by Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has played a "vital role" in China's rapid development since the start of the Asian country's reform and opening-up process in 1978, said a renowned Cuban expert.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Maria Teresa Montes de Oca, director of the Institute of Chinese Studies at the University of Havana, said that over the past decades Chinese leaders and people have kept strengthening the role of the CPC as the leading force of society.

"The CPC has a very active and direct role in making economic and political decisions in the country," said the academic.

Now China has grown into a "world power," Montes de Oca said, attributing it to the "vital role" of the CPC and its "coherent policy."

The Cuban academic also spoke highly of China's tremendous efforts in reducing inequalities and fighting corruption during the past five years.

She noted that the Chinese government takes the problem of social inequalities seriously and the CPC is working hard to address it.

Developing countries in Latin America, she suggested, should follow China's example to make substantial improvements in reducing poverty and social inequalities.

"China is a country worth for everyone to follow. Governments in Latin America should seek solutions similar to what China has achieved with such a large population in terms of poverty reduction," she stated.

The Cuba expert also noted that by combining tradition and modernity, China does not have to appeal to any foreign figure as an example for its society, because the nation has thousands of years of traditional culture, which the Chinese people feel proud of.

"China has adjusted to new times and of course the CPC has led this effort. The country has been modernized and freed of old canons both politically and economically," she said.

The Cuban academic added that China always follows the "win-win" maxim both in its internal economic development and in international political relations.

"China's development prospects over the next five years are superb and China will inevitably become the world's leading economy without a doubt," she said.