by Xinhua writers Chen Junxia, Guo Wendi

GENEVA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has led China, a large country with complex conditions and realities, to prosperity, which fully reflects the party's governance capability, Massimiliano Ay, general secretary of the Communist Party of Switzerland, has said.

"China is a very large country, which is composed of many different ethnic groups" and "different economic situations ... All this makes it complicated to govern the country; that's why the role of the Communist Party (of China) has proved to be very useful and very important," said Ay in a recent joint interview with Chinese media.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the CPC's founding. Looking back at the party's century-long history, Ay said the CPC has successfully united the nation and the people around socialism, and constructed a sense of national identity.

China has been able to direct its national resources to where they are needed, and invest them in strategic fields, he said, noting that the country's tremendous economic development has also lifted many people out of poverty.

On the international stage, instead of interfering in other countries' internal affairs, China is committed to advancing win-win cooperation, and helping countries and their people reduce poverty through the Belt and Road Initiative, he observed.

Ay is also deeply impressed by China's efficient management of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the country's swift response to the outbreak.

The unified command by the country, cooperation and solidarity among the people, as well as coordination and mutual help between different regions are all key factors to China's success in the anti-virus fight, while the country also made international cooperation a priority when tackling the global health emergency, he noted.

"While some countries were fighting over masks, that is, they were stealing each other's masks at the borders, China was working with solidarity; it was providing medical supplies to other countries; it was providing health personnel -- this is a big difference," he said.

Looking to the future, Ay hoped the CPC would further strengthen and China's "path to socialism and a prosperous society will continue." Enditem