The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee sounded forth a new call for comprehensively deepening reform. Once the bow is drawn, the arrow cannot turn back. We must press on toward the goal of reform.
—Speech given by Xi Jinping at the New Year's Tea Reception of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, December 31, 2013
Once the Bow Is Drawn, the Arrow Cannot Turn Back
— Pressing on toward the goal of reform
"Once the bow is drawn, the arrow cannot turn back." In its literal sense, this saying means that an arrow must be shot after the bow has been pulled. It is taken more broadly to mean that there is no mining back once things are underway. Xi Jinping used this expression in his speech on the eve of 2014 in reference to reform, particularly in terms of China's determination to achieve the goal of comprehensively deepening reform set by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee.
China's great reform and opening-up policy was introduced at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in December 1978. At that time, China reestablished its commitment to seek truth from facts, abandoned its political strategy of "taking class struggle as the key link," and redirected the Party's focus on to the cause of socialist modernization. Thus, the stage was set for socialism with Chinese characteristics. Over the last 36 years, the Chinese nation has adapted to the tide of reform and opening up and wrought remarkable achievements.
The road to reform has been no walk in the park. Changes and challenges have abounded from the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, which set in place China's reform and opening-up policy, to the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which reaffirmed its commitment thereto. The difficulties notwithstanding, China has tenaciously held to its basic policy of "carrying out domestic reform and opening up to the outside world." During his tour of southern China in early 1992, Deng Xiaoping spoke with his characteristic verve: "If we did not adhere to socialism, implement the policies of reform and opening to the outside world, develop the economy and raise living standards, we would find ourselves in a blind alley."
The momentum of China's reforms has not eased for even a moment, and nor can it. The issues of reform are growing increasingly complex as China has entered a stage in reform where, to put it figuratively, "the tender meat has been consumed, and what is left are tough bones that are hard to chew." Xi Jinping underscored the same idea before the Shanghai delegation at "lianghui" (the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) in 2013: "China's reform has sailed into uncharted deep waters with tough challenges. We must dare to chew the tough bones and navigate the rough waters. We must respect the rules of the market, give fuller play to the role of government, and leverage our policy of opening up so as to secure greater room for advancement."
There are no bounds to practice and development, to freeing the people's minds, or to the reform and opening-up effort. We will reach an impasse if we stall or go into reverse on our path; reform and opening up is always ongoing and will never end. The problems and challenges that we are faced with show that reform must not be slowed down, much less stagnate -- not even for a moment. We are already at a place where "once the bow is drawn, the arrow cannot turn back." It is only by relentlessly driving reform and breaking down the barriers of old notions and the fences of interest groups that we will be able to resolve issues in development and ward off risk; create an environment of fair competition and enhance economic and social development; put in place a well-developed, rationally regulated, and effective institutional and governance systems; raise government efficiency and effectiveness; bring about social fairness and justice; promote social harmony and stability; and improve the Party's leadership and governance.
As history shows, China has taken on a new look, recaptured its youth, and discovered new drive since embarking on the road to reform. Indeed, China's policy of reform and opening up has brought about dramatic change in virtually every respect, whether it be social stability at home or increased voice abroad. The saying "once the bow is drawn, the arrow cannot turn back" is both a call to press on with reform as well as a testimony of China's determination to drive reform to a deeper level. We have already identified the development path best suited to our own circumstances, so now we must follow it -- with firm resolve and full confidence.
(An excerpt from XI JINPING: WIT AND VISION -- SELECTED QUOTATIONS AND COMMENTARY, published by FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESS in 2015)
