Commissioner Liu Guangyuan contributed an article to the South China Morning Post on September 1, 2021 entitled “Communist Party’s success is built on putting people first”. The article elaborates on the people-centered development philosophy of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government from the perspectives of diplomacy, Covid-response and poverty alleviation. The article was also published on the website. The full text is as follows:
Communist Party’s success is built on putting people first
As a diplomat, I am often asked how the Communist Party of China could continuously achieve success and how China could develop so fast. My answer has always been: putting people first.
Over the past century, the party has led the Chinese people in an arduous journey to found the People’s Republic of China and advance reform and opening up. Today, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and the Chinese nation is marching towards great rejuvenation. History tells us that the principle of “for the people and by the people” is the formula of success.
Xi Jinping, the party’s general secretary, has stressed that the people are the party’s roots, lifeblood and source of strength. The party represents the fundamental interests of all Chinese people and has no special interests of its own.
Now on a journey towards the second of China’s twin centenary goals, to fully build a great modern socialist country, the party stays true to its original aspiration and mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.
Chinese diplomats strive to promote the well-being of all Chinese people and benefit the world. Whether during a crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic or in places plagued by wars, China does its best to safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens. Our consular hotline 12308, running 24 hours a day, has handled about 3,000 calls on average every day over the past year and last year we evacuated more than 2,000 Hong Kong residents from Covid-19 affected areas.
Chinese foreign policy is independent-minded. It seeks to foster peace and win-win cooperation in international exchange, and advances economic globalisation so as to create a sound external environment for China’s development and share China’s opportunities with the wider world.
China’s efforts are aimed at enabling people to live a happier life, but not at others’ expense. At the same time, the Chinese people will never allow anyone to harm our sovereign security and development interests.
We take a science-based, people-first approach to fighting Covid-19. As soon as the pandemic hit, we ensured all those in need were tested, warded in hospitals and treated. We provided free nucleic acid tests, treatment and vaccines to raise admission and recovery rates and lower infection and fatality rates. From newborn babies to centenarians, we spared no effort to save each and every life.
We adopted sound public health measures and made adjustments as the situation evolved. We also resumed economic and social activities in an orderly manner without letting down our guard.
The 1.4 billion Chinese people looked after each other and swiftly contained the spread of the virus, including its variants, making great contributions to the global Covid-19 response. Facing a similar crisis, some friends in other countries have asked how China has managed to control the virus while they have failed.
China has eliminated extreme poverty and now aims to achieve common prosperity. At the ceremony marking the party’s centenary, Xi announced that China has achieved the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
Over the past eight years, nearly 100 million rural residents living below the poverty line in China have been lifted out of poverty. Meanwhile, the share of permanent urban residents has grown to more than 60 per cent of the population, and the middle class to over 400 million.
China has created a miracle in the history of poverty reduction. We now attach greater importance to common prosperity and aim to create an “olive-shaped social structure”, with middle-income households forming the mainstay of the economy, by promoting high-quality development, improving social systems, and creating a fair and balanced income distribution pattern. This will better serve the people’s growing need for a better life.
Nowadays, it is popular for young people in their 20s and 30s to go to grass-roots communities and the rural areas to start a business. By pursuing their personal dreams, they contribute to the realisation of the Chinese dream.
The rise or fall of a political power depends on whether it accommodates the people’s will. International polls have indicated over and over again that Chinese people’s approval of their government ranks among the highest in the world. This shows that only by putting people first and serving the people wholeheartedly can we gain the trust and support of the people.
However, some countries that proclaim themselves a “beacon of democracy” ignore the aspirations of their people, abuse procedural democracy, engage in money-tainted politics, and protect only the interests of the privileged classes. Globally, they attempt to bully, oppress and exploit other countries. Their moves have not succeeded and will not in the future.
The country is its people and the people are the country. The Communist Party was chosen by history and the people, which is the source of its confidence. The future will bring further changes and challenges, but the party will continue to unite and lead the Chinese people to build a great modern socialist country in all respects, and make new contributions to world peace and development and human progress.