Respect for ‘man who is true to his word’
Ask anyone you knock into on the streets of Paris who Xi is, and everybody knows him.” JEAN-PIERRE RAFFARIN VETERAN FRENCH POLITICIAN
President Xi Jinping visited France in 20 14 and 2 0 1 5, putting it among the few countries that he has travelled to more than once since he became China’s top leader in late 2012.
Such close and effective engagement with big powers has turned Mr Xi into a household name in France, said Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the former prime minister, who has devoted himself to bringing his country and China closer for decades.
“Ask anyone you knock into on the streets of Paris who Xi is, and everybody knows him,” Mr Raffarin said in Paris.
He attributed Mr Xi’s widespread recognition to the fact that he keeps his word not only in domestic affairs, but also on the global stage. At home, Mr Raffarin said, Mr Xi has successfully showcased a dynamic China by deepening structural reforms, fighting corruption, addressing environmental problems and taking radical measures to end extreme poverty.
“Internationally, Xi is a frank supporter of multilateralism and has made important efforts to improve international relations over the past five years.”
These efforts have underlined Mr Xi’s strong desire for peace, Mr Raffarin said.
Citing Mr Xi’s view that the world can achieve peace and prosperity amid growing interdependency, Mr Raffarin said Mr Xi is among the most travelled world leaders and is making every effort to bring global players to the table to discuss common solutions to international problems.
“He is not afraid of difficult situations,” Mr Raffarin said, pointing to Mr Xi’s visits to the Middle East and North African countries and his desire to bring peace and co-operation to regions ravaged by conflict.
“The world is dangerous and we need to have a strong force for peace. China supports peace in the world, giving the world more balance.”
Looking back at the past five years, Mr Raffarin said he has been impressed by China’s big vision and its“Two Centenary Goals”, proposed at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012 and pegged to the 100th anniversaries of the founding of the CPC in 2021 and the People’s Republic of China in 2049.
By 2020 China’s GDP and per capita income should be double their 2010 levels, and the building of a “moderately prosperous society” should be complete.
By the middle of this century, China will be a modern socialist country that is “prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious”.
Mr Raffarin said that under MrXi’s leadership, China is on the right track to achieve the two goals.
“China’s economy is strong, its people have become healthier and wealthier; and on the global stage, its influence and presence are growing and it is playing a central role in bringing countries around the table.”
It has not been easy to achieve this progress, he said and “Xi has shown courage to deliver reform”. China’s decision to close many old and polluting factories over the past five years shows this, as it is always much easier to stay on the same path than to change, he said.
Internationally, in terms of the Paris climate agreement, Mr Xi has also acted with “strong determination and political will” with other global leaders. Mr Raffarin has criticised United States President Donald Trump for directing the US to withdraw from the global deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
China has adopted many new roles over the past five years, he said, but it faces difficulties because more explanation needs to be given to the people. When facing such challenges, leaders in the West mostly choose not to act.
“So I have a lot of respect for Xi and the Chinese leadership for having the vision to take this way for the future. I think it’s difficult, but it’s important,” Mr Raffarin said.
In looking at the Party congress just held, Mr Xi and the Party faced many challenges because China is playing a new global role, he said. The country needs to implement social and economic changes.
At the same time, he said, the governance of the Party will improve, based on the success it has achieved over the past five years. With 89 million members, Mr Raffarin said the Party is bigger than the population of France, “so we know how difficult it must be to make reforms”.
“As a close friend and observer of China, I know that Xi wants the Party to be for the people,” Mr Raffarin said.