In the course of China’s development， it has embraced the outside world， becoming an integral part of it and contributing to global growth. This was the core of the keynote speech by Huang Kunming， member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China （CPC） Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee， at the Eighth World Forum on China Studies in Shanghai on September 10. The following is an edited excerpt of his speech：
　　Since the People’s Republic of China（PRC） was founded in 1949， the CPC has led the people in a persistent， strenuous and result-oriented struggle culminating in a tremendous transformation.
　　Over the past 70 years， the Chinese people have lived with other peoples in sincerity as equals. The newly founded PRC was one of the poorest and most deprived countries in the world， characterized by nationwide destitution and tremendous tasks to tackle. Under the leadership of the CPC， the Chinese people worked together to advance socialist revolution and construction from scratch despite difficulties and hardships， and they gave the once impoverished country a completely new look.
　　Following the principle of independence， the young republic focused on handling its own affairs with great effi ciency. At the same time， it took the initiative to make contributions to world affairs. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence proposed by China have become a pivotal guideline on international relations and remain vital even today. Under its Three Worlds Theory， China rendered selfless support to national liberation and independence movements in Asia， Africa and Latin America and expressed categorical opposition to hegemony and power politics.
　　Over the past 70 years， the Chinese people and our peers elsewhere in the world have helped each other like passengers in the same boat. The Chinese people， who have emerged from bitter experiences， are fully conscious of the misery caused by poverty and scarcity. After the PRC was founded， China did its best to help the needy in Asia， Africa and Latin America despite the fact that it was struggling to make ends meet at home.
　　The Tanzania-Zambia Railway built with assistance from China in the 1970s remains a transportation artery in East Africa and stands as a testament to the China-Africa friendship. Over the past seven decades， China has provided assistance worth some 400 billion yuan （$57.14 billion） to nearly 170 countries and international organizations. It has sent more than 600，000 aid workers abroad， many of whom laid down their lives in the line of duty. Of those， 25，000 medical workers have been sent to Africa， making notable contributions in the fight against malaria and the Ebola epidemic. 　　At the same time， we will also not forget the help given by other countries to meet China’s needs such as alleviating poverty in rural areas， combating the SARS outbreak and providing relief in the wake of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in southwest China’s Sichuan Province in 2008. Looking ahead， China is willing to work in concert with other countries to promote world prosperity and development， eliminate poverty that continues to plague many countries， and create a life free from worrying about food and clothing for children around the world.
　　Over the past 70 years， the Chinese people have collaborated with other peoples for mutually beneficial outcomes. Milestone historical events always have a far-reaching and profound impact. The reform and opening-up program is the most salient and impressive feature in contemporary China. It has not only profoundly changed China’s outlook but also exerted infl uence on global development and world history. The fact that nearly 1.4 billion people in China have been freed from want and have become moderately prosperous is a contribution in itself to the world.
　　China has been a robust driving force for global economic growth with its contribution accounting for around 30 percent for many years. The Belt and Road Initiative， which highlights extensive consultation， joint contribution and shared benefi ts， aims at opening up at a higher level and a more pragmatic approach to achieving win-win outcomes.
　　The past six years have seen the initiative evolve to become the largest platform for international cooperation and globally the most popular public good. From 2013 to 2018， China’s trade in goods with other participating countries exceeded $6 trillion， making up 27.4 percent of the country’s total goods trade. The Belt and Road Initiative has not only fueled economic development in participating countries， but also promoted global growth. More than 160 countries and international organizations are involved， making it a truly global consensus， platform and action. The initiative is now reaping an early harvest， and has a promising future of great expectations. Facts have shown that China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world， and the world needs China for global development.
　　Over the past 70 years， the Chinese people have joined hands with other peoples to maintain world peace. The Chinese people are a peace-loving nation.
