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Xi Jinping says China 'will not seek to dominate' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed that his country will not develop at the expense of other nations, in a speech marking 40 years since China introduced major economic reforms. | Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed that his country will not develop at the expense of other nations, in a speech marking 40 years since China introduced major economic reforms. |
However, he also said that the global super power would not be told what to do by anyone. | However, he also said that the global super power would not be told what to do by anyone. |
Late leader Deng Xiaoping's campaign of "reform and opening up" began four decades ago. | Late leader Deng Xiaoping's campaign of "reform and opening up" began four decades ago. |
The resulting growth has made China the second largest economy in the world. | The resulting growth has made China the second largest economy in the world. |
Mr Xi said despite this growth, China would "never seek global hegemony" and also highlighted its contributions towards a "shared future for mankind". | Mr Xi said despite this growth, China would "never seek global hegemony" and also highlighted its contributions towards a "shared future for mankind". |
Critics say China continues to crack down on political dissent and take a hard stance against any of ethnic or social instability. | Critics say China continues to crack down on political dissent and take a hard stance against any of ethnic or social instability. |
Also in recent years, the country has struggled with mounting debt and slowing economic growth. | Also in recent years, the country has struggled with mounting debt and slowing economic growth. |
Asserting Chinese strength | Asserting Chinese strength |
Mr Xi spent much of his lengthy speech listing examples of China's progress over the past decades, praising them as "epic achievements that moved heaven and Earth". | Mr Xi spent much of his lengthy speech listing examples of China's progress over the past decades, praising them as "epic achievements that moved heaven and Earth". |
He said that given its success, "no-one is in a position to dictate to China what to do or not to do". | He said that given its success, "no-one is in a position to dictate to China what to do or not to do". |
At the same time, he stressed what he described as Chinese efforts to work towards the greater global good, saying Beijing was a "promoter of world peace," a "defender of international order" and holding "a leading role in dealing with climate change". | At the same time, he stressed what he described as Chinese efforts to work towards the greater global good, saying Beijing was a "promoter of world peace," a "defender of international order" and holding "a leading role in dealing with climate change". |
China's economic reform was initiated by then leader Deng Xiaoping in 1978 and the programme was ratified on 18 December that year. | China's economic reform was initiated by then leader Deng Xiaoping in 1978 and the programme was ratified on 18 December that year. |
The reform path turned the country away from the old style communism of Mao Zedong when collectivisation had led to an impoverished and inefficient economy. | The reform path turned the country away from the old style communism of Mao Zedong when collectivisation had led to an impoverished and inefficient economy. |
The transformation focussed on agricultural reform, private sector liberalisation, industry modernisation and opening to international trade. | The transformation focussed on agricultural reform, private sector liberalisation, industry modernisation and opening to international trade. |
Xi Jinping described the reforms as a "break from the shackles" of previous mistakes. | Xi Jinping described the reforms as a "break from the shackles" of previous mistakes. |
He said the last 40 years had been a "quantum leap for socialism with Chinese characteristics," driving China's "great rejuvenation in modern times". | He said the last 40 years had been a "quantum leap for socialism with Chinese characteristics," driving China's "great rejuvenation in modern times". |
The Chinese president made no direct mention of the current trade dispute with the US but stressed his country's contribution to economic globalisation and international order. | The Chinese president made no direct mention of the current trade dispute with the US but stressed his country's contribution to economic globalisation and international order. |
The row with the US has led to a spiral of tit-for-tat tariffs with potentially serious economic consequences for both China and the US should they fail to resolve the dispute. | The row with the US has led to a spiral of tit-for-tat tariffs with potentially serious economic consequences for both China and the US should they fail to resolve the dispute. |
No political changes | No political changes |
Despite the economic reforms, the past decades have not brought change to China's rigid one-party system of communist rule. | Despite the economic reforms, the past decades have not brought change to China's rigid one-party system of communist rule. |
China's president gave his Tuesday speech in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, where calls for political reforms were brutally crushed by the military in 1989. | China's president gave his Tuesday speech in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, where calls for political reforms were brutally crushed by the military in 1989. |
In his address, Mr Xi reiterated his belief in strengthening the party leadership and praised Beijing's crackdown on corruption. | In his address, Mr Xi reiterated his belief in strengthening the party leadership and praised Beijing's crackdown on corruption. |
Critics say the rule of Xi Jinping has been marked by an ever intensifying crackdown on political dissent. | Critics say the rule of Xi Jinping has been marked by an ever intensifying crackdown on political dissent. |
Authorities have also been accused of excessive control of religious groups and brutally repressing the Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang province. | Authorities have also been accused of excessive control of religious groups and brutally repressing the Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang province. |
Xi Jinping is widely seen as China's most influential leader since Mao Zedong. | Xi Jinping is widely seen as China's most influential leader since Mao Zedong. |
In 2017, he cemented his power, enshrining his political views in the constitution. | In 2017, he cemented his power, enshrining his political views in the constitution. |