THIS YEAR marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, and it has provided a good opportunity to reflect on the crucial decisions that not only reshaped China, but also influenced the world. Xinhua News Agency comments:

Reform and opening-up focused national attention on economic construction, and over the past 40 years, China's gross domestic product has rocketed, from about 360 billion yuan ($52.14 billion) in 1978 to more than 80 trillion yuan last year. In the process, more than 700 million people have been lifted out of poverty, about 70 percent of the global total over that period. The average per capita disposable income has grown over 22-fold, and the average personal life expectancy has increased by nearly nine years.

That China has remained committed to deepening reforms and expanding opening-up over the past 40 years has been crucial to transforming the blueprints into reality, pushing China to the center of the world stage.

Reform and opening-up has always been a dynamic process as fresh efforts are constantly needed to treat institutional maladies and break the vested interest that form.

In this sense, reform and opening-up has become increasingly harder as the nation faces more complicated scenarios with the development of the economy and society and China's integrating into the globalization.

The current leadership has demonstrated unparalleled resolve and vigor to advance the great endeavor of reform and opening-up and overcome the resistance of entrenched interests. And reform and opening-up are supported by the people as they are both direct participants and beneficiaries of it.

Standing at the start of a new journey, the Chinese people are fully aware that the future reform and opening-up will by no means be plain sailing, but always an uphill battle.

China is not afraid of difficulties, as it has only emerged stronger from solving the difficulties, and the process will carry on.