Acclaim for CPC leadership's first month
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E-mail Xinhua, December 14, 2012
One month on from the new leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) took the helm, their diligent and down-to-earth working style has impressed Chinese people.
In his first inspection tour out of Beijing since becoming general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping visited south China's Guangdong Province from Dec. 7 to 11, vowing no stop in reform and opening up.
Xi's visit took the same route as late leader Deng Xiaoping's "southern tour" of the same province 20 years ago that triggered acceleration of economic reform and growth.
There were no traffic controls or red-carpet arrangements during Xi's visit to Guangdong, facts which placed him as a role model after the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee announced eight bureaucracy-busting measures on Dec. 4.
Along the way, Xi called for unremitting reform efforts, saying "reform and opening up is the only route that must be taken to adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics."
He described this reform as a key determinant of whether the country will achieve its goals of building a moderately prosperous society by the time the Party celebrates its 100th birthday in 2021, and a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and modernized socialist country when the New China marks its 100th anniversary in 2049.
Xie Chuntao, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said Xi's remarks and acts indicate China will unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and continue opening up.
"People are very positive to the working style and policies of the new Party leadership, as what they have done is responsive to people's concerns," said Liu Jingbei, a professor with the China Executive Leadership Academy in Pudong, Shanghai.
A month ago, the new top leadership was elected at the first plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on Nov. 15, with Xi as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission.
As the seven members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau made their public debut the same day, Xi impressed the several hundred journalists present with an inspiring speech that was refreshingly brief and free of jargon.
"We must first of all conduct ourselves honorably," became one of the most prominent soundbites spreading from mouth to mouth.
As old Chinese saying "time and tide wait for no man" urges, the new CPC leadership have followed a very tight timetable in the past month.
On Nov. 17, Xi gave a clear depiction of the path, theories and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics at the first group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee.
Expressing full confidence in China's future, Xi also warned that the fates of a great deal of countries have shown that unchecked corruption can lead to state collapse.
On the 15th day after being sworn in, Xi further explained the ambitious goal set by the CPC's congress with a speech emphasizing the "Chinese dream" to realize the nation's rejuvenation.
Leading the other six members of the Political Bureau to visit "The Road Toward Renewal" exhibition in Beijing on Nov. 29, Xi warned Chinese that "backwardness leaves one vulnerable to attack and one can only improve itself through development" and that "the path of development decides a country's destiny."
"Only when the country and the nation have a good development, will the people live a good life," Xi added in his speech.
Li Chunsheng, a resident of Beijing's Chaoyang District, said he was particularly impressed by Xi's comment that "empty talk is harmful to the nation, while doing practical jobs can help it thrive."
"I read the Beijing Daily and other newspapers every day, and have found a new trend of fewer leaders' pictures and more real news stories," Li added.
Prof. Xie said Xi's remarks show the high sense of responsibility embraced by the new top leadership, and that they have a clear understanding of the country's development direction.
Deng Zhibiao, a former village Party cadre who received Deng Xiaoping on his visit to Guangdong 20 years ago, shook hands firmly with the new Party chief on Dec. 8.
"Xi came to our village soon after taking office, which showcases his man-of-the-people style. We are very confident of the Party's new top leadership," Deng explained.
Prof. Xie said he noticed that the new leadership has also underlined the importance of the rule of law.
On Dec. 4, Xi Jinping made another keynote speech at a congress marking the 30th anniversary of the implementation of China's 1982 Constitution, urging that the CPC should behave within the scope of the Constitution and that the Party should take the lead in observing the law.
Within one month of the conclusion of the CPC's congress, a slew of corrupt Party officials, from county to ministerial level, have been punished in line with Party discipline and the law.
The new leadership also expressed their idea to pursue a peaceful development road soon after they were sworn in.
On Dec. 5, Xi told a group of foreign experts working in China that China is following a path of peaceful development, that it will not be selfish in pursuing its development and that it will not play a zero-sum game with others.
China's development will never be a challenge or a threat to any other country or the world, he promised.
"We care less about what the top leadership say, but more about what they do," said Zhang Cuiyun, a Shanghai local resident. "The new leadership has made an exemplary start and we hope they can continue this momentum and push forward the reform and opening up."
Liang Guangda, former Party chief of Guangdong's Zhuhai City, who received Deng Xiaoping's visit 20 years ago and Xi Jinping's inspection this month, told Xinhua, "I feel that our nation has a promising future."
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