"Xi Jinping has laid out a series of national goals for 2050."
"Xi Jinping has laid out a series of national goals for 2050."
October 1 this year marks the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, or 70 years ago. Understandably, the Chinese leadership has organized a big commemorative event at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the new China after leading years of struggle by the Communist Party of China against Japanese invaders and Kuomintang forces. This year's celebration will be capped by a civil-military parade highlighting China's emergence as an economic and military superpower.
What changes have taken in place in China in the past 70 years? One of Mao's first moves to reduce economic inequality was to undertake a total overhaul of the land ownership system and implement extensive land reform. He replaced China's old system of gentry landlord ownership of farmland with a distribution system in favor of poor and landless peasants. Later, under the Great Leap Forward in 1958, he began an unprecedented process of collectivization in rural areas. Mao also urged the use of backyard iron smelters to increase steel production and boost industrial growth.
To consolidate his hold on political power, Mao initiated what he called the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in May 1966. This was a turbulent period in contemporary Chinese history as Red Guards targeted "old elements," counter-revolutionaries and "capitalist roaders", including Deng Xiaoping. The campaign ended only with the death of Mao in 1976.
Hua Guofeng succeeded Mao as transitional leader only for two years, from 1976-1978. Deng Xiaoping, though he never served as head of state or General Secretary of the Communist Party, played a significant role in leading his country through far-reaching economic reforms that led the country to economic growth and domestic stability. He is remembered today for having had the guts to contradict orthodox socialist doctrine by declaring that "to get rich is glorious," and his other classic statement: "It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white so long as it catches mice."
For Deng, the task faced by the leadership of China was twofold: one, to promote modernization of the Chinese economy, and two, to preserve the ideological unity of the Communist Party and its control of the difficult reforms required to modernize agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology in China.
To preserve ideological unity, Deng Xiaoping formulated "Four Cardinal Principles" which the Communist Party must uphold: the "basic spirit of communism"; the political system of the PRC, known as the people's democratic dictatorship; the leadership of the Communist Party, and Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought.
In 1992, 14 years after his rise up the hierarchy as China's leader, Deng embarked on China's "opening up," which proved to be very significant for China's economic development until today. With the shift in the focus of the Party's work to economic development, the introduction of reforms and opening up ushered in a new period for building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Xi Jinping took over as President of China in 2012. A few years into his term, he enunciated a 14-point basic policy that now guides China's development.
These include: ensuring Communist Party of China leadership over all forms of work in China; the Communist Party of China should take a people-centric approach for the public interest; the continuation of comprehensive deepening of reforms; adopting new science-based ideas for innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development; following socialism with Chinese characteristics with people as the masters of the country; governing China with the rule of law; practicing socialist core values, including Marxism communism and socialism with Chinese characteristics; improving people's livelihood and well-being as the primary goal of development; coexisting well with nature with energy conservation and environmental protection policies and contribute to global ecological safety; and strengthen national security.
Xi has emphasized that the Communist Party of China should have absolute leadership over China's People's Liberation Army; promote the one country, two systems policy for Hong Kong and Macau with a future of complete national reunification and to follow the One-China policy and 1992 Consensus for Taiwan; establish a common destiny between Chinese people and other people around the world with a peaceful international environment; and improve party discipline in the Communist Party of China.
Officially called “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, the doctrine is now enshrined in both state and party constitutions.
Xi has laid out a series of national goals for 2050, such as making China a nation with pioneering global influence, turning the military into a “world class” force, eradicating extreme poverty. He has also reiterated a pledge to continue to open up the country’s markets and provide a level playing field for businesses.
ernhil@yahoo.com