Foreign leaders, scholars hold high hopes for China's economic reforms, peaceful development

BEIJING - Foreign leaders and scholars are impressed by the development plans announced on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and hold high hopes for China's continued economic reforms and peaceful development in the coming years.

The CPC is leading the country successfully through successive reforms, Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Sayala told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Sayala, whose government is backed by the United Nations, said what China has achieved over the past years through these reforms is "an economic miracle," noting that China has relied on the experience of the whole nation mobilizing for economic reform.

"I think the important thing is that despite the achievements, the Chinese leadership still recognizes that China is a developing country and that there is still a lot of things to improve," Cheng Li, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua.

Li believed that it reflects the Chinese government's confidence to take challenges "positively" and "constructively" and resolve problems.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Costas Gouliamos, rector of the European University Cyprus, said he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping is "firm to create (not only) the appropriate political and legal framework, but also social policies to tackle all issues."

Gouliamos also said he believes that Xi is determined to eliminate corruption to make China an even better country.

The new Chinese leadership under Xi can guarantee China's progress, as objectives are clear and the determination for success unquestionable, George Tzogopoulos, a lecturer on international relations at Democritus University of Thrace in northern Greece, told Xinhua on Wednesday in a written interview.

"At the economic level reforms will continue and China -- despite criticism in the West -- is becoming more open and keen to accept market rules," said Tzogopoulos, adding that technology and innovation will drive growth, making "Made in China 2025" not wishful thinking but a reality.

The CPC's long-term development plans have also impressed Hilik Bar, deputy speaker of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

"I believe that the people of China can only benefit from leaders who think and plan ahead, so many years in advance," Bar said.

Commenting on the report delivered by Xi at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress, Bar said he was especially interested in the part about following the path of peaceful development and working to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

"I think it is very important that China takes an active role in the development of the whole world and also the well-being of mankind," Bar said.

In that regard, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that Russia welcomes China's traditional option of peaceful development, cooperation and friendly relations with other states.

The choice of peaceful development, cooperation and development of friendly relations is the traditional position of China, Zakharova said.

"This is also what bilateral relations are built on. This is the fundamental thing that China promotes on the international stage," the spokeswoman said.

Moscow can only welcome such an approach by both the Chinese leadership and the Chinese people, Zakharova added.

"Under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese government has proven that it deserves this protagonist role in keeping international peace and sustainable development," Gouliamos said.