Chinese president pledges to further advance reform

SOCHI, Russia - Chinese President Xi Jinping said in an interview aired Saturday that his country will forge ahead with reform and he is confident in its future development.

During the exclusive interview with Rossiya TV, Xi hailed the remarkable achievements China has made in the past decades since the initiation of the country's reform and opening-up policy.

Xi arrived in this Russian resort city on Thursday to attend Friday's opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games. The three-day visit was his first overseas trip this year.

Given the rapid pace of economic globalization, increasingly fierce competition in comprehensive national strength and the profound changes in the international situation, Xi said, reform and opening-up remain the primary path for China to achieve fresh and greater development.

"In comparison with the past, the breadth and depth of China's reform have been considerably expanded. In order to further promote reform, top-level design must be enhanced," Xi said.

Late last year, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to further deepen China's reform in an all-around way, and Xi became head of the newly established leading group responsible for the undertaking.

"It is no easy task for China, whose population is as large as 1.3 billion, to deepen reform," noted the Chinese president.

With low-hanging fruit already picked, China must roll out bolder measures in a steady manner so as to rise to the challenges and march forward in the right direction, Xi added.

"I am very confident in China's development prospect," the Chinese leader said.

When asked about his first-year experience as China's president, Xi said it is important for a Chinese leader to have overall considerations and keep balance between different matters while focusing on priorities.

"It is like you need to use all the ten fingers when you play the piano," Xi said.