I have lived in the PRC for 7 and a half years, all the officials I've met during that time are quite cynical about the whole system. Also, communism is an ideal that doesn't really exist within the PRC itself, it just sounds sexier than authoritarian aristocratic oligarchy.
Locally, I can't even debate the pros and cons of the system here; there are no true believers to be found. But we hear stories about outsiders who buy the propaganda and are quite disappointed about the realities.
But most Chinese I talk to seem to have your opinion. Li's opinion was interesting _because_ it deviated from the norm. :-)
While you may be cynical about the system, I personally have been waiting to hear the perspective from someone who actually does believe in it. I've never heard this train of argument before.
You won't meet such a person easily in real life, who isn't cynical about the "chinese dream" or "harmonious society" or the "three represents." I'm not unique in this at all.
Li is like Kaifu or any of the other VCs and/or tech leaders here: they have to be optimistic about China, their entire lively hood depends on it. A company cannot succeed in China without a very good relationship with the government.
Locally, I can't even debate the pros and cons of the system here; there are no true believers to be found. But we hear stories about outsiders who buy the propaganda and are quite disappointed about the realities.