Leader's book attracts praise

President Xi Jinping's book The Governance of China has been applauded in the Czech Republic ahead of his state visit to the nation from Monday to Wednesday next week.

The book, a compilation of Xi's work from Nov 15, 2012 to June 13, 2014, comprises speeches, talks, interviews, instructions and correspondence. It was first published in 2014 in Chinese and many other languages, including English, French, Russian and Arabic. Of the 5.36 million copies, 400,000 have been sold overseas.

The book is being translated into Czech and will soon be published in that language.

Jan Kohout, president of the New Silk Road Institute Prague, an independent think tank, said at a symposium on the book in the Czech capital on Monday, "It is very readable and the language used is thrilling."

Kohout said Xi has caught the attention of the international community through many initiatives, one of the most important being the Belt and Road Initiative, which "is a real strategy for the 21st century".

This refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives - transportation infrastructure projects linking Asia and Europe, launched by Xi in 2013.

Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office, said the book shows the new concepts, new ideas and new strategies of the central leadership.

"In the book, President Xi reveals from various angles how Chinese tradition has been continued and enhanced in the governance of a modern country and has given modern values and significance to fine Chinese traditions," Guo said.

Kohout added, "(From the book), you can gain a lot of information regarding Chinese history, Chinese sayings and a better understanding of the Chinese attitude and the Chinese leadership - especially President Xi Jinping - regarding the country's domestic development.

"Xi is definitely becoming one of the most important global leaders, presenting a new attitude to international relations."

Zdenek Skromach, vice-president of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, said, "It is very interesting that the book presents President Xi's political view, a view of what's going on in the world and also development in China."

tuoyannan@chinadaily.com.cn