President Xi Jinping unveils new slogan to govern China

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled his new political theory "four comprehensives", calling for deeper reforms and rule of law, asserting his authority on the ruling Communist Party and emerging as its strongest leader.

This is not the first time political slogans have been put forward by top Chinese leaders. Similar slogans were given by Xi's predecessors, including Hu Jintao's 'Three Supremes' and Jiang Zemin's 'Three Represents'.

But the four-pronged approach solidifies the 62-year-old's priorities for the future, and would also likely be the legacy of his proposed 10 years at the helm of the CPC.

The state media gave a huge coverage to the slogan as China braces for the annual session of CPC-controlled National People's Congress (NPC) early next month.

The official communication of Xi's slogan also came ahead of the upcoming meeting of the Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference, which will discuss national policies.

The "Four Comprehensives" are tasks raised by the Chinese Communist Party after Xi took over from Hu Jintao two years ago.

It is aimed at "comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepen reform, comprehensively implement the rule of law and comprehensively strengthen Party discipline," state-run Xinhua reported.

The four priorities add to Xi's growing roster of slogans. The most important has been "the Chinese Dream," or "the great renewal of the Chinese nation."

Xi during his two years in power has acquired the image of the most powerful leader after the moderate Deng Xiaoping, who succeeded party founder Mao Zedong in 1976 and put the country on the path of economic reforms.

Shortly after Xi took charge of the CPC in November 2012, Xi began a crackdown on corruption as the Chinese economy was on a steady decline.

China grew 7.4 per cent last year -- its weakest expansion in 24 years. It also missed the official target of 7.5 per cent in 2014, raising concerns about a prolonged slowdown.

Xi also holds the chairmanship of the powerful Central Military Commission.

Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao introduced his "scientific outlook on development" as the party's guiding socio-economic principle.

Zemin's "three represents" theory referred to social productive forces, cultural development and the fundamental interests of the majority, in 2000, the South China Morning Post reported.

Both Hu and Jiang's theories are enshrined in China's Constitution.

Commenting on the media blitzkrieg on Xi's new slogan, Renmin University political analyst Zhang Ming told the Post that the public can better understand the concept of the Four Comprehensives than the Chinese Dream which remained a very "vague idea."

Beijing-based political commentator Zhang Lifan said party leaders often came up with catchphrases and slogans to solicit public support.

Previous party leaders had also stressed the concepts behind the four comprehensives theory, such as building a prosperous society and maintaining strict governance by the party, but the implementation was often obstructed, Zhang said.

"The party is not using any new ideas but is sticking to the old concepts as it tries to solicit public support," he said.

Rampant corruption and power struggles among factions and vested interests within the party would be major obstacles to reforms, Zhang said. He said the risk of an economic downturn would pose further challenges to the party.