Former Belgian ambassador to China: China modernization should be better understood by Europe

By Wu Xinru

(ECNS) -- China has vast dimensions and high efficiency of its governance when it comes to technological and social progress, which is actually what the concept of modernization encompasses. There is no reason to resist this passively by rejection or actively by confrontation. In this context, we have to hope that Europe will choose its own way in dealing with the emergence of China, said Patrick Nijs, former Belgian Ambassador to China who now takes up farming in Yunnan Province, at an international forum in Guangzhou on Wednesday.

Themed "Telling Well the Stories of the Chinese Modernization: Better Methods for Greater Effectiveness," the forum is part of the 8th Understanding China Conference that takes place from Monday to Wednesday in Guangzhou, which brings together global experts to explore China's development path and its global impact.

In his speech, Nijs said that China and the West have been getting in the confrontational mood since the big thaw in the relationship that took place in the early 1970s with some Westerners believing that China's modernization needs to be against the bloc that used to be dominant on this planet. To this theory, the answer from Nijs is "I think not at all."

Nijs noted that China modernization should be better understood by the West in order to foster admiration and cooperation so that the global system may lead to a new type of interdependence based on win-win or help-help relations.

From his standpoint, Europe and China have both the belief that the State is an indispensable entity to seek social justice and protect the weak. On top of this, they both belong to the same continent, which has been highlighted by the Belt and Road initiative.

In his observation, China has been moving to consider its modernization as the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. Because since an early time, China has been developing towards this direction and the notion has been put very clearly in the resolution of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. He believes that other countries should learn from China's green development concept and put it into practice.

Patrick Nijs served as the Belgian Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2013. After his tenure, he and his wife, who is from Yunnan Province, China, returned to the province to build their home and a farm, exploring sustainable food production. He also established the Wutong-Acacia Forum, a new platform for international cooperation in seeking global climate solutions.

Facing ecological challenges, we are all equally on the same ship that is drowning, said Nijs. He added that we have to bring the good news of China's commitment to the world, bring the doers to China to meet their counterparts and move together.

"I am sure there is a big interest among the ones who care for our common fate and our survival on this planet in Europe, we just need to go to them in a convincing way from China," suggested Nijs.