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August 21, 2014

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Xi pays tribute to Deng Xiaoping

Source: Xinhua | August 21, 2014, Thursday | Print Edition

PRESIDENT Xi Jinping yesterday vowed to uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics and China’s independent “path, theory and system” ahead of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Deng Xiaoping.

Addressing a symposium to mark the anniversary, which falls tomorrow, Xi said the key political and theoretical legacy of the late Chinese leader is socialism with Chinese characteristics, which the Party and people created under Deng’s leadership.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics fits China’s reality and meets the needs of the times, which is why it works, he said.

“The independent path, theory and system are key to the sovereignty and dignity of our country as well as the self-esteem and independence of the nation,” he said.

“We will try our best to reform areas that are weak and unsound and learn from the good experiences of foreign countries, but we will never completely copy the foreign experience let alone absorb bad things from them,” the president said.

China will never belittle itself or forget its roots, Xi said, adding that the country’s contemporary history has proven the only right way to solve problems in China is to do so in a Chinese way.

In the 17 years since Deng died, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, with Jiang Zemin at the core, then with Hu Jintao as general secretary, have adhered to the principles and policies adopted during Deng’s time and made progress, he said.

“Today the relay baton is in our hands as well as the heavy responsibility,” Xi said.

He voiced his confidence in the success of the CPC and Chinese people in the 21st century.

Xi described Deng as a “prominent leader acknowledged by the whole Party, armed forces and Chinese people from all ethnic groups,” and a “great Marxist, revolutionary, statesman, military leader and diplomat.”

He also called Deng the “chief architect of China’s socialist reform and opening up and modernization.”

Born on August 22, 1904, in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Deng was praised for his efforts in leading the country’s transformation starting in the late 1970s.

In his speech, Xi spoke highly of the former leader’s firm faith in Communism and deep affection for the common people.

Xi appreciated Deng’s pragmatic perspective to always “seek truth from facts” as well as political courage and sense of responsibility to test uncharted waters and break new ground.

“We should always be brave enough to explore and create,” Xi said.

Xi quoted Deng’s 1977 words that a country, party or nation cannot make progress and will finally perish if it worships books and if its thinking remains rigid.

Xi said that biggest causes demand the most innovative and pioneering of spirits.

“We should dare to break old rules and make new rules ... so that reform and opening up can proceed,” Xi said.

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