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March 21, 2018

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Led by Xi, China sets sail in the 鈥榥ew era鈥

As the curtains came down on the annual two sessions yesterday, China is setting sail in the 鈥渘ew era鈥 with a detailed chart, steered by a remarkable helmsman and a competent team. The first sessions of the 13th National People鈥檚 Congress and the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People鈥檚 Political Consultative Conference are the first high-profile national political events held since the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress last October, a landmark Party congress that revealed the roadmap for China鈥檚 rejuvenation.

鈥淚t will be another Long March to materialize the blueprint,鈥 President Xi Jinping said at the closing meeting of the annual legislative session, calling for greater efforts to make outstanding achievement in the new era.

The historic two sessions expedite the country鈥檚 march to its rejuvenation. China not only conventionally unveiled specific targets and priorities for this year鈥檚 development, but also set a new state leadership and government to realize its ambitions.

Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping, who was re-elected president unanimously, at the core, such pledges will be fulfilled to benefit China and the world.

The economic target is GDP growth of around 6.5 percent for 2018, unchanged statistically from last year but different in essence. Gone are the days when double-digit growth was the norm. China has made it clear that it intends to pursue high-quality development powered by greener and more sustainable engines such as consumption and services.

The projected GDP expansion rate will still be one of the fastest worldwide, lending new steam to the recovering global economy.

China rolled out a sweeping Cabinet restructuring plan to cut bureaucracy and improve governance efficiency, introduced a nationwide supervisory commission network to toughen the fight on corruption, and most importantly, amended its fundamental law to enshrine 鈥淴i Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era鈥 as the guiding principle for the country鈥檚 rise.

These reforms will help China to achieve 鈥渟ocialist modernization鈥 by 2035, and become a 鈥済reat modern socialist country鈥 by the middle of the century, a key goal in the Chinese Dream.

The world should rest assured that China鈥檚 ambitions are not hegemonic.

鈥淭he Chinese people鈥檚 sincere wish and practical action to contribute to the peace and development of humanity should not be misinterpreted, nor should they be distorted,鈥 Xi said.

China has no plans to dominate the world. Its rise might 鈥渁larm鈥 certain countries, but it will be good news for the world at large. The country鈥檚 success story offers other countries and regions new philosophies of growth and governance.

The year 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx鈥檚 birth as well as the 170th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto. This Western-originated philosophy has taken root in China and been adapted constantly to meet China鈥檚 changing needs.

Whatever coinages are thrown at China鈥檚 political and growth model, the effectiveness and efficiency of Socialism with Chinese characteristics cannot be denied. It has helped hundreds of millions of Chinese people grow rich and the country become strong.

鈥淗istory has proven and will continue to prove that only socialism can save China and only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics will we realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,鈥 Xi said.

The world, especially the West, should be open-minded about China鈥檚 formula for growth. Cold War-era thinking is outdated and could only hinder the world鈥檚 irresistible course into a new era. Being stuck with a zero-sum mentality risks plowing the globe into a 鈥淭hucydides Trap,鈥 a scenario without winners.

For the world, China鈥檚 development is mutually beneficial in nature.

The country鈥檚 burgeoning middle-income population, at around 400 million now, offer a growing consumer market for overseas firms. Increasingly affluent Chinese are ready to pay for high-quality products, services and unique experiences, fuelling imports and globe-trotting trips.

China has decided to completely open up its general manufacturing sector to overseas investors this year, while market access to sectors like telecommunications, medical services, education, elderly care and new energy vehicles will also be expanded.

The development of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will see more roads and railways built to accelerate cross-border exchanges on more fronts, consolidating a new platform for fresh sources of global economic growth and shared prosperity for other countries.

Even bolder steps are expected to be taken to open China鈥檚 market wider this year as the country marks the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up drive.


 

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