On April 22, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Vice President and CASS Deputy Secretary of Leading Party Members Zhao Shengxuan met with Alexander Bazhanov, director of the Information Analysis Center of the Belarusian Executive Office of the President.

Zhang Shuhua, director of the Institute of Information Studies, CASS; Jiang Hui, Party secretary of CASS; Li Yongquan, director of the Institute of Russian and Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of CASS; and Zhou Yunfan, deputy director of the Bureau of International Cooperation of CASS were also present.

On behalf of CASS, Zhao extended a warm welcome to Bazhanov and outlined the profile and scope of research by the academy, specifically its Institute of Information Studies. 　　

Zhao said China and Belarus have maintained healthy and steady relations for the past 22 years since establishing diplomatic relations. Last year during Belarusian President Alexander Lukashanko’s visit to China, leaders of the two countries jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership to mark a new stage in bilateral ties. In January, premiers from both countries instituted the Development Planning of the China-Belarus Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, pointing out a new route for the development of the bilateral relations.

“To our delight as the Sino-Belarusian relationship progresses, the decision-making advisory bodies, experts and scholars of the two countries have kept up increasingly closer exchanges,” said Zhao. “As a think tank and brain trust, CASS is willing to strengthen exchanges with pertinent Belarusian institutions to contribute to promoting bilateral ties.”

Zhao then shifted his focus to the spirits of the Third Plenary Session of 18th Communist Party of China’s (CPC) Central Committee. He said the conference concerned with deepening reforms was of vital importance, coming at a critical stage of China’s push to build a moderately prosperous society and signaling a new development phase of China’s reform.

“We have to carry out more pragmatic cooperation to enrich the bilateral strategic partnership,” said Bazhanov. “The Information Analysis Center of the Belarusian Executive Office of the President is the leading think tank in Belarus. Covering a wide research range, it features the delivery of special information reports to the president and some high-level ministers, aiming to inform them of what’s happening domestically and internationally. As the two countries have fostered the comprehensive partnership, Belarus hopes to learn from China in enhancing cooperation and enable China to know better about Belarus.”

Bazhanov shared his thoughts with Zhao, with the two engaging in an informative discussion.

Asked to elaborate on the “Chinese dream,” Zhao said it heralds significant strategic thought brought forward by the new central leadership after the 18th CPC National Congress. In essence, it is about national prosperity, said Zhao, adding that it represents national revival and people’s well-being.

The “Chinese dream” is the dream of China, the dream of the Chinese nation and the dream of each and every Chinese. It is tightly bound to the good life of the Chinese people. That’s why the “Chinese dream” has such broad appeal and cohesive power in China. To actualize the “Chinese dream,” China must take the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, carry forward the national spirit with patriotism at the core and the spirit of the time centered by reform and innovation and concentrate the great united power of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups.

As to the relationship between the “Chinese dream” and the outside world, Zhao said, actualization of the “Chinese dream” is not contradictory to the benefits of people of other countries. The “Chinese dream” is about peace, development, cooperation and a win-win mentality.

“We aim to make contributions to the world by realizing the ‘Chinese dream,’” thus promoting the development of the world and benefiting people of all countries. Since modern times, China has been subject to the suppression of foreign powers, so it is deeply aware how valuable peace is,” said Zhao. “China’s development can’t be divorced from the world. Therefore, China is willing to work with people all over the world to jointly boost world peace and development, while realizing the ’Chinese dream.’”

Zhao also touched on the relationship between the Silk Road economic belt and integration of the Eurasian region, as well as the role of Belarus in this area. He emphasized China has, on different levels, proposed a few joint development plans that are complementary. As one of the multilateral cooperative mechanisms, the Silk Road economic belt is supplementary to the Eurasian cooperative mechanism. While constructing the Silk Road economic belt, China attaches high importance to the role of Belarus and intensifying its cooperation with the country.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today(CASS Special Edition) No.244.

Chinese link: http://cass.cssn.cn/yaowen/201404/t20140425_1124481.html

Translated by Chen Mirong

Revised by Tom Fearon