Han Wenxiu: Pursuing Substantive and Tangible Development

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "If we want development, we must rely on our own hard work and practical action; we cannot depend on the charity of others, nor is there anyone in the world with such capacity." He further emphasized: "We must base ourselves on improving quality and efficiency to promote sustained and healthy economic development, pursuing a Gross Domestic Product that is solid and without 'water' ^[1], and pursuing economic development that is efficient, high-quality, and sustainable." Following the consistent strategic deployments of General Secretary Xi Jinping, we must engage in genuine grasp and practical action, immerse ourselves in hard work, and continually advance substantive development, thereby comprehensively promoting the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization.

Defining "Solid" Goals

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, standing at the height of the overall situation of the Party and state's cause, has profoundly grasped world development trends and China’s actual developmental reality. Having insight into the trends of the times, he has formulated a series of scientific plans for China's strategic development goals after entering the New Era, providing the fundamental follow-through for opening new prospects for the Party and state's cause.

The 18th National Congress clearly defined the goal of finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the First Centenary Goal ^[2] by 2020. At the beginning of Reform and Opening-up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping explicitly proposed the vision of "building a moderately prosperous society" and "blazing a trail for modernization of a Chinese type." In 2002, the 16th National Congress declared that the living standards of our people had reached a moderately prosperous level in general, and clearly proposed the goal of building a higher-level moderately prosperous society that benefits over a billion people in the first twenty years of this century. Sustaining the new development of Chinese society and the new expectations of the masses, the 18th National Congress set forth the target requirements for "finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects." General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects is not a 'numbers game' or a 'speed game,' but a solid and substantive goal." This included: doubling 2010 GDP and per capita income for urban and rural residents by 2020; a universal improvement in the standards and quality of people's lives; the poverty reduction of the rural population under current standards; and an overall improvement in the quality of the ecological environment. These goals were all operational and grounded, enhancing the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security.

The 19th and 20th National Congresses made strategic arrangements to advance the Second Centenary Goal ^[3] in two stages. Standing at a new historical starting point, the 19th National Congress proposed basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035, and building China into a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful great modern socialist country by the middle of this century. This strategic arrangement moved the timeline for basically achieving socialist modernization forward by 15 years. The 20th National Congress clarified that the central task of the CPC on the new journey of the New Era is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country in comprehensively building a great modern socialist country, realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization. Simultaneously, it further specified that by 2035, per capita GDP should reach the level of a moderately developed country, high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength should be achieved, and more obvious substantive progress should be made in common prosperity for all people. From finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects to basically achieving socialist modernization, and then to comprehensively building a great modern socialist country, our Party has persisted in seeking progress while maintaining stability and proceeding in a continuous fashion. The grand blueprint and developmental path for the Second Centenary Goal have become increasingly clear.

The Party Central Committee has refined and substantialized the "Two Centenary Goals" into Five-Year Plans and annual target plans. In the historical process of continuously advancing the Two Centenary Goals, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee further proposed suggestions for the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plan outlines, clarifying the socio-economic development goals and major strategic measures for these two five-year periods. The Party Central Committee has made specialized deployments on major issues such as carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the battle against poverty, the solid promotion of common prosperity, and the construction of a new development pattern. The Central Economic Work Conference deeply analyzes and judges changes in the economic situation and, based on medium- and long-term strategic goals, proposes the main annual socio-economic development targets. In formulating these Five-Year Plans and annual targets, full consideration is given to both needs and possibilities, ensuring they are both inspiring and feasible. The goal-setting process fully mobilizes democracy, soliciting opinions from all sides and undergoing scientific demonstration. The goals are perceptible and reachable; for instance, the poverty alleviation goal, in addition to income indicators, was substantialized into the "two assurances and three guarantees" (assurances of food and clothing, and guarantees of compulsory education, basic medical care, and housing safety). These major decisions and deployments by the Party Central Committee represent further refinement and substantialization of the Two Centenary Goals, forming an arrangement of targets spanning from mid-to-long-term strategies to five-year plans and then to annual targets—all with clear, quantified indicators. This is a vivid portrayal of our Party’s commitment to remaining down-to-earth, persevering, and "drawing one blueprint to the end" ^[4].

