China Leaders' Thoughts On National Image Since The Reform And Opening Up

The study focuses on combing the discussions and the concrete practices of national image of Chinese previous supreme leaders(including Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping) since the Reform and opening up, expounding the change and unchange of his thoughts when placed them in the background of their specific times, thus providing a view to the research and practice of the current national image positioning.Deng Xiaoping is in the real sense, the first "national image designer" in new China history. He talked about his design concept of national image on various occasions. Starting from the materialistic philosophy, he realized the top priority is to focus on economic development. In that case, he put forward three national images including the "Independence and self-reliance", "Reform and opening up", and "Peaceful socialism", in order to strive for a peaceful and stable international environment for domestic economic construction. Jiang Zemin is the first one to design the system target of China international images. Among which, the highlight is the "image of a socialist country under the rule of law". He proposed the "partnership diplomacy", which emphasized on international cooperation effectively broke the western countries' blockade to China, and also eliminated the persistent clamor of the "China Threat Theory" to a certain extent, showing China's peaceful and friendly image. After entering the new century, Hu Jintao put forward the major strategems of “Scientific development” and “Peaceful development”, as well as the idea of “Harmonious world”, these concepts then became the new orientation and goal of Chinese national image in a new era.. After the eighteenth National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping put forward to the world the Chinese Dream which represents national prosperity and rejuvenation, people's well-being and to achieve the great revival of Chinese nation, now becomes the source of orientation of China's national image. Depending on the accumulation of the strong national strength from the long-term Reform and opening up and the Deng Xiaoping's strategy to "hide our capabilities and bide our times", Xi Jinping not noly continues to maintain and develop the peaceful image advocated by Deng Xiaoping and other former Chinese leaders, but also further underlines the image of SuperChina, and meanwhile, not afraid to show the strength of China. In a word, Xi Jinping's attitude is more high-profile, hoping the international community feel the majesty of China.