China's new leadership promises great renaissance

Beijing (PTI): The new Chinese leadership took over power on Sunday, promising to strive for "great renaissance" to achieve the "Chinese dream" by making the country militarily and economically strong without seeking "hegemony". Xi Jinping, 59, who took over as President and Military Chief after succeeding Hu Jintao as the new leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in his address to the legislature called for "the continued realisation of the great renaissance of the Chinese nation and the Chinese dream". His comments came as the Communist government smoothly completed a once-in-a-decade leadership transition. Explaining the essence of the Chinese dream, which some interpreted as recreation of vast Chinese empires of the past, Xi said "Chinese dream is a dream of the whole nation as well as of every individual." He was speaking at the concluding session of the National People's Congress (NPC) here. To realise the "Chinese dream," China must take the Chinese way "must follow the strategic thinking that development is of overriding importance", he said. President Xi said China's military should improve its ability to "win battles and... Protect national sovereignty and security". He also stressed that continued economic development was essential, urging the nation to achieve what he called "China's dream". He said 1.3 billion Chinese people should bear in mind the mission, unite as one, and gather into invincible force with the wisdom and power. Holding all the three posts, Xi, who kicked off a 10 year tenure has emerged as the most powerful leader in the recent decades as the country's military major strides with hefty defence budgets, which this year reached USD 115.7 billion. The country has acquired an aircraft carrier, new range stealth fighters as well as missiles in midst of tensions between Japan over the disputed islands as well as with East Asian countries over South China Sea.