San Jose (People's Daily) - "For the international community, the Communist Party of China (CPC) is not only one of the world's largest governing parties, but also a major force that has led a country of more than 1.4 billion people through rapid development and profound transformation," Velia Govaere, Director of Global Affairs at the Foreign Trade Observatory in the State Distance University of Costa Rica, said in an exclusive interview with People's Daily on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

File photo of Velia Govaere

A former Vice Minister of Economy, Industry and Commerce of Costa Rica, Govaere has long followed China's development path and reflected on how the CPC has continued to earn the trust of the Chinese people while guiding the country toward new achievements.

In 2022, Govaere visited China for the first time. The vitality of Shanghai as a modern international metropolis, the rich and fulfilling daily lives of Beijing residents, and the remarkable transformation of Nangou village in Ansai district of Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, all left a deep impression on her. At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, she also attended the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and listened to discussions among delegates on economic, industrial, social, and regional development.

"These discussions reflected both continuity and a spirit of ongoing reform and innovation," Govaere said. Through these firsthand experiences, she not only witnessed China's development achievements but also began to think more deeply about the reasons behind them.

In Govaere's view, one of the key factors behind China's success is that the CPC has consistently linked national development with the well-being of the people.

"China's progress is reflected not only in economic growth figures, but also in the continuous improvement of people's living standards," she noted. From infrastructure development and technological innovation to expanded access to education and healthcare, and from the eradication of absolute poverty to the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, China's development achievements have increasingly translated into a stronger sense of gain, happiness, and fulfillment among its people.

Govaere particularly emphasized that the CPC has consistently regarded addressing unbalanced and inadequate development while meeting the people's aspirations for a better life as major priorities. In her view, this reflects a clear development orientation and a people-centered philosophy.

As a scholar who has long studied development issues, Govaere is especially interested in the lessons China's experience offers to Latin American countries.

"Latin America has long paid close attention to China's development miracle," she said. According to Govaere, China has successfully balanced economic growth, social equity, and modernization while continuously strengthening its capacity for independent innovation and expanding international cooperation. "China's experience demonstrates that a country can achieve modernization while preserving its own unique characteristics."

When discussing China's development path, Govaere repeatedly highlighted the concept of "continuity."

She pointed out that today's world faces numerous challenges, including economic pressures, technological transformation, and geopolitical uncertainty. In many countries, short political cycles often disrupt the implementation of long-term development strategies. China, however, has followed a different trajectory.

"Whether in reform and opening up, poverty alleviation, innovation-driven development, or green transformation, one can clearly see the importance of long-term planning and sustained implementation," Govaere said. She believes that China's ability to maintain strategic continuity while continuously advancing reform and innovation in response to changing circumstances deserves close attention from the international community, especially from countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"I would like to emphasize once again that bringing about such profound and far-reaching transformations while maintaining continuity is, in itself, a remarkable achievement," she added.

As a scholar from the Global South, Govaere pays particular attention to the global significance of Chinese modernization.

"For a long time, some people assumed that modernization could only follow a single model," she said. "China's development practice has demonstrated that countries can explore development paths suited to their own histories, cultures, and national conditions."

Govaere noted that China and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean share many common development challenges as members of the Global South.

"How to promote more equitable and inclusive development, and how to ensure that the benefits of modernization reach more people, are concerns shared across the Global South," she said.

In her view, China's experience shows that modernization is not merely about economic growth. It also involves comprehensive progress in education, healthcare, culture, and environmental protection. Chinese modernization therefore offers valuable insights for developing countries around the world.

Speaking about China's role in global development, Govaere said that China has become a key driver of global progress. From the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation to poverty reduction partnerships and efforts to address climate change, China is providing an increasing number of public goods and development opportunities to the world.

"I have always believed that China's development is an opportunity for global development," Govaere said. "A more open and prosperous China will share more of its development achievements with the world, bringing greater opportunities for investment, trade, technological cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, particularly for countries of the Global South, and helping advance common development and shared prosperity."

Reflecting on the CPC's 105-year journey, Govaere said that the Party has continuously adapted to changing times, responded to people's expectations, and promoted national progress, demonstrating strong governance capacity and vitality.

"I believe that the CPC will continue to lead China in advancing modernization and will play an even more active role in promoting world peace and common development," she said.