Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only route: Xi Jinping

BEIJING: Asserting that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the "only route" for the country's progress, ruling Chinese Communist Party's new leader Xi Jinping today tacitly reminded Party officials of the difficult years China went through during Mao Zedong era.

"We should seek the truth from the facts and tell apart what is important and what is not," Xi told a high-profile workshop attended by new Central Committee members elected during the once-in-a-decade leadership change meeting of the Party two months ago.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics advocated by Deng Xiaoping is the "only route that must be taken to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, advance the socialist modernisation and realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi said.

He reminded the party officials of what was China before Deng's period and what it is today.

People cannot deny what was done before the reform and opening up based on what happened after it and vice versa, he said.

Late Chinese leader Deng who succeeded Mao put forward the concept of building socialism with Chinese characteristics 31 years ago.

Reforms proved to be watershed decision, Xi said, apparently referring to the progress made by China during the last three decades emerging as the second largest economy in the world.

Xi, currently the Vice President was elected as the new General Secretary of the Party replacing Hu Jintao at the conference. He is due to take over as President in March when Hu formally retires from the post.

Though a Deng loyalist, this is the first time Xi directly referred to the difficult times China went through during Mao era practicing hard-line Communist ideology, which was overturned by Deng three decades ago.

Before the last November conference there were reports of a section of the Party headed by disgraced Party leader Bo Xilai of attempting to revive Maoist rhetoric but it died down after his detention on various charges, including corruption.