Editor's Note: Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has worked with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has boosted confidence and added impetus for development of Asia and the world. For the celebration of the 100th funding anniversary of the CPC, we are launching the “CPC in eyes of foreign military students” series, viewing China and CPC from the perspective of foreign soldiers.
By Gabon Army Lieutenant ESSONO OBAME François
Shortly before, when I talked online with my Chinese friend ,he said that this year is a special and important year as it is not only the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) but also the first year of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan.
What steps will China take to maintain its development in the future? I looked through relevant reports with this question in mind. Among them, what touched me the most is about advancing reform and opening-up across the board, and bolstering the momentum and vitality of development.China has become the world’s second-largest economy, but it is still actively responding to changes, proactively seeking changes, and opening the door wider and wider to embrace the world.
How can countries with relatively backward development keep pace with the times? This is a question I have been thinking about, which also makes me very interested in China’s economic development. In 2018, I went to the PLA Army Logistic University for one year of training. That year happened to be the 40th anniversary of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee and also the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. On such an occasion, I paid a visit to Shenzhen, the forefront of China’s reform and opening-up.
When I stepped onto the land of Shenzhen, I found that the wide and clean roads were bustling, and the high-rise buildings were dazzling. Shenzhen is an international metropolis and a modern city with dense high-tech enterprises. It is hard to believe that it was just an unknown fishing village by the sea in late 1970s. When visiting the Shekou Museum of China’s Reform and Opening-Up in Shenzhen, I learned that since Shenzhen became China’s first special economic zone in 1980, the trade and processing industry have been gradually flourishing with businesses of all types ccming here. The slogan “Time Means Money, Efficiency Means Life” was originally sent from Shenzhen and spread throughout China.
China’s reform and opening-up is of worldwide significance , since it has not only deeply changed China but also profoundly influenced the whole world. The CPC implements the policy of reform and opening-up to push forward China to pursue common development together with the world. In my motherland Gabon, many Chinese-aided projects, including the National Assembly building and the building of the Senate of Gabon, have become local landmarks in Libreville, the capital of Gabon. Gabon and China have carried out successful cooperation in infrastructure projects including roads, telecommunications, and electricity. In recent years, Gabon has witnessed faster economic development as a result of social economic reform based on three strategic pillars: green Gabon, industrial Gabon, and Gabon of services.Therefore, closer cooperation in broader areas between Gabon and China can be expected.
Keeping abreast of the trend of the times and working together with the rest of the world, the CPC has shared its experience of success and economic development solutions with countries committed to developing independently and eradicating poverty and backwardness. I have complete confidence in the future of Gabon and strong hope for Gabon-China cooperation.
(This article is based on an interview by the PLA Daily with Lieutenant ESSONO OBAME François assigned to Gabon Armed Forces, who had once studied at China's PLA Army Logistics University.)