On 9 March, Minister Ma Hui from the Chinese Embassy in the UK gave an online lecture on China’s Political System at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. Dean of the School Ngaire Woods attended and addressed the event. Over 100 students from China, the UK, Columbia, Canada, Egypt, Kenya, Myanmar, Japan, Switzerland, Tonga, and the US joined the lecture.

Dean Woods thanked the Chinese Embassy in the UK and Minister Ma for giving the lecture to the School. She said, the world is facing three major challenges, namely, the Covid-19 pandemic, financial crisis, and climate change, and none of them could be solved without international coordination and cooperation. The Blavatnik School of Government has been keeping close exchanges and cooperation with Chinese universities and research institutions. She hoped that this lecture would further enhance the students’ understanding of China and its political system.

Minister Ma gave a comprehensive presentation on the leadership system of the Communist Party of China, the system of people’s congress, the system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation, the system of regional ethnic autonomy and the system of community-level self-governance in China. He emphasized that different countries may have varied social systems and development paths, and the people should have the right to make their own choices. One should look at and understand China’s political system in a global, historical and practical perspective. Socialism with Chinese characteristics under the CPC leadership is the choice of history and the Chinese people, which suits China’s national circumstances and guarantees China’s sustaining progress and development. It has won the support of the Chinese people and offered an alternative for developing countries to realize modernization. China is not exporting its development model, but is willing to share its successful experience.

Minister Ma also took around 20 questions from the students regarding China’s response to the Covid-19, China’s economy and diplomacy, the international community’s perception of China, and Xinjiang and Hong Kong related issues. He specifically shared information on the facts and truth of Xinjiang, the implementation of Hong Kong National Security Law, and NPC’s decision to improve Hong Kong’s electoral system. He also revealed the smear and slander against China by some politicians and media in the West on related issues.

Students said Minister Ma’s lecture was not only comprehensive, insightful and inspiring, but also helpful to widen their visions and resolve the problem of information asymmetric of China. China has created a miracle in eradicating absolute poverty, which is of great reference to African and South Asian countries. China’s development model and experience offer an important reference and example for other developing countries in their exploration to find development paths that suit themselves.

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The Blavatnik School of Government, founded in 2010, is one of the newest schools at the University of Oxford. Around 100 students from around the world are admitted to the School every year to study for the Master’s degree of Public Policy.