President Xi Jinping lauded the economic achievements of the Chinese Communist Party in his highly-anticipated speech hailing 40 years since Deng Xiaoping began his reform agenda, but disappointed Western watchers who thought it lacked concrete, fresh proposals.
Xi told the audience in the Great Hall of the People that “to promote reform and development in China…there is no textbook that can be regarded as a golden rule, and there is no great master who can dictate to the Chinese people,” the Financial Times reports.
He went on to praise what he considers to be China’s unique system of government and development, which he claims “provides successful experience and offers a bright prospect for other developing countries.”
However, Xi failed to offered to specific plans for new reforms, in keeping with the theme of the occasion. Instead, the president appeared to settle for general soundbites that Western critics have heard before.
“We will reinforce the development of the state economy while guiding the development of the non-state economy,” said Xi.
“What should be and can be reformed, we will resolutely reform. What should not or cannot be reformed, we will resolutely not reform,” he added.
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