Xi Jinping and China's new era

Fight for a great dream

Despite the achievements, the journey to national rejuvenation won't be plain sailing.

Last month, Xi told up-and-coming Party cadres at the opening of a Party school training session that a "great struggle" is needed to make the "great dream" a reality. The word douzheng (struggle) appeared nearly 60 times in his speech.

Xi said the risks and challenges facing the Party would only grow bigger and sometimes "there would be tempestuous waves beyond our imagination".

But Xi is a man who rises to challenges.

Facing the challenges of an economic downturn, Xi has proposed measures such as supply-side structural reform to shift the economy toward high-quality development.

Tough battles were also launched to forestall and defuse major risks, carry out targeted poverty alleviation, and prevent and control pollution.

Economic and trade frictions with the US are another struggle. China has taken the position that "it doesn't want a trade war but is not afraid and will fight one when necessary". Over the past year, Xi has met US President Donald Trump twice, first in Buenos Aires last December and then in Osaka, Japan, this June, taking important steps toward solving the issue.

On Hong Kong, Xi said making everything political or deliberately creating differences and provoking confrontation would not help. Instead, it would severely hinder Hong Kong's economic and social development.

Xi told Ho Iat-seng, incoming chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, in Beijing last month that "one country, two systems" has proved to be a workable solution welcomed by the people.

On Taiwan, Xi said: "We do not renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and a tiny number of separatists and their separatist activities for 'Taiwan independence'. It does in no way target our compatriots in Taiwan."

Xi pushed a sweeping reform of the armed forces, setting the "ability to fight" as the sole and fundamental criterion.

Chinese service personnel have taken up "protecting China's overseas interests" as an important mission. When turmoil rocked Yemen and Libya, Xi instructed operations to bring back Chinese nationals. A film based on this story smashed China's box office records.

Xi has warned that all sorts of struggles will last a long time. He and his team are aware of both the rapidly changing and increasingly complex environment abroad and the situations at home. China, he said, is still the world's largest developing country.

In May, Xi chose East China's Jiangxi province, where the Red Army began the Long March in the 1930s, to call for a new Long March.

Back then, the Red Army soldiers trekked about 12,500 kilometers across China, battling the harsh environment, the enemy and diversion within the Party. When they re-emerged victoriously in northwestern China, they continued the fight and won the revolution.

To Chinese communists, sacrifice and hardships are worthwhile for a glorious goal.