Xi talks on BRICS co-op, ties with Russia, South Africa

Press Trust of India: How do you see the impact of rising emerging markets and developing countries represented by the BRICS countries on the existing world architecture and global governance system?

Xi Jinping: A great number of emerging markets and developing countries, including the BRICS countries, have enjoyed fast economic growth. They have become an important force for world peace and common development, and played an important role in tackling the international financial crisis and boosting global economic growth. This is in keeping with the trend of our time towards peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit.

The global economic governance system must reflect the profound changes in the global economic landscape, and the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries should be increased. In recent years, the G20 summits have played a prominent role and the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have carried out quota reforms. These are important steps in moving forward reform of the global economic governance system in the right direction. Emerging markets and developing countries hope to see an improved global economic governance system that better meets the needs of global productivity growth and facilitates common development of all countries.

Xinhua News Agency: How do you evaluate cooperation among the BRICS countries? What expectation do you have on the BRICS Leaders Meeting in Durban?

Xi Jinping: BRICS cooperation will help make the global economy more balanced, improve global economic governance and promote democracy in international relations.

China hopes that through the Durban meeting, the BRICS countries will deepen partnership, improve cooperation mechanism, strengthen dialogue and cooperation in various areas, tap the potential of practical cooperation, and send to the international community a positive message of unity, cooperation and win-win results.

China supports the South African Presidency in prioritizing the establishment of a BRICS development bank, contingent reserve arrangement, business council and think tank council in preparations for the meeting. We hope that the meeting will produce positive results in these areas.

During the Durban meeting, a BRICS Leaders - Africa Dialogue Forum will be held. China supports BRICS countries in increasing dialogue and exchanges with Africa to foster partnership, safeguard common interests and realize common development.

ITAR-TASS and RTR of Russia: Looking ahead, what role will the Communist Party of China (CPC) play in the historical process of China's development? Will it take new steps to push forward reform? Will there be new development in socialism with Chinese characteristics?

Xi Jinping: The mission of the CPC as China's governing party is to lead the Chinese people in achieving greater national development and make lives better for the people. I have said, "To be turned into iron, the material itself must be strong." In order to fulfill its mission, the CPC must strengthen its party-building and keep its advanced nature and purity. It must maintain close ties with the people, steadily improve the Party's performance in leadership and governance, and increase its ability to resist corruption, prevent degeneration and ward off risks. It must continue to enhance its capacity in scientific, democratic and law-based governance and better serve the people.

Reform and opening-up is the defining feature and source of vitality of today's China. It is crucial for our effort to build socialism with Chinese characteristics. Without reform and opening-up, China would not have come this far, and nor will we have a brighter future. I have stressed many times that reform and opening-up is an on-going process that must never stop. Issues that emerge in the course of reform and opening-up can only be resolved by pressing ahead with reform and opening-up. Under the new historical conditions, we must make new breakthroughs in reform in order to open up new prospects for development. We will enhance top-level design and overall planning, and advance structural reforms in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological fields in a balanced way. We should meet challenges head on and boldly sail through uncharted waters. We should resolutely remove all systemic and institutional barriers that impede our effort to pursue development in a scientific way, stimulate the whole society's creativity and forge ahead with our undertakings on all fronts.

Just like one won't find two identical leaves on one tree, we do not think there is "one-size-fits-all" experience in the world. Nor do we believe that a development model will stay the same forever. We will continue to develop and improve socialism with Chinese characteristics. The world is changing and so is China. Socialism with Chinese characteristics must also move forward in keeping with the changing circumstances and conditions. Only by keeping abreast of the times can China remain a dynamic country. We will draw on the fine achievements of all civilizations, but we will not copy the development model of any other country. China's reform is about the self-improvement and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The only path that will take us far and bring us success is the one that is chosen by the Chinese people and suited to China's reality.