Speech by Prof. Yoro DIALLO, Senior Researcher / Executive Director of the Center for Francophones Studies, Director of African Museum, Institute of AfricanStudies, Zhejiang Normal University at the Forum on China-Mali Cooperation: Let's Build Together a Community of Destiny China-Mali in the New Era

Ladies and Gentlemen, in your ranks and qualities, good morning！

It is a great pleasure for me, in my capacity as Honorary President of the Association of China-Mali Friendship(CACM), member of the Advisory Council of the Federation of the Associations of China-Africa Friendship (FAACA), to be with you this morning at this first edition of the Forum on China-Mali Cooperation, thus celebrating the 62 years of the establishment of the diplomatic relationships between the new Mali and the new China.

Placed under the theme "Let's build together a China-Mali Community of Destiny in the new era", our Forum takes place a few days after the closing of the 20^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, held from October 16 to 22, 2022. I would like to take this opportunity to send my hearty and warm congratulations to the Communist Party of China, for the fabulous celebration of the anniversary of its first centenary, to pay tribute to the founding heroes of this great Political Party, Chairman Mao Zedong and his companions. My warm and fraternal congratulations to Ambassador Chen Zhihong for his dedication to Malian people and to China-Mali cooperation. A friendship which pertpetue becomes brotherhood. This an Ambassador, unlike many others. Mr. Chen Zhihong, very simple and very close to both ordinary citizens and officials, your love for Malian people reminds us of  what people diplomacy is. This people diplomacy, we appreciated it through the fraternal attitude of Prime Minister Zhou Enlai. In 1964, Prime Zhou (as he is called by young Chinese) was the first Prime minister of a major country who visited Malian citizens at their homes in a working-class neighborhood here in Bamako. He had been the first Prime Minister to have traveled outside  Malian capital to the small town of Koulikoro where he has been an honorary citizen. It was in Koulikoro Zhou Enlai said, I paraphrase: “China has helped Africa in its struggle for political independence. China is ready to help Africa to get its economic independence.” More than a commitment, it was a real priesthood. Speaking thus, Mali was certainly on his mind.

It is in Koulikoro that the Malian Navigation Company (COMANAV) had been created, whose materials for the construction and assembly of boats will come from Shanghai, China. Since that date, China has remained faithful to its initial commitment. It is a question of helping Mali to obtain its economic independence. Seydou Badian Kouyaté, whom I met several times a few months before his death, confirmed this to me when talking about his conversations with Chairman Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. During our interviews at his home 6 months before his death, President Moussa Traorém enriched his relationship with China, particularly with Den Xiaoping. Amadou Toumani Touré, who was worried about the possibility for Mali to organize the 2002 African Cup of Nations, asked President Alpha Oumar Konaré how he was going to deal with the situation with regard to the financial situation of the country. . Alpha Oumar Konaré's response was simple, clear and very reassuring. You will see. We have actually seen. China has built stadiums, roads, airports wherever needed. A few months before his death, in an interview he gave to the National Television of Mali, President ATT answered a question on China-Mali cooperation in these terms: "Any time I asked for something with Chinese authorities, they granted it to me. Finally I was ashamed to ask. I no longer asked for anything. Without China-Mali cooperation, what would the city of Bamako be today? A big village certainly, as wrote in his report, a French journalist accompanying the President of his country on a visit in Mali a few years ago. Without China-Mali cooperation, what would Mali be today? Certainly not the respected country that it is on the internationalscene.

Ladies and gentlemen

It was in an organization like no other that the world followed the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, held from October 16 to 22, 2022 in Beijing. This august Assembly bringing together the representatives of the multi-ethnic Chinese people has aroused great interest across the planet. This Congress will have offered lessons in all areas of development to all peoples who love peace, justice, a better life and sovereignty.

Because of the time limited, I would like to talk to you briefly about one important theme among many others which has caught the attention of many observers of Chinese governance in general, of this Congress in particular, myself including. This is called “Chinese modernization”.

