Beijing Review: Understanding China through its leader's voice

BEIJING, Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical suspicion and strategic mistrust, it is tempting to dismiss official documents from rival nations as mere propaganda. This temptation is especially strong when it comes to China whose political system, economic development, foreign and domestic policies are often subject to skepticisms among foreign analysts. Yet such dismissiveness comes at a cost. When China speaks, particularly through its most senior leader, it is worth listening. Not because we must accept every word at face value, but because within the lines and between them lies a roadmap of what China is thinking, planning and prioritizing.