As 2016 begins, China stands at new starting line

Astheyear2016begins,Chinaisonthehomestretchtobuildinga"moderatelyprosperoussocietyinallrespects."

AmeetingoftheCommunistPartyofChina(CPC)inlateOctobersetoutaninspiringdevelopmentproposalforthe13thFive-YearPlanperiod(2016-2020),thelastfiveyearsforChinatoaccomplishitsfirstcentenarygoalofbuildingamoderatelyprosperoussociety.

In2016,thegovernmentisexpectedtoliftmorepeopleoutofpoverty,withPresidentXiJinpingdeclaringinhisNewYearspeech,"Weshouldcareforallpeoplefacingdifficulties,makingthemfeelwarmfromthebottomoftheirhearts."

Chinaisexpectedtokeepeconomicgrowthinareasonablerangeandpaymoreattentiontostructuralreformsonthesupplysideaspartofitsinnovative,coordinated,green,openandshareddevelopmentmodelthisyear.

Thecountrywillcontinuetoopenitsdoorstotheoutsideworld,astheleadershiphasalwayspromised,whilethePartyandgovernmentwillfurtherpromotesocialequityandjustice,andbuildacleanpoliticalatmosphereinthisvitalyear.

Intheprocessofpursuingthosegoals,challengesexist,butconfidencewillprevail.Thisconfidencecomesfrompastachievements.

Justlookingbackto2015,economicgrowthremainedamongthefastestintheworldandreformswereinfullswing,withsomehistoricevents,suchastheRMB'sinclusionintotheSpecialDrawingRightscurrencybasketbytheInternationalMonetaryFund,andChina'sfirstdomestic-madelargepassengeraircraft,theC919,rollingofftheassemblyline.

Onthediplomaticfront,Chinawillnotbeabsentfrominternationalaffairsin2016.

AseriesofglobalinitiativeswithChinesecharacteristicswerelaudedworldwidein2015,suchastheSilkRoadEconomicBeltandthe21stCenturyMaritimeSilkRoadandtheAsianInfrastructureInvestmentBank.Chinaalsocontributedtointernationalandregionalissues,suchastheIraniannucleardeal.

ItisexpectedthatChina,in2016,willcontinuetoadvocatethenotionofwin-wincooperationintheinternationalarena,bystrengtheningtieswithmajorcountries,sparingnoeffortstopromotecooperationwithdevelopingcountriesandimplementingneighborhooddiplomacy,whichfeatures"amity,sincerity,mutualbenefitandinclusiveness."

Itwillalsoactivelyengageinmultilateralactivities,asXiputinhisNewYearaddress,"Byturningantagonismintosynergy,hostilityintofriendship,togetherwewillforgeacommunityofshareddestinyforallhumankind."