New Leadership's First 100 Days Renew World's Expectation for China
February 22 marks the 100th day since the newly elected leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) took the helm of the world's second largest economy. Throughout these past 100 days, whether it was the talk of the "Chinese dream," or the determination to carry out reforms, fight corruption, and stick to the path of peaceful development, the world has watched closely for how the new Chinese leaders would steer the country's ship of state to an even brighter future.
THE CHINESE DREAM Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said the "Chinese dream" was a long-cherished wish that had been held by generations of Chinese and a common aspiration of all of its people. Overseas observers believe that, by underlining the "Chinese dream," the new CPC leadership has demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility for the renewal of the Chinese nation. Alejandro Simonoff, an international studies expert at Argentina's National University of La Plata, said China, the world's second biggest economy, was now playing a key role in international organizations, such as the U.N. and the Group of 20. The "Chinese dream" had set for the country's future development a goal that would electrify the country as a whole, he said. James Oruko, a lecturer with Kenya's Egerton University, said the "Chinese dream" could help the country in accomplishing even greater achievements in promoting social welfare and economic growth. The "Chinese dream" also means other countries will have more opportunities for development as they cooperate with China in a mutually beneficial manner. Jose Luis Robaina, a renowned Cuban expert on China, said a strong, independent and stable socialist China was good for the whole world.
THE RIGHT PATH TO SUCCESS Robaina said China had walked out of poverty, and become an industrial and technological power, and that was because it had followed the socialist path. With full confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, the new CPC leadership has already begun bringing new ideas in advancing reforms and opening-up, as well as party building. Soon after assuming the top CPC post, Xi Jinping visited Guangdong Province, the testing ground for China's reform and opening up policy. Yakov Berger, senior analyst at the Institute of Far-Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said the new CPC central leadership had shown unwavering commitment to push forward the reforms. China's future reform would be more effective, and new reform measures would impact the world on a grand scale, he said. Apart from the promise of a better life for the Chinese people, the international community has also seen the new leadership's concrete actions to improve their working style and fight corruption. The leaders have also set an example in advocating thrift and opposing extravagance. Garrison Ikiara, lecturer of International Economics at the University of Nairobi, agreed with the new measures, saying a ruling party should be prepared for dangers in times of safety, and strengthen party building. Thomas Meyer, vice-chairman of the committee on fundamental principles of Germany's Social Democratic Party, said it was an absolute necessity for the CPC to set anti-corruption as a major task, as corruption would damage the credibility of a ruling party, and would weaken people's support for reforms.
PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT WITH BOTTOM LINE On foreign policy, Xi has said China will stick to the path of peaceful development, but this will not come at the expense of its legitimate rights and interests. China will never sacrifice its core interests. Overseas analysts believe these remarks not only suggest Beijing will continue with the path of peaceful development and win-win cooperation, but also clarify the country's bottom line in handling foreign affairs. According to the Spanish EFE news agency, the bottom line for foreign policy would be particularly important on issues involving China's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Meanwhile, Xi said the odds of success for Beijing's strategy to rise peacefully were, in large part, determined by whether China could grasp opportunities offered by the world, and whether China's growth could provide opportunities for the world. The remarks, observers say, show China will be actively engaged in benign interactions with the outside world for mutually beneficial results. Xi's words were a testament to China's aspiration for more cooperation within the region and the world at large, said Andrew Macintyre, an academic with the Australian National University. On top of that, the new leadership had also shown themselves determined to foster relations with the world's great powers, analysts said. In his meeting with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on December 13, 2012, Xi said China and the United States, under the new climate, should work to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, while at the same time create a new type of bilateral ties between major powers. On China's relations with Russia, Xi proposed the two countries step up political support for each other, and enhance coordination on regional and international affairs. The United States and Russia have responded positively to Xi's offer, voicing willingness to further cement ties with China. On global hot-spots, the new leadership has taken a principled approach while taking into account the overall situation of regional peace and stability, which, analysts said, had impressed the world a lot. "There is no doubt that China's new leaders face a different world than Hu Jintao did when he took over in 2002, but chances are good that Xi's CPC will be able to adapt to and meet whatever new challenges the rapidly changing domestic and international environments pose," said an article entitled "The Life of the Party: The Post-Democratic Future Begins in China", carried by Foreign Affairs magazine.
(source: Xinhua)
