On August 20, 2026, Slovenia’s mainstream media outlet Dnevnik (The Daily) published an article authored by Chinese Ambassador to Slovenia Kang Yan, titled “To Understand China, One Must First Understand the Communist Party of China.” The full text of the article is as follows:

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).From its inception with just over 50 members, the CPC has grown into the world’s largest ruling party, with over 100 million members leading a nation of more than 1.4 billion people and exerting significant global influence. This century-long journey is the first chapter in understanding modern-day China.

All of China’s development achievements have been accomplished under the strong leadership of the CPC. Over the past 105 years, the CPC has led the Chinese people from chaos to peace, from poverty to prosperity, transforming an impoverished and weak agricultural country into the world’s second-largest economy. In 2025, China’s GDP surpassed 140 trillion yuan, reaching a new milestone, with its contribution to global economic growth remaining at around 30%. China has built the world’s largest education system, social security system, and healthcare system: the nation boasts approximately 280 million students across all levels of education, with its basic education coverage far surpassing the average of middle- and high-income countries. Nearly 100 million rural people have been lifted out of poverty, and life expectancy has risen from 35 years before the founding of the People’s Republic to 79 years today. Surveys by authoritative international organizations consistently show that more than 90% of Chinese people are satisfied with the CPC’s governance. Behind these statistics are profound changes in the lives of hundreds of millions of people, reflecting the CPC’s fulfillment of its commitments to its people.

The CPC is not a political party in the traditional Western sense. Just as no two leaves are identical, no nation’s history, culture, or social system can be exactly the same. To view democracy solely through the lens of multiparty elections is to risk a shallow understanding. The CPC prioritizes people’s interests above all else, representing no specific interest group. Its mission is to “seek happiness for the people, rejuvenation for the nation, and harmony for the world.” The modernization path led by the CPC does not aim for wealth for the few but common prosperity for China’s 1.4 billion citizens. China adopts a system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation, which ensures the orderly participation of its people in political life while fostering consensus and minimizing internal frictions. Political systems cannot be judged as superior or inferior; what matters is whether they suit a nation’s characteristics and benefit its people. Although China and Europe differ in political systems, these differences should not be obstacles but opportunities to learn from each other and enrich the global political civilization.

One of the secrets to the CPC’s vitality, even after a century, lies in its commitment to self-reform. The CPC has continuously demonstrated the courage to self-correct, acknowledging and addressing its shortcomings. Through stringent governance and systemic oversight, the CPC has maintained its progressiveness and integrity. From improving work styles and advancing the fight against corruption to enhancing intra-party oversight and strengthening its bond with the people, the CPC continuously rejuvenates itself and aligns with its mission. This ability to confront challenges, avoid complacency, and address mistakes with a “heal-the-sickness-to-save-the-patient” attitude is the political character that enables the CPC to sustain strong ties with the people and remain dynamic despite prolonged governance.

The CPC was born during a period of national crises and has always valued peace, stability, and development as hard-earned achievements. These historical experiences have profoundly shaped China’s commitment to peaceful development and open cooperation. For Europe, China’s development should not simply be seen as a threat but as an opportunity to foster economic growth, green transitions, and industrial upgrades. From the ancient exchanges along the Silk Road to the modern-day uninterrupted flow of China-Europe freight trains, openness, exchange, and connectivity have long been the cornerstones of Sino-European relations, laying a solid foundation for deeper cooperation.

Looking forward, the Communist Party of China will continue to embrace the world with an open attitude. We hope that Europe will view China and the CPC objectively and rationally, on the basis of mutual respect and finding the greatest common ground for cooperation. By doing so, we can work together to promote the healthy development of China-Europe and China-Slovenia relations and inject more stability and certainty into an increasingly turbulent world.