Tourists visit Beijing's Wangfujing street on the 1st day of the National Day holidays Photo:Li Hao/GT

China's generation-Z is not "lying flat," a euphemism for giving up on hard work,  as is often claimed, and making unremitting endeavor is still the mainstream of a group who believes success should be achieved by concrete effort, Chinese officials said at a press briefing on Thursday, in response to a question on how younger generations should achieve balance between a lifestyle of "lying flat" in face of immense pressure and "involution," which refers to vicious internal competition that does not lead to productivity gains. 

"Most Chinese youth hold an optimistic view on the future, and the saying 'lying flat' is more of a joke to release pressure and express their feelings," He Junke, the First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), said at a press briefing of the State Council Information Office on Thursday.

At the press briefing, China released the first nationwide white paper on youth development titled "Youth of China in the New Era," which showcased achievements linked to the country's youth development in the new era and reflected the spirit of younger generation. The white paper was also released ahead of the 100th anniversary of the founding of CYLC.

He said China has attached great importance to deeper issues reflected by talk of "lying flat," which emerged as young generation is subject to increasing pressure across work, study and life amid China's unique demographic structure and highly competitive labor market. 

"Some in the younger generation feel perplexed or lost. In response, authorities have scaled up the amount of support available to help solve their issues in education, employment, marriage and child raising," He noted, while urging the whole society to support the mental development and psychology of generation-Z.

He pointed out that it is also important for certain young people to realize that it is unrealistic to build a career without taking responsibility and making endeavor. "All happiness is achieved through devoted effort, and making endeavor itself is also a kind of happiness," He stressed.