Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year Address

 

SCMP: Chinese President Xi Jinping pledges reform in future-focused New Year’s address 

* Xi offers upbeat assessment of the economy's resilience, pointing to advances in various industrial projects 

* Wind and rain are the norm, he says, acknowledging pressures on people and businesses 

Growth and stability were the two big themes of Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year's address to the country on Sunday night, as he put the focus firmly on future progress.

Flanked by photos of his family and images from his tours around the country, Xi called for continued efforts towards modernisation and pledged further reform and opening up. 

"We must persist in seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through advancement," he said. 

Read more .... 

Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year Address 

Full text of President Xi Jinping's 2024 New Year message -- Xinhua  

Xi says China to consolidate and enhance economic recovery in 2024 -- Reuters  

China's Xi hails 'resilient' economy in bullish New Year speech -- AFP  

Xi Pledges to Strengthen Economic Recovery After ‘Tough’ Year -- Bloomberg 

Xi Jinping’s New Year Speech: Emphasis on Reunification and Economic Development -- BNN

Is Having Two Tea Cups A Power Move By Chinese President Xi?

Is China's President Xi Jinping's double tea a power move? https://t.co/JtNiPxZQfW pic.twitter.com/Bcor4laXSa

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 9, 2023

WNU Editor: I would not read too much into this. Chinese President Xi knows he is in charge.

Chinese President Xi Jinping Has Secured A Third Term As Leader Of The Chinese Communist Party

 

Axios: Xi Jinping secures 3rd term as Chinese Communist Party leader 

Chinese President Xi Jinping secured an unusual third term as leader of the Chinese Communist Party, the country's most powerful position, after a weeklong Party congress session that ended on Sunday, according to Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency. 

Why it matters: With Xi as China's unchallenged leader for another five-year term, Beijing is likely to continue its current trajectory of confrontation with the West. 

* Xi, 69, has surpassed the informal retirement age of 68 and could be in a position for life-long rule. 

 * His selection paves the way for him to again be named the country's president at the annual legislative session in March. 

Read more ....  

WNU editor: No surprises in this Congress with the exception of one. The person who is now "second in line" to President Xi is the Communist party chief of Shanghai Li Qiang .... Who is Li Qiang, the man poised to become China’s next premier? (The Guardian).  

Update: Here are the members of the new Central Politburo Standing Committee .... Who’s on China’s new Politburo Standing Committee? (Al Jazeera). 

Chinese President Xi Jinping Has Secured A Third Term As Leader Of The Chinese Communist Party  

Live Updates: Xi tightens grip on power as China unveils new leader -- CNN  

China’s Xi expands powers, promotes allies -- AP  

China's Xi clinches third term, packs leadership with loyalists -- Reuters  

China congress: Xi cements power by packing top team with loyalists -- BBC  

Xi Jinping secures historic third term as China's leader -- France 24  

In Mao’s footsteps: Xi Jinping puts himself at core of China’s government -- The Guardian  

All Xi’s men: Takeaways from China’s historic Communist Party Congress -- France 24  

Xi Jinping chooses ‘yes’ men over economic growth in politburo purge -- Helen Davidson and Verna Yu, The Guardian  

Xi Jinping's iron grip over China and his party has grown over the past decade, changing the face of the country forever -- ABC News Australia

In His First Trip Out Of China Since The Start Of The Pandemic Xi Jinping Will Visit Kazakhstan Next Week For A State Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Beijing on February 5. The pair will meet in Kazakhstan on September 14. Photo: Xinhua  

VOA/Reuters: Kazakhstan Says China's Xi to Visit, in First Foreign Trip Since Pandemic Nur-Sultan 

Kazakhstan — Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Kazakhstan on Sept. 14, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said on Monday, in what would be his first foreign trip since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Xi will meet Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and sign a number of bilateral documents, ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov told a briefing. 

Beijing, which gives little advance notice of Xi's movements, has not confirmed a Kazakhstan visit by him, and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: President Xi will also be visiting Uzbekistan. 

