GLOBAL VISION
In a far-reaching report to the Party, Xi Jinping sets out economic, social and environmental goals for the country and its place in the world. Andrew Moody reports
President Xi Jinping said China has entered a “new era” as he set out his vision for the country at the opening of the country’s biggest political meeting in five years.
Mr Xi, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, delivered a report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct 18.
“[The meeting is] taking place during the decisive stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and a critical moment as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era,” he said.
In his delivery of the report, which lasted 3 hours and 23 minutes, Mr Xi set out a two-stage development plan for the country that will take it to the middle of the century.
He said this involves moving on from being a “moderately prosperous society” by 2020 [ achieved by doubling of the 2010 GDP and per capita income] to achieving “socialist modernisation” by 2035 and then becoming “a great modern socialist country” by the time of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2049.
“This is our strategic vision … in the new era. To finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, to proceed to basically realise modernisation, and then move on to turn China into a great modern socialist country in every dimension.
“We must work with resolve and tenacity and write a brilliant chapter on our new journey to socialist modernisation.”
The 2035 staging post requires China to: become a global leader in innovation; have more equal rights for citizens and see improvements in the rule of law; increase its soft power; improve living standards and produce more equal access to basic public services; create a more harmonious society with better social governance; and fundamentally improve the environment with the goal of creating what Mr Xi called a “beautiful China”.
By the middle of the century, the aim is for the modernisation of China’s system to be complete. The country will be a global leader in national strength and international influence. There will also be common prosperity for everyone, and Chinese people will enjoy happier, safer and healthier lives.
“[We must] strive for the great success of socialism … and work tirelessly to realise the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation,” he said.
In the report, which was heard by 2,338 Party delegates and specially invited delegates in the Great Hall of the People, as well as media representatives from China and across the world, Mr Xi said he had no doubt about the challenges ahead.
“As the Chinese saying goes, the last leg of the journey just marks the halfway point. Achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park; it will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there. Every one of us in the Party must be prepared to work even harder toward this goal.”
On the economy, Mr Xi said that with China’s GDP growing by 43 per cent from 54 trillion yuan ( INR528 trillion) to 80 trillion yuan over the past five years, it had contributed 30 per cent of global economic growth during this time. The third-quarter GDP data published a day after the report given by Mr Xi showed continued growth momentum, with the economy growing by 6.8 per cent, although down slightly from the 6.9 per cent achieved in the first and second quarters.
In his report, Mr Xi emphasised the need for further supply-side reform and the importance of developing advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, big data and the science base of the economy.
He also stressed revitalising China’s rural areas, some of which have been left impoverished by urbanisation, by developing agriculture and encouraging more businesses to start up in these areas.
“Issues relating to agriculture, rural areas and rural people are fundamental to China, as they directly concern our country’s stability and our people’s wellbeing,” he said.
“Addressing these issues should have a central place on the work agenda of the Party, and we must prioritise the development of agriculture and rural areas.”
One aspect that is likely to be of major interest to companies wanting to invest in China was his commitment to making the country’s economy more open, which he said went hand in hand with the country’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“Openness brings progress, while selfseclusion leaves one behind. China will not close its door to the world; we will only become more and more open,” he said.
“We should pursue the Belt and Road Initiative as a priority, giving equal emphasis to‘bringing in’and‘going global’,” he said.
Mr Xi also said there would be no letup in the fight against corruption, one of the flagship missions since he was elected general secretary of the Party in 2012.
“The people resent corruption most, and corruption is the greatest threat our Party faces," he said.
“We must have the resolve and tenacity to persevere in the never- ending fight against corruption.”
Mr Xi also made reference to achievements on the diplomatic front over the past five years.
This included not just the Belt and Road Initiative and the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, but also the hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders’ meeting in Beijing in 2014, the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, last year and the BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Fujian province, in September.
“China champions the development of a community with a shared future for mankind, and has encouraged the evolution of the global governance system. With this, we have seen a further rise in China’s international influence, ability to inspire and power to shape. China has also made great new contributions to global peace and development.”
Peter Frankopan, professor of global history at Oxford University, said Mr Xi is someone who presents a unified vision.
“When you are in Beijing, the old world represented by the United States and Britain, in particular, looks highly divided. There are conflicting views of what the direction of travel should be. What Mr Xi has been very careful to do over the last few years is set out a grand vision, and now it is all about getting behind that vision and putting the shoulder to the grindstone to make sure it is deliverable.”
Wang Huiyao, president of the Centre for China and Globalisation, a think tank in China, said Mr Xi’s report was one of the first he could remember by a Chinese leader that talked about mankind as a whole and not just about China.
In the report, Mr Xi said the “dream of the Chinese people is closely connected with the dreams of the peoples of other countries”, Mr Wang said.
“I believe it is the first time a leader in his report has talked about a common destiny of mankind. In the past the main focus has been on the Party itself.
“It clearly demonstrates the global vision the president has with concerns relating to the environment and the Paris accord and across a whole range of issues.”
Rana Mitter, director of the Oxford University China Centre and one of the leading China historians in the West, said Mr Xi was putting China front and centre in world affairs.
“The major shift for me in the report is the statement of China being at the centre of world affairs. With this more central role will come a lot more responsibilities in areas of international trade, the need to open up markets, and leadership positions on climate change and questions of local and global security.”
On the economy, a n um be r of commentators said Mr Xi has moved away from setting specific targets for GDP or any other measure for either 2035 or 2050, leaving greater room for other priorities to be achieved.
Zhu Ning, professor of finance at Tsinghua University, said this was the right way forward for economic policy management.
“The targets are less specific and less numbers- driven, which is also a good thing as well. They set out a new vision for development, which will probably mean the goals will be more sustainable.” Prof Zhu, also author of China’s
Guaranteed Bubble, which examines how the government plays a strong role in supporting the financial system, said what was striking from the speech was the long-term vision setting a course for China to 2050.
“It was probably the most forwardlooking speech of its kind in recent memory. It was far- sighted not only in economic- related areas but in many others as well."