"Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" contains speeches, answers to questions and instructions by Xi from Nov. 15, 2012 to June 13, 2014. It has been published in at least nine languages since September. 

 

"A book like this will help foreign readers to gain a better and more objective understanding of China from historical and other perspectives," Schmidt wrote. 

 

Schmidt said it was a regret that the Chinese leadership has always had a better understanding of the West than vice² versa. The publishing of Xi's new book represents a positive attempt to change the status quo. 

 

The book reveals the philosophy adopted by China's leadership and the strategic guidelines on which China's direction of development is based.

 

Having faith in China's growth model, the new generation of Chinese leadership with President Xi Jinping at the core also needs to deal with the important, strenuous³ and complicated tasks brought about by high-speed economic development, he said. 

 

President Xi will pay special attention to problems caused by corruption⁴, environmental pollution, illegal occupation of land, labor⁵ disputes, and threats to food safety, the former Chancellor wrote. 

 

He also pointed⁶ out several major issues facing China such as pollution, aging population and the household registration⁷ system reform. 

 

Schmidt said Confucianism is making a return as a philosophy embedded⁸ within the Chinese minds, citing the interpretation⁹ of Confucian principles by President Xi in the book. He said during the 5,000-year course of Chinese culture, there has rarely been any trace of imperialist thinking, and China has always honored peace above all else. 

 

"Often times the West finds it hard to suppress the impulse to act as a lecturer with regard to China and its leaders, which usually results in failure stemming from ignorance and arrogance," Schmidt wrote.

 

"The West needs to apply more common sense, abandon its condescending¹⁰ attitude, and let fair play apply," he said.

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