Nigerian Sinologist on China's 'Four Comprehensives'

2015-07-09      Source: Chinaculture.org

Nigerian Sinologist Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim poses for a photo during the third Visiting Program for Young Sinologists in Beijing on July 7, 2015.

A strategic blueprint for China's future, the "Four Comprehensives" named by Chinese President Xi Jinping in December, is not only being closely followed by Chinese officials and media, but have also attracted the attention of the outside world.

It refers to "comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively advancing the rule of law, and comprehensively strictly governing the Communist Party of China."

In this on-going series - China's "Four Comprehensives" in the eyes of sinologists – we asked Nigerian Sinologist Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim to comment on the issue, during his trip to Beijing this month to attend the third Visiting Program for Young Sinologists.

Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim is a lecturer at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at University of Abuja in Nigeria. He attended Huazhong Normal University in China’s Wuhan from 2008 to 2011. He is currently doing a two-week-long study at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on international politics and the Communist Party of China and economic prosperity.

How familiar are you with the "Four Comprehensives" theory that President Xi Jinping highlighted in December? Do you know the overall framework for China's future administration behind the theory?

I have been following every bit of information about Xi's political theory of "the Four Comprehensives". The overall administrative framework for China is prosperity. As emphasized by President Xi, China needs a moderate prosperity. This concept of prosperity is a complex one, for it envisages legal prosperity, party prosperity, economic prosperity, political prosperity, social prosperity in its divergent nature. The rationale behind the political theory is all about making progress in all ramifications of Chinese nation.

Why do you think China is launching this strategy at this time?

China is launching this strategy because it is assuming leadership position in the world. Many countries look up to China for economic support, infrastructural support, political support, economic support, policy support and many other types of support. For China to be able to continue providing these supports, it needs more internal reforms, strengthening its rule of law and democratic principles, fight corruption and maintain party discipline. For China, however, setting example internally is what will make the world admire the country. This is also in tandem with the adage that: "Charity begins at home".

What's your overall impression of the "Four Comprehensives"? Which one is most impressive to you?

My overall impression is that, they are indispensable for the survival of a democracy. They are a necessity for establishing social justice, economic progress and political harmony. Secondly, maintaining party discipline is what seems to me the most impressive. This is largely because the Communist Party of China is the bedrock of Chinese nation; its agricultural base; revolutionary engine and pioneer of all developmental initiatives of china. Without the Communist pParty being disciplined, corruption will become order of the day, rule of law will be absent, poverty level will increase, markets will fall and think of all vices due to lack of party discipline.

Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim is a lecturer at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at University of Abuja in Nigeria.

Do China's "Four Comprehensives" have reference values for other developing countries?

Yes they do. Take for example my country Nigeria where we just concluded democratic transition, the new government has come to appreciate these values of President Xi Jinping. What the president of Nigeria proposed for Nigerians even prior to the election are: (a) strengthening discipline through fighting corruption (b) providing harmonious and prosperous economy through job creation and getting Nigerian youths employed (c) fight terrorism until Nigeria becomes prosperous without fear or threat among its citizenry. He has also set a committee to investigate some major flows committed by the previous government.

What connections do you see in the four aspects? For example, between "advancing the rule of law" and "strictly governing the party", and between "building a moderately prosperous society" and "deepening reform".

There is great nexus between rule of law and party discipline. The laws must be above everybody in China regardless of his position, wealth or influence and nobody should be above the law. If this is consolidated, members of the communist party must be watchful in whatever they do. Secondly, deepening reform and building a moderately prosperous society share a common peculiarity. This peculiarity is that, prosperity is not attainable without a better plan and reforming an existing system. Reformation is like a design of how you want the society to prosper.

As a national strategic blueprint, what changes do you think the "Four Comprehensives" will bring to China's future?

The benefits that China can derive from these comprehensives may include, but not limited to the following: (a) China will emerge a wealthier nation (b) China will become a model of development plans (c) the people of China will become more happier with economic development (d) it will consolidate Chinese diplomatic relations and foreign policy (e) China will continue to have more influence on international stage (f) the blue print will fulfill the popularly known hope of “Chinese dream” which is a complete renewal or rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Will the strategy have influence on the world’s future development?

Why not? Of course, nations will copy such model to develop. After China, we are going to see the emergence of more responsive and responsible governments in the world, constitutionalism, political stability and harmonious domestic and foreign policies.

Besides the four areas, what else are there in China's overall framework for future administration that you think need to be improved?

China must deal with the issue of "made in China" goods. This involves China formulating or taking stringent measures on quality and safety of goods produced. This will make people stop the campaign of "made in China goods".

Do you have anything else about the topic and yourself to add?

What I have to do is to apply the theory to myself, for myself and by myself in order to be a vanguard of prosperity in my family, local government area, state and my country Nigeria.