In His First Trip Out Of China Since The Start Of The Pandemic Xi Jinping Will Visit Kazakhstan Next Week For A State Visit  

Chinese President's First Trip Abroad Since COVID-19 Pandemic Will Be To Kazakhstan Next Week -- RFE  

Xi Jinping to visit Kazakhstan in first trip out of China since pandemic began -- SCMP  

Xi to Visit Kazakhstan in First Post-Covid Trip, Interfax Says -- Bloomberg  

Xi to visit central Asian nations in run-up to key party meeting -- Starits Times 

Xi Jinping to visit Kazakhstan on Sept. 14 for first trip out of China since pandemic -- Arirang 

Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan -- The Hindu 

In His First Trip Abroad Since The Start Of The Pandemic, China's Xi Will Visit Producer Of Half The World's Uranium -- Zero Hedge

Chinese President Xi To Visit Hong Kong 25th Anniversary Event And The Swearing-In Of Chief Executive-Designate John Lee

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city's handover to China, state media Xinhua News Agency reported. © Anthony WALLACE  

SCMP: Xi Jinping to attend 25th anniversary celebrations of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty and swearing-in of new city leader John Lee 

* State news agency Xinhua reports on Saturday morning that Xi Jinping will officiate ceremony to mark quarter-century of Chinese sovereignty over city 

* Xi will also 'inaugurate the city's sixth term government' and preside over swearing-in of Chief Executive-designate John Lee 

Chinese President Xi Jinping will officiate at the event to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return from British to Chinese rule and swear in the new administration. 

State news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday morning that Xi will "attend the ceremony to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with the motherland and to inaugurate the city's sixth-term government".  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: This is the first trip by President Xi outside of China since the start of the pandemic .... Xi Jinping to visit Hong Kong in first trip outside mainland China since pandemic began (CNN). 

Chinese President Xi To Visit Hong Kong 25th Anniversary Event And The Swearing-In Of Chief Executive-Designate John Lee  

Xi to attend meeting marking 25th anniversary of HK's return to motherland -- China Daily  

China's Xi to visit Hong Kong for 25th anniversary of handover -- Reuters  

Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend Hong Kong celebration: Xinhua -- AFP  

Xi to Attend Hong Kong Anniversary Event, Lee's Swearing-In -- Bloomberg  

Hong Kong 25: China’s Xi Jinping to visit for July 1 Handover anniversary, will inaugurate John Lee -- Hong Kong Free Press

At BRICS Summit Chinese President Xi Warns About Expanding Military Alliances

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech in virtual format at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum, June 22, 2022. (Photo by Xinhua)  

France 24: Xi warns about 'expanding military alliances' at BRICS summit: state media 

Beijing (AFP) – Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against "expanding" military ties on Wednesday in a speech ahead of a virtual summit with top leaders from Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa. 

Beijing is hosting the meeting of the influential club of BRICS emerging economies, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the global population and nearly a quarter of the world's gross domestic product. 

Three of its members -- China, India and South Africa -- have abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  

Read more .... 

More News On President Xi's Remarks At The BRICS Summit  

China says Ukraine crisis has sounded alarm for humanity -- AP

Xi urges BRICS business community to upgrade cooperation, warns against politicizing global economy -- Global Times  

Xi Slams Sanctions for 'Weaponizing' World Economy at BRICS Open -- Bloomberg

Is Chinese President Xi Jinping About To Resign?

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a special address at the 2022 World Economic Forum virtual session, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Washington Times: Rumors swirl that China’s Xi Jinping will step down amid harsh COVID lockdowns  

Experts doubt reports of coup, but also see signs of discontent 

Rumors circulating in China and among overseas Chinese social media are claiming Chinese President Xi Jinping, under fire for draconian COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai and elsewhere, will step down from power. 

The rumors followed a meeting last week of the Party Politburo Standing Committee, the collective leadership group that rules China. They were traced in part to a Chinese-language YouTube video May 4 by Canadian-based blogger appearing under the persona “Lao Deng.” Details of the video quickly spread to social media outlets in China but were quickly censored.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Not going to happen. Even though there are many in China who want to see him gone/retire, he has clearly signaled to everyone that he is going to stick it out for another term.

Is There A Move Within The Chinese Communist Party To Derail President Xi's Bid For A 3rd Term?

Chinese President Xi Jinping talks with coaches and athletes of China's figure skating team at the Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2017. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an inspection tour in Beijing Thursday and Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)  

Zero Hedge/Epoch Times: Viral Anti-Xi Article Reveals CCP Infighting That May Derail Xi's Bid For 3rd Term, Analysts Say 

An article criticizing Chinese leader Xi Jinping was allowed to go viral in mainland China, which analysts say reflects the intense struggle among different factions in the Chinese Communist Party and its impact on Xi’s ruling. 

China experts have said that Xi might not secure a third term, which will be revealed at the CCP’s Party Congress this fall, although Xi amended the Party’s constitution successfully in 2018 to remove term limitations. 

