Chinese and Peruvian Experts Discussing Governance – China-Peru Readers Meeting for Xi Jinping: The Governance of China Held in Lima, Peru

On November 5 local time, a China-Peru readers meeting for Xi Jinping: The Governance of China was held in Lima, the capital city of Peru, under the auspices of the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China and China International Communications Group (CICG). The event was organized by Foreign Languages Press (FLP) and the CICG Center for the Americas.

▲ Venue of the event

About 150 guests from China and Peru attended the event, including Executive Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee Hu Heping, Chinese Ambassador to Peru Song Yang, CICG Chief Editor Gao Anming, Peruvian Congressman and Peru-China Friendship Parliamentary League President Gustavo Jon Tay, El Peruano Director and Chief Editor Félix Paz, Former Peruvian Minister of Production and Former President of the Peruvian Association of Exporters (ADEX) Alfonso Velásquez, Former General Director of the Department of Asia and Oceania of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elard Escala, Former Peruvian Ambassador to China Chen Lu, Legal Director of the Andean Parliament Raúl Chanamé Orbe, Professor at the Center for Oriental Studies of Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Rubén Tang, Executive Vice President of Association of Chinese Companies in Peru and Chairman of Shougang Hierro Perú S.A.A. Yao Shun, and representatives from Chinese and Peruvian political and academic circles, publishing houses, and China-invested enterprises. CICG Chief Editor Gao Anming hosted the event.

▲Gustavo Jon Tay delivering a speech

Gustavo Jon Tay, Peruvian congressman and Peru-China Friendship Parliamentary League president, stated in his speech that as an important work for the international community to understand China, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China showcases to the world the Chinese path to modernization, characterized by win-win cooperation. It introduces China’s position in global governance and contributes China’s experience, facilitating global modernization and promoting the common development of human society. He stressed that China’s modernization drive brings new opportunities to Latin America and the rest of the world. With the joint efforts of Peru and China, the bilateral economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has witnessed fruitful results and delivered tangible benefits to the people. He pointed out that China provides more options towards modernization for developing countries and a vital solution to human development, which is fully illustrated in the book.

▲Song Yang delivering a speech

Song Yang, China’s ambassador to Peru, noted in his speech that with the joint efforts of both sides, China and Peru have made great achievements in economic and trade cooperation. China has been Peru’s largest trading partner and a major export destination for ten consecutive years, while Peru has become China’s fourth largest trading partner and second largest investment destination in Latin America. By reading Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Peruvian people of different ages and from different sectors and strata – from the country’s leaders to young people learning Chinese – have studied President Xi Jinping’s major thoughts and learned about the momentum of Chinese modernization. Readers have been presented with an opportunity to fully comprehend China’s commitment to green development, its position of upholding clean and cooperative development, and its determination of common development without leaving anyone behind. Song stated that he hopes that, with the publication and distribution of President Xi’s major works, Peruvian readers and people can better understand China and that the natural connection between the two ancient civilizations and the brotherly bond between the two peoples will be transformed into a powerful driving force for mutual benefit and a higher level of friendly cooperation in all fields.

▲Félix Paz delivering a speech

Félix Paz, El Peruano director and chief editor, said that a core element of understanding China is to learn about its blueprint for the future, which is explained in detail in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. By reading this book, readers can gain knowledge about China’s development ideas. It covers a wide range of content and major topics that are valuable for discussion, such as the concept of the China-Latin America community of shared future. As strategic partners, Peru and China have always advanced bilateral relationship based on equality and mutual benefit. After the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed, the two countries started pragmatic cooperation in connectivity, and China’s development has further driven economic and social progress in Latin America, including Peru. This is the embodiment of China-Latin America relations in the new era. Paz stated he believes that the book will help the international community to comprehend how China’s economy has grown, how innovation in science and technology has benefited the people, and how China continues to lead more developing countries around the globe towards common progress.

▲Book presentation

During the event, Hu Heping, on behalf of the Chinese side, presented the Spanish edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume IV) to Gustavo Jon Tay and Félix Paz.

▲Gao Anming hosting the event

The Chinese and Peruvian guests shared their thoughts on the book and had in-depth exchanges about Chinese and Peruvian governance experiences. Foreign Languages Press President Hu Kaimin hosted the discussion session.

