Xi's commitment to the people: 'If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too'

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has made many important propositions and statements on modernization, which has long been an aspiration of the Chinese people and a common pursuit of people around the world.

"If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too," Xi said in his speech at Session I of the 19th G20 Summit in November 2024.

China has firm resolve in advancing Chinese modernization and the broad-mindedness to share development opportunities with the world through high-standard opening up, Xi said during his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in April 2026. China will inject confidence and momentum into global economic growth through its own development, he added.

Deeply rooted in China's successful practice in pursuing Chinese modernization, Xi's ideas and statements demonstrate China's openness and inclusiveness, strong sense of responsibility and commitment to working with countries around the world to advance modernization and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all.

Under the leadership of Xi, China has consistently made the people's aspirations for a better life the starting point and ultimate goal of Chinese modernization, and steadily advanced common prosperity.

The outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) for national economic and social development adheres to the people-centered development philosophy and the goal of achieving common prosperity. It makes strategic arrangements to strengthen social welfare, improve people's livelihoods and advance common prosperity.

The document charts a blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years, while presenting a "list of opportunities" to the world.

Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has sought to align the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of all peoples around the world and contribute to the modernization efforts of other countries through Chinese modernization.

"Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries," Xi said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

In recent years, China and Africa have worked together to jointly advance modernization that is just, equitable, open and win-win, modernization that puts the people first and features diversity and inclusiveness, and modernization that is eco-friendly and underpinned by peace and security.

Since May 1, 2026, China has fully implemented zero-tariff treatment for products from 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, while further expanding market access for African exports through measures such as upgraded "green channels."

China and Central Asian countries have forged a China-Central Asia Spirit of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development."

Cooperation projects, such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the China-Tajikistan highway, the China-Uzbekistan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Park, and Luban Workshops, are overcoming geographical and technological barriers to unlock new potential for regional development.

China and Latin American countries have carried out in-depth exchanges on governance experience, jointly implemented a good number of "small and beautiful" livelihood programs and expanded cooperation in emerging fields.

Through initiatives such as government scholarships and training programs on poverty reduction technologies, China has helped lay a strong foundation for shared development.

China has also built "five cooperation frameworks" with Arab countries and established six platforms for cooperation with Pacific island countries.

It has offered zero-tariff treatment covering 100 percent of tariff lines to all least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China.

The Chinese people hope for a better life for people in other countries as well as for themselves, Xi said in his 2017 New Year address.

The four global initiatives proposed by Xi, namely the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) and Global Governance Initiative (GGI), have pointed out the direction for advancing the modernization of all countries featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

The GDI has helped build consensus on advancing global development and fostering new drivers of growth. The GSI advocates resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation to create a stable environment for development. The GCI promotes mutual learning among civilizations and encourages diverse paths toward modernization. The GGI aims to improve global governance systems so that people in all countries can enjoy a greater sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

Together, these initiatives have brought greater certainty to a world facing growing challenges and provided stronger momentum for human progress, responding to the shared aspiration of countries, peoples and individuals for a better life.

In November 2024, Xi witnessed the opening of the Chancay Port, a flagship project of Belt and Road cooperation between China and Peru. Today, the modern port is becoming a new hub on South America's Pacific coast.

In the spring of 2025, Xi and Cambodian leaders discussed plans for expanding China-Cambodia cooperation. Cooperation projects such as the Industrial Development Corridor, the Fish and Rice Corridor and the Funan Techo Integrated Water Resources Management project are expected to benefit people in both countries.

In October 2025, the Serbian section of the Chinese-built Hungary-Serbia railway began full operations, further strengthening Serbia's connectivity with neighboring countries and regions.

In May 2026, the Global Partnership for Poverty Alleviation and Development (GPPAD) was launched in Beijing. The partnership, jointly initiated by China and 53 other countries and nine international organizations, aims to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity that is free from poverty and pursues common development through joint efforts, injecting new momentum into global poverty reduction.

Like streams flowing into the sea and stars illuminating the sky, China's initiatives are taking root around the world, while stories of modernization from different countries come together to create a greater vision of global modernization.

"At all times, our hearts must be with the people, our work must be for the people, and we must do our best to improve the well-being of all the people," Xi said in his speech at the reception commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War on Sept. 3, 2025.

China will continue working with countries around the world on the path toward modernization, so that diverse modernization efforts can converge into a powerful force driving global prosperity and progress.