　　China has dispatched nearly 40，000 peacekeepers overseas. Our nation is a major contributor of troops and funds to the UN’s peacekeeping operations. We have been extensively engaged in international cooperation in fi elds such as anti-terrorism and cybersecurity. We have also carried out mediation on pressing regional issues， calling on the parties concerned to resolve their conflicts through dialogue and consultation in a peaceful way. 　　China will continue to champion peace， development， cooperation and win-win results， adhere to the path of peaceful development， and never seek hegemony or resort to expansionism. China will always be a builder of world peace， a contributor to global development and a guardian of the international order.
　　Over the past 70 years， the Chinese people have shared interests and support-ed each other with other peoples around the world in meeting common challenges. We all live on the same planet. It is a shared dream of people in all countries to make our planet， livable， prosperous and more beautiful. The PRC has always shared weal and woe with other countries， committed to basic norms in international relations and taken an active part in the process of economic globalization. It has also promoted South-South cooperation in light of the common development of humanity.
　　The world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century with mounting challenges and risks. Deficits in governance， mutual confi dence， peace and development have resulted in a stalemate that calls for collective action. Against this backdrop， China has proposed a solution： building a global community with a shared future for win-win outcomes and common benefi ts.
　　Earlier this year， President Xi Jinping attended the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation， the International Horticultural Exhibition and the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations as well as the ChinaFrance Global Governance Forum， the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. On these occasions， he gave a series of speeches in which he expounded on the vision of building a global community with a shared future. He called for replacing estrangement with exchanges， confl icts with mutual learning， and the sense of superiority with coexistence， to pass on the torch of peace from generation to generation and sustain development. A great vision， simple and pure， requires real actions. China is poised to make its own contributions to building a global community with a shared future along with the rest of the world.
　　Since the PRC was founded， the CPC has led the Chinese people in exploring ways of making the nation strong and prosperous. Decades of hard work have transformed China from an underdeveloped agricultural country into the world’s second largest economy with a complete manufacturing industrial chain and a thriving economy. Per-capita disposable incomes for urban and rural residents soared to more than 39，000 yuan （$5，570） and 14，000 yuan （$2，000） in 2018 from less than 100 yuan （$14.2） and 50 yuan （$7.15） in the early 1950s respectively.

　　Particularly since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012， the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core has made great historic achievements and brought in tremendous changes in taking Chinese socialism into a new era through adhering to a people-centered development philosophy， advancing reform in an all-round way and further opening up.
　　Over the years， there has been rhetoric in the international community on China’s economic growth， projecting outcomes such as an economic collapse and a fi nancial crisis. But facts have always proved these predictions to be wrong. Since reform and opening up began 40 years ago， China has undergone rapid economic growth， creating a universally recognized miracle unprecedented in the economic history of humanity. The world economy， however， has been beset with fl uctuations. The Asian financial crisis more than 20 years ago dealt a heavy blow to emerging economies. The backlash from the U.S. subprime crisis some 10 years ago has yet to be rectifi ed.
　　Despite this， China has blazed a trail that suits its conditions and meets the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of its people， thanks to its unique political and systemic strengths. It has realized long-term political stability， economic development， cultural prosperity and social harmony.
　　Globalization is an engine for world economic growth. Like many other countries， China has taken an active part in this process and benefi ted from it. Today， however， economic globalization has met with setbacks， as unilateralism and trade protectionism run rampant. Hegemony is posing the biggest threat to world peace and global development. As the Chinese people fi ght back trade bullying and extreme pressure， we have demonstrated resolve， confi dence and courage. The Chinese economy has also showed resilience and potential.
　　In the fi rst half of the year， China’s GDP grew 6.3 percent year on year， the highest among the world’s leading economies. In the first seven months， total imports and exports increased 4.2 percent year on year， while retail sales of consumer goods rose 8.4 percent， a sign of the shift toward highquality economic growth in line with the overall objective of making steady progress. We have confi dence in our capability to deal with risks and challenges. As an ancient civilization with a 5，000-year history， China will always be here despite trials and tribulations. As a responsible major country， China is resolved to safeguard peace and development and make greater contributions to the world.