Advancing "Solid" Measures

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "In holding high the banner of reform and opening up, it is not enough to simply have a stance and attitude; there must be solid measures." While scientifically determining development goals, the Party Central Committee has accurately planned and pragmatically advanced work in all sectors, transforming the beautiful blueprint into reality through one solid and major measure after another.

We persist in placing the focus of economic development on the real economy, developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "No matter how much the economy develops, the real economy is always the foundation of our economic development and our foundation for winning the initiative in international economic competition. Our economy started with the real economy, and it must rely on the real economy to move toward the future." China has become the world's largest manufacturing power; the real economy has always been the foundation of the nation, the root of its strength, and the key to its security. Since the 18th National Congress, we have accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system supported by the real economy. First, we promote scientific and technological self-reliance and strength. We have improved the new-type whole-nation system ^[5], focusing on "choke-hold" ^[6] fields such as integrated circuits, high-end equipment, and basic materials, to win the battle for key core technologies. Second, we are accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system. We promote the deep integration of advanced manufacturing with modern services, the integrated development of the real economy with the digital economy, and the high-end, intelligent, and green development of manufacturing. Third, we are comprehensively strengthening infrastructure construction. We are accelerating the layout and construction of new-type infrastructure, building the main skeleton of a national comprehensive multi-dimensional transportation network, and promoting the construction of new urban infrastructure and national security infrastructure. After the 20th National Congress, facing new situations and challenges at home and abroad, General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out: "Developing new quality productive forces is an internal requirement and an important focus for promoting high-quality development." We must continue to do a good job on the great theme of innovation, organizing and implementing actions to enhance the core competitiveness of manufacturing and national strategic emerging industrial cluster development projects. We will support development in fields such as artificial intelligence, biomanufacturing, future energy, and quantum technology, accelerating the upgrading of traditional industries, the development of emerging industries, and the layout of future industries to promote the accelerated development of new quality productive forces.

We are deeply implementing the strategy of expanding domestic demand and accelerating the construction of a new development pattern. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The advantage of a major-country economy is its internal circulation," and "we must strengthen the leading role of domestic circulation within the dual circulation, creating new advantages for China’s participation in international cooperation and competition." Currently, the world's changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the threats of unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism are intensifying. For a long time, China's economic development featured "both ends outside" ^[7] regarding markets and resources, with domestic demand—especially consumption demand—being conspicuously weak. Since the 18th National Congress, we have maintained the clarity of "going for an exam" ^[8], unswervingly managing our own affairs well, and accelerating the construction of a new development pattern with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international dual circulation reinforcing each other. First, we are vigorously boosting consumption. We persist in combining the improvement of people's livelihoods with the promotion of consumption, implementing actions to boost consumption. We carry out "trade-in" programs for consumer goods, promoting the green and intelligent upgrading of durable consumer goods, so that "real gold and silver" ^[9] discounts directly reach the broad masses of consumers. Second, we are actively expanding effective investment. We maintain reasonable growth in investment, optimize the investment structure, and improve investment efficiency. We steadily promote the implementation of major national strategies and the construction of security capabilities in key areas. We are improving long-term mechanisms for private enterprises to participate in major national projects and actively guiding private capital into these projects. Third, we are building a new system for a higher-level open economy. We have comprehensively abolished restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector and are expanding the opening of the service sector in an orderly manner. We are advancing the construction of platforms such as Free Trade Pilot Zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port, and promoting the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road." We are actively promoting the full entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

