New CPC leadership's first 100 ruling days inspiring

Chinese people are used to celebrating a newborn's 100th day, thinking it an important mark for a baby's growth. Sometimes, the custom can also apply to a ruling Party's new leadership.

One hundred days since the new leaders of China's ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) took the helm, their "new deals" continue to inspire the Chinese people. Changes have been seen, though there are still tests and expectations ahead.

On Nov. 15, 2012, the leadership was elected one day after the 18th CPC national congress concluded, and they made their first public debut the same day.

The whole world was speculating in what direction they would lead the world's largest political party and the world's most populous country.

The "inaugural speech" by Xi Jinping, the new general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, when he met with several hundred journalists on Nov. 15, is still frequently talked of by ordinary Chinese people.

In it, he mentioned the word "people" nearly 20 times and "responsibility" more than 10 times.

Xi stressed, "We must first of all conduct ourselves honorably" and vowed to rally and lead the Party and all Chinese people in carrying "the relay baton" passed on to the new leadership by history, and in continuing efforts to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation.

The 100th day of the leadership's reign, which falls on Feb. 22, is a good time for retrospection and for looking forward as well.

NEW DEAL

Xi and the other six newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau have followed a very tight timetable in their first 100 days of rule.

They made many inspection tours of poverty-hit rural areas, sitting on brick beds, chatting with farmers and learning the real situation.

They convened many efficient, down-to-earth but frugal meetings, and promulgated a series of practical and to-the-point policies and measures.

Their jargon-free speeches have become popular soundbites.

The new CPC leaders also used their public appearances in various occasions -- inspection tours, meetings and speeches -- to deploy political, economic, diplomatic and national defense work, showcasing their ruling principle and concept.

These moves were hailed by media from home and abroad as the "new deal."