international communication of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has opened a new frontier for the systematic promotion and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories and the CPC’s governance strategies, providing new experience for strengthening international communication capacity and comprehensively enhancing international communication effectiveness on the new journey.
Exhibiting the Powerful Force of Truth
Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is profound in thought and far-reaching in influence, demonstrating widespread attraction and a powerful appeal. This fundamentally stems from the force of truth and the practical might of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The work fully displays the expansive vision of a leader of a major party and a major country who is both rooted in China and mindful of the world. It provides a comprehensive and systematic presentation of the profound reflections and scientific answers provided by Chinese Communists in the New Era to the "questions of China, the questions of the world, the questions of the people, and the questions of the times."
Decoding "China's Governance" and leading the great practice of Chinese-path modernization. Since the 18th CPC National Congress [1], the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in persisting in and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, and in advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization. It has established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing the fundamental follow-through and guide to action for building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China concentratedly reflects the developmental trajectory and essential content of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The published four volumes contain a total of 379 entries—including speeches, talks, addresses, instructions, and congratulatory letters—across 75 themes. These are closely centered on major questions of the era [2], such as "what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should we uphold and develop in the New Era, and how should we uphold and develop it; what kind of great modern socialist country should we build, and how should we build it; what kind of long-term governing Marxist party should we build, and how should we build it." These volumes comprehensively present the Party's major theoretical innovations from different perspectives, systematically reflecting the scientific system, core tenets, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They provide a vivid window for political figures, scholars, and ordinary citizens of various countries to observe China and Chinese civilization in the New Era and to learn from the experiences of Chinese-path modernization. As "China's Governance" receives increasing international attention, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has become the preferred authoritative text for overseas circles to observe and study China. Uzbek President Mirziyoyev personally wrote the foreword for the Uzbek edition and has promoted China's poverty alleviation experience in domestic pilot programs. Then-Kenyan President Kenyatta noted he "benefited a lot" after reading the Swahili version. Then-Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen suggested that Cambodian government officials, scholars, and students study the work earnestly to draw experience from it. During the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Chilean President Boric specifically carried the Spanish version of the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and asked President Xi Jinping to sign it. Readers from all countries are following the direction guided by the book to recognize and understand China.
Responding to international concerns and guiding the correct direction for building a community with a shared future for humanity. In the present era, changes unseen in a century [3] are accelerating, and global development stands at a critical crossroads. Facing common challenges for all humanity—such as peace and security, sustainable development, environment and climate change, and the governance of the internet and artificial intelligence—the international community expects China to play a greater role in global governance. With its high degree of concern for and profound reflection on the shared destiny of humanity, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China provides new intellectual inspiration for promoting world peace and development, occupying the high ground of international morality and resonating strongly with global readers. At the sites of overseas promotional events for the book and major international conferences like the Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum, the foreign-language editions provided for participants are often snapped up quickly, and guests from various countries express high appreciation for major concepts such as building a community with a shared future for humanity. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, in his monograph Yasuo Fukuda on China: Oriental Wisdom and World Peace, expressed high agreement with President Xi Jinping’s concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity. Former US Secretary of State Kissinger believed that President Xi Jinping's proposal of a new model for co-building a peaceful world would provide a brand-new line of thinking for the evolution of world order. Former SCO Secretary-General Norov attributed the book's bestseller status in many countries to the fact that "the views on national and global governance expounded in the book reflect the universal pursuit of common human values." Former Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov stated that President Xi Jinping is one of the most influential contemporary and future statesmen, and that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China will be a valuable asset for Kyrgyz politicians, officials, and all readers.
Demonstrating cultural depth and presenting a new atmosphere for exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. As the essence of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit in our times, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese culture and manifests the inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. It advocates for mutual respect and inclusive coexistence between different civilizations, allowing Chinese civilization—together with the diverse civilizations created by people of all countries—to provide the correct spiritual guidance for humanity. Xi Jinping: The Governance of China fully demonstrates the distinct characteristics and governance wisdom of Chinese civilization, highlights its open-mindedness, and expresses the beautiful expectation for the common progress of Chinese civilization alongside other civilizations. It is a comprehensive transcendence of the "clash of civilizations" and "civilizational superiority" theories, evoking a positive response from the international community. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif pointed out that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is not only a political work but also showcases the lives, dreams, and values of the Chinese people. Many well-known publishing institutions from various countries have proactively reached out, hoping to publish the local language editions of this work to satisfy the ardent demand of their domestic readers to understand China in the New Era and Chinese civilization.
Accumulating Valuable Communication Experience
The translation, publication, and promotion of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is a major project leading international communication work in the New Era. Every link in the entire chain—from multi-language translation to publication, distribution, and multi-dimensional promotion—follows the laws of international communication. By adhering to the principle of "prioritizing our own voice" while upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, staying close to foreign readers, and focusing on effectiveness, it has become a "gold-standard" brand for international communication in the New Era, accumulating valuable experience for building a more effective international communication system.
