China will continue with reforms, peaceful development: President Xi

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) will never stop reforms and opening-up, and as always, China will stick to the path of peaceful development despite its growing economic might.

Xi made the pledge in a joint interview with Xinhua and other media outlets from BRICS countries before his first foreign visit as China's head of state.

Reforms will not stop

While answering a question from Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency, Xi said that in order to lead the people to achieve greater national development, the CPC must strengthen party building, maintain close ties with the people, steadily improve its performance and governance and fight corruption.

"Reform and opening-up is the defining feature and source of vitality of today's China," Xi said. "Without reform and opening-up, China would not have come this far, nor will we have a brighter future."

The president vowed to make new reform breakthroughs so as to open up new prospects for development, saying that China will enhance top-level design and overall planning, and pursue a "balanced way" in structural reforms.

He pledged to continue to develop and improve socialism with Chinese characteristics to keep in line with the changing world, as it is not possible for "a development model" to "stay forever the same."

He also stressed that China will not copy the development model of any other country, while drawing on the fine achievements of all civilizations.

Peaceful development

Answering a question from Xinhua on China's relations with the rest of the world, Xi said as China's strength grows, China will assume more international responsibilities and obligations within the scope of its capabilities, and make greater contribution to the noble cause of world peace and development.

The president also notes that despite China's fast economic expansion, its per capita GDP remains much lower than the world average, and it still has a long way to go before becoming "rich and strong."

"Some people in the world worry that China will seek hegemony and bully others once it becomes strong," Xi said. "Such concerns are unnecessary."

"China has reaffirmed its solemn commitment to the international community many times that it will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and will never seek hegemony or expansion," he said.

Xi hoped all other countries will also pursue peaceful development and work together to advance world peace and development.

Work & personal life

Responding to a question from Brazil's newspaper Valor Economico on his personal life and work, Xi admitted it is indeed not easy to govern a country with 1.3 billion people.

"To get to know the situation is already a difficult task," he said.

Xi said to accumulate experience and professional knowledge and enhance skills and capabilities in the course of practice is essential to doing one's job well, he said.

"Running such a big country with so many people and so complex national conditions, we, the leaders of China need to be fully aware of China's reality and aspirations of the people, and treat our responsibilities with utmost care as if we are walking on thin ice or standing on the edge of an abyss," Xi added.

Speaking of his own workload, Xi said he hardly has time to himself.

"Naturally, I prioritize my tasks. Many hands make light work. Within the central leadership, we have an effective set of work mechanisms. We each have our own responsibilities and at the same time, we work together in concert to ensure that the job gets done and done well," Xi said.

"Although I am very busy, I try to find some leisure time. Whenever there is time, I would get together with my family," he added.

On his hobbies, Xi said he loves reading most, which has become a way of his life.

He said he is a sports fan, and likes swimming and mountain-climbing, adding he used to play football and volleyball when he was young.