--By Sun Zhe, Professor, Ph.D. Supervisor of the Institute of International Studies, Director of the Center for US-China Relations, Tsinghua University

Abstract

The Chinese Dream centers on the great revival of the Chinese nation. This does not mean bringing the Chinese nation back to Han or Tang dynasties that the Chinese are so proud of, but making China a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally developed and harmonious modern socialist country.

In that sense, global dialogue on the Chinese dream should contain the following three specific aspects:

First, China should tell the world how it discovered the dream from Chinese history, and explain why the dream carries the long-cherished wish of generations of Chinese people, why it reflects the interests of the Chinese people as a whole, and why it is a common expectation of the Chinese nation. Second, seeing itself a as a part of the world, China should tell he world that the Chinese dream is not only the greatest dream of the Chinese nation, but also an idea compatible with all achievements of human civilization. It embodies a spirit of inclusiveness, reflecting the fact that in an open and enterprising country, all Chinese people aspire to contribute to the common development of humanity. Third, by definition, the Chinese dream of pursuing prosperity and democracy, and developing culture and harmony represents China's great ambition of modernizing the whole country.

The upcoming profound reforms in China will focus on democracy, liberty, equality, justice and rule of law as defined by the 18th CPC National Congress as embodiments of the socialist core value system with Chinese characteristics. Through top-down design, China will gather strengths from its advantages, including its socialist path, theoretical system and institutional civilization, to overcome difficulties in building a market-oriented, culturally-advanced, harmonious and beautiful China under the rule of law.

In terms of the history of world civilization, the Chinese dream and the great revival of Chinese nation, other than being a state action, represent a spirit and value orientation. The Chinese dream needs to demonstrate the attractiveness of China's political system and raise China's questions.

At present many people still doubt whether China's political system can make the Chinese dream a reality. They have raised questions such as "will there by a Chinese democracy?" In view of this, we must believe in democratic progress with Chinese characteristics, which is a central element of the Chinese dream and the great revival of the Chinese nation. The author believes that China needs progressive reforms and institutional innovations on the condition that it rejects both the old and rigid closed-door policy and any attempt to abandon socialism and take an erroneous path. Through establishing democratic beliefs and a system with Chinese characteristics, China is able to gradually reduce the "soft-power deficit". With comprehensive measures, China will achieve the ultimate goal of the Chinese dream, namely the people's democracy, liberty and the justice and progress for society.

In order to broaden the appeal of the Chinese dream, we must bear in mind both the domestic and international interests of the country, and make steady advances in socialist democracy and democracy in international relations in accordance with the profound changes nationally, internationally and in the Party.

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