Chinese path to modernization will contribute to world stability: Ethiopian scholar

Aerial photo taken on Sept. 27, 2020 shows the science and technology park along the bank of the Dasha River in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

Professor Yonas Adaye, a famous Ethiopian scholar and former director of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) at Addis Ababa University, said in a recent interview with Guangming Daily that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) not only sets the course for China’s future, but also has implications for the world, and that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind is a great contribution to the world.

Adaye said that global governance and security have become deeply integrated. The Ukraine crisis is not so much a case of the West containment of Russia as it is a case of Western hegemony over countries with a different ideology. There are chaos and conflicts in some parts of Ethiopia, too, the complete resolution of which hinges upon those countries waging the proxy war in Ukraine. Using financial and media tools, the West has spread lots of fake news to incite inter-ethnic hatred and conflicts – they’re still treating Africa with the slave trade model from centuries ago.

“It is against this international backdrop that the Communist Party of China convened its landmark 20th National Congress, which offers a different path, a different way of thinking and a different world view for development.” Adaye said China’s Belt and Road Initiative provides a new path to economic globalization. As a Chinese saying goes, “it is better to teach a man how to fish than to give him fish”. China has built schools, roads, railways and other infrastructure in Africa to boost the sustainable development of the continent, and this is like teaching us how to fish. Adaye believes that the CPC will continue to lead China forward with its excellent governance capability, and he looks forward to China playing a greater leadership role in global affairs.

When it comes to his view on the Chinese path to modernization, Adaye said that in all English dictionaries, modernization means Westernization, but the Western definition of modernization could be very dangerous because each country has its own unique culture. The Chinese path to modernization respects pluralism and diversity, focuses on environmental protection, talent training and democratization, and contributions to world stability. According to Adaye, “China offers an open model for global modernization that does not impose on other countries. China welcomes other countries to learn from its experience and is willing to develop together with other countries.” For example, the relationship China has built with African countries is not based on assistance or on a slave-trade mentality, but on a partnership philosophy. Thus, the Chinese path to modernization is one that respects humanity, works for the well-being of people around the world, and a path that yields win-win situation, and this is what makes the Chinese path to modernization attractive. The biggest difference between the Chinese and Western approach to modernization is that the former respects human nature, respects different ideas, values equality, and builds a community with a shared future for mankind. It’s not just for a certain country or nation, but for the entire humanity.

According to Adaye, China’s concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind marks a great contribution to the world as it reflects the Chinese way of thinking and embodies the fine Chinese culture. China promotes human progress by protecting the environment, eradicating hunger, and protecting the dignity of different races, while the West denies the rights of people of color because of the difference in descent. Thus, the concept of building a community with a shared future is one that serves the entire world, and that’s why China is able to exercise leadership in the international political arena. China is a true friend not interfering in the internal affairs of Ethiopia, but it’s taking a cooperative stance to promote peace in the country and end conflict by facilitating negotiations. In contrast, Western media have incited public sentiment and misled international opinion, allowing the conflict to escalate. China is cooperating in infrastructure construction in Ethiopia, helping Ethiopia with capacity building, and granting scholarships to Ethiopian students to study in China. “It is evident that China is taking real actions in building a community with a shared future”, said Adaye.