U.S scholar James DeShaw Rae, also Professor with Department of Government, California State University, spoke to Beijing Review reporter Wang Hairong on October 25 about his views of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which was concluded on October 24, 2017. Edited excerpts of his remarks follow:

Beijing Review: What’s your comment on the 19th CPC National Congress and its implication to the world?

James DeShaw Rae: I think General Secretary Xi's speech reiterated China's long-held principles in promoting economic development and improving the lives of people across the nation while defending China's national interests and sovereignty in the world.

I am impressed that China can maintain a consistent vision of progress and growth and map out a plan for the short-term, medium-term, and long-term to 2049 and manage expectations for achieving a modestly prosperous society.

We now know the seven men that will lead China over the next five years, as Standing Committee members, and that Xi Jinping has outlined how he will direct China's priorities over that time: to defend China's national interests and highlight the Party as the central force to drive development and progress. He also pledged that China will continue to reform and open up to the rest of the world which gives some confidence that the vision of Deng Xiaoping lives on.

Comments to wanghairong@bjreview.com