A bold blueprint for China’s future

The Chinese Communist Party’s twice-a-decade national congress has agreed on the new top tiers of leaders charged with carrying forward Xi Jinping’s vision for the country. They will be guided by his political ideology, “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, adopted yesterday into the charter of the Communist Party.

The inclusion of his name in his political theory may put Xi on a par with late leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping but, arguably, the defining achievement of this congress is to provide a springboard for China into the “new era” mapped out in Xi Jinping thought.

This envisions a two-stage ascension, to leader in innovation by 2035 to a “great modern socialist nation” by 2050 – a global leader in economic and military strength and influence. The world will join in watching to see if the nation can achieve this goal while upholding the 14 fundamental principles spelt out in Xi Jinping thought.

The years from now to the 20th party congress, the second five years of Xi’s term in office, are seen as decisive for laying the foundations. The principles range over social, economic and security issues, from reaffirming party leadership over every aspect to deepening reform, adopting a new vision for development that puts quality ahead of quantity, law-based governance and harmonisation with nature to upholding “one country, two systems”.

The latter puts Hong Kong firmly in the frame of national development, while endorsing the constitutional and governance formula as the “best institutional guarantee for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau”.

Reaffirming commitment to the policy of Hong Kong people governing the city, Xi emphasised the principal role of patriots, pledging to develop and strengthen their ranks and foster a stronger sense of national identity and shared responsibility for national rejuvenation.

Xi Jinping thought also envisages the concept of a Chinese approach to development for other nations, which offers a “new option” for countries that want to accelerate their development while maintaining their independence. While Xi projects confidence in China’s future, he still has to reassure the world China’s rise poses no threat to world peace, and promote his idea of a shared future of mankind – one of the 14 principles – so it is more widely accepted.

Xi reflects this confidence in linking attainment of national goals such as creating a better education system to serve the socialist cause and military modernisation to China’s brand of socialism.

But, in a cautionary reminder to cadres, he also rightly acknowledges that the brand itself must keep up with the times.