China’s new era after the 19th CPC National Congress focus of Swedish experts

China Plus Published: 2017-11-02 19:47:32
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A new era heralded by the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has been the focus of a seminar held by the Swedish thinktank, the Institute of Security and Development Policy.

The Congress, held last month in Beijing, mapped out a new blue print for the next stage of the country’s development, principally the eradication of poverty by 2020, and the aim to become a modern society by 2035.  By 2050, it is planned China will become a modern and beautiful country in all respects.

During the seminar, panellists discussed gender equality issues, election procedures, and also answered various questions posed by the audience. 

Chinese ambassador Gui Congyou made a keynote speech about 19th CPC National Congress at the ISDP seminar on China's New Era in Stockholm on Oct. 30, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

Chinese ambassador Gui Congyou made a keynote speech about 19th CPC National Congress at the ISDP seminar on China's New Era in Stockholm on Oct. 30, 2017. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

The keynote speech was given by the Chinese Ambassador to Sweden, Gui Congyou. 

 “The successful convening of the 19th CPC congress aroused attention worldwide. It analysed the domestic and international situation; made such an important judgement that China’s Socialism with Chinese Characteristics has entered a New Era; elected the leaders of the CPC central committee for a new term; and mapped out new policies and strategic deployment. It is of great significance for realizing the Chinese people’s dreams of a good life and common development together with the peoples of the world; it is a blessing for both the Chinese and the world community.”

Gui Congyou added that the Communist Party of China would never forget its mission of leading the Chinese people to live a better life.  Its first goal is to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and the second goal is to build a basically modernized socialist China by 2035.

Dr. Oskar Almen from Uppsala University is a researcher focusing mainly on China’s local elections and other political election procedures between state and civil societies mostly in China. Almen said the 19th CPC National Congress was very important for China to establish a rule-based country. 

He said that following institutional procedures is conducive to a rule-based society and it was a relief to see President Xi Jinping following the procedures, backed by Politbureau members with a variety of capabilities.

Lora Saalman, Director of China and Global Security Program at SIPRI spoke at the seminar on China's New Era held by ISDP on Oct. 30, 2017 in Stockholm. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

Lora Saalman, Director of China and Global Security Program at SIPRI spoke at the seminar on China's New Era held by ISDP on Oct. 30, 2017 in Stockholm. [Photo: China Plus/Chen Xuefei]

Lora Daalman, director of the China and Global Security Program of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute or SIPRI gave her understanding of China’s new era.

“When I heard about the new era, I understand it from an historic point of view, the continuity we talked about earlier in moving from Mao Zedong, really representing the first era and then under Deng Xiaoping, with a massive unproblematic type of development, and Xi Jinping is the type entering the third era, a new era. It does provide a certain legitimacy all along the way, in terms of the type of content that new era should contain, we see from the time when Xi took office the Chinese dream development providing essentially the platform for the foundation of eradicating poverty throughout the entire country, so I think that is probably the hallmark for not just his time in office, which will be carried forward to the future, the hallmark is the Belt and Road initiative, which will be carried out by future generations.”

Kristina Sandklef described the Belt and Road initiative is a super idea that is both political and economic and a long term initiative.

Oskar Almen added that the new era is intended to legitimise the Xi decade’s policy, in terms of goals, strategy, action plan and steps to take. 

Li Junfeng, Political Counselor at the Chinese Embassy explained that Xi Jinping has proposed two centenary goals. By 2021, with the CPC established for 100 years, China should basically establish a moderately prosperous society. The other is by 2049 when China becomes a truly modern society, at a similar level to western countries in general. 

During the event it was also revealed that a series of talks on the 19th CPC Congress are also in the pipeline. 


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