CPC, BJP should initiate global political party alliance

With more than 180 million registered members, Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist Party of China jointly represent largest political party alliance. 

The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China. Founded in 1921, the Communist Party of China is the sole governing party of China. It also leads one of the world's largest armed forces, the People's Liberation Army.

Meng Xiangfeng (C), deputy director of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), introduces the 19th CPC National Congress held in October 2017, in New Delhi, India, Jan. 6, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

The Chinese president's desire to forge a better world based on dialogue and mutual respect has inspired people from across the world. For many, his vision warrants a more rational and fair version of globalization

For President Xi, building a better world is in line with his roadmap to build a better China. On several occasions, the idea of a global community was highlighted by President Xi.

In relations with neighbouring countries, President Xi stresses the four principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. 

Over the past two decades, China has contributed about 30 percent to global growth and played a quintessential role in pulling the recessionary world economy back to growth following the 2008 global financial tsunami. Today, the country Xi leads is widely seen as a problem-solver with global influence.

Since taking office, President Xi has pursued sweeping and painstaking reforms at home to build an innovation-based and environment-friendly economy, all the while reducing poverty rates.

Globally, China has helped cure the Ebola pandemic in Africa and build roads, bridges, schools and hospitals in Asia and Latin America.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened his historic trip to United Nations General Assembly with a tribute to India’s ancient civilizational traditions, telling a packed Assembly hall of delegates that India’s philosophy, which was not an ideology, was the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or world family, and this has guided the nation since Vedic times.

Under PM Modi’s leadership, BJP started an aggressive membership drive and BJP by March 2015 claimed 100 million members. Under his leadership during 2014-16, BJP achieved success in Legislative Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and Assam, but lost the elections in Delhi and Bihar.

The CPC has been in regular contact with over 400 political parties and political organisations from more than 160 countries and regions and this "circle of friends" is developing continuously, President Xi said on Dec 1, 2017. The CPC also maintains fraternal ties with a number of Indian political parties including the BJP, Congress, and the Left parties. 

President Xi, who also heads the CPC, has proposed to develop a new model of party-to-party relations with different political parties of the world in order to seek common ground while shelving differences, and to respect and learn from each another. 

Following are the issues/ areas that need his attention:

Global political parties’alliance

BJP and CPC, two of the world’s largest political parties, should initiate this global outreach to engage, understand and bring together all the political ideologies at one platform. With global financial uncertainties, terrorism threats and changing global geo-political balance, world needs a platform for global political parties like BJP, Communist party of China etc to create eco-system of cooperation so that their governments can reduce the differences and can work together more effectively. More informal discussion between global political parties is critically needed to save the world. That is because at government levels things are too formal and think tanks may not see or impact things in a wholistic way. Most importantly, personal chemistry between the leaders can do wonders.

Youth Alliance 

“India-China represents almost 40% of the global population. And world needs “India and China” not “India or China”. For issues like global economic growth, climate change and global peace, India and China are already playing critical and mature roles. India-China’s combined power can do wonders for humanity and global peace” said Dr. Nikhil Agrawal -Ex CEO of Andhra Pradesh Government’s Innovation Society.

Today, 65% of India's population is of working age. And up to 80% of these educated Indian youths are working in corporate world in sectors like IT, Banking etc.

Both PM Modi and President Xi started their career as Youth leader and both understand the aspirations of youth to engage and contribute in politics. Not every youth desires or get chance to actively work in political arena. But thanks to digital era specifically social media, this has given a chance to youths to partially fulfil his political aspirations. Furthermore, BJP and CPC should initiate following:

Coffee with Corporates:

With India and China taking lots of new and disruptive initiatives like Internet plus, digital India etc , It is need of an hour that BJP-CPC should interact with youths, who are diligent tax payers, to educate them more about the government initiatives and address their concerns. People like Jack Ma and Amir Khan, with whom youth can co-relate and who talk with facts & figures, should play an important role to facilitate this initiative

Presentation to Party Leader:

Interacting with PM or President can be very formal and need to be within the framework of predefined protocols. But interacting with Party leader can be more effective and productive as it can be informal that allows people to talk freely. This government do take bold and out of the box decisions. Thus, more informal interactions are critically needed.

Youths should be allowed to submit/give a presentation, which may give new suggestion, highlight their concerns or ask for more details to Party leader. And noteworthy presentations than can be recommended to concerned government heads. 

“BJP and CPC have successfully prepared solid foundation for PM Modi and President Xi to take bold and innovative initiatives. BJP and CPC should now work to sustain these wins. This will allow PM Modi and President Xi to fully implement these initiatives and have enough time to showcase the outcome of these initiatives to country and the world.” said Dr. Nikhil Agrawal -Ex CEO AP Government’s Innovation society.

(Prasoon Sharma is Director at India Global’s Centre for Chinese studies (IGCCS) – think tank initiated by global Indians.)