“The 40,000-word long article listed mistakes that Xi Jinping has made in politics, economy, and diplomacy. It’s a summary of Xi’s ruling over the past nine years,” Li Hengqing, a China expert at the Washington Institute for Information and Strategy, told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times on Feb. 8.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Chinese President Xi position is secure. But it is also true that President Xi has earned a lot of enemies .... China punishes 627000 officials in 2021, a record under Xi Jinping (Nikkei Asia).

China's President Xi Warns Against 'Cold War Mentality' And Confrontation Via Video-Conference At The Davos Agenda Virtual Event

 

NBC: China’s Xi says countries must abandon ‘Cold War mentality,’ warns against confrontation 

* Speaking via videoconference at The Davos Agenda virtual event, Xi said: “We need to discard Cold War mentality and seek peaceful co-existence and win-win outcomes.” 

* Beijing and Washington’s tense relationship over Taiwan has been identified as a top risk for Asia this year, while one of the region’s top experts has previously warned China’s “disturbing” crackdown on U.S.-listed China stocks could be interpreted as the early stages of a Cold War. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for countries to move away from a “Cold War mentality,” saying history has repeatedly shown that confrontation only invites disastrous repercussions. 

His comments come at a time of simmering tensions between China and the U.S. over Taiwan and as fears escalate over a possible Russian incursion into Ukraine. 

Speaking via videoconference at The Davos Agenda virtual event, Xi said: “We need to discard Cold War mentality and seek peaceful co-existence and win-win outcomes.”  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Chinese President Xi's complete speech is below. 

 

China's President Xi Warns Against 'Cold War Mentality' And Confrontation Via Video-Conference At The Davos Agenda Virtual Event 

Xi addresses 2022 WEF virtual session -- Xinhuanet  

No ‘countercurrents’ can stop globalization trend: Xi -- Global Times  

Xi stresses safeguarding national security, social stability, peaceful lives -- Xinhua  

Xi: China stays committed to development, reform and opening-up -- CGTN 

China’s Xi rejects ‘Cold War mentality,’ pushes cooperation -- AP  

China’s Xi calls for world cooperation on COVID despite secrecy over origins -- NYPost  

China's Xi warns against 'Cold War mentality,' confrontation -- The Hill 

China warns west against rapid interest rate rise -- The Guardian

Chinese President Xi Warns Davos World Economic Forum Against Starting A 'New Cold War'

 

France 24: China's Xi warns Davos World Economic Forum against 'new Cold War' 

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned global leaders at an all-virtual Davos forum Monday against starting a "new Cold War", and urged global unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Having largely curbed the spread of the pandemic within its borders, Xi wants to position China as a key player in a new multilateral world order as the US remains crippled by the pandemic.

"To build small cliques or start a new Cold War, to reject, threaten or intimidate others... will only push the world into division," said Xi in a likely veiled attack on US President Joe Biden's plans to revitalise global alliances to counter China's growing influence. 

Read more .... 

 More News On Chinese President Xi's Speech At The Davos World Economic Forum 

Full text: Xi Jinping's speech at the virtual Davos Agenda event -- CGTN 

Xi Jinping delivers speech at WEF Davos Agenda 2021 via video link -- CGTN 

Intl governance should not be on the order given by one or a few countries: Xi -- Global Times (China) Xi: China firmly supports global economic recovery, free trade -- CGTN 

China's Xi Calls for Unity, Warns Against New Cold War -- Bloomberg 

China’s Xi calls for unity in first remarks of Biden era, warns against ‘arrogant isolation’ -- CNBC China's Xi calls for unity in fighting virus, climate change -- ABC News/AP 

Xi Jinping warns against "new cold war" in Davos speech -- Axios

Chinese President Xi Says Time Is On China's Side

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the New Year gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference CPPCC in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2020. © Photographer: Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency 

Bloomberg: Upbeat Xi Says Time on China’s Side as Turmoil Grips U.S. 

(Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinping issued an unusually upbeat assessment about China’s future, noting that “time and the situation” were on the country’s side in a new year marked by domestic turmoil in the U.S. 

The Chinese leader told a gathering of provincial and ministerial-level officials Monday that he saw “opportunities in general outweighing challenges,” a marked shift from his sometimes dire-sounding warnings of recent months. 

While he repeated an oft-used allusion to the challenges posed by President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies, he expressed new confidence that China would gain in the long run. 

“The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, but time and the situation are in our favor,” Xi told the study session at Communist Party School, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. 

“This is where our determination and confidence are coming from.” 

