Beijing: China will not heed to any dictation by others on what it should do or what it should not, President Xi Jinping asserted Tuesday as the Communist giant celebrated the 40th anniversary of its reform and opening-up policies that have transformed it from an impoverished country into a global economic powerhouse.
But Xi’s speech lasting over 80 minutes did not offer any indication of relaxation of the ruling Communist Party’s firm grip on political power or concrete policies to tackle China’s complex economic problems like slower growth and an ongoing trade war with the United States.
President Donald Trump has demanded further reforms to the Chinese economy, including greater access for US companies and a clampdown on intellectual property theft.
Xi’s speech comes during a 90-day truce between Washington and Beijing while the two sides try to reach a compromise.
At a grand ceremony held in Beijing’s imposing Great Hall of the People, Xi praised the Chinese people’s “hard work, wisdom and courage” and listed its achievements since late leader Deng Xiaoping launched the era of “Reform and Opening” in 1978.
China’s economy will produce “miracles that will impress the world” in the coming years, the 65-year-old top leader said while noting that there is no textbook of golden rules to follow for reform and development in China, a country with over 5,000 years of civilisation and more than 1.3 billion people.
“No one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done,” he asserted amidst growing pressure from the Trump administration on Beijing on several fronts, including on trade and the Chinese military flexing its muscles in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
“(We must) oppose the practices of imposing one’s will upon others, interfering in others’ internal affairs or the strong bullying the weak,” he said.
China is “increasingly approaching the centre of the world stage,” he said and noted that the country pursues a defensive national defence policy.
“China’s development does not pose a threat to any country. No matter how far China develops, it will never seek hegemony,” the Chinese president assured jittery neighbours who are worried over Beijing’s growing economic clout.
The reform and opening-up is a great revolution in the history of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, he said.
In his speech, Xi stressed on the leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China in all sectors. The reform and opening-up in the past four decades has shown that leadership of the Party is the most essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the greatest strength of this system, Xi said. (PTI)
