Xi Jinping speech calling for patience released amid China’s economic gloom
- Party mouthpiece highlights president’s address to top cadres in February, hours after more weak economic data was published
- Xi says the country ‘cannot simply follow the beaten path’ and stresses that common prosperity is a ‘long-term mission’
Xi was addressing hundreds of top party members during the February 7 speech, part of which was published in the official Qiushi journal on Tuesday – hours after Beijing released more disappointing monthly economic data.
The party journal regularly highlights internal leadership speeches months after they are given.
Tuesday’s article emphasised the difficulties of modernising a country of China’s size and said its unique development model was still its best hope.
It asked the public to take the long view and stay focused, balancing progress and stability with sustainability.
“We should first consider the size of the population and the large rural-urban development gap. We cannot be ambitious and unrealistic, but we cannot simply follow the beaten path,” Xi was quoted as saying by Quishi.
“We should be patient [with a historical perspective] and move forward in a steadfast manner.”