Read more .... 

Update: China’s Economy Surges, and So Does Its Currency (DNYUZ) 

WNU Editor: While the U.S. pursued war for the past two decades, China pursued business. And with much of America's industrial base now in China, coupled with the Americans who pushed for this shift now back in power in Washington, President Xi has every reason to be optimistic.

More Talk From Chinese President Xi To His Military Commanders That They Must Be 'Prepare To Win Wars'

Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured on November 25 in Bejing) has urged his troops to not fear death and focus on preparing to win wars in an address to military commanders 

Daily Mail: Chinese President Xi tells his army 'not to fear death' and 'prepare to win wars' as he addresses military commanders 

 * President Xi gave the speech Wednesday to the Central Military Commission 

 * The Chinese leader stressed the importance and urgency of war readiness

 * Xi urged soldiers to step up combat training and 'not to fear death and hardship' 

 * He had called for military preparations amid tensions with the US and Taiwan 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged his troops not to fear death and focus on preparing to win wars while addressing military commanders. 

He told his armed forces on Wednesday to step up training under combat conditions and 'not fear death and hardship', reported state media, citing the leader. 

Xi has previously called for military readiness amid spiking political tensions between Beijing and other countries, particularly the US and self-ruled Taiwan, over coronavirus pandemic, territorial disputes and human rights. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: These type of remarks always raises the hackles among China's neighbors.

Chinese President Xi Says World Economy In Worst Recession Since Great Depression

🇨🇳President Xi Jinping, in addressing the 12th BRICS summit via video link today, put forward a series of proposals for BRICS cooperation to overcome global challenges including the #COVID19 pandemic & global economic recession. Read more: https://t.co/L9uio7nbxc @BRICSRussia2020

— Permanent Mission of China in Vienna (@ChinaMissionVie) November 17, 2020

Zero Hedge: China's Xi: World Economy In Worst Recession Since Great Depression 

Chinese President Xi Jinping told the 12th BRICS summit via video link on Tuesday that the global economy is experiencing "the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s" according to state media Xinhua. 

He made the remarks while urging BRICS countries to cooperate in maintaining multilateralism which he said is a greater guarantee to "safeguard world peace and stability" during the tumultuous challenges of COVID-19. 

According to Xinhua, Xi also urged "openness and innovation to facilitate global economic recovery, as well as green and low-carbon development." "At present, the world is caught between the most serious pandemic in the past century and momentous changes never seen in the last one hundred years," Xi said.

Read more .... 

Update: Xi says world economy in worst recession since Great Depression (Xinhanet) 

WNU Editor: The full text of his speech is here .... Full Text: Remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping at 12th BRICS Summit (Xinhaunet).

China's President Xi Suffers Coughing Fit Live On-Air Sparking Coronavirus Fears

 

Daily Mail: China's President Xi violently coughs throughout speech, prompting speculation on his health, as state media cuts away each time he is forced to stop speaking 

 * Xi Jinping was giving a speech to party faithful in Shenzhen on Wednesday 

 * Towards the end of his address, he was seen and heard repeatedly coughing 

 * Cameras cut away from the President but he was heard spluttering on audio 

 * Episode promoted his critics to speculate whether he has coronavirus 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been caught coughing his way through a speech to his cronies, sparking speculation about his health. 

The Communist leader could be heard coughing repeatedly during the final ten minutes of a speech in Shenzhen, close to Hong Kong, on Wednesday. 

State TV repeatedly cut away from Xi during the bouts of coughing, but caught the moment he lifted his hand to his mouth. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Before his coughing spasm President Xi was talking for about an hour, and these halls are always notoriously over-conditioned. I have experienced coughs like that, so I am not alarmed by it. So why all the media attention? If it was not for Covid and he coughed like that last year, no one would have noticed. 

 More News On Chinese President Xi Suffering A Coughing Fit Live On-Air 

Chinese state broadcaster repeatedly pans away as Xi Jinping coughs 'violently' during key speech -- National Post/Bloomberg 

China State TV Pans Away From Xi Jinping Speech As Chinese Leader Repeatedly Coughs -- Newsweek 

China's President suffers coughing fit live on-air sparking Xi Jinping coronavirus fears -- Express 

Video shows China's Xi suffer coughing fit during speech -- Taiwan News 

What the reaction to Chinese President Xi Jinping coughing during a speech says about East Asia right now -- James Griffiths, CNN

Chinese President Xi Defends China’s Ambitions At The UN. Warns Of ‘Clash Of Civilizations’

The Guardian/AFP: Xi defends China’s ambitions at UN, warns of ‘clash of civilizations’

President Xi Jinping gave a robust defense of China’s ambitions Tuesday in a speech to the UN, warning against the perils of a “clash of civilizations” during a pandemic that has ripped through the world.

In an opening address presaged by a demand by his US counterpart Donald Trump for China to be held “accountable” for the coronavirus outbreak, Xi said global unity was the only way to overcome the crisis.

The world must “oppose politicization and stigmatization” over Covid-19, Xi said in the pre-recorded address, urging world leaders to embrace the “concept of a big family… and avoid falling into the trap of a clash of civilizations.”

Read more ....

More News On Chinese President Xi's Speech At The United Nations

Xi warns against 'clash of civilisations' in UN address -- RTE
China’s Xi swipes at US for acting like ‘boss of the world’ -- Indian Express/Bloomberg
At U.N., China's Xi says no intention to fight 'a Cold War or hot one' with any country -- Reuters
China's Xi warns against 'politicising' coronavirus fight -- France 24

Is Chinese President Xi Jinping The World’s Most Dangerous Man?

Photo-illustration by Jen Renninger for POLITICO

Michael Schuman, Politico: Why China’s Xi Jinping is the world’s most dangerous man

European leaders can no longer afford to ignore Beijing’s aggressive authoritarianism.

HONG KONG — It’s all too easy to blame Donald Trump for the upheaval in current affairs. The U.S. president’s trade wars and hostility toward multilateral institutions are highly visible challenges to the international order that has prevailed since the end of World War II.

Perhaps of greater consequence, but less obvious, are the fundamental changes taking place in China, where President Xi Jinping has similarly veered dramatically from the core principles that governed the country's political, economic and foreign policies for decades, taking it in a startling new direction.

Xi seems to believe such shifts are necessary to turn China into a superpower capable of throwing its weight around the world stage. The implications could shape global affairs for decades to come. Yet in most European capitals, what Xi has wrought remains only faintly recognized — and that’s a danger not merely to the Continent’s economic and security interests, but also to the very ideals it holds dear.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Many in Asia already see him as the most dangerous man in the region. Is he the world's most dangerous man? IMHO he is getting there.

Is Chinese President Xi Facing Widespread Opposition With The Communist Party?

Chinese President Xi Jinping gives his epic speech to the 19th National Congress. Photo: Reuters

Daily Mail: President Xi Jinping is facing widespread opposition within his Communist Party and leading China into 'disaster', insider claims

* Cai Xia, a retired Chinese professor of politics, criticised the nation's leader
* She claimed discontent within the ruling Communist Party was widespread
* It came after Ms Cai was expelled from the party due to a leaked recording
* She allegedly called Xi a 'mafia boss' and his party a 'political zombie' in it

A retired Chinese professor of the country's top political school has revealed that President Xi Jinping is facing widespread opposition within his own party.

Cai Xia, who had taught democratic politics at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, also accused President Xi of 'killing a country' and leading China into 'disaster' in an interview with the Guardian.

Ms Cai made the remarks after being expelled from the Chinese Communist Party for allegedly calling President Xi a 'mafia boss' and his party a 'political zombie'.

Speaking to the Guardian, Ms Cai claimed that many wanted to leave the ruling party due to sweeping discontent.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Regular readers of this blog know that for the past few years I have been putting up posts explaining the growing dissent within China's political/economic establishment against the rule of Xi Jinping. What Cai Xia is saying in the above post does not surprise me. But here is an easy prediction .... nothing is going to change. President Xi is maintaining an iron grip, and IMHO his position is secure. More to the point. The security apparatus is loyal to him, and I do not see that changing anytime soon. But within the Communist Party itself, I can say with confidence that absolute loyalty to President Xi is not there. Certainly not among the many people that I know in China.

More News On Reports That Chinese President Xi Is Facing Widespread Opposition With The Communist Party

China's Xi Jinping facing widespread opposition in his own party, insider claims -- The Guardian
'He killed a party and a country': a Chinese insider hits out at Xi Jinping -- The Guardian
Cai Xia Was A Communist Party Insider in China. Then She Denounced Xi. -- NYT
China’s Xi Jinping Tightens Grip on Domestic Security Forces in First Broad Purge -- WSJ
Expelled Chinese Communist Party Insider Details Internal Tensions in VOA Interview -- VOA
CPC expels Xi’s critic, who accused him of provoking conflict with India to divert attention -- The Tribune
Who Is Cai Xia? Ex-CCP Member Claims China Never Released Actual Covid-19 Death Toll -- IBTimes
Communist Party dissenter says Xi Jinping 'killing China,' country 'sliding towards disaster' -- National Post

Chinese President Xi Says China Won’t Return To Planned Economy. Markets Will Now Play A 'Decisive Role'

Livemint/Bloomberg: Xi Jinping says China won’t return to planned economy, urges cooperation

* Xi Jinping reiterates the government’s stance that markets should play a ‘decisive role’ in the economy
* The comments come as China faces mounting pushback from the Trump administration on a range of issues from trade to its handling of the coronavirus outbreak

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he won’t let the world’s second-largest economy return to its days as a planned economy, pushing back against U.S. criticism that the nation has failed to deliver on promised reforms.

“We’ve come to the understanding that we should not ignore the blindness of the market, nor should we return to the old path of a planned economy," Xi told political advisers gathered in Beijing for their annual legislative sessions on Saturday, according to the official Xinhua news agency. He reiterated the government’s stance that markets should play a “decisive role" in the economy.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It is now official. Marxism/Communism is dead in China. Free markets will rule.

Update: No one is saying this, but I will be the first. Former Soviet leader Khrushchev is known for his speech "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences". A speech that started the long process to discarding the cult of personality and rigid communist dogma that had ruled the Soviet Union for decades. President Xi's speech is different, but it will also have an enormous impact. It is an admission that planned economies do not work, and that markets decide. I guess he read Adam Smith's book .... The Wealth Of Nations.

Update #2: He is probably right .... Xi says China could have set GDP growth goal around 6% had there been no coronavirus (Reuters).

More News On Chinese President Xi Saying China Will Not Return To Planned Economy

Xi stresses decisive role of market in resource allocation -- Xinhua
China must adhere to multilateralism, market forces - Xi -- Reuters
China’s economy will prove resilient in long-term despite coronavirus impact, President Xi Jinping insists -- SCMP

Chinese President Xi Defends His Country's Response To The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

SCMP: Xi Jinping defends China, WHO coronavirus response for first time on world stage

* Chinese president says country did all in its power to help others and China supports review when crisis over
* WHO made major contribution to the global fight against Covid-19, Xi says

Chinese President Xi Jinping has for the first time defended his country’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic on the world stage, saying China has acted with transparency and “done everything in our power” to help other countries.

In his address to the World Health Assembly on Monday, Xi called for global support of the World Health Organisation, as the agency confronts funding cuts from the United States.

Xi added that China would support a “comprehensive review” of the global response to Covid-19 when the pandemic was over. But China did not give its backing to an EU-led draft resolution calling for an independent investigation into the WHO’s performance.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: On the one hand Chinese President Xi is saying that he will support a review on how this crisis when the pandemic is over (when is that going to happen?). On the other hand his government is targeting countries that support such an inquiry and review .... China to impose 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley for the next five years amid global push for coronavirus investigation (ABC News Online).

Update: The U.S. is calling China's pledge of $2 billion just a token .... U.S. calls China's $2 billion WHO pledge a 'token,' says it must pay more (Reuters).

More News On Chinese President Xi Defending His Country's Response To The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Chinese President Xi Jinping defends coronavirus response, backs WHO-led investigation -- ABC News Online
China's Xi says supports WHO probe when COVID-19 controlled -- Reuters
China’s Xi pledges $2 billion to help fight coronavirus -- CNBC
China's Xi announces $2B for coronavirus response as WHO faces calls for investigation -- NBC
China announces $2 billion in virus help at WHO assembly -- Politico
China backs coronavirus investigation but says it should wait until pandemic is contained -- CNN

Chinese Presidnet Xi Will Survive The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the Covi-19 epicenter Wuhan, Hubei Province, on Mar 10. Photo: AFP

Francesco Sisci, Asia Times: Forget a coup against Chinese President Xi

Chinese leader may have made initial mistakes in responding to the virus threat but his preeminent position is still secure.

At the beginning of the epidemic in late January and early February, much of the foreign press argued that the coronavirus was China’s moment of crisis that would trigger political turmoil to bring down the Beijing government.

As this narrative faded away before the massive and effective government response to the virus, a new narrative has emerged – that paramount leader Xi Jinping is under threat because many Chinese officials blame him for the outbreak of the epidemic and are about to mount a coup to topple him.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: He will survive, but he has had a hit on his credibility, and many outside of Beijing have become even more unhappy with the current status quo.