Xinhua Insight: The West needs to discard 10 biases against China (1)

China's ongoing annual political high season has provided a key window through which observers can better understand China's development and its outlook.

However, if the nation and the annual two-week events are still viewed with rigid impressions offered by the West, then conclusions drawn are likely to be defective.

Observers should avoid a series of biases seen in the past if they seek true objectivity when understanding China today.

BIAS NO. 1: CHINA IS "NOT A DEMOCRACY," MAJOR DECISIONS DO NOT REFLECT PEOPLE'S WILL

The essence of democracy is to be responsible for the people.

In some nations, the checks and balances of power have resulted in a political stalemate in which bitterness between parties has worsened and opposition is raised simply to disagree, rather than to discuss.

They have also seen a handful of families and hidden interests exercising influence on elections via their wealth. This kind of democracy can hardly lead to the sound governance badly needed by the people, though it may look "beautiful."

From a realistic perspective, China's democratic decision-making has displayed relatively high quality and efficiency.

As a multi-ethnic nation with a large population and territory, China values reaching consensus through broad consultation before taking measures.

The formulation of the 13th five-year plan for the national economy and social development is exemplary of this effort.

It took about nine months for a team formed by the Communist Party of China (CPC) to draft the plan's proposal, which marks priorities for national development from 2016 to 2020.

During the period, which started in January 2015, the team solicited and analyzed opinions from all walks of life and tried to include as many opinions as possible.

The proposal guided the creation of the 13th five-year plan. A draft of the plan was produced later after rounds of top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top consultation that covered all aspects of the society.

The draft plan will be submitted to the National People's Congress (NPC) for review during its ongoing annual session.

Once adopted, the propositions of the CPC will be elevated as the nation's will and implemented across the country.

Scientific and effective decision-making and implementation is a huge advantage for China's democratic system.

Currently, China is focusing on realizing the goal of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, which is the people's biggest concern. One objective is to lift more than 70 million people out of poverty by the end of 2020, a number bigger than the population of either Britain or France. This goal not only conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the people but also safeguards human rights.

BIAS NO. 2: "ONE-PARTY RULE" NATION CAN NOT ELIMINATE CORRUPTION

Historically, corruption is not the result of a political system, but is related to phases of economic development. In the process of industrialization, the Western nations all witnessed spreading corruption due to fast accumulation of wealth and lack of supervision.X Sure, there are problems with the CPC, which boasts more than 87 million members. Fortunately, it has been increasingly aware of the fact that if the violators are not punished, then it is offending the 1.3 billion population. Therefore, the CPC is highlighting the governing of Party members strictly.

Over the past three years, investigations into violators including Zhou Yongkang and Ling Jihua have demonstrated the CPC's determination to take a zero-tolerance stance against corruption.

China has also been carrying out cooperation with the international community to facilitate repatriation of corrupt fugitives, leaving no haven for those hoping to escape punishment.

The CPC's campaign against corruption is gaining ground, which not only enhanced the Party's soft power, but also offered experience for the international community to jointly stem corruption.

BIAS NO. 3: CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT MODE IS UNSUSTAINABLE

It is true that China is continuously facing problems and challenges in its development, but the cliche prediction of a "coming collapse in China" made by speculators overseas has never come.

It seems unlikely such rhetoric will end this year however.

Over the 30-plus years since China's reform and opening up, every five-year development plan has been perfectly fulfilled. This is thanks to China choosing realistic development paths, which relies on the CPC's strong governance capability.

China's economic fundamentals remain sound and steady and the economy stays within a reasonable level. The political and social conditions are stable as well.

The CPC has put forward the five development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing and the "Four Comprehensives" strategy keeps making progress, facts that ensure the constant unleashing of benefits from the country's reforms.

BIAS NO. 4: CHINA'S ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN DRAGS DOWN WORLD ECONOMY

This argument ignores the opportunities brought about by China's economic scale and potential.

China is the world's second largest economy, and a 6.5 percent growth is a huge propeller for the world's economy, whereas the Organization for Economic and Cooperation Development (OECD) in its Interim Economic Outlook Forecasts put the growth rate of the United States at 2 percent this year and 2.2 percent for next year. The growth of Japan this year and next is expected to be 0.8 percent and 0.6 percent respectively.

In China, however, despite a slowing growth in some better-developed coastal areas, the development room for many inland regions remains broad.

China's drive to solve the economic imbalance among different regions provides huge potential for future economic development. Besides, China is encouraging and stimulating new dynamics with a new round of high-level opening-up, offering greater opportunities for investors all around the world.

Many observers also believe that the current slowing growth signals an increasingly mature Chinese economy, a "new normal" situation that should be adapted to by both China and the world. They believe China will continue to be a major "engine" for the world economy. (Mo