Xi Jinping slams US, urging Chinese private firms to ‘fight’ alongside Communist Party

Laura He, CNN

Chinese leader Xi Jinping lashed out at the United States with unusually direct comments when he called on the country’s private companies to “fight” alongside the Communist Party at a time of growing troubles at home and abroad.

“[In the past five years,] Western countries, led by the United States, have comprehensively restrained and suppressed us, which has created unprecedented serious problems for our development,” Xi told a group of government advisers representing private business during the annual meeting of lawmakers in Beijing on Monday.

China’s top leadership generally avoids direct public attacks on the US, even as relations between Beijing and Washington have deteriorated sharply in recent years. He usually only refers to “Western countries” or “certain developed countries” when he makes critical remarks about Washington.

Speaking to business delegates from the top political advisory body, Xi expressed concern over the external and economic challenges facing the country and called on the Chinese people to “come together as one.”

“In the coming period, the risks and challenges we face will only increase and become more serious. Only when all people think in one place, work hard in one place… can we continue to win new battles,” he said, according to a report released by state-run Xinhua news agency. “We are in the same boat.”

Ties between the world’s two largest economies are at their lowest level in decades. Tensions further escalated in February after a supposedly Chinese spy balloon flew over North America and was then shot down by US fighter jets.

Xi addressed the annual meetings of China’s parliament and top political advisory body, collectively known as the “Two Sessions.”

The meetings, attended by more than 5,000 delegates, will confirm Xi’s third term in office and China’s biggest shift in economic leadership in a decade.

The meetings will also feature a major cabinet reform that is expected to further solidify Xi’s direct control over China’s government and economic system.

“Important Power”

During his speech on Monday, Xi tried to reassure the private sector, which has been rocked by his government policies in recent years, by calling on it to play its part in spurring growth, jobs and technological innovation.

“The private sector is an important force for our party in the long run,” Xi said. “We always treat private enterprises and private entrepreneurs as people on our side.”

His call came after the Chinese economy posted its second-worst annual growth rate in nearly half a century.

Business confidence has plummeted following unprecedented private sector regulatory action and growing uncertainty about China’s future path.

On Tuesday, customs data showed that China’s exports fell nearly 7% between January and February, continuing to decline from previous months as global demand weakened. Imports fell by 10.2%.

China’s exports to the US fell 15%. But imports increased by about 3%. The US remains China’s single largest trading partner.

Aligning China’s independent private business with partisan priorities could help accelerate the country’s fragile recovery while expanding the control of Xi, the most powerful leader the country has seen in decades.

Main Member

According to official statistics, the private sector, despite being smaller than the public sector, accounts for more than 60% of China’s GDP and provides more than 80% of employment.

Xi urged the government to support private businesses and remove institutional barriers that limit their access to certain industries.

It is also necessary to protect the property rights of private companies and entrepreneurs and treat public and private companies equally in order to “raise market expectations and confidence,” he said.

“[We should] let private companies play an important role in stabilizing employment and increasing [government] income,” he said.

In particular, the government should support internet companies to shine on the global stage, create jobs and expand consumption, he said.

However, Xi Jinping also stressed the need to strengthen political and ideological control over private industry, saying that entrepreneurs should be guided by a “correct understanding” of the principles and policies of the Communist Party, including his call for “common prosperity.”

According to him, private entrepreneurs should be “patriotic” and actively participate in social and charitable activities.

“[You should be] rich in love,” he added.

On Sunday, outgoing Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced the lowest GDP target in decades, indicating the government is aware of the difficult task ahead of economic recovery.

The-CNN-Wire
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Xi Jinping’s message against the US, when he calls on China’s private firms to “fight” alongside the Communist Party, first appeared on KION546.

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