Africa Focus: Chinese President Xi's book provides lessons for world: experts

South African and Chinese experts agreed on Thursday the world can draw lessons from Chinese President Xi Jinping's book -- The Governance of China.

The experts had a book review at a seminar hosted by the Africa Institute of South Africa and the South African Human Science Research Council (HSRC) in Pretoria.

Yazini Funeka April, a researcher at the HSRC, said the book is relevant to Africa and the world as it shows the leader's seeking of the governance most suitable for the country.

It inspires South Africa and the African continent to come up with the way that fits them, she said.

She also noted Xi's leadership has aroused great patriotism among Chinese.

She said that during her visits to China, she felt a strong sense of patriotism from people she met whatever their professions.

Zhao Kejin, an associate professor of international studies at Tsinghua University, said the book would remove a lot of misconceptions about China and make the world understand China better.

"There have been wrong arguments about China from the U.S. and other Western countries which have been failing to grasp the real truth. This book will make people understand what China is doing how it's governed and where it will go in the future," Zhao said.

Prof. Garth Shelton at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg echoed the views, saying the book will correct some misconceptions about China peddled by the Western media.

The China described by the Western media is not the real China, he hinted.

"This book presents the real picture of China, its aspirations, dreams and ambitions, serving as an essential bridge to understand China now and in the future," Shelton said.

Shelton said the "Chinese dream" mentioned in the book is similar to the African aspirations for peace, stability and development.

"President Xi Jinping links the Chinese dream to the aspirations of the African people and commits China to peaceful development in his book," Shelton said.

This is of particular interest to Africa, given Africa's own challenge in promoting peace and development, he added.

"For anyone interested in China's economic development, political evolution and international relations, this book is an essential reading," he concluded.

Huang Youyi, Vice President of the Translators Association of China and one of those who translated the book into English, said the book has sold more than five million copies worldwide.

"It is our duty to tell the world our story and make the world understand our story," Huang said.

Jesse Duarte, Deputy Secretary General of South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, said the book could provide many lessons for the party, such as how China managed to lift so many people out of poverty.

"We get inspiration from the Chinese to take charge of our destiny and also take charge of our National Development Plan," she said.

Dr Essop Pahad, a former minister in the presidency, said "the book deals with not only Chinese matters but the world at large. President Xi understands that we are living in a global village with a common destiny."

He said the book also highlights the point that policymakers must be connected to the people so that they feel part of them.

And China's "zero tolerance" towards corruption is agreed by the South African government, he said, citing Xi's crackdown on corrupt officials at all ranks, both "tigers and flies".

"We (South Africa) have to expand and deal with tigers, particularly in the private sector. We have to keep the vigilance because corruption can destroy the government and the party," he said. Enditem