From December 2nd to 4th, the 2024 “Understanding China” International Conference was held in Guangzhou. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the conference.
With the theme of “Carrying Reform Forward to Its Conclusion: Chinese-Style Modernization and New Opportunities for World Development,” this year's conference brought together globally renowned politicians, scholars, industry leaders, and representatives from international organizations to deeply explore the important era mission and global significance of Chinese-style modernization in advancing the world's modernization process. It comprehensively showcased the distinctive features, practical pathways, and vivid scenarios of Chinese-style modernization, helping the international community better understand China, the Communist Party of China, and Chinese-style modernization.
Scene from the 2024 “Understanding China” International Conference
In his congratulatory letter, Xi Jinping pointed out that to understand China, one needs to understand further deepening reforms and advancing Chinese-style modernization. Today, China is accelerating the construction of a high-level socialist market economy, steadily expanding institutional opening-up, actively aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules, and actively creating a transparent, stable, and predictable institutional environment. The construction of Chinese-style modernization can not only fulfill the aspirations of 1.4 billion people for a better life but will also make new and greater contributions to world peace and development.
Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Minister of the Central Propaganda Department, read out President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter and delivered a keynote speech
Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, delivered a speech
Liang Zhenying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conferencemade a speech
Zheng Bijian, the founding president of the China National Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy and the chairman of its academic committeepresided over the meeting
The opening ceremony was presided over by Zheng Bijian, the founding president of the China National Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy and the chairman of its academic committee. Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and head of the Central Propaganda Department, attended the opening ceremony and read out the congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping and delivered a keynote speech. Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, delivered a speech.
Huang Qifan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Academic Committee of the China National Institute of Innovation and Development Strategy and former Mayor of Chongqing, and Jiang Bo, Chairman of Xi'an Peihua University
Xu Weixin, President of the China National Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy and former Vice President of the Central Party School, with Jiang Bo, Chairman of Xi'an Peihua University
Participants expressed that President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter profoundly clarified the great significance of further deepening reforms and advancing Chinese-style modernization, conveying China's firm confidence and determination to join hands with countries around the world in advancing the cause of modernization, inspiring the international community to further understand China, cooperate with China, and work together with China to advance the noble cause of human peace and development.
The 2024 "Understanding China" International Conference held a seminar on "Common Values of All Mankind and Mutual Learning of Civilizations"
On the morning of December 4th, the 2024 “Understanding China” International Conference held a seminar on “Universal Values of Mankind and Civilization Exchange.” Attendees of this seminar included Xu Weixin, president of the CICIDS and former vice president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, Issam Sharaf, former Prime Minister of Egypt, Liu Jiayi, academic committee member of the CICIDS and former deputy secretary-general of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Yusuf Wanandi, vice chairman of the Foundation of the Indonesian Center for Strategic and International Studies, Li Ling, professor at the National Development and Reform Research Institute of Peking University, Jiang Bo, chairman of Peihua College and vice president of the World Chinese Association, Gu Yu, deputy director of the Internet Special Committee of the China Economic Reform and Development Institute, Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Columbia University Center on Global Health and the President of The Lancet COVID-19 Commission, Ma Xingli, executive vice president of the World Chinese Association and founder of the Chinese Overseas Investment Foundation, and Yang Lijie, secretary of the party committee and chairman of the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation. The seminar was hosted by Huang Ping, president of the Hong Kong Academy of Chinese Studies. Participants and dignitaries reached a consensus in their exchange of views: only by promoting communication and exchanges and fostering mutual trust and mutual learning can the path of world civilization be stable and far-reaching.
Group photo of seminar participants
"Reform and opening-up are important tools for the party and the people to catch up with the times in great strides," said Jiang Bo, vice president of the World Chinese Association and winner of the World Outstanding Chinese Award, and chairman of Peihua College, after attending the 2024 “Understanding China” International Conference (Guangzhou). He felt deeply educated, encouraged, and inspired after listening to President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter. He stated that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core has united and led the whole party, the whole army, and the people of all ethnic groups in China, with great historical initiative, tremendous political courage, and strong senses of responsibility, to break through ideological constraints and barriers, further deepen reforms, and achieve historic changes, systematic remodeling, and holistic reconstruction in many fields.
Chairman Jiang Bo delivering a speech at the seminar
Chairman Jiang Bo believes that to understand China, the world must first understand Chinese culture. At the seminar, he promoted the extensive and profound traditional Chinese culture with a long history and introduced the origin of the word “China” and the cultural implications behind it, sparking a strong interest among the guests in exploring and learning about traditional Chinese culture.
"In 1963, the bronze treasure 'He Zun,' unearthed in Baoji, Shaanxi, bore the four characters 'Zhai Zi Zhong Guo,' which is the earliest source of the term 'China' discovered so far," he said. "'Zhong' represents the flag flying in the center of the clan, symbolizing impartiality, fearlessness, and non-aggression. 'Zhongyong' (the doctrine of the mean), 'Zhongli' (neutrality), and 'Zhonghe' (harmony) have become the traditional way of life for Chinese people."
Jiang Bo believes that to promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding and trust, education and the people-to-people level should take the lead. The essence of culture is to convey truth through culture and to cultivate people through culture, while the function of education is to inherit culture and enlighten minds. The two are inseparable and mutually reinforcing. The "He Zun Commemorative Certificate" project, supported by the World Chinese Association and initiated by the Chinese Overseas Investment Foundation, uses "He Zun" as its theme to promote traditional Chinese culture, showcase China's image, take "zun" (respect) as a gift, take "he" (harmony) as the most precious thing, interpret the civilizational genes of universal values, and allow global Chinese to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, wisdom, and values, while also helping the world understand Chinese culture, wisdom, and values.
Chairman Jiang Bo presenteda Peihua commemorative booklet to Issam Sharaf, former Prime Minister of Egypt
According to reports, this year's conference was jointly hosted by the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Guangdong Provincial People's Government, with the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government as the host. The three-day conference included an opening ceremony, keynote speeches, general speeches, guest dialogues, six parallel seminars, 14 special forums, two closed-door seminars, and a series of supporting activities.
