Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), visited an exhibition titled "The Road toward Renewal" along with other top CPC leaders in Beijing on November 29, 2012. International observers took a keen interest in and positively commented on Xi's speech at the exhibition.

Korn Dabbaransi, former Vice Prime Minister of Thailand, told People's Daily that as chairman of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, he has paid more than 100 visits to China and is an eyewitness to the journey toward prosperity and strength that China has taken under the leadership of the CPC. The road of socialism with Chinese characteristics not only has made China a strong country, but will also usher in the great renewal of the Chinese nation, he said. The new CPC central leadership has shown the world its determination and ability to lead China to prosperity and national renewal, he added.

Sunai Chulpongsatorn, chair of the Thai parliament's foreign affairs committee, and Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of Thailand's Democrat Party, also told People's Daily respectively that China has made remarkable progress on all fronts. Its economic growth, in particular, is eye-catching and admirable, and offers a lesson to Thailand.

The new measures top CPC leaders took upon their inauguration showed they see great value in the development of the Party itself and have grasped the general trend of China's future development, said a scholar with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration in Viet Nam. The measures focus on promoting theoretical innovation based on practices, strengthening the ranks of Party officials and building a learning Party. The scholar stressed the CPC has attached increasing importance to theoretical development by continuing to enrich Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development.

Xi left people with a deep impression during his visit to the exhibition with his reaffirmation of the theme, the Great Renewal of the Chinese Nation, which he first mentioned at his debut press conference, said Lee Young Joo, Chief Director of the Chinese Political and Cultural Research Institute of Korea. Lee said he believed the Chinese people will be more united and more confident about their nation with new leaders at the helm. In his view, China will surely realize the goal of "completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects" given its current economic growth potential and rate.

A commentary published on the website of Sudan TV on November 30, 2012 said the just concluded 18th CPC National Congress drew up a roadmap for China to become a powerful country with the "renewal of the Chinese nation" being the catchphrase of new leaders. As an important member of the international community, China shoulders responsibilities for safeguarding the interests of all humanity, it said. China's renewal has significant and far-reaching implications, which have transcended China's borders to make a growing impact on the outside world, the commentary said.

China has become the world's second largest economy, said Kohei Watanabe, a professor with the Research Faculty of Media and Communication at Japan's Hokkaido University. Watanabe said as a resident in one of China's neighboring countries, he eagerly hopes China can share its dream with its neighbors.

Xi's interpretation of the Chinese dream highlighted the CPC's resolve to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in pursuing national renewal, said Luo Yuhong, President of Capital News, a Chinese-language newspaper published in Belgium. Top CPC leaders' review of history showed the CPC will work hard to make China a powerful country with a sense of responsibility for the nation and mindful of the nation's history. It will also unswervingly follow the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics with a sense of mission. Xi's humble remarks were highly engaging, he said, adding the great renewal of the Chinese nation is also a dream of all overseas Chinese.

The Wall Street Journal, a U.S. newspaper, reported that the new CPC central leadership will try to turn the Party into a group with close ties to the people.

Lianhe Zaobao, a Singaporean newspaper, quoted many insightful revelations in Xi's speech, such as "lagging behind leaves one vulnerable to attacks; only development makes a nation strong," "path decides the destiny" and "making empty talk is harmful to the nation, while doing practical jobs can help it thrive."

Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun quoted Xi as saying that realizing the great renewal of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream for the Chinese nation in modern history and that China is now closer to reaching that goal than ever before.

The Press Trust of India quoted the requirements Xi placed on Party members. For instance, it quoted the CPC general secretary as saying, "We, this generation of Communists, must take what has been left to us by our predecessors as a departure for forging ahead into the future."