We are continuously advancing poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, solidly promoting common prosperity. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We cannot declare that we have finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects on one hand, while on the other hand tens of millions of people still have living standards below the poverty line," and "Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all people." Since the 18th National Congress, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, the entire Party and the people of the whole country have worked with one heart, persisting in doing our best within our means to improve the people's well-being. First, we won the battle against poverty. We established files and cards ^[10] for the national poor population, achieving precise identification of individuals. We established a working mechanism where the central government plans, provinces take overall responsibility, and cities and counties implement, making the responsibility fall on specific individuals. According to local conditions, we implemented projects for "alleviated poverty through production," "poverty alleviation through relocation," "poverty alleviation through ecological compensation," "poverty alleviation through education," and "social security to provide a floor." We set timetables, allowed for buffer periods, conducted strict evaluation and acceptance, and removed households from the list one by one to ensure precise poverty alleviation to the individual. Second, we are comprehensively promoting rural revitalization. We continuously consolidate and expand the results of poverty alleviation to effectively connect with rural revitalization, promoting the alignment of policies to prevent a return to poverty with policies for regular assistance to the low-income rural population. We highlight help for industry and employment, striving to enhance "blood-making" ^[11] functions. Third, we are strengthening the construction of livelihoods that are inclusive, basic, and provide a safety net. We are deeply implementing the employment-first strategy, promoting the reasonable growth of wage income, widening channels for property income, and taking multiple measures to increase farmers' incomes. We are improving social security systems such as old-age care and medical care, and raising the level of basic old-age insurance for urban and rural residents. We promote high-quality population development and implement childcare subsidy systems.

We are comprehensively promoting the construction of a Beautiful China and promoting the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Ecological civilization construction is a fundamental plan concerning the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, a major political issue concerning the Party's mission and purpose, and a major social issue concerning the people's well-being." Facing the grim situation of tightening resource constraints, serious environmental pollution, and ecosystem degradation, the Party Central Committee deployed a sustained and deep-seated battle against pollution. The intensity of pollution control, the frequency of institutional releases, and the strictness of supervision and enforcement have been unprecedented. First, we are fighting the "three major defense wars" of blue skies, clear water, and pure land. We focus on key areas such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surroundings, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Fenwei Plain, implementing ultra-low emission retrofits in key industries. We are deeply advancing the protection and management of major rivers like the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers and important lakes, and continuously promoting the comprehensive management of key sea areas. We carry out source prevention and control of soil pollution and strengthen the management of agricultural non-point source pollution. Second, we are strengthening the construction of the ecological civilization system. We are optimizing the spatial development and protection pattern of national land and improving the system of main functional zones. We continue to improve the mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products, promoting reforms in carbon emission rights, energy use rights, water use rights, and pollutant discharge rights. We have revised and improved the Environmental Protection Law, the Environmental Protection Tax Law, and laws for the prevention and control of atmospheric and water pollution. Third, we are promoting the formation of green and low-carbon production and lifestyles. We are strengthening total resource management and comprehensive conservation, vigorously promoting green and low-carbon transformation in fields such as industry, transportation, and construction. We advocate for a life concept and consumption style that is simple, moderate, green, low-carbon, civilized, and healthy, and actively expand green consumption.

Striving for "Solid" Results

Speaking with actions is a fine tradition and distinct character of Communists. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "As long as we persist in national rejuvenation through hard work and benefiting the people through hard work, we will certainly be able to turn the grand blueprint for comprehensively building a modern socialist country into reality step by step." Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has persisted in moving ahead one step at a time, accumulating small victories into big ones, continuously strengthening the Party's comprehensive leadership over economic work, transforming every task into solid development achievements, and continuously increasing the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security.

Adhere to seeking truth from facts and oppose formalism and bureaucratism ^[12]. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that "in carrying out any work or handling any matter for the masses, we must seek truth from facts." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, various localities and departments have adhered to seeking truth from facts and have resolutely implemented the major decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee into their regional development and departmental work. First, we must achieve a complete, accurate, and comprehensive understanding of the strategic intent behind the Party Central Committee’s major decisions. This involves consciously unifying our thinking, will, and action with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions to ensure that implementation does not become distorted or "misread the good scriptures" ^[13]. Second, we must persist in the combination of problem-orientation and goal-orientation. We should vigorously promote a culture of investigation and research ^[14], set development goals reasonably, proceed from reality, head straight toward problems, and improve the pertinence and operability of policies in pursuit of efficient, high-quality, and sustainable economic development. Third, we must persist in the people-centered philosophy of development. We must resolutely avoid greatness-seeking and success-craving ^[15], especially "vanity projects" and "image projects" that are divorced from reality and the masses, and tangibly resolve the prominent problems that the masses find most urgent and concerning.

