s, with the apparent aim of institutionalising an authoritarian regime.
Despite his pledges on the unity of the party and intra-party democracy, secrecy still reigns over personnel and policy issues after months of intense behind-the-scenes power struggles and horse-trading.
On China’s rise: Xi appears to be more ambitious than his predecessors by setting the agenda for the country to be “a modern, socialist power” by 2050.
Five years ago, former president Hu Jintao said in his swan song speech that China would be turned into “a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious when the People’s Republic marks its centennial” [in 2049].
Economy: Xi says China will continue its liberalisation of both interest and exchange rates.
“The door China opened will not close but will open wider and wider”, he adds.
Xi also says China will give equal treatment to all businesses registered in the country.
He continues by saying China is aiming for growth of “higher quality and higher efficiency” and wants it to be “fairer and more sustainable”.
Economics: Xi says China make the “quality and efficiency” of growth a priority.
“China will deepen supply-side reforms,” he tells delegates.
He also wants the country to improve its position in the global value chain and insists it must reduce excessive capacity and debt ratios.
On the building of a community of common destiny for mankind: Xi elaborates on this concept, which he has repeatedly raised at international conferences over the past two years.
“The dreams of the Chinese people and those of other peoples around the world are closely linked. The realisation of the Chinese dream will not be possible without a peaceful international environment and a stable international order,” he says.
In another effort to dismiss mounting concerns over China’s assertiveness, Xi pledged that “China will always remain the builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and upholder of international order”.
Hong Kong: Xi mentions “one country, two systems” for the second time and says the party must insist on this governing principle for the city. He adds that the party needs to maintain the central leadership’s comprehensive jurisdiction over Hong Kong and Macau, while safeguarding the two Special Administrative Regions’ high degree of autonomy.
Elaborating on socialist ideology and basic strategies in the new era, Xi also said the party needed to ensure that “the ‘one country, two systems’ principle will not change or sway, and its implementation would not bend or be distorted”. Xi first mentioned these phrases about two years ago.
China’s future path: Xi predicts that after the country realises its aim of becoming a moderately prosperous society by 2020, China will turn into basically modernised country by 2035 with a large middle-income population and narrower wealth gap.
Xi continues that China will become a rich and powerful socialist country by the middle of the century, or 2050.
Guiding thought: State media has confirmed the official translation of the party’s new guiding thought will be “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”.
Xi pledges that the party will continue to strengthen its leadership role on every front in the country’s development. He adds the country will continue to open up and deepen reform. “Development remains the foundation and the key to all the problems China faces,” he tells delegates.
On Xi Jinping thought: Amid widespread speculation about how his thoughts on China’s development will be enshrined into the party constitution, he says the country has formed “socialist thoughts with Chinese characteristics in the new era”. The notion, in which his own name does not appear, will be the guiding policies for the country in the coming years, he adds. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2115783/countdown-xi-jinpings-big-moment-sun
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