Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, a collection of Chinese President Xi Jinping's speeches and insights, provides readers with valuable information about the Chinese leader and the future of China. The nearly 500-page volume contains about 80 speeches, interviews, instructions and correspondence. 

The book is very relevant to the African discourse and the global community. Xi provides a rare and honest account of China, historically, currently and into the future. Some of the governance and reforms strategies discussed are fundamental principles applicable to any country. For example, the issue of strong work ethics is applicable globally; so is technological and innovation-driven growth.

The distinction between this book and many other visionary books is the forthright and constructive implementation strategies outlined, improving, building upon, or transforming various reform measures based on socialist characteristics. Socialism with Chinese characteristics means socialism adapted to Chinese conditions. Mao Zedong is regarded as the first-generation Chinese leader who provided the theoretical and material basis for building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The book also shows Xi's strong confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, which consists of a path, theory and system.

Reforms and growth

Xi discusses the significance of reform and opening up. Chinese reform and opening up refer to the program of economic reforms called socialism with Chinese characteristics started in December 1978 by reformists within the Communist Party of China led by Deng Xiaoping. Xi emphasizes, "2013 was the 33rd year since Deng Xiaoping put forward the concept of building socialism with Chinese characteristics." Deng's first reforms began in agriculture. Reforms were also implemented through special economic zones and the opening-up policy.

China's economic reforms and opening-up policy have led to a remarkable growth. Thirty years ago, China was as poor as many African countries, or poorer. But when reforms began, China's economy grew by an average 10 percent annually for over 30 years, beginning in the early 1980s. No other country in modern history has achieved such exceptional growth for so long. Rapid economic growth has significantly raised the living standards of the Chinese people. The World Bank estimates that during the same period, over 600 million people in China were lifted out of extreme poverty (defined as living on less than $1.25 per day).

Achieving the Chinese Dream

The president highlights patriotism as the inner force that binds and unifies the Chinese together along with reform and innovation. To realize the Chinese Dream - which means national rejuvenation, improvement of people's livelihoods, prosperity, construction of a better society and a strengthened military - the president stresses work ethics as being essential. In the chapter Hard Work Makes Dreams Come True (page 47), he maintains, "Work is the source of wealth and happiness. Work has shaped the Chinese nation and its history, and it is work that will shape China's future. Work is the fundamental force driving the progress of human society. To achieve the Chinese Dream, Chinese must foster the national spirit with patriotism at its core."

What lessons can be drawn from the Chinese Dream, particularly from a South African and continental perspective? How do we achieve the dreams and visions in Agenda 2063 (the plan for Africa's structural transformation adopted by African Union leaders in 2013)? How do we pool our national and continental strength? In South Africa, how do we close ranks and pursue a common dream through the National Development Plan? How do we move beyond crafting excellent documents and criticizing them before implementation? There will never be a flawless document that will please everyone; this is where patriotism and selflessness come in. 

My experience from visiting Chinese communities was that they take work as an element of patriotism: working for the country. Whether it is work at a factory in a special economic zone, or in a trench building bridges, it is for the country. It is a psychology we should integrate in South Africa. President Xi explains it more when he states, "Chinese workers should enhance their sense of historical mission and responsibility, do their jobs well, and keep the country's overall interests in mind. While pursuing their ideals, and [the] wellbeing of their families, they should also work at making the country prosperous and strong." With that kind of thinking I believe Eskom (South African electricity utility) would long have finished the Medupi station (a coal-fired power plant under construction in South Africa's Limpopo Province). 

The fact is, due to hard work, China has become the largest manufacturing economy in the world. Moreover, the country is now moving into the service industry. These economic feats were achieved due to patriotism and hard work.

Governance and rule of law

In order to run the country well, the president states that it is important to run the Party well - which means running it strictly, with political integrity, and free from corruption. Discussing corruption, he states that "worms can only grow in something that is rotten." He also emphasizes his belief that no one is above law and both the powerful tigers and small flies should be punished if they are corrupt. Corruption is the major theme the president addresses throughout the book. His focus is clearly on building a complete system of combating corruption and promoting the culture of a clean government. 

The president highlights the decision to improve the national governance system and capacity. He states that the governance system and capacity of a country epitomizes not only its many systems but also how well it can enforce them. He argues that China's governance system and capacity are on the whole sound and suitable for China. This is very relevant in the context of African countries inundated with various models such as the Washington Consensus (policy guidelines for nations seeking assistance from international economic bodies like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund).

Can we say our governance capacities, on the whole, are suited for our nations? Can we learn from this notion of governance system and capacity? Can we craft a model suited for us in the same way the Chinese president is advocating for his nation? What is our African Consensus which will drive documents such as Agenda 2063?

In conclusion, it is a very illustrative book that provides guidance on the economic future of China. Currently, there have been debates as to whether China's miracle growth is over. Concerns have been awash as to whether the recent slowdown serves as proof that China might be falling into the middle-income trap. Reading the book would address the concerns as it clearly identifies various strategies to guide China's economic reforms to further heights. As Zheng Liu, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, stated in his article China's Miracle Growth Over? in the bank's Economic Letter in August, if the structural reform plans put forward at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China can be successfully implemented, then the recent slowdown could be a smooth transition rather than a hard landing. This gives reason for optimism that China, as it moves to services, will instead achieve high-income status.

Nobel laureate and former World Bank Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz summed it up better when he stated in a Vanity Fair article in January that "China has just overtaken the United States as the world's largest economy." In other words, China is continuing on its planned trajectory, opening up and implementing reforms with Chinese socialist characteristics, which have produced its current economic global status.

 (The author is a researcher with the Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa)