The Communist Party of China Central Committee organizes a symposium to mark the upcoming 110th anniversary of the birth of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, which falls on Aug 22, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug 20, 2014. Senior leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli attended the event. Deng was born on Aug 22, 1904 in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. He was called the “chief architect of China’s reform and opening-up” for his painstaking efforts in leading the country’s modern-day transformation starting in the 1970s.[Photo/Xinhua]
President Xi Jinping warned on Aug 20 against blindly copying the experience of other countries amid China’s ongoing reforms.
His warning came at a symposium in Beijing, the latest in several high-profile activities marking the 110th anniversary of the birth of late leader Deng Xiaoping, which falls on Friday.
“We will try our best to reform areas that are weak and unsound and learn from the good experience of the international community,” Xi said.
“But we will never blindly copy the experience of other countries, let alone absorb bad things from them.”
President Xi Jinping, who is also the General-Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a symposium to mark the upcoming 110th anniversary of the birth of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, which falls on Aug 22, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug 20, 2014.[Photo/Xinhua]
China would never belittle itself or forget its roots, Xi said, adding that history had shown that the only way to solve problems in China was for the country to do so in its own way, based on its “own reality”.
All seven members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China attended the symposium in the Great Hall of the People.
Observers said the large number of activities held nationwide recently underscored the leadership’s determination to carry out reform that was appropriate for China’s needs, just as Deng had done.
Deng emerged as leader in the years after the death of Chairman Mao Zedong in 1976. His sweeping economic reforms changed the face of China over two decades and saw it emerge as an economic giant.
The Communist Party of China Central Committee organizes a symposium to mark the upcoming 110th anniversary of the birth of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, which falls on Aug 22, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug 20, 2014.[Photo/Xinhua]
Xi said Deng’s most important political and theoretical legacy was socialism with Chinese characteristics, which the Party and people created under Deng’s leadership.
Wu Hui, professor of Party-building at the CPC Central Committee’s Party School, said Xi’s remarks highlighted his vigilance against “subversive mistakes” during reforms.
“China is at a crossroads, with both achievements and problems. The leadership aims to make full use of, and improve, its socialism without allowing populism or nationalism to sabotage democracy and the rule of law, or totally copying Western systems,” he said.
Professor Xie Chuntao from the Party School said the opportunity to commemorate Deng was a chance to publicly demonstrate confidence in new breakthroughs.
“As reform enters the ‘deep water zone’, we need the daring spirit of Deng’s era,” Xie said.
