Notwithstanding the uncertain outcome of the ongoing China-US trade talks, Beijing has initiated a new round of opening-up since last year. Opening-up policies in various fields have already been formulated and implemented. For instance, tariffs on imports such as automobiles have been significantly reduced, and Tesla’s factory has broken ground recently.
China is determined to further expand its opening-up. The first China International Import Expo last year declared this resolve. The country, which has been growing fast for decades driving reform and promoting development by opening-up, will once again step on the gas.
Just the two examples — Tesla opening a wholly-owned factory in Shanghai and import auto parts tariff reduction — have created a stir. Will Chinese electric cars hold on? They have to. Since China joined the WTO in 2000, Chinese companies as a whole have successfully stood up and transformed pressure into motivations and spurs. So, why can’t today’s Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers?
The Chinese film industry, even under a lot of criticism, has not been knocked down by a massive influx of Hollywood movies, and its overall quality has been substantially improved. Similarly, the catering and retail industries, which ordinary people have the most direct contact with, have been positively impacted by foreign fast food chains and supermarkets. Many traditional Chinese elements have finally bounced back after learning and fighting.
Opening-up means that we take the initiative to withstand the impact of external factors. Given the natural inertia to reform within Chinese society, such shocks are often indispensable. In the past few decades, many adjustments China has made were done under certain external pressures and have eventually benefited the people.
Will opening-up threaten China’s national security? This question has been raised since the first day of reform and opening-up. However, facts have shown that China is always capable of mastering the dominance of the national security game. As an independent sovereign state, China has tremendously boosted its national strength after years of development. Moreover, the public has understood the significance of political stability in a more mature way.
China has been lagging since modern times. Many promising aspects of the nation have fallen into dormancy, and opening-up can be regarded as a process that constantly revives these qualities.
Chinese people are wise but the wisdom will show only when they have to compete with strong rivals. Chinese society is resilient but will only realize how tough it is after braving storms.
The more encounters we face, the clearer our perspective of the situation ahead.
Dare China gradually open its financial markets? People would tremble even on thinking about it given the risk involved. However, many countries with medium or smaller economies have opened the market. Therefore, a prudent and orderly move toward financial openness is a choice that China can no longer avoid.
As the country becomes more open, it will face increasing pressure over ideology. What can we do? Just keep our feet on the ground. China should focus on two aspects: safeguarding ideological security and not intensifying ideological conflict.
China is a country that is constantly developing with an ideology that is not static. As long as China develops well and progresses faster than other countries, Beijing has the initiative to rein in the ideological question.
Reform and opening-up is one of the most important impetuses for China.
Opening-up brings progress, and the more open China is the easier it will be to progress. The vigorous development is the headspring for China to realize various interests.
Reform is sometimes passive. When there is no external pressure, the discussion about reform can be infinitely unhurried. But after foreign competition entered through open gates, reform must be immediately undertaken. In the past few decades, China has been developing along this path. The progress also helps consolidate the country’s security.
It is a strategic decision of the CPC Central Committee to expand opening-up while facing various problems and challenges. It proves that China will continue reform and rapid development.
Both institutions and individuals will be able to take initiatives in the future only after keeping pace with China’s opening-up. All should focus on further opening-up and plan for the future.
(In association with Global TImes)
