Shared Aspirations,Different Approaches

By+MARIA-CRISTINA+ROSAS

THE Chinese dream and the Mexican dream have many similarities， but the two countries take different paths to pursue them.

What the two national dreams have in common is the determination to resolve such issues as the rich-poor divide， uneven regional development， an aging society， and increasing infrastructure and energy demands. The Chinese government takes a long-term approach to its strategies， while Mexico falls back on medium- and short-term plans subject to changes in administration. Mexico could benefit from China in this aspect， by paying more attention to long-term development strategies.

Following advancement in building socialism with Chinese characteristics， China has begun to take on issues that have built up through the earlier stages of its reforms and development. One issue is the yawning income gap， against a backdrop of decades of rapid economic growth； and another is the regional and rural-urban disequilibrium in access to public services， notably in education and vocational training. To turn its dream into material reality， China has to tackle these issues.

Mexico also has its own challenges to resolve for social and economic development. The current government has raised five priority areas in its 2013-2018 national development plan， including peace and security； nondiscrimination in access to water， food and healthcare resources； the development of high-quality education and human resources； a free flow of capital in economic and cultural sectors； and active participation in international affairs. There are overlaps between these priorities and the Chinese dream.

Mexico should draw on the experience of Chinas successes， and work out relatively stable long-term development strategies and plans.