Shan Chao: The People-Centered Standpoint Is the Fundamental Stance of Xi Jinping's Economic Thought
Economic work serves as the central and foundational task for comprehensively building a modern socialist country and for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. We must unequivocally uphold and implement the distinct and firm people-centered stance contained within Xi Jinping Thought on Economy.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to inaugurate the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Rooted in the great practice of this New Era and its new journey, they have refined, summarized, and synthesized Xi Jinping Thought on Economy.
Xi Jinping Thought on Economy is a major theoretical achievement formed by combining the basic tenets of Marxist political economy with China's specific realities and the characteristics of the times, and with China's fine traditional culture. It represents contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy and 21st-century Marxist political economy. Xi Jinping Thought on Economy takes the people-centered development philosophy as its value orientation and regards the interests of the people as the fundamental starting point and ultimate goal of the Party's leadership in economic work. As the central and foundational work for building a modern socialist country and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, economic work must clearly uphold and implement the firm people-centered stance inherent in Xi Jinping Thought on Economy.
The question of "for whom" is the fundamental question that Marxism must answer first.
To persist in taking Marxism as our guide, the core is to resolve the question of "for whom" effectively. The Marxist historical materialist view holds that the people are the creators of history and the fundamental driving force behind social development. Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that the people, and only the people, are the motive force in the making of world history. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that the people are the creators of history and the true heroes; the country is the people, and the people are the country. [1] In winning and guarding the country, what the Party is actually guarding is the people's support.
Coming from the people, relying on the people, doing everything for the people, putting the people above all else, and consistently adhering to the fundamental purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly—these constitute the precious experience of the Chinese Communists over the past century. This experience has allowed them to unite and lead the Chinese people through various "Loushan Passes" and "Lazikous" [2] during revolution, construction, and reform, moving constantly from victory to victory. It is the internal core motive force that has enabled the CPC to lead the people in creating great achievements and four "great leaps" [3] across the four periods of the New Democratic Revolution, socialist revolution and construction, reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. It has also driven the three historical leaps in the Sinicization of Marxism.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have kept firmly in mind the fundamental question of "what the CPC is and what it wants to do." They have always regarded seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as their original aspiration and founding mission. They have consistently upheld communist ideals and socialist convictions, ensuring that the Party exercises overall leadership and coordinates all efforts. With the heroic spirit and broad-mindedness of "I will let go of my self for the sake of the people," [4] and with deep feelings for the people, they have etched into the New Era the noble realm and historical responsibility of "success does not have to stay with me, but I must contribute to the cause of success." [5]
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The history of our Party is a history of advancing the Sinicization of Marxism and continuously enriching and developing Marxism; it is also a history of using Marxist theory to understand and transform China." Xi Jinping Thought on Economy emerged within this historical process.
Xi Jinping Thought on Economy was formed by applying the basic principles of Marxist political economy to guide the great practice of economic development in the New Era. It inherits, enriches, and develops Marxist political economy, advances its Sinicization and modernization for our times, and creatively proposes the people-centered development philosophy. It enriches and develops the Marxist theory regarding the essence of the socialist economy and grasps the fundamental theoretical and practical pivot of what exactly the purpose of socialist production is.
Possessing a distinct populist character and a firm people-centered stance, Xi Jinping Thought on Economy is both a direct continuation of Marxist political economy and an advancement with the times. It has guided us in achieving the First Centenary Goal and embarking on the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi Jinping Thought on Economy contains noble ideals and convictions, a firm people-centered stance, and a broad global vision.
While presiding over the 43rd collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee on September 29, 2017, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "From the broad perspective of the 500-year history of world socialism, we are still in the historical era specified by Marxism. This is the scientific basis for our firm confidence in Marxism and our conviction in the inevitable victory of socialism." This series of important expositions regarding our era’s position, themes, and problems represents the profound insight and grasp of the new historical stage and the general trend of world history by the Chinese Communists. It serves as the fundamental guidance and manual for our economic work.
Undoubtedly, on a global scale, we are still in a historical period where the capitalist mode of production is dominant, and in a historical era of transition from capitalism to socialism and communism. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, world socialism has remained at a low ebb. Currently, under the combined influence of changes unseen in a century and the pandemic of the century, a series of "questions of the world" and "questions of the times"—such as "what is wrong with the world?" and "where is humanity headed?"—require serious treatment and scientific answers from the people of all countries, including the Chinese people. The initiative for a community with a shared future for humanity concerns the long-term future of humanity as a whole and has also become a matter of pressing urgency.
Based on the broad background of the changes unseen in a century and the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi Jinping Thought on Economy embodies noble ideals, a steadfast people-centered stance, and a grand global vision.
