The right to development

China has issued a document detailing its vision for development and progress. Titled "The Right to Development: China's Philosophy, Practice and Contribution," it deals with the idea of socio-economic development in a comprehensive manner.

The document known as a White Paper shows China's all-round progress in dealing with issues like poverty, healthcare, education and environment. It also highlights China's role in international peacekeeping and development through participation in UN peacekeeping missions and assistance to impoverished nations.

The paper shows a strong commitment by the Chinese government to addressing issues faced by people at home and a readiness to share experiences with the international community to boost sound development at the global level.

According to the White Paper, China has provided a legal basis for the development of every citizen. It has enacted and implemented a series of regulations to protect the right to development for its citizens. It safeguards the rights of ethnic minorities, women, children, senior citizens and the disabled. The laws ensure that the basic right of development will not be violated.

China's main contribution is in social sector development. For example, it has lifted 700 million people out of poverty during the last three decades. It is a phenomenal effort by any standard, as it accounts for a more than 70 percent global reduction in poverty.

Its record in the education sector is even more fascinating. According to the White Paper, in 1949 more than 80 percent of China's population was illiterate, but in 2015 net enrollment rate of school-age children at the primary school stage was 99.88 percent.

The same is true in healthcare. Through quality health services, it has been able to achieve an average life expectancy of 76.34 in 2015, which is a marked improvement from one of 35 in 1949.

The document says that China is not content with just domestic development. It is also ready to contribute and help other nations, which is evident from the 400 billion yuan ($58 billion) provided by China in development aid to 166 countries and international organizations over the past 60 years.

Direct aid is just one aspect of the developmental agenda. China is also sharing its experiences and technical know-how with others. For example, China has trained more than 12 million personnel from developing countries and dispatched over 600,000 people to aid development in other countries.

The paper says that China will also increase its investment in the least developed countries, write off certain countries' debts, establish an International Development Knowledge Center and further the Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure and trade network proposed by China in 2013.

The Chinese idea of development also means playing a role in international peacemaking efforts. Hence, China has sent 33,000 military, police and civilian personnel to join UN peacekeeping missions.

True development is sustainable. China is aware of this and is trying to play its part in various international conventions that help achieve environmentally-friendly development. It is the first country in the world to formulate and implement a national strategy to cope with climate change. It has also ratified the Paris Agreement, paving the way for its implementation.

The White Paper provides a foundation for the collective development of communities and countries. It is representative of the Chinese philosophy of "development with Chinese characteristic." Its critics may question the role and place of democracy in development. For China, obviously, development takes the center stage.

The idea of preferring development over popular democracy as practiced in the West is a Chinese model which has worked extremely well for the country. What China achieved in three decades is no less than a miracle. Probably it would not have been possible through democratic model of governance.

China needed fast-track development through a centralized decision making body which could overrule and sideline voices that were reluctant to accept the development.

As China has come out with its developmental agenda and model, other countries should accept it as a working formula for the development of China. However, they can mold or change it according to their own needs and domestic realities. Every nation should make development policies keeping in mind its own issues and interests.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

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