This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-46601175
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Xi Jinping says China 'will not seek to dominate' | 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 superpower 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. | |
Hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty but in recent years China has struggled with mounting debt and slowing economic growth. | |
Mr Xi said despite his country's economic achievements, China would "never seek global hegemony" and also highlighted its contributions towards a "shared future for mankind". | |
He did not mention the current trade dispute with the United States. | |
China continues to crack down on political dissent and is accused of locking up hundreds of thousands of Muslims without trial in the western region of Xinjiang. | |
Its militarisation of islands in the South China Sea - home to vital shipping lanes - has sparked concerns among Asian neighbours that it seeks to dominate the region. | |
Critics also say that while China is helping to build much-needed infrastructure across Asia and Africa, it is saddling countries with billions in debt in a bid to gain strategic influence. | |
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 the Chinese people what should or should not be done". | He said that given its success, "no-one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done". |
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 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. |
In October US Vice-President Mike Pence accused China of a raft of illiberal economic policies, saying that "while Beijing still pays lip service to 'reform and opening', Deng Xiaoping's famous policy now rings hollow". | |
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 speech on Tuesday 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. | |
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 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 and any groups that the Communist Party sees as a threat to its authority, such as unofficial Christian churches and labour activists. | |