Adhere to adapting measures to local conditions and prevent rushing headlong into action. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that "acting according to laws and regulations is a principle that Party members and cadres must uphold," and that "conditions vary immensely across different regions; in implementation, one must seek truth from facts, adapt measures to local conditions, and use 'one key to open one lock' ^[16]." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, we have fully leveraged the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, better utilized the role of the government, strengthened integrated coordination and category-based policy implementation, and promoted the formation of a synergy for high-quality development across all regions. First, we are advancing the construction of a unified national large market in depth. We are tangibly implementing the requirements for "five unifications and one opening" ^[17]—unifying market basic systems, market infrastructure, the scale of government behavior, market supervision and enforcement, and the market for factors and resources—while continuously expanding opening-up both internally and externally. Second, we are optimizing the major layout of productive forces. We adhere to the "national chess game" ^[18] approach, strengthening overall planning and capacity management in key fields, and promoting the orderly exit of backward production capacity. Third, we are leveraging the comparative advantages of various regions and optimizing the regional economic landscape. We are effectively implementing major regional strategies, the regional coordinated development strategy, and the functional zone strategy. We support major economic provinces in "playing the leading role" ^[19], cultivating growth poles and power sources for high-quality development. We encourage other regions to base themselves on local advantages and resource endowments to develop their own strengths, better integrating into the new development pattern and achieving high-quality development.

Adhere to tracking results and effectiveness and prevent window-dressing. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that "we must establish and improve work mechanisms with clear responsibilities, complete chains, and interconnected links, strengthen the tracking of effectiveness, and promote the implementation of reform measures in a meticulous and grounded manner." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, we have continuously improved the systems and mechanisms for supervising implementation, carrying forward the "spirit of the nail" ^[20] to ensure that all major strategies and decision-making deployments yield practical results. First, we clarify the requirements for implementation. Following the requirements to implement decisions "to the letter," "with vigor and dispatch," "with truth-seeking and pragmatism," and "with the courage to act and the skill to achieve," we ensure that work outcomes align with the decision-making intent of the Party Central Committee. Second, we improve the performance evaluation system for cadres in promoting high-quality development. The Party Central Committee revised the Regulations on the Selection and Appointment of Leading Party and Government Cadres, incorporating the implementation of the new development philosophy and the promotion of high-quality development into the assessment criteria. We resolutely break the tendency of "judging solely by votes, scores, GDP, or age," fully mobilizing the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of cadres at all levels to promote high-quality development. Third, we strengthen supervision and inspection. We have established systematized, regularized, and precision-targeted supervision mechanisms, conducting special inspections for key tasks such as ecological environmental protection and the battle against poverty. This avoids the phenomenon of "hot at the top and cold at the bottom" ^[21] or straying off course during implementation, while simultaneously focusing on streamlining the total volume of inspections to tangibly reduce burdens on the grassroots.

Adhere to advancing with the times and prevent "carving the boat to find the sword" ^[22]. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that "we must place innovation at the prominent center of the overall national development, comply with the requirements of the times, focus on solving major theoretical and practical problems, and actively recognize, respond to, and seek change." Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, we have organically combined the principled nature of strategy with the flexibility of tactics—being agile, adaptable, and decisive—maintaining strategic initiative by moving with the momentum of the times. First, we maintain the general keynote of seeking progress while maintaining stability. Following the requirement that the general direction, principles, policies, and strategic deployments must be stable, we proactively forge ahead on the basis of holding the ground and maintaining our footing, promoting the steady and long-term progress of the cause of reform and development. Second, we uphold the fundamentals and break new ground. We always adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles ^[23], strengthen the "Four Confidences" ^[24], and persist in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China’s fine traditional culture. We vigorously promote theoretical innovation, practical innovation, institutional innovation, cultural innovation, and innovation in all other aspects. Third, we must have the courage to take responsibility and the skill to act effectively. We must dare to do what our predecessors have not done and say what our predecessors have not said, further comprehensively deepening reform to advance the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization.

(The author is the Deputy Director in charge of daily operations of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission and the Director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group)