Congress fast-forwards China

On December 17th at BMICH, the Chinese Embassy, together with Bandaranaike Institute for International Studies and BMICH, held a briefing on the 18th National Congress of Communist Party of China. Ambassador Wu Jianghuao of the People's Republic of China in Sri Lanka briefed on the National Party Congress and newly elected leadership of the CPC, ruling party in China. Ambassador Wu also answered questions from the audience on China's social and economic development. The following is the full text of Ambassador Wu's briefing titled 'Successful Party Congress leads China forward'.

Members of the Presidium during the closing ceremony of the Communist Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 14, 2012. AFP

The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully convened in Beijing from November 8 to 14. The whole world, as well as Sri Lanka friends place high attention on this event. Today, I'm honoured to brief you on the 18th National Congress of the CPC through answering the following questions. I wish this will help our Sri Lankan friends to better understand the 18th National Congress, and better understand China.

Why is the 18th National Congress of CPC very important to China and why does it have world significance?

As is known to all, the CPC is the ruling political party of China. The CPC's National Congress, which is held once every five years, is a very important platform for the CPC to summarize the experiences and achievements in the past five years, to formulate the guiding principles and policies on future national development and to promote the party building.

The 18th National Congress was convened in the context that China entered a crucial stage of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in an all-around way.

The National Congress summarized the achievements and experiences made in China's economic and social development in the past 10 years, put forward the goals, guiding principles and path for China's development in the future stage. The National Congress elected the new top leadership who will lead the Chinese people to complete the building of the moderately prosperous society.

The decade from 2002 to 2011 witnessed rapid development in China. The GDP grew by 10.7 percent annually. China rose from the world's 6th largest economy to the world's 2nd largest economy. The per capita GDP rose from $1,000 plus USD to $ 5,432 USD. Our foreign exchange reserve ranked the first in the world. China is the largest exporter and second largest importer in the world. Our investment to other countries also increased rapidly.

On this basis, the 18th National Congress put forward China's development goal by 2020, which means that we should double China's 2010 GDP and per capita income for both urban and rural residents by 2020.

As the permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has been actively taking part in the international affairs and has played the role as a responsible major power and has played a constructive role in addressing global challenges and settling hot-spot issues, which makes China a pivotal force in the international arena day by day.

With the building-up of its national strength, China will be able to play a even bigger role in the international affairs, will have more resources to provide assistance to the developing countries, and will have the capability to make greater contribution to the peace undertaking and common prosperity of the mankind.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping emerges as the head of the seven member Communist Party of China Politburo Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. AFP

What's the composition of the new top leadership? What's the basic information of the newly elected General Secretary Xi Jinping?

The newly elected Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee is composed of 25 members, among whom 7 are standing members. They are Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli. They constitute the new top leadership of China.

Xi Jinping, the newly elected General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, was born in June 1953. He is 59 years old now. Xi Jinping started his career from the grassroot level. He once worked in the rural area as a young intellectual for six years and was elected Secretary of the Brigade Party Branch.

He graduated from the famous Tsinghua University which ranks the first in China and got a doctoral degree in law. He had worked in the Military for a period of time. He successively served as Secretary of the CPC Committee of County level, of Municipal level, and of Provincial Committee. He also once served as Governor of Fujian Province. From 2007, he served as Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice President of the People's Republic of China, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the CPC and President of Party School of the CPC Central Committee. He has profound theoretical background, rich experience gained from work at different levels, vigorous and energetic.

The Report to the 18th National Congress of the CPC mentioned 'working hard to complete the building of the moderately prosperous society'. What is a 'moderately prosperous society'?

A "moderately prosperous society" (Xiaokangshehui in Chinese) is a social aspiration described by ancient Chinese thinkers, and also a pursuit by the common folk for a better-off and wealthy life.

Ten years ago, the 16th National Congress of the CPC put forward the goal of 'building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way', which means that after meeting people's basic need to shed hunger and have enough to wear, our party could lead the people toward a better-off and wealthy life.

Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghuao

The 18th National Congress of the CPC put forward the goal of 'completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in an all-around way'. The new goal demands a continuous healthy economic development, further expansion of people's democracy, significant strengthening of cultural soft power, comprehensive improvement of people's living standard, and major progress in the building of a resource-saving and environment-friendly society.

The most conspicuous goal is to 'double the 2010 GDP and per capita income for both urban and rural residents' by 2020. By that time, the living standard and educational level of the Chinese people will be greatly improved, urban and rural residents will have more employment opportunities, the gap of income will be smaller, the impoverished population will decrease sharply, everybody will enjoy basic medical service, the living environment will improve significantly. The Chinese people will in general have a stronger sense of happiness.

Why does the Report to the 18th National Congress of the CPC highlight the Scientific Outlook of Development? What's the basic content of the Scientific Outlook of Development?

The CPC attaches great importance to the theoretical innovation on the basis of practice. On the basis of pursuing Marxism and according to the actual situation of the new millennium and new period, the CPC put forward the Scientific Outlook of Development. The goal of this theory is to provide new scientific answers to the major questions of what kind of development China should achieve in a new environment and how the country should achieve it. It is an important guiding principle of the CPC to push forward the national development.

The top priority of this theory is development, the core of it is to put people first. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that the people's aspiration for a better life is the goal of the Communist Party of China. The basic requirement of this theory is comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development, and the fundamental approach of it is overall consideration. The CPC will implement this theory throughout the whole process of our modernization drive and constantly explore broader development prospect of the socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Why CPC put forward the concept of 'beautiful China'?

After three decades of rapid development since the reform and opening-up, we are facing an increasingly shortage of resources, serious environmental pollution and degradation of the ecological system.

Hence, the Report to the 18th National Congress of the CPC stated that China must respect the nature, follow the rules of the nature and protect the nature. We must give top priority to ecological progress, work hard to build a beautiful China and realize the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

This is a far-sighted scientific judgement and also a practice responsible for our future generations. Development should not be achieved at the cost of sacrificing the environment. We must leave our children with a sustainable environment with blue sky, clean water and fresh air.

The prospects of China Sri Lanka relations

Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to say something about the China-Sri Lanka relationship in the context of the 18th National Congress of the CPC.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries and the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber Rice Pact. For 55 years, with the concerted efforts of both sides, the China-Sri Lanka relationship is progressing vigorously and is at the best period in the history. We have frequent high level exchanges, our political mutual trust is strengthening, our economic and trade cooperation is deepening, large-scale cooperative projects are going on smoothly, and our cultural exchanges are intensifying. China and Sri Lanka always support each other on issues concerning our core interests and major concerns. Our two countries have maintained good communication and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

In the future, China will consolidate the traditional friendship and deepen mutual beneficial cooperation between our two countries under the guidance of the spirit of the 18th National Congress of the CPC in diplomatic area.

China will be the reliable friend and sincere partner of Sri Lanka forever. I believe that with the concerted efforts of both sides, with the care and participation of the people of our two countries, the China-Sri Lanka comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring on 'sincere mutual support and eternal friendship' will maintain a good development momentum and will benefit more people of our two countries. The China-Sri Lanka relationship will have a better tomorrow!