Persisting in integrating Chinese and foreign perspectives to accelerate the construction of a Chinese discourse and narrative system. We take the major ideas and concepts in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China as the core intellectual resources for accelerating the construction of a Chinese discourse and narrative system. By prioritizing our own perspective while ensuring accuracy, vividness, and the integration of Chinese and foreign perspectives, we have done a fine job in the external translation and transformation of Chinese discourse. The multi-language translation team for Xi Jinping: The Governance of China brings together high-level translation experts and authoritative revisers from more than 40 countries. With an attitude of striving for excellence, they ensure that the translations accurately convey the core tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era while fully reflecting President Xi’s linguistic style, allowing readers worldwide to appreciate the intellectual charm and leadership style of President Xi. Foreign readers and experts in the field of translation generally consider the translations of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China to be accurate, vivid, readable, and easy to understand. Former Kyrgyz President Otunbayeva stated that the Kyrgyz version of the book is vivid, interesting, and easy to read; it is profound in meaning and full of soul, eloquently presenting the authority and stature of a leader.
Persisting in precision and effectiveness to build a global publication and distribution network. In response to wide international demand, we established a publication and distribution model that balances independent translation and publication with international cooperative efforts. This fully activates local translation and publishing forces overseas, improving translation efficiency and distribution reach. Currently, we have collaborated with well-known publishing institutions in nearly 40 countries for local-language editions, forming an effective new model for international collaborative translation and publication, which has also driven the international cooperative publication of other China-themed books. After more than a decade of dedicated effort, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has entered over 500 mainstream bookstores and 50 major mainstream online platforms worldwide. It has been featured and sold at more than 40 internationally renowned book fairs, forming broad channels for effectively reaching overseas readers. With national libraries, university libraries, and public libraries as priorities, we have promoted the inclusion and lending of the book, providing a strong guarantee for the reading and research needs of overseas readers. We have also actively explored digital publication and distribution, launching digital readers in some regions to further enrich the effective avenues for overseas distribution.
Persisting in comprehensive efforts to establish a diverse and multi-dimensional promotional pattern. We have carefully planned around major activities and important events, holding nearly 50 high-level launch ceremonies, seminars, and reader meetings in 37 countries. Political figures from countries such as Italy, Albania, Nepal, and Mongolia have attended these events, generating broad social impact. By leveraging the advantages of comprehensive communication, we have established an integrated and full-chain working mechanism. We utilize various communication resources—including external publishing, media communication, cultural exchanges, and think-tank research—to form a diverse and multi-dimensional international promotional pattern for Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. We promote joint research and academic exchanges between Chinese and foreign think tanks based on the work, playing a positive guiding role in the overseas study of contemporary Chinese issues. We have established collaborative mechanisms with various domestic sectors and localities to vividly demonstrate the fruitful results achieved by different fields and regions in practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, telling the story of China in the New Era well and promoting a comprehensive improvement in the international communication effectiveness of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China.
The global publication and distribution of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has led to historic achievements in international communication in the New Era. In the process of undertaking the major task of publishing and distributing the multi-language editions of the work, the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (CIPG) has continuously deepened its study and understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We have deeply felt that this important thought is receiving ever-higher international attention and exerting ever-stronger international influence. Recognition of the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics is becoming increasingly widespread internationally. To do a good job in international communication, we must, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, always persist in making the external promotion of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era the primary task of international communication. We must more fully and distinctly showcase the stories of China and the intellectual and spiritual power behind them, providing theoretical guidance for the international community to understand China. We must always persist in making the "outward-facing and world-connecting" approach our conceptual follow-through for international communication. We must expand our global outlook and international vision, and in terms of communication themes and content, stay close to China’s reality, international concerns, and foreign audiences, showcasing the grand tapestry of the integrated development of China and the world. We must always persist in pursuing "accuracy, vividness, and the integration of Chinese and foreign perspectives" as our linguistic goal for international communication. We must strengthen national translation capacity building and better leverage the important role of translation in promoting exchange and mutual learning among human civilizations to enhance communication between China and the rest of the world. We must always persist in making a multi-channel, multi-dimensional external communication pattern the important support for international communication. We must strengthen coordination and collaboration, broadly pooling efforts from all sectors at home and abroad to let China’s voice, China’s theory, and China’s thought spread wider, further, and deeper.
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee [4] systematically planned a grand blueprint for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization, making major deployments for building a more effective international communication system. To do a higher-quality and more efficient job in the international communication of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, we must deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, systematically summarize and adhere to the good practices and experiences of the past decade, and advance with the times through reform and innovation. We must persist in striving for excellence, adhering to the highest standards and highest quality. We will further improve our compilation and translation capabilities, innovate our methods of promotion, and expand our communication channels and coverage. We will devote our full efforts to creating a model for the translation and publication of a leader's works in the New Era, comprehensively enhancing the international communication effectiveness of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and promoting a better understanding of our Party, our country, and our New Era by the international community.
(The author is the Director of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration)