By Joseph S. Margai in Beijing, China
President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, has stated at the closing meeting of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, that China will never use its development at the expense of other nations.
The 64-year old President, who was re-elected last Saturday for another term, also stated that China’s development would pose no threat to any other country, thereby easing the growing tensions of China becoming “world super power”.
President Xi said China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion and that only those who are used to threatening others would see anyone as a threat.
Xi, who is also Secretary General of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said China would stay on the path of peaceful development, adding that they will continue to pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up.
He said the sincere wish of the Chinese people to contribute to peace and development of humanity should not be misinterpreted and distorted.
“China endeavors to uphold international fairness and justice and so China will never its will on others. China will contribute with more Chinese wisdom, solutions and strength to the world and push for building an open inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity,” he said.
He added, “Let the sunshine of a community with a shared future for humanity illuminate the world.”
Immediately after the closing meeting of the 13th NPC, Chinese Premier of the State Council, who is the head of government, Li Keqiang, held a presser at the Golden Hall at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where he stated that China has contributed 30 percent to global economic growth and security.
“China will continue to pursue peaceful development and will never intrude into the policies of other countries. We have no intension to seek expansion because we are a developing nation but we will strengthen our cooperation with foreign countries in order to ensure shared benefits,” Premier Li said on Tuesday, 20th March 2018.
He said under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has been supporting other countries, especially developing ones, with no string attached.
Assuring the Chinese population, Premier Li said over 15 million people will be employed this year and conditions of service for four million (4m) rural migrant workers working in the city, will be improved.
“We are expecting over eight million (8m) college graduates this year and we must work hard to create jobs for all of them. It is only when we have most people employed, we will be able to create wealth for our populace,” he said.
He revealed that China still has 30 million people living in poverty and that the government would continue to work hard to alleviate poverty in the People’s Republic of China.
He suggested that some people are pushed into poverty because of disease but the government is working hard to eliminate diseases by strengthening health policies.
“We have already started it and 70 million people are covered by the Serious Disease Insurance program and this year, the program will cover 20 million more. We are using this program to protect families from dying from serious diseases,” he said.
Premier Li said China would open domestic industries such as services and manufacturing to foreign investors, adding that they will lower tariffs to increase imports and streamline its negative list for market entry to create a level playing field for domestic and foreign firms.
