The view from the outside world

(China Daily) Updated: 2012-12-10 10:33

Editor's note: China Daily canvassed the opinions of a number of experts overseas about the new style of leadership promoted by Xi Jinping and his colleagues.

Xi Jinping (center), general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday with 20 foreign experts who are working in China. [Photo by Wu Zhiyi / China Daily]

Tom Watkins, former Michigan superintendent of public instruction

There is an old expression that everyone's grandma has told them - "You only have one chance to make a first impression."

It seems Xi Jinping learned this saying during his visit to Iowa, in the heart of the US Midwest, when he visited in the early 1980s.

The view from the outside world

China's new leader is setting a new example, calling for an end to conspicuous consumption and special treatment for top government officials and Communist Party leaders.

Xi Jinping is resetting the stage about what is acceptable behavior by top Chinese officials. He seems to be extremely comfortable in his own skin and wants Chinese Party leaders to conduct the People's business in a more down-to-earth way.

This new policy is being noticed by the officials themselves and ordinary citizens.

There is also a business technique used by new leaders called, "Painting the lobby." What this saying means is that a new leader must demonstrate early on that "a new day has arrived". This can be done in concrete ways, i.e., by painting the lobby.

Xi is painting the lobby and setting a new tone of leadership in China. His strong anti-corruption language signals in a subtle way that there is a new leader in town and the Party will not tolerate abuses of official power.

The new general secretary it seems is acting on an old Chinese saying as well, as he implements the tough new anti-corruption measures and conspicuous consumption by top officials: " Kill the chickens to scare the monkeys."

Within weeks of enacting the new policy, a top-level Chinese official is being investigated for "breaching party discipline". This action underscores the seriousness of a new anti-corruption drive undertaken by China's new top leaders.

Time will tell if the paint in the lobby will fade or this is a new day of "Serve the People".

Tom Watkins was talking to Yu Wei.