China's int'l prestige improved, new leadership acclaimed by overseas media

Home>>Opinion

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 22, 2003

China's int'l prestige improved, new leadership acclaimed by overseas media

China's new collective leadership, with General Secretary Comrade Hu Jintao at the core, has kept the general situation under control and withstood tests in face of complicated international situations and heavy domestic tasks of reforms, development and stability, thus wining trust and respect from Chinese and world peoples, as well as praises from overseas media.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

New leadership widely praised

The press noticed that the CPC Central Committee made two decisions on reform early this year. One is to cut the number of entourage accompanying members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in their visits to foreign countries, and to abolish send-off and welcoming ceremonies so as to save expenses. The other is to shift the focus of open news reports from leaders' activities to affairs of common concern to the people. The two measures, as Chinese officials revealed, are both implemented at the proposal of President Hu.

The Chinese people are speaking highly of the new central government, said Japan's Sankei Shimbun. One reason is the prompt and practical measures taken by new leaders in the face of thorny problems such as the outbreak of SARS and the DPRK nuclear issue. It is also because of a number of resolutely implemented political reforms, thereby demonstrating a strong wish to regain the general public's trust.

For the top political level in Beijing, the outbreak and rapid spread of SARS in the first half of this year was indeed a shocking disaster, despite that the nation's GDP rose by 7.2 percent in the first six months over the same period of the previous year, said a signed article of German paper Neues Deutschland. During and after the SARS epidemic, the policy of "going deep into the masses" pursued by Chinese leaders yielded initial results. Taking into consideration the interests of the 900 million farmers, the new generation of Chinese leadership has noticeably improved the subsistence conditions of the farmers through encouraging investment, turning out products of high added value, raising the latter's disaster prevention and resistance capabilities and cutting tax. In the latter half of this year, some new laws have come into effect one after another, providing bigger lawful safety for the people. These measures appear to be not eye-catching, but they reflect the goals of Chinese leaders, that is, to gradually shake off old work style, discontinue the practice of solving long-standing problems through movements and slogans, and thereby strengthen people's trust in the continuation and stability of CPC policies and its development capability.

China enjoys rising influence on international stage

President Hu Jintao has made two important tours thus far this year, Russian magazine Novoe Vremia (New Times) commented. One is his visit to Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia from May 26 to June 5, and his attendance at the informal South-North dialogue meeting between leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) held in France; the other is his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting and Economic Leaders Informal Meeting held in Bangkok, followed by his state visit to Thailand and then by his trips to Australia and New Zealand. These important visits displayed the enlightened international image and tremendous world influence of China's new leadership. "The active role played by the new leadership not only in the world market, but also in the establishment of a modern system of global and regional security represents a new situation in China's diplomacy".

According to an article carried on the New York Times, some political and business leaders in Asia believe that Asian countries are looking upon China as a regional power of increasing importance. "They don't think China would threaten their economic existence". Japan and ROK-the two most important strategic partners of the United States in Asia, have especially benefited from China's economic growth. Last year Japan for the first time saw its imports from China surpass that from the United States. Meanwhile, Japan's exports to China grew by 39.3 percent. China has by now become the biggest trade partner of the ROK.

The article quoted a renowned Singaporean entrepreneur as saying that compared with one year before, Asians are now looking upon China with a positive perspective rather than negative. It is generally agreed that China is trying its best to help and satisfy its neighbors, while the United States is attending only to its foreign policies and forcing them upon others. China is moving fast ahead, vigorously developing technology, raising science and education levels, which are now taken as opportunities by some Asian countries.

The United States is still the biggest trade partner of the Asia Pacific, the article pointed out, but China's trade with other Asian countries is surging. What's more, China also brings with it something most attractive-new investment and non-threatening diplomacy.

The European Union (EU) is seeking to approach China rapidly, Japanese paper Asahi Shimbun reported. President of the European Commission (EC) Romano Prodi visited Beijing on October 30, and held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Prodi planned to discuss with China the cooperation details of the "Galileo" Project, EU's global satellite positioning system, and strengthen cooperation on DPRK nuclear and Iraq issues. Under the circumstances in which US mono-polar dominance is growing stronger, the EU hopes to secure its influence through closer ties with China, a rising nation in Asia.

China now appears to be very confident of its political and economic might, as US weekly TIME put it, and it has become a country of practical diplomatic lines which pays increasing attention to the momentum of economic growth. On a series of issues such as Iraq, China adopted constructive polices which finally put national interest within the macro-environment of the international community, and ceased the endless arguments over every trifle matters. China now exhibits its achievements on the international stage in a manner as confident and natural as G-8 members do. This newly found confidence is best shown in China's rapid improvement in relations with world countries.

New breakthroughs achieved in reform and opening up

Many media organizations hold that the noticeable achievements China has scored this year, such as victory over the SARS epidemic and the first manned space flight, have remarkably boosted people's confidence in their government. Substantial progress is made in both economic construction and the reform and opening up program, and the just concluded Third Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee served as no less than a declaration of further reforms.

When answering questions from an AFP journalist in Bangkok, October 21, President Hu said that "as for political restructuring, we have made it very clear in our report to the 16th CPC National Congress. Building socialism with Chinese characteristics requires the coordinated development of material, political, and spiritual civilization. We will continue to push forward the political restructuring in a firm, active and steady manner."

According to Japan's Kyodo News Service, the communique of the Third Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee is a clear interpretation of the basic policies of the new leadership led by Hu, which laid stress on accelerated pace of reform and opening up in economic sectors and balanced social progress. Facing rapid development in coastal cities, widening income gap and the sluggish rural economy, China's new leaders declared their determination to raise the living standards of the people. As a first try, Japan's Jiji Press said, at the meeting President Hu reported to the Central Committee on the work of the Political Bureau, a signal of new leaders' effort to push forward "inner-Party democracy", define the bureau's responsibilities and strengthen the Central Committee's supervisory functions

The CPC plenum, under the main themes of "improving socialist market economy system" and "revising the Constitution", is called a milestone in China's history of reforms, ETA-TASS reported. The meeting discussed and reached agreement on the issues of "Three Represents thought" and protection of private property.

The protection of private property is an urgent demand of Chinese entrepreneurs, AP commented, and Constitution revision in this regard will surely boost enthusiasm in private investment, that is what the CPC needs for raising people's living standards and fortifying its ruling position. The meeting is closely followed by China's first manned space mission, seemingly an arrangement by the CPC to highlight its role in the magnificent feat that tremendously boosted the national pride.

The Communist Party is setting out for revising policies made a decade ago to form a "comparatively complete" market economy system, said Asian Wall Street Journal. While UK-based Financial Times pointed out China is reconsidering its development strategy by working out a new scheme to shift the focus from "making all out efforts for development" two decades ago to a more lasting development pattern.

An article on Columbia weekly Semana said that the "China miracle" is far from over, and figures are the most convincing-in the third quarter of 2003 China's GDP grew by 9.1 percent, maintaining the 8 percent rate since 1995. Viewed from the figures, China is the world's fastest economic growth country.

(Source: Banyuetan (Half-month Talks), translated by PD Online staff member Li Heng.)

Questions?Comments? Click here

China's New Leadership Passes Test Presented by SARS

Chinese New Leadership Wins Trust: Commentary

New leadership deeply supported, trusted: editorial

China slams AIT head's remarks on Taiwan issue ( 4 Messages)

Internet changes life in China: News focus ( 2 Messages)

2003, the first pageant year in China? ( 4 Messages)

US rushes to embrace strategy of "Iraqification" ( 4 Messages)

Traffic woes to ease with express thoroughfares ( 3 Messages)