Keywords to Underst and China
“China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership”
Speaking at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in December 2015, President Xi Jinping of China outlined China’s policy toward Africa and proposed that the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership be upgraded to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership. The partnership is underpinned by five major pillars, namely, political equality and mutual trust; mutually beneficial economic cooperation; cultural exchanges; security cooperation and mutual assistance; and solidarity and coordination in international affairs.
In this regard, President Xi also proposed joint implementation of a 10-point plan in the next three years. The plan covers industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, financial support, and poverty reduction, among others. It provides a basis for building the comprehensive partnership. The vision for an upgraded partnership reflects China’s desire to forge relations with Africa based on sincerity, real results, friendship and good faith, and to serve the greater good. It is a vision for a new era of China-Africa mutually beneficial cooperation and common development.
“Building relations with neighboring countries based on friendship, good faith, mutually benefit and inclusiveness”
Topping China’s foreign policy agenda is the need for building relations with neighboring countries based on friendship, good faith, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. It is an issue of strategic importance. China and its neighbors share an aspiration to foster a stable and peaceful regional environment. Both logic and cultural affinity point to the wisdom of a good-neighbor policy. It is therefore China’s wish to build ties with neighboring countries on such a basis.
Friendship involves positive-neighborly interactions, mutual support and assistance, and frequent reciprocal visits. These are informed by equality, cultural affinity, and empathy. It contributes to stronger ties, and enhances the appeal of our region as a whole and its impact on world affairs. Good faith is required in working with our neighbors. We need more friends and partners. Mutual benefit is the foundation on which China cooperates with its neighbors. It helps strengthen networks for those who share common interests, and enables China and its neighbors to benefit from each other as they pursue their development strategies. Inclusiveness is indispensable to regional cooperation. Underpinned by the belief that the Asia-Pacific region is large enough to accommodate us all, it encourages open-mindedness as we work more proactively toward our shared goals.
“A ‘top-level design’ approach and the need to ‘cross the river by feeling for stones’”
There is an important link between a “top-level design” approach and the need to “cross the river by feeling for stones,” as Xi Jinping has highlighted, in the course of advancing China’s all-round reform. “Crossing the river by feeling for stones” is a distinctly Chinese approach to reform that is based on China’s own realities. Since China’s reform and opening up is unprecedented and there is no previous experience to draw from, it is essential to exercise good judgement in navigating our way forward. In response to new challenges that have emerged in the process of continued reform, a “top-level design” approach is called for in tandem with a series of pilot programs. This approach tackles strategic and overarching issues, with a focus on systematically improving institutional capacity.
These two approaches are two sides of the same coin. Piecemeal reform without a unifying vision will fragment and falter, while strategic planning at the top level without being accompanied by small-scale or localized pilot runs has no chance of being successfully implemented or continuously refined.
“The ‘Internet Plus’ action plan”
The “Internet Plus” action plan was unveiled by Premier Li Keqiang in his Report on the Work of the Government in March 2015.
Generally, the plan aims to further integrate the Internet with economic and social activities in various fields by 2018. The new Internet-based ecosystem will provide impetus for economic growth, and spur the spread of entrepreneurship and innovation. It will offer an important channel to deliver public services, and an essential interface between the network economy and real economy.
Underpinning this plan is the need to keep pace with the global “Internet Plus” trend, and leverage China’s economies of scale in Internet services. This will expand the horizons of a mostly consumption-based Internet to include more production-oriented activities. Such a move would accelerate industrial upgrading, encourage innovation, and create new drivers of social and economic development. Promoting the “Internet Plus” is of great significance in helping China adapt to the new normal of growth and improve economic performance and efficiency.
“The two-child policy”
The new policy, which allows all couples to have two children, is designed to address the issue of aging, as part of China’s strategy on demographics and development. It was formally released in October 2015 at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. Following a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in December in the same year to amend the Law of Population and Family Planning, the implementation of the policy commenced on January 1, 2016.
The policy is expected to help optimize the nation’s demographic composition, increase labor supply, relieve the pressure of an aging society, and bring about balanced population growth. It will contribute to sound and sustainable economic development, and the realization of a goal to build a moderately well-off society by 2020. It adds an essential dimension to the basic state policy of family planning, and aims to improve family wellbeing and social harmony.
(Source: Keywords to Understand China published by China Academy of Translation and China International Publishing Group)