Concluding remarks

It is now time to conclude our roundtable discussion!

But, before so doing, let's join me in a round of applaud to thank our distinguished speakers in our roundtable today for their deep views and clear insights on the issues relating to recent developments in China and its future direction.

I believe that the participants will be able to have a better understanding about the book by President Xi Jinping, which presents his vision and philosophies and introduced deeper reform and opening up for China's prosperity and development to achieve the Chinese Dream goals. On political development, President Xi stresses that all powers belong to the people and thus calls for active and steady political reform in accordance with the Constitution while keeping to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On economic development, President Xi Jinping upholds the principles of scientific development, taking into account the resources and environment. On social development, continuous efforts are emphasized to ensure and improve the people's standard of living through economic development; building harmonious society. On ecological progress, the President stresses a national strategy of resource conservation, environmental protection and a sustainable pattern of development.

President Xi Jinping has enunciated the concept of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road which actually links China's development at home with proactive diplomacy in its neighborhood and beyond. To this end, China has launched, among others, the Silk Road Fund of US$40 billion and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (currently 26 countries), initially worth US$50 billion mostly provided by China who also proposed to increase to US$100 billion, to help realize the said goals. So, in other words, China's prosperity is now linked with peace with its neighbors and vice versa. It also underlines China's desire to share its prosperity with its neighbors through win-win cooperation.

China's rise is a unique development in history and it has three components which are quite unprecedented: (1) Within the span of a generation, China has been able to lift 500 million people out of poverty and bringing them into the middle class mainstream; (2) China has achieved political stability through smooth, peaceful transitions from one generation of leaders to another with the results seen today, it is the 5th generation of Chinese leadership which is at the helm of affairs and these transitions have been evident since the period of Deng Xiaoping; (3) Never in the history of mankind has there been such unique transition of a country from being a regional power to a global power which has done this transition to great power status through its economic strength without using military might or trying to bully or browbeat its neighbors.

China's rise is undoubtedly economically beneficial, rather than threats, to the word, as China takes the path of peaceful development, which is emphasized by the President on many occasions. The rising China will lead to more exports of its neighbors as well as other trading partners to China as the result of sheer large market size and stronger domestic demand created by income increase. Similarly, outward Chinese investment will also increase as China's income increases.

All in all, this book presents a comprehensive introduction to President Xi Jinping's outlook on philosophy, governance, reform, history, and the world, and to his main thoughts on and style of governance. It is of substance, conveys the President's strengths and vision of leadership, and presents his philosophies and policies to the world in an open and unambiguous manner.

The book is a must-read, especially for those who are interested in learning more about China and its future direction.

I now declare the closing of the roundtable today.

Thank you!