The Communist Party of China (CPC) opens the 19th National Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Foreign leaders, political parties and organizations around the world have sent congratulatory messages to the Communist Party of China (CPC) on its ongoing 19th National Congress, applauding China for its rising national strength and global influence.
In the past five years, they said, the CPC Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core, has made significant contributions to boosting China's social prosperity, substantiating the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and enhancing China's role as a stabilizer, accelerator and contributor on the world stage.
NATIONAL REJUVENATION
The 19th CPC National Congress "will inject new impetus into the fulfillment of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and the country's 'two centenary goals,'" said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Fico was among many foreign leaders who spoke highly of the CPC's efforts in promoting China's socio-economic growth and improving the people's welfare.
Established in 1921, the CPC founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and began China's reform and opening up in 1978. It rescued China from the darkness of domestic turmoil and foreign aggression and has turned it into a major country in the world.
Over the past five years, China's gross domestic product (GDP) rose from 54 trillion yuan (8.2 trillion U.S. dollars) to 80 trillion yuan (12 trillion dollars), contributing more than 30 percent of global economic growth. It has become the world's second largest economy.
Meanwhile, more than 60 million people have been lifted out of poverty. Over 1,500 reform measures have established general frameworks for reform in major fields.
The Chinese nation has stood up, grown rich, and become strong, and it now faces the brilliant prospects of rejuvenation, Xi said on Wednesday while addressing the opening session of the CPC National Congress.
"Achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park," Xi said, "It will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there."
GLOBAL STABILIZER
In the congratulatory messages, world leaders stressed China's role in maintaining global peace and stability, as China's stable growth and active role in tackling global hotspot issues bring more than confidence to the world.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China's economy expanded by an average annual rate of 7.2 percent form 2013 to 2016, outstripping the 2.6-percent average global growth and the 4-percent growth of developing economies, and becoming a robust engine of growth for the sluggish global economic recovery.
Meanwhile, China has reiterated its commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind, helped tackle frequent outbreaks of regional conflicts and disturbances, and played a leading role in the universal fight against global warming.
China is also the top contributor of troops and second-largest contributor of funds for U.N. peacekeeping missions.
To create better trade, infrastructure and people-to-people networks linking Asia with Europe and Africa, Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, which comprises the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
In just four years, dozens of countries have joined the initiative, and a series of institutions, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, have been established.
The Belt and Road Initiative "has gathered wide support of the countries in Asia and Europe," noted Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic. "I would like to say that an outward-looking China is of great global meaning and helps overall stability worldwide."
