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Reviews
Special> New Book Release:Xi Jinping:The Governance of China> Reviews
UPDATED: October 24, 2014
The Governing Ideas and Style of China's New Leadership – A review of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China
By Sun Yeli
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5. Responsible,pragmatic and credible party and government

The book features Xi's interview with Rossiya TV on February 7, 2014 in the southern Russian city of Soch. He summarized his philosophy of governance as: "I will govern by serving the people and fulfilling the responsibilities imposed on me."

"Responsibility" is his pet phrase, which can reflect his character and conduct. Xi believes that to be responsible means to adhere to principles with a sense of responsibility and to have the courage to take resolute action when confronted by major issues of principle, to tackle difficulties head-on and never to shy away from conflict, to be at the forefront in the face of crises, to admit one's part in mistakes, and to resolutely fight against misconduct.

He is sharply critical of the "nice guy" mentality, of irresponsible officials who avoid issues by pedantry or by passing the buck, of those who tackle their responsibilities in a perfunctory manner, of smooth characters who think of nothing but their own advancement, and of people who act like "weeds atop the wall." He takes the view that "avoiding responsibilities is the greatest disgrace for an official" and considers it essential that Party officials uphold principles and readily take on responsibilities. His sense of responsibility has won him widespread public support. Thanks to his advocacy, "responsibility" has become a hot topic in the domestic media, and accountability is now widely accepted as a basic value standard.

"Leaving marks when we tread on stones or grasp iron" is another famous saying of Xi, which reflects his pragmatism and resolve. The articles "Hard Work Makes Dreams Come True" and "Follow a Good Blueprint" are two good examples in this respect. For some time there has been a negative trend according to which too many government departments promote "vanity projects" to showcase their political achievements. When local leadership undergoes a transition these projects tend to be cast aside, while the cycle continues as new leaders in turn launch their own "vanity projects," thus incurring heavy losses and damaging public confidence in the Party and in government.

Xi stresses that officials should have a sound understanding of political achievements and be realistic and far sighted, laying solid foundations rather than seeking quick wins.

Xi advocates the "nail" spirit. He often says that a single blow may not always be enough when we use a hammer to drive in a nail; we must continue to strike until it is well in place. Once a task is decided, we must stick to it with resolution and complete it step by step. We will achieve real results when we act in the spirit of "leaving marks when we tread on stones or grasp iron".

In this spirit, the new leadership avoids empty slogans; rather it targets critical problems and ensures policy implementation. The Party and the people have together become pragmatic and hardworking, and belief in the Party and the government's credibility has improved remarkably.

6. Sticking to stable progress with faith and determination

"Faith and determination" also feature among Xi's favorite terms. In this book, he applies the terms mainly to political faith and strategic determination.

Political faith refers to firm beliefs. According to Xi, the ideals and convictions of Communists are the marrow of their faith. Those whose ideals or convictions are weak, and those who have none, will be deprived of their marrow and suffer from "lack of backbone."

Xi also talks about strategic determination, which refers to far-sighted vision and composure. This is a desired quality of thought and conduct for leaders.

According to Xi, strategic determination has various forms of expression. Taking economics as an example: since the 18th CPC National Congress, influenced by fluctuations in the world economy, China's economy has faced substantial downward pressure. The new central leadership has maintained stable growth, keeping employment above a bottom line and inflation below an upper ceiling. As long as the economy continues to grow at a reasonable rate, the top leadership will focus on structural adjustment and maintain a stable macro policy. It has avoided short-term stimulus measures, preferring to increase supply, unleash potential demand, and avoid any over-reaction to short-term market fluctuations.

Xi emphasizes that we should be resolute in carrying out reform. "Stability" and "reform" are interdependent, forming a dialectical unity. We should be resolute in conducting reform while maintaining stability. The key is to keep a good balance between the two.

In terms of working conducts, poise means that we cannot be hasty or superficial. Xi takes the view that perseverance is essential for the governance of a big country, and we should never allow ourselves to be diverted from the main track. China are a big country, so we cannot afford to blunder on fundamental questions – some mistakes cannot be rectified in hindsight.

The poise that Xi exhibits provides reassurance. Stable progress is a keynote of the new top leadership. The international community can also sense the stamina and poise of China's government and its people.

7. Building a community of common destiny and win-win relationships

Twenty articles in five chapters of the book address Xi's ideas on diplomacy and international relations. He has stressed on a number of occasions that we live in a global village, and should be conscious of our common destiny. He thinks that zero-sum thinking is outdated, and that we must blaze a new trail of win-win cooperation. Speaking of our relations with neighboring countries, Xi points out that our basic principle is to befriend neighbors and offer them harmony, security and prosperity. He highlights these principles through four words: "friendship, sincerity, reciprocity and inclusiveness" – a vivid expression of China's adherence to the path of peaceful development, and a concise summary of China's relations with neighboring countries.

He also suggests that we should stick to the sound values of justice and benefit, hold to principles that we can act upon, and cherish friendship and righteousness. In a concrete embodiment of these ideas, he has proposed the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road…

The new central leadership has been creative in developing new diplomatic ideas, and in response it has won the approval of the international community.

The book presents a wide range of novel ideas and strategies which merit careful study. In it, you are likely to find many valuable clues to China's future.

The author is a research fellow with the Party Literature Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

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