Whether to prioritize profits or the people is the essential distinction between capitalist and socialist economic development. The Resolution of the CPC Central Committee on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party's Centennial Struggle clearly stated that the Party's foundation, lifeblood, and strength lie with the people; the people are the Party's greatest source of confidence in governing and rejuvenating the country. The Party represents the fundamental interests of the broadest possible range of the Chinese people; it has no special interests of its own, and never represents the interests of any interest group, power group, or privileged class. This is the fundamental reason why the Party remains invincible. The report to the 19th CPC National Congress explicitly stated that as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a New Era, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved into one between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. The Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have accurately grasped China's new historical position and made scientific judgments on the changes in the principal contradiction, always adhering to the people-centered development philosophy and placing the people in the highest position in their hearts.
Deeply study, comprehend, and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Economy and maintain a firm people-centered stance.
As an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Economy has rich connotations and extensions. The people-centered stance of Xi Jinping Thought on Economy inherits, enriches, and develops the ideas of Marxist political economy regarding the essence of the socialist economy and is profoundly integrated into every aspect of socialist modernization.
To deeply study, comprehend, and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Economy and stay firm in the people-centered stance, we must strengthen the Party's comprehensive leadership over economic work, improve the systems and mechanisms of that leadership, and summarize the Party's valuable experience in managing the economy. "Whether it is the Party, government, military, society, or schools, and whether it is in the east, west, south, north, or center—the Party leads everything." [6] Strengthening the Party’s strategic planning and unified, comprehensive leadership over economic work is an inherent requirement of economic development in a socialist country. We must profoundly understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, and strengthen the Party's comprehensive leadership over economic work while coordinately advancing the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four Comprehensives. This is determined by the nature of a proletarian political party, is an objective necessity for responding to the changes unseen in a century, and is an inevitable requirement for achieving the Second Centenary Goal and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It represents the inheritance, enrichment, and development of the Marxist political economy's view on the relationship between politics and the economy.
To deeply study, comprehend, and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Economy and stay firm in the people-centered stance, we must uphold the basic economic system in which public ownership is the mainstay and diverse forms of ownership develop together. This is determined by China’s basic national conditions in the primary stage of socialism and the state of development of its productive forces. We must unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector, supporting state capital and state-owned enterprises to become stronger, better, and larger. We must unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector, fostering a "pro-and-clean" [7] relationship between government and business, and promoting the healthy development of the non-public economy and the healthy growth of individuals in that sector. We must further explore the major issue of how the public economy can better reflect the essence of socialism. We must ensure that finance serves the real economy, comprehensively strengthen financial regulation, and prevent and resolve systemic risks in the economic and financial fields. We must correctly understand and grasp the characteristics and behavioral laws of capital, strengthen market supervision and anti-monopoly regulations, prevent the "disorderly expansion of capital," and support and guide the standardized and healthy development of capital.
To deeply study, comprehend, and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Economy and stay firm in the people-centered stance, we must steadily promote common prosperity for all people. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Achieving common prosperity is not only an economic issue but also a major political issue concerning the Party's governing foundation." Common prosperity is for all people; it means that people are affluent in both their material and spiritual lives. It is not prosperity for a few, nor is it uniform egalitarianism. Achieving common prosperity for all is our firm goal; we must have the spirit and tenacity of "clutching the green mountain and never letting go." [8] It is also a systematic project and a long-term plan.
To deeply study, comprehend, and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Economy and stay firm in the people-centered stance, we must further and comprehensively strengthen social development. Social development is closely related to the daily lives of the masses, and the people can most directly experience its effects. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, social development has been comprehensively strengthened, creating a favorable situation where the people live and work in peace and contentment, and society is stable and orderly. "The people's aspiration for a better life is our goal." We must strengthen social development with the focus on ensuring and improving people's livelihoods, doing our best while acting within our means. We must exert continuous effort to ensure that children have access to childcare, students have access to education, workers have access to earnings, patients have access to medical care, the elderly have access to elderly care, residents have access to housing, and the vulnerable have access to support. We must strengthen and innovate social governance so that the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security is more substantial, better protected, and more sustainable. In the New Era, with new thoughts and on a new journey, to further strengthen social development and succeed in the "governance of China," we must actively explore the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. We must work on both "the system" (zhi) and "governance" (zhi), [9] continuing to transform the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics into national governance efficiency, demonstrating the essence and true character of socialist "people first."
The people-centered stance is the fundamental stance of Xi Jinping Thought on Economy. This is both a fundamental and an overarching requirement, and it is reflected in the series of concepts, principles, and policies of economic operation and development in the New Era, running through every aspect of economic activity. The distinct and firm people-centered stance of Xi Jinping Thought on Economy upholds the purpose of socialist production and follows basic socialist economic laws, representing a high degree of organic unity between "purposefulness" and "conformity to law." At the same time, Xi Jinping Thought on Economy is open-ended, committed to promoting the healthy development of economic globalization, and working hand-in-hand with peace-loving people around the world to build a community with a shared future for humanity. It expresses the hope that people in all countries will live good lives, fully demonstrating that the Chinese Communists maintain a global vision and will surely consolidate a majestic force to create history.
(The author is a specially invited researcher at the CASS Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)