Europeans express optimism about Party leadership
European political figures, business leaders and academics expressed their congratulations on the re- election of General Secretary Xi Jinping on Oct 25, shortly after Mr Xi and six other leaders were elected as members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
They indicated that under Mr Xi’s leadership China will expand its diplomatic dimensions by deepening international openness, engagement and collaboration.
“I’d like to congratulate President Xi on his re- election and welcome his understanding that as a global community we need to co-operate,” said Karl-Heinz Lambertz, president of the European Committee of the Regions.
“This is especially important when it comes to climate change, which is one of the greatest threats we face today.”
Citing United Nations climate talks in Bonn next month, Mr Lambertz said he expected China would stand once again with the European Union in showing global leadership in declaring its commitment to the climate promises set out in Paris.
Jiri Paroubek, former prime minister of the Czech Republic, praised China’s new leaders for their “incredible credentials”.
“President Xi and the other members of the Standing Committee comprise a new generation of China’s top leadership which, in my view, will bring China and the rest of world even closer,” Mr Paroubek said by phone from Prague.
Eric Domb, chairman of Pairi Daiza Zoo and Botanical Garden in Belgium, which Mr Xi visited in 2014 to launch a panda garden, also congratulated Mr Xi for his re-election as the highest Party leader.
“We wish the president, his team and all of the Chinese people all the best.”
Mr Xi also made a great impression when he visited Davos, Switzerland, early this year and his speech on open economies and free trade gained global attention.
Tarzisius Caviezel, mayor of Davos, said it was a great pleasure to meet Mr Xi and called his re-election an“honourable” one.
“We hope we will have further occasion to meet to strengthen our good relationship,” Mr Caviezel said.
China watchers in Britain expressed their high expectations for the Party’s new leadership after Mr Xi presented its members in Beijing.
Commenting on their qualifications, Christopher Bo vis, professor of international business law at the University of Hull, said: “The new leaders ... are focused, experts in their field, internationally oriented, dynamic and committed to the agenda of newly defined socialism.
"The new central leadership will carry out reform plans and position people’s interests at the heart of economic development.”