Recently, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was successfully held in Beijing. The resolution of the committee on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernisation was adopted by the session. The resolution covers all aspects of promoting China’s modernisation, proposes more than 300 major reform measures, lays out a blueprint for further deepening reform comprehensively, and opens a new window to the world on China’s pursuit of high-quality development and high-standard opening up in the new era.

China will advance high-quality development step by step. The resolution demands that it is essential for China to apply the new development philosophy to steer reform and ground our efforts in the new stage of development. China must deepen supply-side structural reform, improve incentive and constraint mechanisms for promoting high-quality development, and strive to create new growth drivers and strengths. A series of plans combines the cultivation of the new with the transformation of the old, focuses on seeking the new areas and development paths, and comprehensively strengthens the overall planning of the future industrial layout.

Data and examples show that China is constantly making new strides in high-quality development. In the first half of 2024, China’s gross domestic product reached 61.7 trillion yuan (about US$8.7 trillion) and grew 5.0 per cent; investment in high-tech industries increased by 10.6 per cent, and the added value of high-tech manufacturing above designated size increased by 8.7 per cent. Production of new smart green products maintained double-digit growth. New technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence (AI) led to new consumption and the industrial structure continued to optimise.

China will resolutely expand high-standard opening up. The resolution notes that China must remain committed to the basic State policy of opening to the outside world and continuing to promote reform through opening up. Leveraging the strengths of China’s enormous market will enhance our capacity for opening up while expanding international cooperation and develop new institutions for a higher-standard open economy. China shares new development opportunities with the rest of the world with an open attitude, demonstrating its determination and vision to advance economic globalisation.

The thriving practical cooperation between China and Jamaica is the latest evidence of China’s high-standard opening-up. On the path of development and revitalisation, China and Jamaica have always relied on each other and cooperated. The two countries have maintained frequent and fruitful practical cooperation. Jamaica is a distinguished and frequent guest at various major international exhibitions in China. Blue Mountain Coffee has been represented at China International Import Expo for six consecutive years. The Canton Fair, held twice a year, continues to attract large numbers of Jamaican traders to China to select and negotiate products.

On August 7, a high-level delegation from China’s Shandong Province visited Jamaica. Government officials and representatives of key enterprises in the province held intensive exchanges with the Jamaican side to promote cooperation, explore opportunities, and give new momentum into further deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development. The resolution announces that China remains firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and is dedicated to promoting a human community with a shared future. China will stay committed to the common values of all humanity, pursue the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.

China will also get involved in leading the reform and development of the global governance system. The history has proved that the pursuance of peaceful development has been a crucial strategic move that is based on the considerations of China’s national conditions, social system and cultural traditions. It represents a timely response to today’s imperatives and serves the fundamental interests of China and the rest of the world.

China will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. More recently, China invited senior representatives from 14 Palestinian factions to reconciliation talks in Beijing, which led to the signing of the Beijing Declaration. China and Brazil adopted a six-point consensus on a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. These once again demonstrated China’s responsibility as a major country in solving security problems, actively promoting peace and talks and maintaining global stability.

With the joint support of Jamaica and most other countries, the United Nations General Assembly successively adopted resolutions proposed by China on establishing International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations and on enhancing international cooperation on capacity building of AI, expanding the common base for promoting the advancement of global civilisation, and strengthening capacity-building in developing countries.

At the moment, I believe several Chinese idioms speak perfectly for me. Looking back, we feel the happiness that “the light boat has smoothly passed the ten thousand mountains”. Based on the present, we have “the perseverance to face the changing world”. For the future, we have the ambition to “cross the summit with firm strides”.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the proposal of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China will carry forward these principles under the new circumstances, build together a community with a shared future for mankind, and make new contributions for human progress. This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership and the signing of the cooperation plan on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Jamaica.

Bilateral relations are at a new historical starting point and are moving in the right direction with the winds of time. China will share more development opportunities and dividends with Jamaica, taking the China Jamaica strategic partnership to a new level.

Chen Daojiang is the Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica