Two  months ago, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of  the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully concluded. At the  session, the Central Committee considered and adopted the Resolution of  the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further  Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization  (hereinafter referred to as the Resolution), had in-depth assessment of  the new context and new challenges of Chinese modernization, and laid  out systemic planning for further deepening reform comprehensively. This  plenum is also an important window to learn about China in a more  balanced and all-round manner. I want to take this opportunity to  explain why this plenum is so important with the help of three keywords.

The  first keyword is reform. Reform is the source of strength of Chinese  modernization. Since the 1980’s, from reform to deepening reform  comprehensively and to further deepening reform comprehensively, China  has kept unleashing productive forces, adjusting  the relations of  production, and unlocking social vitality. China has created the twin  miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability. The  third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee is the tenth third plenum  themed around reform. At the plenum, the overall objectives for further  deepening reform comprehensively were made clear: to continue improving  and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and  modernize China’s system and capacity for governance. By 2035, we will  have finished building a high-standard socialist market economy in all  respects, further improved the system of socialism with Chinese  characteristics, generally modernized our system and capacity for  governance, and basically realized socialist modernization. All of this  will lay a solid foundation for building China into a great modern  socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century. The  Resolution rolled out over 300 important reform measures, all of which  will be completed by 2029. This shows China’s resolve to see reform  through and a strong sense of responsibility in fulfilling these  objectives.

The  second keyword is opening up. Opening up is the defining feature of  Chinese modernization. Reform and opening up are mutually reinforcing.  To promote reform and development through opening up has proven to be  successful in China’s reform and development. It was pointed out in the  Resolution that we must remain committed to the basic state policy of  opening to the outside world, enhance our capacity for opening up while  expanding international cooperation and develop new institutions for a  higher-standard open economy. At the plenum, the Central Committee made  planning for steadily expanding institutional opening up, deepening the  foreign trade structural reform, further reforming the management  systems for inward and outward investment, optimizing the layout for  regional opening up, and improving the mechanisms for high-quality  cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. China has contributed  over 30 percent to world economic growth for years, kept shortening the  negative list for foreign investment, and established platforms for  international economic and trade cooperation such as the China  International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in  Services, and the China International Consumer Products Expo. China has  opened its door wider, which will not only enable the international  community to better benefit from China’s development, but also make it  an international consensus that China’s development is promising.

The  third keyword is high-quality development. High-quality development is  our primary task in building China into a modern socialist country in  all respects. It is essential that we apply the new development  philosophy to steer reform and ground our efforts in the new stage of  development. We must deepen supply-side structural reform, improve  incentive and constraint mechanisms for promoting high-quality  development, and strive to create new growth drivers and strengths. In  the first half of 2024, the value added of China’s high-tech  manufacturing above the designated size accounted for 15.8 percent of  industrial enterprises above the designated size. Investment in  high-tech industries increased by 10.6 percent year-on-year. The output  of smart and green products such as new energy vehicles, service robots,  integrated circuits, and solar cells maintained double digit growth.  The newly released Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first 3A game, has become  a smash-hit among global gamers as it recreates Chinese legend by using  advanced digital technology. All these are vivid examples of China’s  efforts to channel various types of advanced production factors toward  the development of new quality productive forces. China will continue to  advance Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality  development and create new opportunities for the world with China’s new  development.

Chinese  modernization will bring new opportunities for China-Belgium  cooperation. Belgium was among the first countries that had warmly  welcomed China’s reform and opening up policy more than 40 years ago,  and one the first western countries to invest and set up businesses in  China. Earlier this month, Mr. Benjamin Herman, a college student from  Belgium won the championship of the 23rd “Chinese Bridge” global finals.  The Chinese embassy in Belgium held the 2024 Farewell Reception for CSC  Belgian Students last month, contributing to mutual understanding  between the Chinese and Belgian youth. In March this year, Belgian pork  products entered the Chinese market again, benefiting almost 6,000  Belgian pig farmers. In 2023, China-Belgium trade reached EUR36 billion,  twice as much as that of ten years ago. The Alibaba Cainiao Liège eHub  has cemented Belgium’s position as a logistics hub in Europe, and the  COSCO Shipping (Port) Zeebrugge Terminal has raised Belgium port’s  international profile. Reform and opening up has provided strong  underpinning for China and Belgium to expand practical cooperation, and  Chinese modernization will inject unremitting impetus for China and  Belgium to usher in a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation.

This  year marks the tenth anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s  historic state visit to Belgium and the establishment of China-Belgium  all-round partnership of friendly cooperation. The Chinese side will  work with the Belgian side to continue to actively implement the common  understandings reached by leaders of our two countries, jointly promote  development, security and civilization progress, and pool strength to  build a community with a shared future for humankind, advance the  modernization process of the world, and create a better future for  humanity.