The 14th China lecture was held online and offline by China- Africa Institute (CAI) on Nov 15, 2022 under the theme of the global significance of Chinese modernization.
Professor Gong Yun is making keynote speech
Gong Yun, the keynote speaker, professor and Deputy Director-General of the Academy of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) shared his insights in the lecture. The lecture presided over by professor Li Xinfeng, executive president of China-Africa Institute. The participants online include Gabonese ambassador to China, 13 diplomats from 7 African countries to China, a number of African government officials, scholars and students.
In addition to the review of historic journey of Chinese people striving for modernization, Gong Yun introduced the characteristics of Chinese modernization and its global significance.
Prof. Gong pointed out in his presentation that China started to explore the idea of modernization as early as Qing Dynasty when the Chinese people were undergoing great hardships. Enormous efforts were made in the journey of pursuing the country’s modernization before the found of Communist Party of China (CPC) which had led Chinese people to the victory of new-democratic revolution. All those historic factors have contributed to the political precondition for Chinese modernization.
According to Prof. Gong, Chinese modernization has five essential characteristics, namely it is the modernization of a huge population, it is the modernization of common prosperity for all, it is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement, it is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature and it is the modernization of peaceful development.
Theories for global modernization have been developed on the basis of Chinese modernization, so that many other developing countries could have more choices to develope the way to advancing modernization with their own characteristics, said Prof. Gong.
Main venue for the 14th China Lecture
In Question & Answer session, African scholars and officials had in-depth exchanges with the speaker on the global significance of Chinese modernization and its inspirations to African countries. Prof. Gong encouraged all African people to unite as one and make efforts on the development of modernization.
Professor Li Xinfeng is delivering speech
Professor Li Xinfeng summarized that Prof. Gong has stated explicitly the condition, principle, inspiration and path during the development of Chinese modernization. The study of modernization is of great significance for African countries, and he initiated further discussion of the topic with African friends in the future.
Participants at branch venue - China University of Geosciences，Wuhan