US-based China watchers spoke favorably of the speech by General Secretary Xi Jinping at Wednesday's opening ceremony of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Cheng Li, director of the John L. Thornton China Center of the Brookings Institution, said his key takeaway from the report is the redefinition of the new era and new challenge. Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee as well as the nation's president, spoke about the principal contradiction facing Chinese society as being between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. Previously, the contradiction had been described as being "between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people and backward social production". "China is no longer backward in the mode of production. China, even in innovation, is catching up, in some areas even ahead of the rest of the world," said Li, adding that it's a brilliant way to describe China's position and challenge today. Li said he thinks the redefinition is not only appropriate but also very wise because it uses the terms "unbalanced and inadequate", terms that could refer to many things. Li, an expert on Chinese leadership, called Xi's speech "very comprehensive, very thoughtful and very balanced". Li said foreign observers, especially foreign companies, will note that market access, financial liberalization, fairness and openness in the service sector, trade and investment are all in the report. Jon Taylor, professor of political science at the University of St Thomas in Houston, Texas, said Xi's speech took in China's society and economy and its place in the world. "It had positive energy, emphasizing the role of the Party in fostering China's future development, while also touching on themes of culture, ideology and patriotism," he said. "Xi's speech marked what I would term a new era in Chinese politics. The speech clearly distinguished Xi's leadership and influence on the CPC. More importantly, Xi made it very clear that the Party will maintain a central role in China's development over coming decades." Taylor, an expert on Chinese politics, said Xi's speech sent a signal that "China will continue to pursue a deepening reform agenda and realistically address its problems" and "China has taken the driver's seat in leading the debate on climate change." silicone bracelet makerkids wristbandspersonalized silicone braceletsrubber wristbandshow to make rubber bracelets
HONG KONG - A youth exchange program named "Belt and Road Journey" kicked off here Thursday, aiming to raise awareness of the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative.Twenty young people will travel by train at the end of this month to cities including Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Kazakhstan's Almaty.The 20 young people, aged between 18 and 25, were selected from more than 500 applicants.During the six-day trip, they will visit local businesses and landmarks, and interact with local university students, one of the organizers, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) said at a press conference.In this way, the young people from Hong Kong will get "first-hand knowledge of the economic and cultural landscape of different Belt and Road regions," the organizer noted.The journey will be filmed and broadcast as a special TV series in September, as part of the HKTDC's ongoing efforts to promote the Belt and Road Initiative through the media and social media channels to attract more young people to get involved.HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Raymond Yip described the program as a flagship Belt and Road promotion event for young people this summer.He hoped that through direct interaction with local youths and visits to companies, the trip will help young people here gain a deeper understanding of the initiative.The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.
