Xi Jinping highlights importance of innovation on path to ‘Chinese-style modernisation’

Extracts from a recently published speech show Xi urged officials to balance development and security and not ‘cling rigidly’ to ideas

China’s policymakers are currently trying to get the economy back on track while also finding ways to address as series of complex international challenges

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Xi Jinping told senior officials earlier this year to strengthen their “strategic thinking capabilities”. Photo: AFP

Cyril Ipin Hong KongandLuna Sunin Beijing

Published: 10:05pm, 1 Oct 2023Updated: 10:16pm, 1 Oct 2023

Innovation and strategic planning must spearhead China’s modernisation, President Xi Jinping has said as he laid out the priorities in his plans to transform the country into a superpower.

Xi also said “we should coordinate development and security” – meaning there was a need to balance the two – in a speech to senior officials, parts of which were published on Saturday in Qiushi, the Communist Party’s most authoritative theoretical journal.

“Chinese-style modernisation is an exploratory undertaking with many unknown areas that the country is required to boldly explore through reform and innovation, and we should never rigidly cling to an idea or approach without considering the reality of the situation,” he said.

He also called for innovation to be given a “prominent position in the overall national development” and said: “Chinese-style modernisation is promoted in [different] stages and areas. Achieving development goals at each stage and implementing development strategies in various fields also requires top-level design.”

The speech was delivered in February, but the partial release of the contents months later comes as China stands at a crossroads as it seeks to revive the flagging economy while tackling complicated geopolitical challenges.

It was also published in the run-up to a major political gathering this autumn, the third plenum of the 20th party congress, where the leadership is expected to send out a strong signal on economic reforms and plans to become self-reliant on technology.

Xi Jinping highlights importance of innovation on path to ‘Chinese-style modernisation’

Extracts from a recently published speech show Xi urged officials to balance development and security and not ‘cling rigidly’ to ideas China’s policymakers are currently trying to get the economy back on track while also finding ways to address as series of complex international challenges

Extracts from a recently published speech show Xi urged officials to balance development and security and not ‘cling rigidly’ to ideas

China’s policymakers are currently trying to get the economy back on track while also finding ways to address as series of complex international challenges