Foreign experts hail Xi's congress report

Commitment to whole-process people's democracy, rule of law wins support

The report delivered by Xi Jinping to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China outlined a vision for the nation as a modern socialist country that upholds whole-process people's democracy and the rule of law, experts say.

It is important to see the desire, vision and mission of the CPC continue to pursue building a Chinese society based on whole-process people's democracy, sustainable development, and socialist rule of law, said Anna Malindog-Uy, director and vice-president for external affairs of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute.

Xi's report highlighted key topics including whole-process people's democracy and rule of law, as well as the full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Meanwhile, the CPC is also committed to promoting high-quality development, technological advancement and economic development that put a premium on China's historical rights, said Malindog-Uy, noting such aspirations offer inspiration for developing countries and the world.

Glenn Wijaya, an adviser to the Center for Indonesia-China Studies, said: "In the midst of all the upheaval, the world urgently needs a robust Chinese economy underpinned by strict legal standards, honest government officials, and a fair judiciary."

Wijaya said Xi's frequent allusion to the essential principles of the Chinese Constitution serves as a reminder that constitutional ideals are not merely catchphrases but the cornerstone of all a nation does.

Joeffrey Maddatu Calimag, president of the Council of ASEAN Professors in Korea, said he "especially commends" Xi "for promoting consultative democracy where people run the country" and all power belongs to the people.

Sound policy

While China has stepped up its efforts to improve the quality of life of its citizens, the report clearly promotes a sound foreign policy that positions the country as a partner of others, said Calimag.

Jan Robert Go, assistant professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines, said what is highlighted in the whole-process people's democracy is the totality of being democratic.

"It is not simply about the individual rights, but the balancing of each voice in the society, and all these voices contribute to the decision-making process in the various levels of government," said Go.

Ebrahim Hashem, an Asia Global Fellow at the University of Hong Kong's Asia Global Institute and former adviser to the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, said: "China is one of the safest countries in the world."

Hashem said the CPC's seriousness in cracking down on corruption and reinforcing the rule of law is obvious for everybody to see, as has been illustrated in the recent sentencing of corrupt officials.

Noting that the theme of the CPC's self-reform is repeatedly emphasized by Chinese leaders, especially Xi, who highlighted the subject of self-reform and self-renewal in his speech on Sunday, Hashem said it is a must to reform the Party and adapt to domestic and international changes in order to achieve China's development goals.

Lee Nam-ju, professor of Chinese studies at Sungkonghoe University in Seoul, said the report clearly presented China's strategy for realizing the goal of building a modern socialist country.

"It is hoped that China clearly presenting its development goals and mid- to long-term plans in a situation of increasing uncertainty can act as a positive factor for the stability of the world," said Lee.

The report not only presented China's development model as a Chinese-style modernization but also contains the direction that other countries can pursue, said Lee.

The goal of building China into a modern socialist country also represented Xi's global vision for a world that is free of poverty, war, conflict and discrimination, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh.

Xi's emphasis on the rule of law showed that the CPC will not give favor to anybody irrespective of their position or influence in the Party, said Matthews.

Pongphisoot Busbarat, assistant professor at the Department of International Relations at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, said: "Xi Jinping's speech reflects China's strong effort to improve the well-being of the Chinese people."

Strengthening domestic institutions and consultative mechanisms with people's participation at every level will benefit the government and enable the Party to address problems correctly, said Pongphisoot.

Contact the writers at kelly@chinadailyapac.com.