A high-speed train passes through the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng intercity railway in Central China's?Henan Province. Photo: VCG

Editor's Note:

July 1, 2025, marked the 104th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In an exclusive interview with Global Times (GT), Maurício Santoro (Santoro), a professor of International Relations at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, and a researcher at the Brazilian Navy's Center for Political and Strategic Studies, offers insights into how the CPC's governance model, blending long-term vision with pragmatic adaptability, has propelled China's development and fostered global partnerships. 

GT: You have previously noted in media interviews that "the key to China's rapid development lies in the leadership of the CPC." How did you come to this conclusion? 

Santoro: Over its more than century-long history, the CPC has achieved remarkable successes in securing national sovereignty, safeguarding territorial integrity and promoting comprehensive socioeconomic development. These accomplishments are particularly significant, as they were attained after China endured a century of foreign invasions and interventions. 

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country has made historic strides in development. What amazes me about the CPC leadership is its ability to combine long-term development goals with pragmatic choices, learning from many countries and adapting these ideas to China's reality. This blend of strategic vision and practical wisdom constitutes the core strength of the CPC leadership and a key driver of China's rapid progress.

Through scientific policymaking and efficient implementation, the CPC has propelled national development, achieving tangible results in infrastructure, education, healthcare and other areas. This reflects the Party's capacity for systematic planning and its ability to respond swiftly to societal needs.

GT: In 2021, China announced the realization of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, which means the country has brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China. What are the difficulties and challenges in leading such a vast country to achieve these goals? Why has the CPC been able to succeed?

Santoro: The history of the CPC is both inspiring and fascinating. It amazes me how the Party has skillfully integrated diverse domestic and international influences to address China's ever-changing economic and social challenges. Governing a country of this size comes with tremendous challenges, such as addressing regional economic disparities, managing complex resource distribution and meeting diverse societal needs. It requires precise policy execution, maintaining social stability, and staying strategically focused despite global uncertainties, all of which test the limits of governance.

We can link the founding of the CPC to global changes such as the 1917 Russian Revolution and the rise of socialist thought in 19th-century Europe, but it was also deeply rooted in China's own May Fourth Movement and the vibrant cultural scene of the young republic.

During the Long March and the early years in Yan'an, the CPC developed its distinctive approach to local governance. Through continuous adaptation, it forged ties with peasants, developed land reform strategies and evolved into an organization distinct from the Soviet model, which was more urban and industrial. This grassroots, people-centered approach laid a solid foundation for mass support.

Aside from a far stronger connection to the grassroots, the Party has a pragmatic approach to deal with economic and social problems. A prime example is its targeted response to farmers' needs in the early era of China's reform and opening-up. This achievement far outpaced the agricultural accomplishments of other historical socialist systems.

The reform and opening-up period showcased the CPC's enduring ability to adapt to the times. Through theoretical innovation, the Party successfully integrated a new generation of enterprising entrepreneurs and business leaders into its vision, ensuring their personal success contributed to the nation's broader development goals.

GT: With your extensive research on political systems, could you elaborate on the fundamental differences between China's political party system and Western party systems? Amid rising global turbulence, what do you view as the main sources of China's institutional confidence? 

Santoro: Each country has its own history, traditions and institutions, and no single political model fits all nations. Europe, for example, grapples with a history of violent wars and the challenge of regional integration among diverse polities, while Brazil confronts a legacy of slavery and racial and social inequalities.

Western party systems are centered on multiparty competition, emphasizing diverse political agendas that reflect societal diversity and values rooted in individualism and consumerism, characteristic of high-income economies. However, this system often faces efficiency challenges due to short-term policy priorities and partisan divisions.

In contrast, the CPC leadership model is characterized by centralized unity and long-term planning, dedicated to national rejuvenation through systematic strategies. This is a key source of China's institutional confidence. The CPC eliminated outdated imperial institutions and implemented successful development strategies such as land reform, education and healthcare improvements, and large-scale infrastructure investment. These efforts laid the foundation for decades of rapid economic growth, an extraordinary achievement for a nation of 1.4 billion people with complex conditions.

GT: In your view, how does the CPC's people-first philosophy shape China's partnerships with other developing countries, particularly in Latin America? Could you highlight a notable example of this approach in action? What unique development opportunities does this governance model present for Global South countries?

Santoro: Under the CPC leadership, China's cooperation with Global South countries embodies its people-first philosophy through mutually beneficial projects aimed at improving the quality of life and promoting shared development. 

A striking example is the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program. In the 1980s, our governments joined forces to build a satellite. The first was launched in 1999, and its success led to six satellites so far, with a seventh in development. These satellites have provided critical data to combat Amazon deforestation and support accurate weather forecasting for Brazil's thriving agribusiness sector, significantly enhancing local livelihoods.

Brazil and China pioneered the diplomatic concept of a "strategic partnership" in 1993, during a challenging period of political and economic crises in Brazil and modest bilateral trade. This partnership declaration proved crucial in demonstrating our shared commitment to long-term cooperation. Over the following decades, driven by both sides' vision of mutual benefit, trade between our nations skyrocketed, with China becoming Brazil's largest trading partner. Today, bilateral trade exceeds Brazil's combined trade with both the US and the EU.

This cooperative model extends beyond Brazil to countries like Chile and Peru, which have also benefited from close ties with China, gaining opportunities for economic growth and technological advancement. These partnerships vividly demonstrate how the CPC's people-first philosophy fosters shared prosperity for Global South nations, advancing the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.