The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Albania, Pang Chunxue, has conducted an interview with Albanian media regarding the conclusions of the 4th Plenum of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

She talks about the main achievements of the works, the priorities of the new Five-Year Plan, China's economic prospects, and the country's role on the international stage.

The Ambassador also focused on the opportunities that China's development creates for Albania and the continuation of bilateral cooperation.

Interviews

I. The 4th Plenum of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which successfully concluded its work recently, has aroused wide international interest. Your Excellency Madam Ambassador, could you introduce to us the main achievements of this Plenum?
Pang Chunxue: From October 20 to 23 of this year, the 4th Plenum of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in Beijing. Taking into account the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the unprecedented changes the world is experiencing in a century, the plenum deeply analyzed the great and complex changes facing our country's development. The most important result was the adoption of the "Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee on the Drafting of the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Country's Economic and Social Development", which set out the main objectives of national economic and social development for the next five years, defined strategic tasks and important measures in 12 different areas, drafted a major blueprint and showed the way for the continuous progress of the modernization of the Chinese model.

Ⅱ. Can you tell us briefly about China's five-year plan?
Pang Chunxue: An Albanian proverb says: Stone by stone, a wall is built. The scientific formulation and continuous implementation of five-year plans is an important experience of the CPC's governance and an important political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Starting from the first Five-Year Plan in 1953, modernization in the Chinese model has advanced through the implementation of successive five-year plans, moving from solving basic living needs to building a relatively prosperous society, and then to the sustainable promotion of common prosperity, from quantitative change to qualitative change, continuously raising the country's economic development, technological capabilities, and overall national strength to new levels.

III. How do you see China's development prospects?
Pang Chunxue: In 2024, China's GDP reached 134.9 trillion yuan (18.77 trillion U.S. dollars. Editor's note) and is expected to exceed 140 trillion yuan in 2025. For the next five years, China's economy has a solid foundation, has multiple advantages, strong resilience, and great potential; the supporting conditions and the long-term fundamental trend of improvement remain unchanged. We will continue to uphold the all-round leadership of the CPC, adhere to the principle of putting the people first, resolutely pursue high-quality development, deepen reform in all aspects, combine an effective market with a capable government, and coordinate development and security. By focusing efforts on carrying out our work, we will continue to write a new chapter with two great miracles: rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

IV. How do you assess China's role on the international stage?
Pang Chunxue: China will contribute as a stabilizing force for international economic development. As the world's second largest economy, China has maintained an average annual contribution rate of 30% to global annual economic growth for many years, is the main trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions, and is the world's largest merchandise trade country. During the 15th Five-Year Plan, China will expand opening-up to the world at a high level, creating a new landscape of mutually beneficial cooperation. China has been, is and will continue to be a "stabilizing anchor" and a "source of driving force" for the world economy.

China will contribute the Chinese project to the reform of global governance. At present, the Cold War mentality, hegemonism and protectionism are spreading rapidly, and the world has entered a new period of turmoil and change. President Xi Jinping has creatively put forward the Global Governance Initiative, contributing Chinese wisdom and offering the Chinese project for building a more just and reasonable global governance system. China will continue to support a fair and orderly global multipolarization, inclusive and win-win economic globalization, expand the network of global partnerships, promote the building of new international relations, and guide the international order towards a more just and reasonable approach.

V. What opportunities does China's development bring for Albania?
Pang Chunxue: The traditional friendship between China and Albania is a precious common asset for the two countries, which deserves to be appreciated. At present, bilateral relations are developing well, people-to-people exchanges are increasing year by year, more and more Albanian agricultural products are being exported to China, and China continues to be Albania's second largest trading partner.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a key stage for China to lay a solid foundation and make all-round efforts toward the substantive realization of socialist modernization.

Albania is also at a key stage of national development. The Government Program published by the Albanian government focuses on “European Albania”, “Sustainable Economic Growth” and “Well-being for All”, identifying around 300 priority issues and presenting a remarkable vision for Albania.

Both the 15th Five-Year Plan and the Government Program of Albania frequently mention keywords such as “innovation”, “digital economy” and “tourism”. China is willing to strengthen exchanges at all levels with Albania, make full use of mechanisms such as the “Belt and Road” initiative and China-Central and Eastern Europe cooperation, expand cooperation in trade, tourism, agriculture, culture and other fields, continuously writing new chapters of the traditional friendship between China and Albania.