BEIJING — China will never seek hegemony, President Xi Jinping said Tuesday as global concerns persist over the country’s growing economic influence. During a speech to mark 40 years of market reforms, Xi repeated China’s commitment to a multilateral trading system and further opening of its economy. While Xi said China is “increasingly approaching the center of the world stage,” he also noted that the country pursues a defensive national defense policy. “No matter how far China develops, it will never seek hegemony.”Xi chronicled at length the country’s recent achievements, giving special credit to former leader Deng Xiaoping, whose reforms Xi said saved China from the brink of economic collapse following the tumultuous Cultural Revolution. Other celebrations of reform and opening up have been criticized for downplaying the role of Deng, widely considered the architect of the changes, in favor of elevating Xi.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 18, 2018 06:45 UTC