Honorable Deputy Director Chen Dong,
Experts and scholars,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Good morning!
Today, we hold this symposium to exchange views about “true democracy”. I very much look forward to your valuable insights.
From the ideal of the ancient Chinese philosophers “God choosing the leader for the people” to various exploration of democracy by different countries in today’s world, democracy always represents mankind’s pursuit for a better social system. However, acts of distorting, hijacking and undermining democracy also arise from time to time.
The United States intends to play up the so-called narrative of “democracy” against “authoritarianism” by putting together a so-called “Summit for Democracy”. This summit is nothing but a political farce that distorts democratic values and divides the world, and a global “pyramid scheme” that interferes in others’ internal affairs in the name of democracy. It deserves our high vigilance.
It is a “deceiving” summit. At present, American democracy is fraught with deep-seated problems as well as messy and chaotic practices. Problems like money politics and political polarization have been more acute and freedom of speech is in name only. The riots on Capitol Hill overshadowed the US claim of being “beacon of democracy”, the death of George Floyd laid bare the systemic racism in the US, and the out-of-control pandemic led to a great economic and social disaster.
The latest poll released by ABC on October 31 shows that 57% of respondents worldwide and 72% of American respondents think that the US is not a model for democracy. Isn’t it a joke for a “sick man of democracy” to hold a “Summit for Democracy”?
It is a “coercing” summit. The US regards democracy as a political tool to serve its own interests, monopolizes democratic standards, and distorts the definition of democracy. Those who follow the US will be on its guest list, and those who reject American bullying cannot be invited. The US uses this trick to create anxiety about democracy and coerce others to “act” with the US according to its playbook.
The summit precisely exposes the motive of the US to use democracy as a tool to contain others. The so-called “Summit for Democracy” is undemocratic at all, but anti-democratic.
It is a “misleading” summit. For a long time, the US has imposed its own political system and values on others, carried out “democratic transformation”and staged “color revolutions”. It interfered in others’ internal affairs and even subverted the governments of other countries, leading to the misery and displacement of people there.
It is an irony for a troublemaker who caused unrest and conflicts to the world under the disguise of democracy to claim to solve global issues through a “Summit for Democracy”. This cold war zero-sum mentality not only goes against the trend of the times, but also damages unity of all countries to deal with global challenges such as the raging pandemic, economic recovery, and climate change.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In 1921, the founding of the Communist Party of China lit up the light of China’s democracy. Over the past century, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in developing a dynamic development path of democracy.
China’s democracy is whole-process people’s democracy.
In sharp contrast to the Western democracy of “one person, one vote”, Chinese democracy has a full set of institutional procedures and full participation of the people. It covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society.
Different from Western political parties, which only represent some people or interest groups, the CPC seeks the maximum common ground of the wishes and needs of the whole society. It does not have any special interests of its own, or represent any interest group, power group, or privileged stratum.
Kishore Mahbubani, a well-known Singaporean scholar, said that the West completely misunderstood China’s political system. It would be impossible for the Chinese government to succeed if it did not listen to public opinion.
China’s democracy is one that works.
In just several decades, China completed what developed countries achieved through hundreds of years in industrialization, created a miracle of getting more than 800 million people out of poverty, and contributed over 30% to the world economy for many years in a row. Harmonious and stable, China has been recognized as one of the countries with the greatest sense of security.
In the face of the pandemic unseen in the century, China took the lead in controlling the virus and resuming production, making an important contribution to the global fight against Covid-19.
According to a report released by Edelman, a world-famous global public consulting firm, the Chinese people’s trust in their government is as high as 95%, topping the world for three years running.
Facts prove that China’s democracy has promoted the country’s development and social progress, and ensured the happiness of the people. It is a democracy that fits China.
China’s democracy is one that brings peace and prosperity to the world.
The US, out of selfish interests, exported its own democratic model around the globe and caused conflicts and disasters to the world. By contrast, China has achieved peaceful development and brought opportunities and hopes to others by adhering to the path of democratic development in line with its own national conditions.
Scholars pointed out that Western civilization, represented by the US, has dealt a heavy blow to humanity in the past 400 years. However, China achieved its development not at the expense of others. It has never invaded anyone or overthrown any foreign government, but only brought prosperity, stability, fairness and justice to the world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irreversible. Hong Kong has entered a new historical stage from chaos to stability and prosperity. But certain countries, with ulterior motives, do not want to see a better life of the Chinese people, or the enduring success of “one country, two systems”. They are using the Western narrative as a tool to discredit China’s social system and “one country, two systems”.
As a rule, where the broom does not reach the dust will not vanish of itself. Let’s stand up for China’s democracy and refute slanders resolutely.
First, we need to advocate democracy with Chinese characteristics.
All the guests present today take part in the democratic development of the country in different ways, and must have a lot of personal experience and thoughts on why China’s democracy and “one country, two systems” work. You can tell stories of China’s democracy to the outside world based on your own experience through making good use of the advantage of Hong Kong as an international platform, so as to improve the international community’s understanding and recognition of China’s path and system.
Second, we need to resolutely resist Western interference in Hong Kong affairs.
Under the guise of so-called democracy and freedom, some Western anti-China forces spread political lies about the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, slandered and interfered with the law-based governance of the HKSAR government, and undermined the efforts for winning over the people of Hong Kong.
Some Hong Kong people, who have long been influenced by Western public opinion and propaganda, blindly worship Western-style democracy. They think that many social problems in Hong Kong will be easily solved as long as Hong Kong implements American democracy.
It is my hope that everyone will see through the real attempts of the US to play the “Hong Kong card” to contain China’s development, and fight against the acts of the US interfering in Hong Kong affairs in the name of democracy and freedom.
Third, we need to contribute to new democratic practices in the HKSAR.
The 7th Legco election of the HKSAR will be held on December 19. This is crucial for Hong Kong during its transition from chaos to stability and prosperity.
The purpose of the Central Government in improving Hong Kong’s electoral system is to implement “patriots administering Hong Kong”, help Hong Kong out of the quagmire of pan-politicization, achieve sound governance, and solve deep-seated problems such as housing, employment and health care at an early date.
I hope that you can help the outside world realize the significance of Hong Kong’s new electoral system and this year’s Legco election, and present a new atmosphere of Hong Kong in which patriots of different political spectra contribute their share for a better future after the election.
Fourth, we need to break the discourse trap of “western democracy”.
The US aims to tell the world that its so-called “democracy” is better than others’ “authoritarianism”. We should jump out of this discourse trap and dispel the myth of Western democracy for human progress.
Whether or not a country is a democracy should be judged by the people of the country, not by a few outsiders.
Monopolizing criteria of democracy and judging others by their own standards are in themselves undemocratic and will be standing jokes for the world.
Countries should not only uphold true democracy at home, but also support greater democracy of international relations and champion respect, equality and mutual benefit between countries.
Here, I would like to warn that the electoral system of Hong Kong is China’s internal affair, and no external force has the right to interfere. Any act of external forces interfering in the Hong Kong Legco election, under whatever forms and covers, will be confronted with strong countermeasures of the Chinese government.
Those who exploit the so-called “Summit for Democracy” to smear Hong Kong and slander China will only be remembered as ones who stand on the wrong side of history.
Trials and tribulations will only build a country up. External interference from a small number of anti-China forces in Hong Kong cannot stop the historical transformation of Hong Kong from chaos to stability and prosperity.
Thank you!