Why Xi Jinping needs a stronger Communist Party to achieve his Chinese dream
Deng Yuwen says strict internal governance and discipline are clearly the top priority for President Xi Jinping, the latest among generations of Chinese leaders who believe China’s prosperity is inexorably linked to the Communist Party
So, what will be the top priorities for Xi and the party in the next five years?
Top of the list will be to improve governance of the party, revive its vigour and make it the mainstay of a country practising socialism with Chinese characteristics. The second priority is to propel economic reform and development to achieve the goals set by the party for its first centennial, and lay the foundation for the bicentenary. Third is to improve China’s diplomatic role, elevate its global governance and create a favourable external environment for the country’s rise. The fourth priority is for Xi to identify and nurture a loyal successor.
The party has always said it is the only one that can handle issues in China well. If the party thrives, the country prospers; if the party gets weaker, the country declines. That has been the deep-rooted conviction of generations of party leaders, and especially Xi.