Chengkan village in Anhui Province Photo:VCG

Editor's Note:

When the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) met with Chinese and foreign journalists in Beijing last year, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized that "On the journey ahead, we shall always act for the people and rely on them in everything we do." It once again demonstrated Xi's deep feelings for the people. Adhering to "putting people first" has been vividly reflected in the practice of governing the country in the new era for 10 years. In this series, the Global Times selected the opinions from several experts and scholars to conduct in-depth discussions from multiple perspectives of this topic. This is the first article of this series.

The fundamental logic of the CPC's governance is people-oriented. This fundamental logic essentially embodies putting the people first. This can be manifested at three levels: the ideal that bears in mind the country's most fundamental interests, the concept of governing for the people and the practice of governing the country in the new era. 

Let people live a happy life is the country's most fundamental interests 

The CPC is from the people, for the people, and by the people. "As leader of the country, the people have put me in such a job, and I will always put the people first." With such deep love of the people, General Secretary Xi has always cared about the country and dedicated himself to the people. The concept of putting people first has rigorous theoretical argumentation and internal logic. Its essence is to answer questions from the people. The CPC believes realizing the people's yearning for a better life and making the people happy are the country's most fundamental interests.

From April 25 to 27, 2021, Xi clearly emphasized during his inspection of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: "The most fundamental interests of the country are the people's happy life...promoting rural vitalization on all fronts will be no easier than the anti-poverty battle, allowing no letup or sluggishness. We should continue to strive at a new starting point, make more notable and substantive progress toward achieving common prosperity for all." 

On many important occasions, Xi repeatedly emphasized that leading officials must bear in mind the country's most fundamental interests. "The most fundamental interests of the country are the people's happy life," and "continuously improve the ability to judge and understand political issues and implement political requirements." "Letting the people live a happy life" is an important logic foundation to understand the country's most fundamental interests.

"To seek happiness for the Chinese people" is what Xi has devoted most of his energy in governing the country. He pointed out: "These are the things I have been busy with. The country's most fundamental interests are Chinese people's well-being."

Always act for people and rely on them in everything we do, and firmly rooting in the people  

After the successful convening of the 18th National Congress of the CPC, President Xi paid a visit to Russia. When answering questions from Russian journalists, Xi clearly answered, "My philosophy on governance can be summed up: serving the people, and assuming the responsibilities that I ought to shoulder." In March 2019, during Xi's visit to Italy, when answering questions from Roberto Fico, Italian lower house speaker, President Xi said affectionately that "For the good of my people, I will put aside my own well-being." On China's fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, what Xi emphasized the most and what was the most important thing is to "put the people and their lives first." In the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, this people-oriented logic runs through all fields, all aspects and all links.

Because governing for the people is the core of the CPC's ruling philosophy. 

There are rich theoretical connotations and rigorous theoretical logic behind governing for the people, adhering to the putting people first, and letting the people live a happy life. In summary, there are four meanings and they have strict internal logic. Its core is to solve the principal contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life, and focus on whether people are living a good life.

Its rigorous theoretical logic is: The purpose or goal of the CPC's governance is for the people; To achieve its goal, the CPC must rely on the people closely, and regard the people as the greatest source of power and the greatest strength in governance; To achieve this, we must understand that no political consideration is more important than the people. 

We must understand that this country is its people, and the people are the country.

The practice of governing the country in the new era is a vivid interpretation of 'people first'

The report of the 20th CPC National Congress made a comprehensive and systematic summary of the historic achievements of the 10-year great transformation in the new era, emphasizing that "we have implemented a people-centered philosophy of development." Along this direction, China will achieve more significant results in practice.

First, in economic construction, we have historically eliminated absolute poverty from more than 1.4 billion people, realized a well-off society, which is the millennium dream of the Chinese nation, winning the largest battle against poverty in human history.

Second, in political construction, the whole-process people's democracy has been comprehensively developed, the people's status as masters of the country has become firmer, and the vitality of grassroots democracy has been strengthened.

Third, in cultural construction, in order to enrich people's intellectual world and enhance people's intellectual strength, we have encouraged people-centered cultural creation and production of more outstanding works that inspire the people. 

Fourth, in social construction, we have implemented a people-centered philosophy of development, meeting the people's aspirations for better lives, and improving the people's wellbeing and raising the overall quality of life. We have worked continuously to ensure people's access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing, and social assistance, thus bringing about an all-around improvement in people's lives.

Fifth, in the field of ecological civilization construction, we adhere to the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. The natural environment for the people's living has been significantly improved, and the broad masses of the people have also enjoyed the well-being of a beautiful ecological environment in their work and life. 

Sixth, in the field of Party construction, we adhere to the unity of the Party's overall leadership and comprehensive and full and rigorous Party self-governance. We have resolved to "offend a few thousand rather than fail 1.4 billion" and to clear our Party of all its ills. 

People's support is the foundation of the country's most fundamental interests. For the ruling party, adhering to the position of the people, allowing the people to be the masters of the country, and letting the people live a happy life are the country's most fundamental interests. This also demonstrates the people-oriented logic of the CPC.

The author is a leading professor in the field of philosophy and social sciences and a leading expert at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn