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China’s desire to assert itself as a global leader and widely disseminate its vision of the world, particularly in opposition to the Western model of development, is certainly no secret. But what is this alternative it intends to put forward as a challenge to the still dominant Western model? As Beijing sees it, the process of modernization based on capitalism has resulted in “imperialism and exploitation, tensions between peoples, and the general spread of violence.” It has led to humanity’s alienation from nature, the cult of hedonism, and the primacy of individual desires. Contrary to that, the Chinese-style conception of “modernization” aims to enable “prosperity for the people as a whole, to restore harmony between humanity and nature, and promote peaceful development.” A vision sure to appeal to the many countries disillusioned with the “American” way of life and in search of a brighter future! This article, written after the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which saw Xi Jinping set a new course for the nation’s future, aims to shed light on exactly what “Chinese Socialist modernization” means to offer as an alternative to the dominant US model. What are the values that emerge from the nation’s millennia-long history and how are they to be drawn on as ways of reinforcing China’s influence or appealing to countries that currently see no future for themselves? The author, well-versed in the underlying principles that inform present-day China and in its conception of modernity, offers valuable insights into the values it intends to promote and its ability to exemplify them. H.J.