Global Times: China's success and prosperity stem from the CPC's outstanding leadership: former Egyptian PM

As this year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a national conference on Party building was held in Beijing on June 15, making arrangements for studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. The Thought reflects intrinsic connections among Party self-governance, Party strengthening and national rejuvenation. Articulated through the "Fourteen Upholds" - and comprising a series of signature major concepts, original ideas, and fundamental theoretical insights - the Thought has made major original contributions to the development of the Marxist theory of Party building, and is of great practical significance and far-reaching guiding significance for strengthening the Party and the country. Of the "Fourteen Upholds," the first is that upholding the Party's leadership is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China includes several important speeches on upholding and strengthening the leadership of the Party. In the "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China" included in Volume IV of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed, "The leadership of the Party is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and constitutes the greatest strength of this system. It is the foundation and lifeblood of the Party and the country, and the crux upon which the interests and wellbeing of all Chinese people depend." Standing at a new historical starting point and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, the CPC is advancing from the "world's largest political party" to becoming the "world's most powerful political Party." With unified thinking, firm resolve, coordinated action, and strong fighting strength, it will vigorously advance the great new project of Party building in the new era, thereby providing a strong political guarantee for the noble cause of building a powerful nation and achieving national rejuvenation.

In the 26th installment of the special series "Decoding the Book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," the Global Times, along with the People's Daily Overseas Edition, continues to invite Chinese and foreign scholars, translators of Xi's works, practitioners with firsthand experience, and international readers to focus on the theme of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. Together, they deeply explore the core essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, as well as its profound practical and global significance, and jointly explore the question: "Why has the CPC remained vibrant after 105 years?"

In the 26th article of the "Readers' Reflections" column, Global Times (GT) talked to Essam Sharaf (Sharaf), former Egyptian Prime Minister, to get his insights on the understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, and why "upholding the CPC's leadership" is key for the Chinese to realize their dreams. From an international perspective, he also analyzes the profound significance of Chinese modernization for the global development and governance.

GT: On June 15, 2026, a national conference on Party building was held in Beijing. According to the meeting, Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, has made major original contributions to the development of the Marxist theory of Party building, and is of great practical significance and far-reaching guiding significance for strengthening the Party and the country. What's your understanding on the Thought? What experience or insights can the Thought provide for the discussions on advancing a ruling party's governance capacity and enhancing national governance across the world?

Sharaf: Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building addresses a fundamental question facing every ruling party: how to maintain vitality, strengthen governance c...