BEIJING, July 16,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hello and welcome
to Wisdom Without Borders.
In this series, we will explain the whys, whens and wherefores
of classical quotations used by President Xi Jinping.
In this episode, we will explain the line, "Think of the small
as big and of the few as many. Confront the difficult while it is
still easy; accomplish the great task through a series of small
acts."
On April 1, 2014, Xi quoted this
line in his speech at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.
The quote comes from the Tao Te Ching, a Chinese classic
of Taoist literature attributed to the ancient Chinese philosopher
Laozi, believed to have been compiled over 2,500 years ago. It
teaches that all ambitious undertakings can be broken down into
smaller, easier tasks, that people should deal with the difficult
while it is still easy and deal with the big while it is still
small.
In south China's Shenzhen stand two banyan trees. One was
planted by late Chinese leader Deng
Xiaoping when he visited the city in 1992. The other was
planted by Xi during his first inspection tour as the Party's new
general secretary in December
2012.
The two trees growing from the same soil symbolize and connect
different stages of China's reform
and opening up, together mapping out an epic journey of
progress.
In 1978, the third plenary session of the 11th Communist Party
of China (CPC) Central Committee
ushered in the era of reform and opening up.
In the face of this unprecedented new undertaking, China opted for the approach of "crossing the
river by feeling the stones." Reform spread from the rural areas to
the cities and from pilot zones to the entire country, delivering
an economic miracle that has drawn worldwide attention.
Today, after decades of rapid growth, some aches and pains have
started to kick in.
While the people's desire for a better life continues to grow,
the country is increasingly facing unbalanced and inadequate
development. More challenges have arisen as China approaches the center of the global
stage.
At this critical time, Xi has called for an intensification of
reform and opening up.
In 2013, the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central
Committee launched a new era of comprehensive reform to tackle the
many challenges the country must manage.
This session passed a decision on major issues concerning
comprehensively continuing the reform and rolled out 336
important measures that cover many fields, including economy,
politics, culture, society and ecology. It is a great example of
how small, people-centered deeds build up to grand national
endeavors.
This year is yet another vital one for comprehensive reform. The
third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which is
held from July 15 to 18, focuses on
further expanding reform and promoting Chinese modernization.
Against a backdrop of complex international and domestic
affairs, a new round of technological revolution and industrial
upgrades, as well as the pressing needs of the people, China's reform and opening up must continue to
overcome great difficulties and challenges.
"Think of the small as big and of the few as many."
China's reform and opening up
has progressed from zero to one and has greatly evolved in both
scale and complexity. It has taken a path that proceeds from
reality and can steer China
through rapid changes. And now we have come to a difficult phase
during which we are set to accomplish the great and ambitious.
As President Xi said, "We must be bold and our steps steady. We
should confront challenges head-on and focus on solving them. Once
you locate the problem, tackle it with unwavering
determination."
Today, a mosaic of reforms sweeps through the country. The
mighty tide of China's reform and
opening up in the new era is surging forward from the depths of
history and racing toward the shores of national rejuvenation.
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