Mr. Xi Jinping: Unwavering in fighting tigers and slaying flies

Nearly 2,300 delegates representing more than 89 million party members nationwide attended meetings during a week-long congress in Beijing and approved a vision for the next five years.

In his opening speech, Xi Jinping said the congress was being held at a crucial historical moment when China and the world were facing complex challenges. “The future is bright, but the challenges are also thorny.”

Future and challenges

He reviewed the achievements the party has made in the past five years, including strengthening the one-party rule principle, eliminating poverty, enhancing national security and tackling pollution.

He welcomed China's diplomatic achievements "on all fronts," including the Belt and Road Initiative. The central government continues to strengthen its influence over Hong Kong and Macau, promoting cooperation and exchanges between these regions and the mainland.

“Beijing firmly opposes Taiwan independence. We have properly handled the changing situation in Taiwan,” Xi said. He said China has maintained its growth momentum, with GDP rising from 54 trillion yuan to 80 trillion yuan in the past five years, accounting for more than 30% of the global economy.

Xi Jinping also hailed the “historic breakthrough” in military and defense reform and the building of a modern military. “The navy is now capable of defending national maritime interests, while the army is rapidly developing weapons.”

Stagnation of change

On political reform, Xi Jinping said the party is well aware of growing discontent among the people over the stagnation of change. He warned the more than 2,000 delegates attending the congress that official corruption, growing social unrest, economic imbalances and a host of other social and environmental challenges pose a threat to the party's leadership.

Regarding the issue of corruption, Xi Jinping affirmed that it is still the “biggest threat” to the party. The anti-corruption campaign has made “important and irreversible” progress. “We will resolutely adopt an uncompromising attitude towards corruption, and will not waver in ‘slaying tigers, slaying flies and hunting foxes’.”

Xi Jinping expressed his belief that the party's path to development is to maintain high economic growth while fighting corruption.

Echoing his predecessor Hu Jintao, Xi said the party would never take the wrong path to change its nature. “The theme of the congress is to uphold our original purpose, keep our mission in mind, hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, ensure the decisive victory in building socialism with Chinese characteristics in all respects, promote the great success of socialism in the new era, and make unremitting efforts to achieve the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation,” Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

Referring to the concept of “China Model”, Mr. Xi said it is a “new choice” for countries that want to promote development while maintaining independence, introducing “Chinese-style solutions and wisdom” to the problems facing humanity.

“The resilience and success of the China Model sets a good example for the world. China’s willingness to shoulder greater responsibility on international issues, such as combating climate change and contributing to the global economy in times of uncertainty, has been welcomed around the world,” Xi said.

Vision to 2049

Xinhua said the party's new guidelines are "Developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era," also known as "Xi Jinping Thought." Xi pledged that the party will continue to strengthen its leadership in all fronts of the country's development and continue to deepen reforms.

He predicted that after China achieves its goal of becoming a moderately prosperous society by 2020, the country will basically become a modernized country by 2035, with the majority of its people classified as middle-income, and the gap between rich and poor narrowed. By 2050, China will become a powerful and prosperous socialist country.

According to Asia Nikkei, President Xi Jinping will present a new national vision for the country until 2049 at the opening session of the Party Congress on October 18. This move by Mr. Xi puts him on par with previous leaders such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

President Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party, is expected to present specific goals for building China into a strong nation by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He has previously called for building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by 2049, but has not given specific details.

The five-yearly congress is also expected to approve an adjustment to the party's charter, which could incorporate President Xi Jinping's vision and views on how things should go.

The congress, which ends on October 24, will elect new senior officials in the party leadership, the Central Executive Committee (including 200 official members and 170 alternate members).

The first meeting of the newly elected Central Committee (taking place after the congress ends) will continue to select members to join the Politburo, and the Politburo Standing Committee is the highest authority.

The Politburo Standing Committee for the 2012-2017 term includes Xi Jinping (64 years old), Li Keqiang (62 years old), Zhang Dejiang (70 years old), Yu Zhengsheng (72 years old), Liu Yunshan (70 years old), Wang Qishan (69 years old), and Zhang Gaoli (70 years old).

According to Zing.vn