Hon. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, Senior Presidential Advisor of the Republic of South Sudan,
Your Excellency Amb. Tong Xiaoling, Vice President of China Public Diplomacy Association,
Distinguished Experts, 
Dear Friends from the Media,

Good morning!

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) successfully concluded on October 23. One week later, we are today having this symposium to exchange views on the key outcomes of the Plenary Session and on jointly advancing modernization by China and South Sudan, which is highly relevant and significant. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all friends from China and South Sudan.

This Plenary Session is very critical, at a moment when China is on the verge of accomplishing the major objectives and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and enters a stage of reinforcing the foundations and pushing ahead on all fronts towards basically achieving socialist modernization. President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech at the session. The most important outcome of the session was the deliberation and adoption of the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. This continues the consistent practice of the CPC in governing the country, and is also a key political strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The content of the Recommendations is extensive. Here, I will focus on introducing two aspects of particular interest to South Sudanese friends. One is the opening up, and the other is about plans of upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership.

Regarding the opening up during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the Recommendations outline important plans in four key areas:

First, China will take the initiative to open wider to meet China’s needs and the world’s expectations, and expand market access and areas of opening up. In June this year, President Xi Jinping announced that China will implement the policy of granting 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China, including South Sudan, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. We hope South Sudan will fully seize this opportunity.

Second, China will promote innovative trade development. We will expand trade in intermediate goods and green trade, improve the management system based on the negative list for cross-border trade in services, and expand opening up in the digital sector in an orderly manner.

Third, China will broaden the space for two-way investment cooperation and create a transparent, stable, and predictable institutional environment.

Fourth, China will promote high-quality “Belt and Road cooperation. We will advance both major landmark projects and “small and beautiful” livelihood programs in a coordinated manner, deepen practical cooperation in trade, investment, industry, and people-to-people exchanges, and expand cooperation in green, digital, artificial intelligence, and other fields.

Regarding upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership, which is also the fundamental guarantee for pushing forward Chinese modernization, the Recommendations set forth strategic plans in five areas:

First, we will improve the mechanism for implementing major decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee to ensure unimpeded communication and effective policy implementation at all levels.

Second, we will adhere to the right approach to selecting and appointing officials, and take political commitment as the primary criterion for selection. We should also see that officials have a correct understanding of what it means to perform well, and improve the system for assessing officials’ performance. Furthermore, we will reassign officials who are incompetent at their current posts, and make an ongoing effort to ensure that officials can be demoted and promoted, as well as dismissed and recruited.

Third, we will advance the development of primary-level party units in all fields in a coordinated way, enhance their political and organizational functions, and give play to the vanguard and exemplary role of Party members.

Fourth, we will continue to make unyielding efforts to implement the central Party leadership’s eight-point decision on improving work conduct, resolutely correct misconduct in all its forms, and foster regular and long-term mechanisms for improving conduct.

Fifth, we will resolutely oppose corruption, refine the Party and state oversight systems, and improve tighter norms and supervision over the allocation and operation of power.

Distinguished Experts, Dear Friends,

The 14th Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025 marked the first five years of China’s new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects. Under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the CPC united and led the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups across the country, in effectively responding to a series of major risks and challenges, making new and significant achievements.

In terms of the economy. China’s economic growth continues to take the lead among major economies. China’s GDP successively crossed the thresholds of  110 trillion, 120 trillion, and 130 trillion yuan. It is projected to reach about 140 trillion yuan in 2025, with per capita GDP exceeding the world average. China has contributed around 30% annually to global economic growth, making it a key engine driving the world’s economic development.

In terms of science and technology. There are more than 500,000 high-tech companies in China. Also, China is now home to 26 of the top 100 global science and technology innovation clusters, ranking first in the world.

In terms of reform. We further deepen reform comprehensively and steadily widen high-standard opening up. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation is making solid progress. The development of free trade zones is also gaining speed. All these provide new opportunities and space for economic and social development.

In terms of people’s livelihoods. By the end of 2020, all 99 million rural poor living below the then poverty line had been lifted out of poverty. Meanwhile, in the past five years, the achievements in poverty alleviation have been consolidated and expanded. In 2024, the retention rate of nine-year compulsory education reached nearly 96%, and the participation rate in basic medical insurance for the low-income rural population and those lifted out of poverty exceeded 99%. All Chinese townships and villages have access to hardened roads and 4G network coverage, with 90% covered by 5G and 96% enjoying tap water. 328 million retired Chinese people receive their pensions monthly, and over 90% of households can reach the nearest medical center within 15 minutes.

In terms of national security. Annual grain output has remained stable at over 650 million tons, ensuring that 1.4 billion people have enough food to eat every day. In 2024, China’s total electricity consumption reached 9.85 trillion kilowatt-hours. Every household has access to electricity with almost no power cuts, and the average electricity price remains stable at less than 0.1 US dollars per kilowatt-hour, making it one of the lowest electricity prices globally. Furthermore, China has become one of the countries with the lowest crime rates and the highest sense of security in the world. Chinese people can go out at any time without worrying about safety issues.

Distinguished Experts, Dear Friends,

When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the per capita national income was merely 27 US dollars. Since the implementation of the First Five-Year Plan in 1953, China has developed from an impoverished agricultural country into a country with a per capita GDP exceeding 13,000 US dollars, and its composite national strength ranking among the forefront in the world. This is a unique development miracle in human history. In my personal view, the following points are critical to creating this miracle:

The first is the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC. The CPC plays a strong core leadership role in all aspects of China. Over 100 million Party members and 5.25 million Party organizations at all levels ensure the Party’s strong leadership and implementation capability. I believe many South Sudanese friends who have visited China know this very well.

The second is focusing on strategic planning and implementation. Through the scientific formulation and effective implementation of Five-Year Plans, China provides clear and coherent strategic guidance, ensuring policy continuity and stability.

The third is adhering to a people-centered development philosophy. China is always standing, thinking, and working together with the people, and takes the people’s interests as the starting point and ultimate goal of every major decision, addresses people’s concerns promptly, thus wins their trust and support. Multiple surveys show that the Chinese people’s trust and satisfaction with the CPC and the government exceed 90%.

Distinguished Experts, Dear Friends,

In recent years, China-South Sudan relations have continued to develop. Political mutual trust between the two countries has been consolidated. President Xi Jinping and President Salva Kiir Mayardit had a meeting during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September 2024, and reached a series of important common understandings. The CPC and SPLM maintain close and friendly exchanges. Today, we also have Professor Wang Wen and Associate Professor Xue Li here, who visited South Sudan in August and had enthusiastic exchanges with over 200 SPLM members. Besides, our two countries’ practical cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results. A number of China-South Sudan Belt and Road cooperation projects, such as Phase II of the Juba Teaching Hospital and Juncao technology cooperation, are progressing steadily. In the future, we will continue to carry out new cooperation.

I’ve been working in South Sudan for over three years, and I deeply feel that it is a country full of hope. South Sudan possesses many advantages, including a young population, abundant resources, and a favorable geographical location. Once its potential is fully tapped, and the country achieves peace and stability, South Sudan will surely embark on the path of prosperity and modernization rapidly.

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, “Embracing China is embracing opportunities, believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow”. China is ready to take the opportunity of implementing the important outcomes of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and jointly push for advancing modernization together with South Sudan, promoting common development, and delivering greater benefits to our two peoples.

Finally, I hope that more wisdom and valuable suggestions for China-South Sudan bilateral relations will come out through this symposium. Wish this symposium a complete success!

Thank you!