China braces for next ‘great struggle’
President Jinping strikes nationalist tone as he consolidates power for second term
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping urged a reinvigorated Communist Party Wednesday to take a stronger role in society and economic development to better address the nation’s “grim” challenges as he opened a twice-a-decade national congress.
Speaking in the massive Great Hall of the People near Tiananmen Square, Xi laid out his vision of a ruling party that serves as the vanguard for everything from defending national security to providing moral guidance to ordinary Chinese. He struck a nationalistic line throughout his speech, calling for the party not only to safeguard China’s sovereignty, but also to revitalize Chinese culture, oppose “erroneous” ideology and promote religion that is “Chinese in orientation.
“The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is no walk in the park or mere drum beating and gong clanging. The whole party must be prepared to make ever more difficult and harder efforts,” Xi told hundreds of delegates, mostly men in dark suits who applauded regularly. “To achieve great dreams there must be a great struggle.”
Hailing the start of a “new era,” Xi outlined a vision in which the party would lead China on the road to becoming a “great modern socialist country” by mid-century.
Xi wields undisputed power and is expected to get a second five-year term at the gathering. Analysts say he has consolidated his power by sidelining his competitors in other intra-party cliques, including those surrounding his immediate predecessor Hu Jintao and former leader Jiang Zemin.
Observers will be watching for signs of whether Xi, 64, may be looking to appoint a successor. While the nation’s presidency is limited to two five-year terms, the tenure of the party’s leader is bound only by tradition.
Xi has already distinguished himself from previous leaders and is now “leading China into territory in which China is very close to achieving modest prosperity,” said Dali Yang, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Chicago.
According to Xi’s vision, “China would not only be a modern, socialist country, but one that stands tall among the nations,” Yang said. “This message he delivered with vigour.”
Xi, in his 31/2-hour address, said China’s “prospects are bright, but the challenges are grim,” a rare acknowledgment of severe economic issues. He added the party would have to take big risks and overcome “major resistance.”
Among the grave issues Xi said were insufficiently addressed are a widening income gap and problems in employment, education, medical care and other areas.
Xi hailed China’s island-building efforts in the disputed South China Sea as well as his signature foreign-policy initiative, the “One Belt, One Road” infrastructure investment project aimed at improving connections between China, Europe and Africa.