New leadership, new approaches

The Governance of China, a collection of speeches by Xi Jinping, offers insights into the thinking that shapes the country's policies

What are the governing ideas of China's new leadership? In which direction is China heading? Will China continue its reform and opening-up policy? What is the basis of China's foreign policy? Such questions often arise.

A new book, The Governance of China, which contains 79 speeches by President Xi Jinping, along with 45 photos about his work and personal life, sheds light on the answers.

Due to the profound and rapid changes that have transformed the country, people from different regions, social strata, and fields of endeavor naturally do not think alike. Therefore consensus is needed to prevent discord from undermining development and social harmony.

The key to consensus is identifying a common goal. Since the 1840s, the Chinese people have successively striven toward and made sacrifices for the rejuvenation of the nation, which resonates in every Chinese heart and is the common aspiration of all Chinese in and outside the country.

When visiting "The Road to Rejuvenation" exhibition at the National Museum of China, Xi proposed the rejuvenation of Chinese nation is the dream of the country, of the nation, and of every Chinese, because it brings together the interests of the nation and of individual citizens.

The Chinese Dream in essence means prosperity and strength for the country and happiness for the people.

The book highlights Xi's strong confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, as the right way to realize the Chinese Dream. He stresses that we should be fully confident in the path, the theory, and the system of Chinese socialism.

One of Xi's most famous quotes is: "Only the wearer of a pair of shoes knows if they fit, and only the people can best tell if the development path they have chosen suits their country." Xi believes that a country's unique cultural traditions, historical experiences and national conditions determine the development path that best suits its characteristics.

China is now confronted with a series of conflicts and challenges, such as unbalanced and unsustainable development, inadequacy of scientific and technological innovation, an industrial structure that needs upgrading, growing social conflicts and gaps between rural and urban incomes and development, as well as rampant corruption. If these problems are not solved, China's development will be hampered and the Chinese Dream will remain elusive.

Xi emphatically makes the point that deepening reform and opening-up is the only way to solve these problems. "Reform and opening-up are always ongoing and will never end."

The book presents Xi's overall vision of reform, and the particularities of how reform will impact on China's economy, politics, culture, society, ecology and national defense.

Seven articles present Xi's thinking and policy measures on improving the work of officials and combating corruption. The new central leadership, committed to a policy of zero-tolerance toward corruption, is firm in its determination to catch the "tigers" as well as the "flies" - high-ranking officials guilty of corruption as well as petty ones. Dozens of corrupt officials at ministerial level or above have already fallen from power, and other serious cases are under investigation. Clearly committed to combating corruption with "combined blows," Xi has also vowed to put "power in a cage", stressing the construction of a system to effectively restrict the exercise of power and subject it to public scrutiny.

Xi stresses that officials should have a sound understanding of political achievements and be realistic and farsighted, laying solid foundations for the future rather than seeking quick wins. As he said when he took over the baton of leadership, "I will govern by serving the people and fulfilling the responsibilities that have been placed on me."

Xi believes that being responsible means adhering to one's principles and having the courage to take resolute action to stick up for one's principles; to tackle difficulties head-on and never shy away from conflicts, to face all kinds of crises, to admit one's part in mistakes, and to resolutely fight against misconduct. "Faith and determination" feature frequently in Xi's speeches. By which he means firm political beliefs and strategic determination.

With China's economy facing substantial downward pressure, the new central leadership has maintained stable growth within a reasonable range, keeping employment above a bottom line and inflation below an upper ceiling. Now it will focus on structural adjustments and maintain a stable macro policy.

Many of the speeches in the book address Xi's ideas on diplomacy and international relations. He has stressed on a number of occasions that we live in a global village, and all the inhabitants of that village should be conscious of their common destiny. He thinks that zero-sum thinking is outdated, and the trend and necessity for the future is win-win cooperation.

The new central leadership has been creative in developing new diplomatic ideas, which have been welcomed by the international community.

Xi encapsulated this approach to diplomacy in four words: "friendship, sincerity, reciprocity and inclusiveness" - the path of China's peaceful development.

The book presents a wide range of novel ideas and strategies for development and many valuable clues to China's future.

The author is a research fellow with the Party Literature Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.