Britain's Prince Andrew (4th L), the Duke of York, unveils the multilingual versions of the second volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" with Jiang Jianguo (3rd R), minister of China's State Council Information Office, at the launch ceremony in London, Britain on April 11, 2018. The book was launched in London Wednesday. (Xinhua/Isabel Infantes)
The multilingual versions of the second volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China was launched in London Wednesday, followed by a high-profile seminar to discuss "China in the New Era."
The book, unveiled during the ongoing London Book Fair, contains a collection of 99 articles, including Xi's speeches, conversations, instructions and congratulatory messages, dated between August 2014 and September 2017.
The new book, published in Traditional Chinese characters, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Japanese, Arabic and Portuguese, was launched at a ceremony attended by some 300 political and business leaders, academics, and representatives of publishing agencies from 14 countries and regions.
A MILESTONE
Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, said at the ceremony that the global launch of the book in London is a "milestone," and it will hopefully "enlighten readers about where China is going and what it is thinking."
"It takes a lifetime to understand China. And I am on that journey," said Prince Andrew, adding that he awaits more volumes of the book to come.
China and Britain, as two major countries in the world, share great cooperative potential on cultural exchanges, innovation, business, and the promotion of globalization, he said.
Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said he believes that through the book, international readers will better understand that the Communist Party of China is a party that seeks to improve the well-being of the Chinese people, to realize the rejuvenation of the nation and to promote common development for the whole world.
Jiang, also minister of the State Council Information Office, said that China will push for quality development, vigorous innovation, deeper reform and opening up in a bid to further share opportunities and benefits with the rest of the world.
Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, said that cultural exchanges between China and Britain have made important contributions to the development of bilateral relations.
The premiere of the book is a major event for China-Britain ties, and it is hoped that the two sides will take this opportunity to further strengthen cultural exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations so as to build the bilateral relations into a model of major-country relations featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation.
Martin Albrow, a renowned British sociologist, said the new book is a reinforcement of the first volume, which was published in 2014.
The new book is not only for Chinese readers, but for all those who care about the future of mankind, said Albrow.
Mario Monti, former Italian prime minister, said the book showcases the Chinese leader's global vision and his insights into governance of China, which will prove inspiring for readers across the world. He also believed that the book helps dispel some of the misunderstanding and prejudice about a rising China.
Felipe Gonzalez, former Spanish prime minister, said the book helps global readers understand China's vital role in pushing for globalization and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The book also offers a perspective on how to tackle relations among European nations, how to participate in and push forward globalization and how to build a cooperative relationship with China, said Gonzalez.
CHINA IN THE NEW ERA
An international seminar with the theme of "China in the New Era" was held in London on Wednesday, as part of a series of activities to promote the launch of the second volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China in nine languages.
The seminar attracted more than 70 senior scholars and media representatives from China, Britain, the United States and Singapore. Relevant discussions have covered topics of the historical positioning and worldwide significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as China and the world in the new era.
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has led the socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era, opened a new chapter in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and opened a new scroll that strengthens the integration of China with the world, said Jiang.
Jiang stressed that in the new era, China will create more opportunities for global development, open the door of opening-up even wider to countries all over the world, enhance exchanges with different civilizations and contribute more deeply to the building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Zheng Bijian, chairman of China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, said the context of "China in the new era" comes from the development process of socialism with Chinese characteristics linked to economic globalization.
He said the important idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping brought the concepts of convergence of interests and community of shared interests, developed through "interdependence" created in economic globalization, to a new historical height.
The fourth round of economic globalization where countries achieve shared growth through discussion and collaboration is approaching, Zheng said.
It is more important than ever that we follow the trends of our times, make concerted efforts to address challenges through global cooperation, and redouble our efforts to expand and deepen the convergence of interests of all parties and to develop all-dimensional and multi-level communities of common interests, he added.
Spain's Gonzalez said that in the face of the globalization process, isolationism should not be adopted. Instead, all countries should strengthen the coordination of global governance and explore the convergence of interests.
He highlighted that China, as a force for stability and support for cooperation in the process of globalization, is constantly opening up and seeking common interests with other countries to create a community of shared interests.
Liu, China's ambassador to Britain, said that reading China in the new era is a necessity to seize opportunities in China, is the call of the times to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and is a necessary step to narrow down the "cognitive gap" between China and the West.
He appeals the public to fully understand the CPC, profoundly read Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and study China's national conditions, in a bid to better understand China in the new era.
Nathan Gardels, co-founder of the Berggruen Institute, said the West and China need to understand each other's development goals and seek common grounds for common interests. The starting point is an international seminar like this one that helps the West better understand Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.
Martin Jacques, a senior fellow at the Cambridge University, told Xinhua that the world today lacks a sense of direction in the future. It is at this time that China has proposed its own new perspectives on the future.
He believes that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by Xi in the current era of globalization is an important foundation for the development of human society.
"China's own great changes and its perception of the future are very important. If we look at it in a more profound sense, China is the future," he said.
The event was jointly organized by China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, China International Publishing Group and 21st Century Council and supported by the Chinese embassy in Britain.