▲Discussion session

Alfonso Velásquez, former Peruvian Minister of Production and former president of the Peruvian Association of Exporters, noted that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China presents President Xi’s profound understanding of governance and provides a valuable perspective for the international community to learn about China’s development principles and visions, which is of great significance for Peru. In particular, the visions of people-oriented, equitable development, and common prosperity embodied in Chinese modernization are a valuable source of inspiration for a major agricultural country like Peru. He emphasized that the gains of modernization should be shared by everyone, which is an aspiration shared by the people of Peru and China and a foundation for cooperation between the two countries. For example, thanks to bilateral cooperation in the trade of agricultural products in recent years, Peru has upgraded its modern machinery, improved its technological productivity, and gained greater opportunities to enter the international market, particularly the Chinese market. He believes that at this event, readers were sharing not only insights about the book, but also aspirations for the future. Guided by the principles of mutual understanding, respect and friendly cooperation, the two countries will gain lasting benefits and achieve common prosperity.

Elard Escala, former general director of the Department of Asia and Oceania of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China informs people on the initiatives proposed by China within the development framework of the global economy, such as the BRI and the global community of shared future. This is of great importance at a time when new trade protectionism is resurgent. He commented that the book can help the international community understand how China, as a leading global economy, has been able to balance domestic and international development and built a moderately prosperous society. He highlighted that since the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Peru and China on BRI cooperation in 2019, an array of bilateral cooperation initiatives have taken place. Under the framework of free trade agreements, the two economies have carried out practical cooperation with mutual benefit in a peaceful, open, and inclusive manner. This is a vivid example of the principles illustrated in the book.

Raúl Chanamé Orbe, legal director of the Andean Parliament, opined that the Chinese experience expounded in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, such as Chinese modernization and the principle of people first, can be a source of inspiration for other countries, especially Peru and other Latin American countries. Sharing with the audience the book’s discussion on infrastructure construction, industrial capacity improvement, scientific and technological development, digital economy, and other aspects, he stressed that China’s path to modernization has allowed Peru and more of Latin America to realize that they can pursue innovative development based on their own national conditions and characteristics, thus carving out their own unique paths towards modernization. He added that peaceful development advocated by China plays a crucial role in tackling global issues and crises. Only through solidarity and cooperation can countries join hands to meet challenges, which is exactly the path to take should Latin America realize common prosperity.

Rubén Tang, professor at the Center for Oriental Studies of Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, emphasized the importance of promoting the Chinese language and culture in Peru. He affirmed the great contributions made by the four Confucius Institutes in the country over the past 15 years, and pointed out that the academic and cultural exchanges they have carried out have enabled the Peruvian people to understand China in a multidisciplinary and multidimensional way. He hopes to see more sinologists and experts in Chinese research in various disciplines to promote mutual understanding, cooperation, and friendship, and mentioned that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China serves as a window to China’s development and its progress in modernization. Major ideas and visions, such as the global community of shared future and Global Development Initiative, should be fully disseminated and studied in Peruvian universities so that more Peruvian youth can have a better and more accurate understanding of today’s China.

According to Yao Shun, executive vice president of the Association of Chinese Companies in Peru and chairman of Shougang Hierro Perú S.A.A., in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, President Xi highlights that high-quality BRI cooperation should be continued with the goals of high standards, sustainability, and better lives. As one of the over 200 Chinese companies in Peru, Shougang Hierro Perú S.A.A. has been working towards such goals for over 30 years. It has brought more employment and business opportunities to the Peruvian people, and the wind power projects which it invests in and is building will benefit them even more. Driven by the company’s activities, the small mining town of Marcona has become a vivid example of joint development and win-win cooperation between China and Peru. He said that he hopes more Peruvian talents will join Chinese companies to modernize the country for the benefit of all.

The guests agreed that, by focusing on President Xi’s in-depth thinking and philosophy on China’s national governance and global governance, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China expounds on the theoretical system and practical approach of the Chinese path to modernization, and demonstrates Chinese modernization’s people-first orientation, its development philosophy based on national conditions, its merits of openness and inclusiveness among civilizations, and its global vision of win-win cooperation. The book is essential for those looking to understand Chinese modernization, and will help readers in Peru and other Latin American countries gain more accurate and up-to-date knowledge about China’s development in the new era.

▲Readers at the venue