Interview: Chinese president's book on governance provides window on China: Mexican expert

Chinese President Xi Jinping's book "The Governance of China" offers readers not only the author's views on domestic issues, but also his thoughts on global affairs, said Eugenio Anguiano, who served as Mexico's first ambassador to China from 1972-1980.

Reading the book "is the best way for the Chinese people and the world to learn about President Xi Jinping's ideas on government and international relations, especially security, cooperation and environment," Anguiano said.

Xi's narrative is clear and punctuated with "personal experiences, even from his youth," Anguiano told Xinhua in an interview recently.

"Before becoming president, he has been put to tests on different posts, and I think that his experiences deepened his understanding of the people's living situation and expectations," said Anguiano.

The book -- which has sold over 5.2 million copies and is available in French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese, as well as English and Chinese versions -- features 79 speeches, talks, interviews, instructions and letters by Xi, all from his first two years in office from November 2012 to June 2014.

"I liked the book, because otherwise it's difficult to find complete and illustrative materials on a wide range of topics about the People's Republic of China," said Anguiano, who works as a teacher and researcher at Mexico's Economics Teaching and Research Center (CIDE).

Xi's writings are accompanied by information about China's history, culture and society, and 45 images taken at different stages in his life offer readers a closer look at his work and life.

Many of the book's contents, said the former diplomat, relate directly to the current needs of the Chinese government and the ruling party.

"Through the book, President Xi sums up general political ideas on governing and managing a modern-day China undergoing great changes, so I think whoever reads it will by the end understand the dream and the quest of the Chinese people," said Anguiano.

The Asian giant's "economic development has been spectacular, and so was its political development, with the participation of all members of the Communist Party of China," said Anguiano, adding that reforms and greater opening up to the outside world have helped transform the country into "an economic powerhouse." Endi