In 2012, the new generation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, met with Chinese and foreign journalists at the Great Hall of the People. At the meeting, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed, “The people’s aspiration for a better life is the goal for which we strive.” Two weeks later, while visiting the exhibition The Road to Rejuvenation, General Secretary Xi expressed his firm conviction that the goals of building a moderately prosperous society, building China into a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious modern socialist country, and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation would definitely be achieved.
Over the past fourteen years, the Chinese people have remained closely united around the CPC Central Committee and worked steadily toward these goals. China has eradicated absolute poverty, advanced innovation-driven development, and continuously improved people’s livelihoods. Looking back, how has the CPC led the Chinese people in turning solemn commitments into reality?
The confidence to honor the promise comes from the light of truth
Xi Jinping's ideology provided fundamental guidance for China’s development. It offers a comprehensive approach to reform, development and stability, as well as China’s domestic and foreign affairs and governance, while providing a scientific worldview and methodology for understanding and solving problems.
A vivid example is China’s targeted poverty alleviation campaign. In 2015, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the requirements of “targeted poverty alleviation,” summarized as the “six precisions”: targeting the right people, designing the right projects, allocating funds effectively, tailoring measures to individual households, assigning officials to specific villages, and delivering tangible results.
Guided by these principles, countless poverty alleviation officials went into villages and households, identified the root causes of poverty, and adopted measures suited to local conditions. As a result, nearly 100 million rural poor people were lifted out of poverty, with access to food, education, medical care and safe housing substantially improved.
The lesson is clear: the more difficult the task, the more important it is to remain clear-headed and confident, and to translate broad goals into concrete steps. Today, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and countries are facing new uncertainties in their development. The Maldives is likewise navigating an ever-changing international environment. China is willing to share its development experience with the Maldives, but more importantly, we believe that the Maldivian people have the wisdom and ability to find a development path suited to their own national circumstances and turn their aspirations for a better life into reality step by step.
The courage to honor the promise comes from self-revolution
Many political parties, after being in power for a prolonged period, risk falling into entrenched interests, organizational laxity and detachment from the people. The key to addressing this challenge for the Communist Party of China lies in its spirit of self-revolution—the courage to turn the blade inward.
This courage is directly linked to the credibility of its commitments. Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC has waged an uncompromising campaign against corruption, targeting corrupt officials at all levels and pursuing fugitives who had fled abroad. It has also strengthened institutions, supervision and the use of digital technologies to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption work.
This profound process of self-revolution has tackled long-standing problems, eliminated serious risks and strengthened the Party’s relationship with the people. A political party capable of confronting and correcting its own problems is one that possesses the confidence to honor its commitments.
If the “light of truth” answers the question of “where to go,” then “self-revolution” answers the question of “how to stay on course and go farther.” In a complex and volatile world, no country has an easy path. For the Maldives, maintaining national unity and supporting efforts to advance development amid difficulties are invaluable sources of strength. China believes that when the common interests of the country and its people are placed first, and when people stand together through difficult times, pressure can be transformed into the driving force for progress.
The resolve to honor the promise comes from sound guidance
Once the direction is clear, a country must follow a path suited to its own realities. China’s path to modernization is rooted in its national conditions and draws on its own history and traditions. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, countries moving toward modernization must follow the general laws of modernization while, more importantly, ensuring that their paths are suited to their own realities.
China’s development provides a vivid example. Following reform and opening up, China leveraged its abundant labor resources and comparative advantages, making garments, furniture and household appliances symbols of “Made in China.” In recent years, China has accelerated its green transition. Electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products—the “new trio”—have become increasingly competitive globally and contributed to global energy transition and emissions reduction.
Today, artificial intelligence, robotics and innovative medicines are emerging as another important group of growth industries. These developments reflect China’s continuous efforts to move from traditional manufacturing toward innovation-driven development.
Over the past several decades, China has moved from “Made in China” to the “new trio” and toward emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and robotics. This demonstrates that a development path is not set in stone, nor can a country have all the answers from the beginning. What matters is to remain steadfast, continue exploring and improve through practice. As long as we do not lose confidence in the face of temporary difficulties or lose our sense of direction amid external changes, we can continue to open up new space for development.
The vision behind the promise lies in embracing the world
Chinese civilization has long cherished the vision of “the world as one family,” advocating universal harmony and peaceful coexistence among nations. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, offering Chinese solutions to global challenges.
China has always held that development is a right of all countries, not a privilege monopolized by a few. Through these global initiatives, China has charted a course toward building a community with a shared future for humanity, while the Belt and Road Initiative has provided a vivid illustration of this vision.
As an important link in the Indian Ocean along the Maritime Silk Road, China and the Maldives have set an example of how countries, regardless of size, can treat each other as equals, respect each other and pursue common development. In September 2025, President Mohamed Muizzu paid his second official visit to China since taking office. The two countries signed a series of important cooperation documents, further consolidating and deepening the friendship between China and the Maldives.
Today, the Malé–Vilimalé Road Redevelopment Project is progressing in an orderly manner, while construction of the China-Maldives Friendship Hospital is about to officially begin. In the future, many more projects that benefit the peoples of both countries will stand as lasting testaments to our friendship. The Chinese government and Chinese Communists will continue to honor their commitments through concrete action.
Fourteen years ago, the Communist Party of China made a solemn commitment to the Chinese people. Over the past fourteen years, the Chinese people have turned that commitment into reality through hard work and perseverance. This has not been a smooth journey without difficulties. Rather, China has remained firm in its direction amid challenges, refined its approach through practice, and united and worked hard in overcoming difficulties. That is precisely why this experience is worthy of sharing with our friends.
For the Maldives today, what we want to share is not a ready-made answer, but a sincere word of encouragement: every country has its own difficulties, and every country also possesses its own strengths. The more rapidly the profound changes unseen in a century unfold, the more important it is to remain confident, cherish unity, believe in our own people, and support every effort conducive to national stability and development.
China’s own experience demonstrates that the road may be long and arduous, but difficulties are not something to fear. What matters is to remain firm in our direction and never stop moving forward. We believe that the Maldivian people are capable of following their own path successfully.