Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean highly praised the reform and opening up undertaken by the Communist Party of China 30 years ago, saying it was "one of the most significant of the twentieth century."
Speaking to Xinhua in an interview on Thursday, Crean said that China has undertaken great changes over the past 30 years thanks to Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's decision at that time to reintegrate China into the global community.
"Deng's decision to begin normalizing relations with the rest of the world brought greater stability to the region," he said.
The minister said China's economic progress has been "impressive."
"In 1978, China was the world's tenth-largest economy, 32nd-largest exporter and contributor of only 1.8 percent of global growth. China is now the world's fourth-largest economy, second-largest exporter and, at 6 percent, the single largest contributorto global growth," he said.
Socially, much has been achieved as well. Per capita income grew from 190 U.S. dollars in 1978 to 3,180 U.S. dollars this year. The life of the Chinese people "is unambiguously better," even though much remained to be done to further lift the living standard of its vast population.
Crean said it was "difficult to identify an international issue in which China is not a significant actor." However, back to thirty years ago, China had largely vacated the field of international relations by closing its door to the outside world.
Crean mentioned that China's dynamic economy in recent years has delivered great opportunities to its neighbors. And Australia, as a partner in China's economic development, has been a stable and secure supplier of raw materials to China for a sustained period, which has delivered great benefit to both countries.
The minister also stressed that "Australia welcomes China's rapid economic development and growing global role." But, "as we Australians have learned through our own development experience, countries cannot rest on their achievements."
China, which has just celebrated the 30 years anniversary of its reform and opening up to the world," is right to review the period since 1978, to take stock of its achievements and to continue to contribute to global economic development in the 21st century," Crean said.
Source: Xinhua
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