New model of civilization

"Our understanding of time is measured in centuries or millennia," Xi said.

He draws strength from history and China's fine traditional culture to govern China and lead the country toward modernization.

"History should not encumber memory. It should enlighten common sense," Xi once quoted German writer Gotthold Ephraim Lessing.

An avid reader of history books from a young age, Xi told officials to have a "historical perspective" when they think and make decisions.

Xi praised China's fine traditional culture as the "root and soul" of the Chinese nation.

Ahead of the 20th CPC National Congress, writing a foreword to the Revitalization Library, a book series themed on China's national revival, Xi once again highlighted the significance of documenting historical records.

Xi has stressed confidence in four spheres: in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Among the four, confidence in one's culture is a broader, deeper and more fundamental form of self-confidence, he said.

Xi has visited numerous cultural sites in the past decade. Without the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, there would be no Chinese characteristics; without Chinese characteristics, there would be no such success as the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said.

Xi champions the exchanges and interactions between civilizations to debunk the "clash of civilizations," and stressed carrying forward the shared values of humanity that Chinese civilization epitomizes. "Mutual respect, solidarity and harmonious coexistence are the right path for the development of human civilization," he noted.

"China is not just a nation state, it is a civilization state. And if you don't understand that, I don't think you really understand anything about China," said British scholar and political commentator Martin Jacques.

Xi is leading China on a uniquely Chinese path to modernization, which analysts say, is creating a new model for human civilization. According to Xi, China's modernization must cover a massive population, lead to common prosperity, deliver material, cultural and ethical progress, promote harmony between humanity and nature, and proceed along a path of peaceful development. China's modernization not only has the common characteristics of modernization in other countries, but also has Chinese characteristics based on national conditions.