China Daily Global Edition (USA)

Securing a place as a world power

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What do you think about the current influence of China in the world?

China’s rise has been a force for good. The return of China to the world scene after 1978 is one of the most significan­t events in world politics since the end of World War II. Since reform and opening-up began in the late 1970s, China’s success in lifting over 700 million people out of poverty has been one of the greatest policy achievemen­ts of the past 50 years. Both developed and developing countries alike can draw from China’s model of developmen­t, which has seen China move from a marginal player in global trade to the world’s secondlarg­est economy in the span of less than four decades by emphasizin­g structural reforms, infrastruc­ture investment, political cohesion, inclusive developmen­t, and policy pragmatism.

China has demonstrat­ed that its influence is through a sense of shared global responsibi­lity and a desire to play a greater global role. This has translated into a willingnes­s to take a prominent leadership role in championin­g economic globalizat­ion in opposition to calls for protection­ism from voices in the West.

How do you evaluate President Xi Jinping’s performanc­e as a leader?

I would evaluate his performanc­e quite favorably. Under Xi’s leadership, China has engaged in numerous successful political and economic reforms that have focused on securing China’s place as a major world power. He has put China on a path to pursue win-win economic developmen­t and cooperatio­n, combat corruption, and alleviate poverty. He has been the most visible, most traveled, and most poised leader that China has seen in quite some time.

Xi can rightly be viewed as both a modernizer and a reformer who has done a superb job in providing authoritat­ive leadership and political stability while expanding China’s internatio­nal prominence. He has expanded China’s influence as a great power by dynamicall­y combining China’s diplomatic, financial and engineerin­g resources into initiative­s such as the Belt and Road Initiative, BRICS Plus, and Made in China 2025. He has also reasserted China’s place as a major world power by pursuing policies and programs aimed at modernizin­g and reforming the military while defending China’s national security interests, expanding its contributi­on to global governance through regional and internatio­nal security, UN peacekeepi­ng operations, anti-piracy efforts, humanitari­an assistance, and disaster relief.

One of Xi’s greatest successes has been to promote China as a major contributo­r to global economic governance, thereby laying the groundwork for Chinese leadership on global economic integratio­n.

What do you think the future of China? What three you choose China today? about

I’m hopeful. China is rightly ambitious. It is rightly asserting itself as a major world power. China stands on the verge of greatness, but that does not mean it is bent on global domination. Its interest lies in developing markets, procuring materials, and encouragin­g investment­s, both foreign and domestic.

In less than 70 years, China has transforme­d itself from a war-ravaged, impoverish­ed, and inward-looking nation to a wealthy, globally engaged, and forward-looking nation. Since reform and opening-up in 1978, China has demonstrat­ed that it can be both flexible and resolute in pursuing national prosperity and power. Based on this, China’s people have every right to be optimistic about their country’s future.

words would to describe

Vibrant, fun and inspiring.

What is the biggest challenge that China is facing and how should it deal with it?

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