Two sessions – pursuit of the China dream of socialism

Strong growth: A worker walking past steel pipes at a factory in Zouping in China’s eastern Shandong province. China’s economy grew a forecast-beating 6.8 in the first quarter, official data show. — AFP

THE “Two Sessions” of China’s National People’s Congress gathering last month marked the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up which led to its transformation, furthering the China Dream of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Rapid modernisation has propelled China from being the world’s factory to one steeped in science and technology that will drive it for much of the 21st century. A pre-requisite policy has been its commitment to strengthen the government system by fiercely fighting corruption, to keep the political ecology of China clean, so to speak.