China has linked its economic growth, social stability and poverty reduction achievements to the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) efforts to strengthen internal discipline and tackle corruption, saying effective governance remains critical to achieving national development.
Yu Dunhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, said the party’s commitment to full and rigorous self-governance had strengthened its capacity to lead national development, translating political accountability into tangible economic and social gains.
Dunhai stated this in an article titled ‘Leading Chinese Modernisation Steadily Forward Through the Party’s Self-Revolution’, following the conclusion of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC in Beijing.
He said the session reviewed and adopted a resolution on major issues concerning the continuation of full and rigorous party self-governance, outlining measures to strengthen internal discipline and provide political support for China’s long-term development ambitions.
According to him, the resolution provides a political foundation for advancing China’s ambition of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through its model of modernisation.
The ambassador argued that China’s development experience demonstrates the importance of strengthening institutions, addressing internal weaknesses and maintaining accountability within political leadership.
‘To govern the country well, we must first govern the Party well; only when the Party thrives can the nation prosper,’ he said.
He noted that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the party had intensified efforts to strengthen internal governance, describing its anti-corruption campaign as having achieved an overwhelming victory and being comprehensively consolidated.
Dunhai said the experience had demonstrated the capacity of the world’s largest Marxist governing party to identify institutional weaknesses, correct deviations and pursue continuous internal reforms.
He described self-revolution as a mechanism through which the party seeks to strengthen its capacity for self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal and self-enhancement.
The ambassador maintained that the approach was not merely a political concept but a practical instrument for improving national governance and delivering economic benefits to citizens.
According to him, sustained efforts to strengthen party discipline had helped the CPC mobilise society around common development objectives, translating governance effectiveness into economic growth and long-term social stability.
He cited China’s development of what he described as the world’s largest and most complete industrial system, with its manufacturing value-added ranking first globally.
Dunhai also highlighted the growth of China’s middle-income population to more than 400 million people, alongside the country’s achievement in eliminating absolute poverty and lifting hundreds of millions of rural residents out of poverty.
He said these outcomes demonstrated the relationship between political accountability, effective governance and improvements in citizens’ living conditions.
The Chinese ambassador further argued that the country’s domestic development had significant implications for the global economy, noting that China remained the world’s second-largest economy and an important contributor to global economic growth.
He said China had contributed about 30 percent of global economic growth for several consecutive years, positioning it as an important source of stability and momentum for the international economy.
According to him, the strategic arrangements adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session were not only intended to guide China’s long-term development but would also create opportunities for other economies through expanded trade, investment and international cooperation.
He added that China’s commitment to internal reforms would support further opening-up and contribute to the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
Dunhai said the international community was facing profound changes, with growing deficits in peace, development, security and governance, particularly as developing countries increasingly sought to determine their own paths to modernisation.
He noted that China’s governance experience had attracted international attention, reflecting growing interest in how political institutions could strengthen accountability and improve state administration.
However, he stressed that Beijing was not seeking to impose its development model on other countries or attach political conditions to its international cooperation.
‘China never exports its development model, attaches no political conditions, and never interferes in other countries’ internal affairs,’ he said.
He maintained that every country should have the freedom to choose a development path suited to its national circumstances, adding that China remained willing to exchange governance experiences with political parties and organisations across the world.
The ambassador said China was also advancing its Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilisation Initiative and Global Governance Initiative as part of efforts to address international challenges and promote a community with a shared future for mankind.
On Africa, Dunhai described the continent as an important force in the Global South and a strategic partner in China’s modernisation ambitions.
He said Beijing had continued to deepen economic and political cooperation with African countries through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith.
He recalled that the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit produced the Ten Partnership Actions announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which he said provided a framework for expanding cooperation between China and African countries across different sectors.
The ambassador also highlighted China’s implementation of zero-tariff treatment for all African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, effective May 1, 2026.
He said the policy was designed to expand market access for African products, strengthen trade relations and support industrial transformation across the continent.
According to him, the measure further reinforces China’s position as Africa’s largest trading partner while creating opportunities for African countries to increase exports to the Chinese market.
Dunhai added that the CPC was also expanding exchanges on party governance and state administration with political parties across Africa, describing the engagements as part of efforts to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen China-Africa relations.
On Nigeria, the ambassador described the country as Africa’s most populous nation and a major driver of the continent’s economic and political development.
He said his more than two years of diplomatic engagement in Nigeria had exposed him to the strong demand across different segments of Nigerian society for good governance, political stability and a development path shaped by the country’s national interests.
According to him, Nigeria’s pursuit of strategic autonomy, pragmatic foreign policy, structural reforms, foreign investment and technological innovation reflects its determination to strengthen the foundations of independent development.
He said these efforts demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to pursuing a modernisation path that reflects its domestic realities and development priorities. The ambassador also said relations between Nigeria and China had entered a new phase of high-quality development under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted that both countries were deepening exchanges on governance experience, aligning their development priorities and strengthening practical cooperation across various sectors.
Dunhai said the expanding partnership was expected to deliver greater benefits to the populations of both countries while creating opportunities for broader cooperation between China and Nigeria.
He said China would continue to strengthen internal party governance, pursue its modernisation agenda, promote high-quality economic development and expand international economic engagement.
He added that Beijing would remain committed to safeguarding international peace and promoting common development, while maintaining an open-door policy towards other countries.
The ambassador said the benefits of China’s economic development should extend beyond its borders, expressing Beijing’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Nigeria and other Global South countries.
He said China looked forward to working with Nigeria through equality, mutual learning and mutual benefit to strengthen bilateral relations and promote shared development.