October 13, 2024

On Monday, Sptemebr30, I spent an enjoyable evening celebrating China’s 75th anniversary at their embassy in Washington DC. After listening to the remarks of Ambassador Xie Feng, Remarks by Amb Xie Feng at Chinese embassy, the standing room only crowd of 700-800 attendees listened to forty minutes of classical music, before being served delicious Chinese food. Last year as well, the formal program concluded with performances classical music. A delightful tradition, which I am not sure everyone appreciated, given the constant hum of conversations throughout the performances, but it was beautiful music to my ears.

As is his custom at these celebrations, Amb Xie Feng gave a strategic review of China’s domestic policy and accomplishments, and China-U.S. relations.

He explained to the audience that filled the embassy’s large downstairs auditorium:

Once an impoverished country where people struggled to meet basic living needs, China is now the world’s second largest economy, and has brought moderate prosperity to its people in all respects…we have eliminated absolute poverty for the first time in our history of several thousand years, realized our first centenary goal, and achieved many “missions impossible.

China has continued to stress that it intends to develop its economy to become by 2035, a modern socialist nation with Chinese characteristics. As someone, who has recently visited Beijing and Shanghai, China’s transformation in less than two generations is truly astonishing. And the Chinese people are grateful that the government has brought them prosperity and peace, despite domestic and global challenges.

Amb Xie Feng continued:

 A China committed to open development will continue to be a major engine for global economic growth. China has contributed over 30% to global growth for over a decade. Today, it is the world’s largest exporter, and also the second largest importer. Goods valued at 7 billion US dollars flow into China on a daily basis, and more than 4,600 foreign-invested companies are set up in China every month…

 A China committed to innovation-driven development will continue to be a boost to global technological advances. Back in 1949, China could not even make a single match or iron nail. Today, it is the world’s second largest R&D investor, and the top source of international patent applications. With a vast market, a full-fledged industrial system, and a rich talent pool…

Abolish “Zero-Sum” Mentality

China rejects the diseased ideology of the West’s “rules-based order” with its demented doctrine that views the world as a zero-sum-game. Western nations led by the U.S., continue to dismiss China’s “win-win” policy of cooperation that benefits all participating nations. Despite some public comments by U.S. officials that the U.S. sees China as a competitor, the truth is, the Anglo-American establishment actually views China as a deadly adversary. The U.S. erroneously perceives China as a threatening hegemon to their crumbling “rules-based order.” In our irreversible multi-polar world, the Global South led by China is growing. The newly expanded BRICS represents thirty-seven percent of the world’s GDP compared to the G-7 share of thirty-one percent.

Throughout his remarks, Amb Xie Feng emphatically and repeatedly told his audience, which included representatives of the U.S. State department, that China rejects the “zero-sum mindset.”

• After 5,000 years of ups and downs, China is still here, and will continue to be. We have no strategy to overtake or displace the United States, no intention to overthrow the existing order or dominate the world, and no interest in geopolitical rivalry or a “game of thrones.” It would be a strategic miscalculation to project onto China the assumption that a strong country is bound to seek hegemony, and fearmongering to accuse China of being “a pacing threat. Claims that emerging and existing powers are destined for confrontation are irresponsible. China’s success does not have to mean failure of the United States.

•  Win-win cooperation means we need to seek mutual benefit and reject a zero-sum game.

• It is only natural that we will have competition between us. But it should be a fair race to the top, not a zero-sum race to the bottom.

Honest and competent observers of Washington know that U.S. policy is not one of competition with China. There are credible projections that China will surpass the U.S. as the largest economy in the next decade. The U.S. geopolitical belief structure insists that China is an enemy that has to be kept down; its development suppressed at all costs. If the U.S. Establishment were to free itself from this distorted view, the U.S. could actually gain from healthy competition with China. China has far more advanced infrastructure. Its high speed rail, which accounts for thirty percent of its total track, can travel at 215 mile per hour, making the U.S. Amtrak system look like a relic from the horse and buggy era.

A mere two generations earlier, adults traveled on bicycles in China. Now, car traffic in Beijing resembles New York City. In this same time period, life expectancy has almost doubled, and three quarters of a billion Chinese citizens have been lifted out of poverty. Is it not conceivable that the U.S. could benefit from competition with China?

The evening concluded on a high note with classical music from China and Europe performed by American and Chinese artists. This included two compositions by a Piano Trio, two songs by Tenor and Piano, and three configurations by a String Quartet. I highly recommend that other embassies in Washington DC, as well as U.S. government functions, adopt this uplifting tradition.

Read: Remarks by Amb Xie Feng at Chinese embassy

Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years. He is a teacher, writer, public speaker, and consultant on Africa. Mr. Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an essential human right. He is the creator of the blog:  lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com, and also publishing on: lawrencefreeman.substack.com, “Freeman’s Africa and the World.”