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Interview: China committed to reforms at home, to shine abroad: Raffarin

Xinhua, February 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

China is firmly committed to reforms under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, which allows it to shoulder more responsibility in world affairs, former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told Xinhua.

In a written interview, Raffarin noted with the 13th Five-year Plan, China is promoting innovation and seeking to be more inclusive with its economy.

The plan comes at a time when global economic growth is slowing, "making (the proposed reforms) more difficult and more necessary," he added.

The 13th Five-year Plan sets development guidelines and targets for 2016-2020, the 13th five-year period since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The document, adopted by China's legislature last October, highlights the ideas of innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing to fulfill its goals.

Speaking on China's foreign policy, Raffarin said "the Chinese know that China can not be the second largest economy in the world and be indifferent."

The politician noted the Asian country has been developing bilateral relations with major countries, reinforced networks such as the BRICS group, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and diversified partnerships by cooperating with states from all the continents.

Speaking at last year's UN General Assembly, Xi proposed multilateralism and stressed the importance of the UN, Raffarin recalled.

"In a very unbalanced world, China is trying to be a calming force, even if it is itself very strong in fighting terrorism, a subject that concerns the whole world," Raffarin told Xinhua.

China's role was indispensable in last year's global climate conference in Paris by upholding the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," he said.

China's role will become more evident in the upcoming G20 summit to be held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou later this year, he added.

To the French politician, China's governing way can be summed up as "being strictness at home and seeking influence abroad." Endi