Interview: China's development defies Western narratives, offers valuable insights into governance, says British politician

SHANGHAI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China's development has exposed weaknesses in Western political and economic systems while providing valuable insights into governance and long-term planning, said former British lawmaker George Galloway.

There is "monumental ignorance" in the West about how China's political system works and how its people practice whole-process people's democracy, Galloway, who founded and leads the Workers Party of Britain, told Xinhua in an interview.

Western countries largely define democracy by the ability of voters to choose between political parties every few years, he said. But a change of government often brings little change in fundamental policies or the direction of the state.

"In the West, you can change the party ... but you can't change the policy," Galloway said.

He said China's people-centered political system responds to the needs and aspirations of its people and turns them into effective policies. Political and economic systems, he added, should be judged by their results. "The evidence of your own eyes is that China works."

Galloway said much of the West's criticism of China reflects discomfort with the contrast between China's development and the economic, social and political problems facing many Western countries.

"Their objection to China is that China works and their system doesn't work," he said. "Their system is delivering failure. The Chinese system is delivering success. That's what they can't accept."

"The success of China cannot be separated from the Communist Party of China," Galloway said.

He depicted China's independence from foreign interference as another key factor behind its achievements.

"For me, the biggest takeaway is sovereignty," he said. "If you don't have sovereignty, it doesn't matter what your political ideology is. China has sovereignty. It makes its own sovereign decisions."

By contrast, Galloway said, many European countries have surrendered much of their policy independence and adopted positions that do not necessarily serve their national interests.

"Every European country needs China," he said. Many European economies depend heavily on trade with China even as their governments join efforts to portray the country as a "threat." In his view, such positions do not reflect independent judgment.

European countries have been drawn into the rivalry despite having a strong economic interest in maintaining stable relations with China, he said.

Turning to technology, Galloway described China's industrial transformation as remarkable, as the country has become a leading player in telecommunications, electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

The world is going through a difficult transition from the old international order to a new one, he said. Whether that transition will be peaceful depends largely on whether Western powers are prepared to accept a more multipolar world. ■