Xi says China's reform enters deep-water zone

President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the College of Europe in the Belgian city of Bruges on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Bruges on Tuesday that China is undergoing profound changes and the country's reform has entered a deep-water zone. [Special coverage]

He made the remarks when addressing the students of the College of Europe during his state visit to Belgium.

"We know keenly that reform and opening-up is an ongoing process that will never stop. China's reform has entered a deep-water zone, where problems crying to be resolved are all difficult ones," said the president, adding that "what we need is the courage to move the reform forward."

"We must get ready to go into the mountain, being fully aware that there may be tigers to encounter," Xi said, quoting a Chinese saying.

The Chinese president said he believes that the efforts of deepening reform comprehensively will not only provide strong momentum for China's modernization drive, but also bring new development opportunities to the world.

To observe and understand China properly, the president said, one needs to bear in mind both China's past and present and draw reference from both China's accomplishments and the Chinese way of thinking.

Xi said China cannot copy the political system or development model of other countries "because it would not fit us and it might even lead to catastrophic consequences."

[Related: Xi says China needs to follow development path that suits its own reality]

"The fruit may look the same, but the taste is quite different," he said.

Belgium is the last leg of Xi's four-nation Europe trip, which has already taken him to the Netherlands, France and Germany. He also attended the third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.

[Read more: Full text of China's Policy Paper on the EU]