Modernization with Chinese characteristics, an initiative of Xi Jinping defining China's journey towards national rejuvenation was first mentioned in a report to the National Congress of the Communist Party of China. It presents a path specific to China to achieve "the Chinese dream", a dream of peace and a better life. During the years when the Chinese people suffered misery, humiliation and exploitation from foreign powers, the recurring question of rulers and even some Chinese intellectuals was: can China modernize?

Today's China is a model of political, social and economic stability thanks to five generations of exemplary leadership that has upheld the people, patriotism and unity of the country. The people, the patriotism and the unity are major components of the development of any country. How did China get to this level in such a short time and begin its march towards modernization, modernization? How has China managed to achieve what so-called world powers countries have taken centuries to achieve generally following the domination and exploitation of other peoples? At this level, partnership with China in development strategies should not be an option but a necessity in sofar as China's development philosophy is based on shared development.

Modernization with Chinese characteristics contains elements common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is characterized more by characteristics specific to the Chinese context. It is not equal to Westernization. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to modernization. China stresses the importance for each country to pursue modernization in a way suited to its own conditions, supported by the people. China's success in eradicating poverty in recent years has highlighted one of the key features of modernization with Chinese characteristics, which is common prosperity.

The modernization of the Western was built on slavery, colonization, the exploitation of other peoples. It engendered material wealth benefiting some, enslaving others. This path of aggression and hegemony cannot thrive. Modernization with Chinese characteristics offers a new choice based on its own conditions and more international cooperation, rather than war, bloodshed and hegemony. China has neither colonized nor dominated a people. It remains faithful to the five principles of peaceful coexistence.

Following the report presented by President Xi, we note for simplicity that “Modernization with Chinese characteristics” requires: “…maintaining the leadership of the CPC, pursuing socialism with Chinese characteristics, ensuring quality development, developing democracy integral popular...to realize the common prosperity of the whole people, to promote the harmonious coexistence between man and nature, to promote the construction of a community of destiny for mankind, to create a new form of human civilization...”. This modernization shares commonalities with the modernization of other countries. However, it has the particularity of characteristics specific to China, that is to say, taking into account the historical, contemporary socio-cultural realities of the Chinese people. Chinese-style modernization is therefore linked to the physical size of the country, the size of its population, the common prosperity of all the people. It takes into account the balance between material and spiritual civilization. It attaches great importance to the harmonious coexistence between man and nature, but also to the pursuit of the path of peaceful development.

The Chinese path of modernization is plave people in the center of all It promotes the development of the country and the Nation in an endogenous and harmonious way. As it develops, this path ensures and improves the well-being of the people, and encourages the common struggle to create conditions that meet the aspirations of the people to live a better life. In this regard, Chinese governance is increasingly intended to more open in terms of regulation, restrictive policies, management and standards. The objective includes, among other things, the rapid transformation of China into a commercial power, the promotion of quality development, the implementation of the "Belt and Road Initiative" and the defense of the diversity and stability of the economic configuration and of economic and commerce relations on a global scale.

Modernization with Chinese characteristics is now rooted in China's governance. It is adapted to the realities of the country. The Chinese people are called upon to step forward with confidence, uphold fundamental principles and innovate, and strive to open new chapters in the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country. China's great achievements have demonstrated that socialism with Chinese characteristics represents a better model, capable of exerting global appeal. China sets a good example for other developing countries, especially African countries, to keep their own paths to development and national rejuvenation in their own hands.

Ladies and gentlemen, to conclude my speech, I would like to note that all of President Xi Jinping's speeches, including the report presented at this 20th National Congress, teach that in China there is a Chinese people who know where he come from and where he's going ". In Mali we say: “Ni i nyènèna i jujon ko i ta yorobè i konoguan”. That means When you forget where you come from, your destination will be dark to you. China and Mali share similar historical experiences, common struggles and common development tasks. Sino-Malian relationship have always been a model of sincere and pragmatic friendship cooperation. I believe that the Sino-Malian community with a shared future in the new era is at the forefront of the China-African community with a shared future in the new era. We must remain faithful to the initial commitment, that of the heroes of our struggles for independence and the foundation of our Nations, Chairman Mao Zedong and Modibo KEITA.

Thank you for your kind attention.