As Chinese leader Xi Jinping delivered his three-plus-hour speech at the Communist Party congress, delegates ranging from men in suits to military officers and former Presidents dutifully turned every page as they read and listened to his words.
On the internet, government bureaus peppered social media with their favourite phrases from Mr Xi’s speech, while photos circulated of children watching Wednesday’s congress in classrooms.
The carefully orchestrated address was in keeping with the cult of personality that state media have crafted around the Chinese leader, who is expected to consolidate his already formidable power at the week-long conclave.
During his wide-ranging monologue about China’s achievements and challenges ahead, Mr Xi stood behind a glossy wooden lectern, resting both his palms on the stand and occasionally sipping from a white ceramic mug.
The majority male audience of nearly 2,300 delegates inside the imposing Great Hall of the People in central Beijing would interrupt their collective page-turning to applaud key sections of the speech.
Mr Xi touted his nationalistic “China dream” slogan, and heralded a “new era” that will see “China moving closer to centre stage and making greater contributions to mankind”.
Mr Xi said the party must “resolutely oppose” any actions that undermine its leadership as it steers a course through a high-stakes period in its development. “The situation both domestic and abroad is undergoing profound and complex changes,” said Mr Xi, who is expected to secure a second five-year term as general secretary and stack leadership positions with loyalists during the twice-a-decade congress.
Mr Xi assured China’s jittery neighbours that Beijing is ready to resolve its disputes through dialogue but not at the expense of its strategic interests.
He called the progress China had made under his watch “truly remarkable,” but told the delegates that more needed to be done as the country moves towards a goal of “national rejuvenation”.
He said China will never pursue development at the expense of others, nor will China ever give up its legitimate rights and interests. “No one should expect China to swallow anything that undermines its interests,” he said amid thumping applause from the delegates who attended the meeting telecast live.
About the neighbours, Mr Xi said China would “deepen relations with its neighbours in accordance with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendship and partnership”.
“We should commit to settling disputes through dialogue and resolving differences through discussion, coordinate responses to traditional and non-traditional threats and oppose terrorism in all its forms,” he said.
His comments assume significance in the backdrop of the recent military standoff between India and China in Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector.
