China's rapid economic development is generally attributed to the 'reform and opening up' policy adopted by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s. China's current leadership is very aware that continued economic growth underpins internal stability and is critically dependent upon the free flow of trade by sea. Consequently, although its outlook has been that of a continental power since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, China now aspires to become a maritime power. This strategic shift emerged from Hu Jintao's 'new historic missions' concept of 2004, and is fundamental to current president Xi Jinping's own concept of a 'New Maritime Silk Road' (NMSR).
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