Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on behalf of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2017. The CPC opened the 19th National Congress at the Great Hall of the People Wednesday morning. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
History shows that the road to prosperity is not easy. Intellectuals have outlined a series of "traps," which often hold back developing countries as they try to become so-called first world countries.[Special Coverage]
As China moves toward becoming a "great modern socialist country," will it be able to sidestep these traps and prove the naysayers wrong? And just what answers does the Chinese leadership have to offer?
Xi Jinping's "socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era," as unveiled at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, offers a few answers to some of these traps:
Poverty Trap
The poverty trap is where structural poverty becomes reinforced over several generations.
Xi: "Decisive progress has been made in the fight against poverty."
"We must ensure that by the year 2020, all rural residents living below the current poverty line will have been out of poverty."
Thucydides Trap
Named after Greek historian Thucydides, it suggests that war is inevitable when a new power rises up to challenge an existing one.
Xi: "No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion."
"China pursues a national defense policy that is in nature defensive."
"We call on the people of all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind."
Middle-income Trap
The term is indicative of that an economy reaches a certain level of income, but is unable to further develop its competitive edge and fails to sustain the growth needed to become rich.
Xi: "We have adopted the right approach to development."
"The economy has maintained a medium-high growth rate."
"We should pursue supply-side structural reform as our main task, and work hard for better quality, higher efficiency and more robust drivers of economic growth through reform."
Tacitus Trap
This warns that when a government loses credibility, whether it tells the truth or a lie, or does good or bad, it will inevitably be considered a lie.
Xi: "We must focus on maintaining the Party's close bond with the people, keep them firmly in mind, develop a closer affinity with them, and keep working to foster stronger public support for the Party's governance."
Rise-and-Fall Cycle
"'The rise of something may be fast, but its downfall is equally swift.' Has any person, family, community, place, or even nation ever managed to break free of this cycle?" Educator Huang Yanpei reportedly once asked Chairman Mao.
Xi: "The people resent corruption most; and corruption is the greatest threat our Party faces."
"Only by intensifying efforts to address both the symptoms and root causes of corruption ... can we avoid history's cycle of rise and fall and ensure the long-term stability of the Party and the country."
