Leaders' role in progress of China hailed

The reforms initiated by China's late leader Deng Xiaoping and currently being amplified by President Xi Jinping have set China on the road to modernization and peaceful development as well as making greater contributions to the world by building a community with a shared future for mankind, global experts say.

Xi hailed Deng's significant contributions and called for the advancement of socialism with Chinese characteristics as the country commemorated Deng's 120th birth anniversary on Thursday.

Karori Singh, former director and emeritus fellow of the South Asia Studies Centre at the University of Rajasthan in India, said China has made remarkable progress in the past 75 years.

Chinese leaders have continuously made their contributions in leading China to modernization, Singh said. "Chairman Mao Zedong consolidated unity while Deng set the road to economic growth and progress. President Xi further advances and synergizes Marxist ideology, Mao's thoughts and Deng's theory in socialism with Chinese characteristics and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Xi has enunciated the Chinese worldview and global vision through the initiatives of Global Development, Global Security and Global Civilization, by advancing its flagship Belt and Road Initiative for realizing the Chinese ideal of world order inspired by Deng Xiaoping Theory, Singh said.

Tom Harper, a lecturer and researcher specializing in China's international relations at the University of East London, said Xi's remarks are "symbolic in several key aspects".

They confirm that "China is still following the path that Deng had set China on", and in this sense, the policies adopted thereafter have been the logical step in following this path, Harper said, adding it is worth noting how the Chinese leadership adapted to the context they find themselves in to achieve modernization in the economic and technological spheres.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister of Pakistan, said the reform and opening-up policy initiated by Deng "has led to prosperity and progress for China, and greatly impacted China's relationship with its neighbors and trading partners".

In Pakistan, Deng is revered as a leader who helped "foster and expand the relations with Pakistan during the 1980s", he said. "This relationship has continued to grow over the last four decades with collaboration in trade, investment, infrastructure, etc."

Under the leadership of President Xi, the China-Pakistan relationship, termed as "Iron Brothers", has grown exponentially under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as part of the BRI, he said. "The people of Pakistan look forward to strengthening the special relationship between China and Pakistan."

Dennis Munene, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute, said: "The African Renaissance dream is being realized as China remains Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years."

Greater contributions

The reforms initiated by Deng and currently being amplified under the leadership of President Xi, who is committed to making greater contributions to the world by building a community with a shared future for mankind, continue to empower Africa to seek its independent path to modernization, Munene said.

Booker Ngesa Omole, organizing secretary of the Communist Party of Kenya, said there is hardly any literature on China's economic advancement without referring to Deng.

"A towering figure in Chinese history, Deng formed part of Chinese politics from the day the People's Republic of China was proclaimed," Omole said.

He said poverty affects different segments of Africa's population in comparative terms and that Africa's economic policies should address this reality, adding China's policies are tailored to its own reality.

Wang Mingjie in London and Otiato Opali in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this story.