Income inequality remains a challenge

Colin Mackerras, Australian Sinologist and researcher

1. The elimination of absolute poverty is a striking and monumental achievement. It has been going on for a while but has gathered momentum. If you compare this with other countries (notably India), China's success has been spectacular. I heard President Xi Jinping say that China will eliminate absolute poverty by 2020, which is fantastic. However, there is still a long way to go.

2. Prosperity, confidence and strength.

3. The biggest challenge is income inequality. It's best to try and overcome this by improving social welfare in poor areas, not by punishing the rich. China has made a fair bit of progress in this area, but it has a long way to go.

4. The upcoming 19th CPC National Congress will strengthen unity behind Xi. What I feel most strongly about is that China needs to maintain stability, because it can't get anywhere without that.

5. President Xi seems to me to stand out among contemporary world leaders for his rationality and common sense. He's impressive. He always comes across well, and has interesting and meaty things to say. Also, it is good that he sometimes goes among ordinary people.

6. It seems to me to stand on the side of justice and common sense. It's playing a good role in the current Korean crisis, and I hope it can persuade the United States and Democratic People's Republic of Korea to calm down and talk to each other, rather than issuing threats.

7. Yes, I do. I think its success in controlling the size of the population is important. (I heard that UN demographers expect India to overtake China as the world's most populous nation in about 2024). I also think the increase in literacy and going some way to closing the gender gap are important. I hope it can solve environmental problems, but I think that is going to take a while.

8. In five years' time, I think Chinese people are likely to be more confident and prosperous. As for the country as a whole over the longer term, the Belt and Road Initiative is going to have profound long-term effects. It is going to increase Chinese influence and wealth, and trade in general in Europe, Asia and beyond. This is likely to have a bigger impact on the world than any initiative for a long time. I hope and expect that the commonly heard slogan "win-win" will prove valid.

9. My most unforgettable experience was first coming to China in 1964. I had no idea what to expect, and I had my pregnant wife with me. We were both nervous, and our parents were nervous too. It turned out that it transformed my life for the better, and I remain extremely grateful.