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    President Xi Jinping: A Man of Vision

    President of China Xi Jinping's Visit to Pakistan, April, 2015

    Written by: Aiza Azam
    Posted on: April 18, 2015 | | 中文

    President Xi Jinping of China

    President Xi Jinping of China is largely recognized as the most powerful and influential leader in the country since recent times. Comparisons have been drawn with revolutionary leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, drawing on Xi’s first two years as President. These comparisons reflect not only his leadership style and authority, but are also a nod to his greater sense of connectivity with the common Chinese man than was shared by his immediate predecessors.

    President of China Xi Jinping’s Visit to Pakistan, April, 2015

    Young Xi Jinping, 1972, during the time he was serving in the countryside

    He is the son of Xi Zhongxun, a founding member of the Communist Party. As a 15 year old, Xi Jinping was sent to the countryside like many of his contemporaries, where he would labour for 8 years, working alongside the local villagers. They remember him as a sincere and honest man, very much one of them. After returning to Beijing, he pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious Tsinghua University, and in 1974 he joined the Communist Party, beginning with a post as local party secretary in the province of Hebei. In 1985, he spent some time living in the United States, on an agricultural research trip in rural Iowa. Rising through the party ranks, he served in senior positions in the provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang before finally being appointed as Party Chief of Shanghai in 2007. Subsequently, he was promoted to the Standing Committee, and in 2008 he became the Vice President of China.

    Possessing a nationalistic outlook centered on a belief in Chinese greatness, President Xi, since his ascension to power, has overseen a number of important initiatives, both internally and in the international sphere. One of the most prominent examples is an energetic anti-corruption campaign, bringing down ‘tigers’ and ‘flies’ in the government and armed services. While previous governments have carried out similar exercises, the difference this time around is visible, not only for the sharp increase in the number of cases being pursued but also for the surprisingly high profiles of some of the targets. The message is clear: one rule applies to all.

    President of China Xi Jinping’s Visit to Pakistan, April, 2015

    Xi Jinping then secretary of Zhengding County Committee of CPC in Hubei porivnce, talks to villagers 1983

    Critical voices have pointed to the emergence of a governing structure in which authority is increasingly centralized. The President serves as Head of the Communist Party, the CPC, the Central Military Commission, the National Security Commission, the Leading Group for Deepening Reform on National Defenseand the Leading Group for All-around Deepening Reform. However, many are viewing this as conducive to a return to core Party values and the preservation of the Party itself, noting that President Xi’s assumption of his country’s leadership came at a time when the Party found itself in crisis and faced with a growing sense of public disillusionment.

    President of China Xi Jinping’s Visit to Pakistan, April, 2015

    President Xi Jinping (middle) with the Politburo Standing Committee

    This view is supported by President Xi’s advocacy of a return to Confucian values and the revival of the Chinese nation. He has articulated his vision of a ‘Chinese Dream’ aimed at reclaiming national pride in parallel with achieving individual socio-economic well-being.

    In the last two years, Chinese foreign policy has taken a more assertive tone. China is arguably doing no less than aligning its diplomacy with its global economic and political status. If viewed in the context of President Xi’s domestic measures to revitalize Chinese society and the Party’s role, this new diplomacy aims at affording China the role of regional and global leadership that falls naturally to it, different from previous years where it was punching well below its weight.

    Alarmist voices are easily discredited when the broader regional context, with China at its core, is taken into view. At a time in history when political power is shifting inexorably to the East, ushering in an ‘Asian century’, no other country is better positioned than China to play a positive leading role, whether by virtue of its economic might, its political prowess, its geographical positioning or its historical legacy.

    Critical to note is that the Chinese style of leadership manifested through President Xi’s policies, which emphasizes a ‘win-win’ formula aimed at mutual progress and benefit, is in stark contrast to a traditionally Western mode of ‘partnership’ where decision making is skewed, where aid or assistance is laced with a disproportionate number of conditions, and which often manifests shocking disregard for domestic considerations and interests.

    For Pakistan, which has long enjoyed a partnership with China based on a solid foundation of friendship, trust and mutual respect, this moment in history affords the former an unprecedented opportunity for positive change - both in terms of domestic socio-economic uplift as well for carving out a revived international image – and for fully cashing in on the geo-strategically advantageous position it holds. Through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of the Silk Road initiative which President Xi has undertaken, Pakistan will be able to lift itself from the quagmire that is stalling its development. It is significant that the working relationship in this project is built on monetary conditions that are very favorable to Pakistan and have few parallels beyond Sino-Pak bilateral ties.

    President Xi Jinping’s China continues to consolidate itself in a leadership role that will usher in regional stability and prosperity. Pakistan, for one, welcomes the promise of progress.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021