ZCZC
BCN-06
CHINA-POLITICS-ECONOMY-XI-SPEECH
No one can ‘dictate’ to China what it should, shouldn’t do: Xi
BEIJING, Dec 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday to
push ahead with China’s “reform and opening up” but warned that no one can
“dictate” what it does, as the Communist Party celebrated the policy’s 40th
anniversary.
While he pledged to press forward with the economic reforms initiated
under late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in December 1978, Xi indicated that
there would be no change to the one-party system.
“The great banner of socialism has always been flying high over the
Chinese land,” Xi said in a speech at Beijing’s imposing Great Hall of the
People.
“The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential
feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest advantage
of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics,” he said.
His speech came as China faces stern challenges from the United States on
trade and diplomatic fronts.
“No one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or
should not be done,” Xi said.
“We must resolutely reform what should and can be changed, we must
resolutely not reform what shouldn’t and can’t be changed.”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1230 hrs