CNN:

After U.S. President Joe Biden took office, he and his senior officials have increasingly characterized the competition of the United States and China as conflicts between democracy and autocracy and also that many of the CPC's governance philosophies are part of the biggest challenges and threats to the Western liberal democratic system today. The CPC has repeatedly said that it does not export its government and values system, but in the eyes of many Americans and westerners, judging from China's publicity campaigns and major foreign-related projects, or the tendency that it has played an increasingly dominant role in the international organizations, the CPC is actually seeking to export its own value system through various means and revise the existing international norms. What are your responses and comments on this? Thank you.

Liu Jianchao:

Thank you for your question. I think that the characterization of the United States that you mentioned just now is based on incorrect observations. That is to say, the U.S. has not figured out what true democracy is, nor has it understood that democracy can be practiced in different forms across the world. For democracy, there should not, and there is not just one model or template. Deciding what kind of democracy to pursue for countries in the world should be consistent with the country's national realities, historical and cultural traditions, and the will of the people. Some people want to impose their own country's systems and model of democracy on other countries. I think this is against the principles of democracy. What kind of democracy to practice should be decided by the people of the country instead of other countries. Therefore, I believe that the so-called characterization of the U.S. doesn't hold water. It is wrong and detrimental and will eventually lead to division and even confrontation in the international community.

In addition, the U.S. also believes that many of the CPC's governing philosophies pose a challenge to the so-called global democratic and liberal order. I think the U.S. has made a mistake in such a belief. I've been wondering if the U.S. is no longer confident in its own democracy because many have found flaws in its own system? The flaws have also been noticed by people in many other countries all over the world. If the U.S. believes that its own democratic system is good and supported by the people, then what is there to worry about? Why are they afraid of the so-called challenge? China's democratic system has proven to be successful, which means that it has brought economic and social development to a country that is home to one-fifth of the world's population and has improved people's living standards. China has also offered opportunities of development to all countries for the pursuit of happiness for all people across the world. There is nothing to worry about. On the contrary, I think the U.S. should adopt a welcoming attitude, not a dissenting attitude.

Since the founding of the CPC, the Party has been committed to leading the Chinese people to pursue and realize freedom and democracy. Generations of Chinese communists have devoted their lives to this cause, shed blood and made sacrifices. The Chinese people finally became masters of our country, established our democratic system, and are constantly improving it. Chinese democracy has its own features. It is people-centered. The CPC conducts whole-process democracy. The democracy also combines Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance. The CPC leadership, the socialist system, and also the democratic system, are important choices made by the Chinese people over the course of history. The Chinese people are the builders, beneficiaries, and guardians of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. They highly recognize and firmly support their own democratic system and are full of confidence in such a system.

Just now you also mentioned that China is exporting its own value or political system globally in the process of advancing international cooperation. I want to stress here that China firmly respects the choices of people of all countries in terms of their development path which suits their own national conditions and sovereign rights. China never exports its own ideology, values, or development model. I think it is groundless to say that China is dominating international society and international affairs, and China will not accept such accusations. Meanwhile, we also support exchanges and mutual learning between countries with different civilizations, systems, and even beliefs based on mutual respect and equal footing. China is also willing to introduce China's development experience and path to other countries based on facts. At the same time, we are also willing to learn from other countries with an open mind. The more exchanges and mutual learning between countries on an equal footing and with mutual respect, the more beneficial it is to civilization development and peace and prosperity in the world. Thank you.