IN March 2017, I attended a conference in Paris and Le Havre, France, titled "The Rise of Asia: History and Perspective. What impacts, what risks and what opportunities for the rest of the world?” The conference highlighted the global impact of the rise of the West, specifically Europe and the United States, which has led to major changes worldwide and the formation of a global order influenced by Western values.
However, there has been a recent shift in the world balance of power as a result of the emergence of Asia, particularly China and India.
Last May 2023, I received an invitation to join a media delegation for a visit to China from June 27 to July 7, 2023. The delegation, which includes journalists, professors, and bloggers will have the opportunity to travel to Beijing, Shaanxi, Hunan and Shanghai.
As of the moment I'm writing this, we're in Zhangjiajie City. This city is situated in the hinterland of the Wuling Mountains and in the north-west of the province of Hunan.
Based on my experience with the various people I spoke to and the lessons learned during this trip, it validated the discussions we had at the conference back in 2017. Let me share some of my learnings and the significant places that we visited that led me to this conclusion.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) celebrates its founding anniversary on July 1 each year. This date commemorates the establishment of the CCP in 1921.
It is a significant day for the party and is usually marked by various events and gatherings across China.
Last July 1, we went to Liangjiahe Village to visit the place that had a significant influence on the governance of President Xi Jinping. It is located in Liangjiahe in Shaanxi Province, China, and it was the place where Xi Jinping was sent to during the Cultural Revolution, from 1969 to 1975.
During his time in Liangjiahe Village, Xi Jinping lived and worked alongside the rural villagers, experiencing a humble and challenging lifestyle.
This experience had a profound impact on his life. He learned about the hardships and struggles faced by ordinary people, which helped him develop a deep empathy and understanding of the rural population.
Xi Jinping has often referred to his time in Liangjiahe as a transformative period in his life.
He attributes this experience to his values and policies, such as his emphasis on poverty reduction, rural development, and the well-being of people. He has emphasized the importance of staying connected to the grassroots and understanding the needs of the people to guide his governance.
Liangjiahe Village has become symbolic of Xi Jinping's commitment to the "Chinese Dream," which aims to achieve national rejuvenation, social harmony, and individual prosperity. Xi promoted the idea of achieving these goals by targeting poverty reduction, rural regeneration and improving the overall well-being of the population.