Adhere to the people-centered approach to comprehensively deepen reform

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China recently stressed the importance of a people-centered approach in deepening reform as a fundamental driving force for advancing a modern socialist nation and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. President Xi Jinping pointed out that “Reform is meaningful when it is for the people; it gains momentum when it is supported by the people.” He emphasized that every breakthrough in the understanding and practice of reform, along with the emergence and development of new phenomena, relies on the wisdom and practices of the millions. The people are the creators of history, and the essence of modernization in this context dictates the problem orientation, strategic layout, and value standards of reform and opening-up.

The evolution, from simply meeting basic needs to achieving a well-off society and now to Chinese-style modernization, reflects the changing themes and corresponding reform strategies of the times. The guiding principle of reform has always been to ensure the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of people are achieved, sustained, and developed. As we stand at a new historical juncture aimed at further comprehensive reform and advancing Chinese-style modernization, meeting the people’s aspirations for a better life has become essential for resolving the main social contradictions and challenges of our time. The public’s new expectations for a better life and high-quality development call for a significant elevation and expansion of comprehensive reform practices.

Focusing on liberating and developing new productive forces, adhering to a people-centered approach in deepening reform is fundamental for a Marxist party. Reform and opening-up are inherent to advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics and are intrinsically linked to the needs and hopes of the people. In the context of unprecedented global changes and the strategic landscape of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the choice to further advance reform and modernization highlights the party’s commitment to the development of the nation. Based on a Marxist worldview and methodology tailored for the current era, the journey of reform has dismantled outdated systems that hinder productive forces, continuously proving that reform is a tool to enrich the people and a means for the party and nation to keep pace with the times.

Productive forces form the foundation of social life and are the most dynamic and revolutionary factors in driving societal progress; hence, their development is the core measure of societal advancement. The fundamental task of socialism is to liberate and develop productive forces, with its superiority over capitalism lying in its enhanced capacity to propel such development. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has navigated the challenges and shocks brought by global technological revolutions and industrial transformations. Each response to new challenges has paved the way for the accelerated upgrade of productive forces, providing a robust impetus for reform and setting the thematic stage for our progress.

The extent of individual development is influenced not only by the level of productive forces but also by the nature of social relationships. The holistic nature of individual development depends on the comprehensiveness of social relationships. The modernization defined by a people-centered approach aims to construct a prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful socialist nation. Its primary contradictions and issues differ significantly from those of the past; thus, solving them requires a concerted effort to deepen reform comprehensively. The Central Committee stated that Chinese-style modernization advances through reform and opening-up, and further deepening reforms will open up new horizons for this modernization. This will involve refining and developing the socialist system, modernizing the national governance system, and addressing bottlenecks that impede the development of new productive forces.

To fully leverage the role of the people as key agents of change and innovation, it is vital to respect their primary status and cultivate their creative spirit. People are the creators of history, and all reform advances hinge on their power. The great practice of reform and opening-up has charted the path for socialism with Chinese characteristics, enabling Chinese citizens to transition from being merely affluent to robust and now embarking on the comprehensive modernization journey. The successful lessons learned from these reforms are rooted in the creative practices of the people; thus, only by relying on their engagement can we continuously draw on their wisdom and strength to deepen reform effectively.

Our party has always integrated top-level design with a bottom-up approach, employing reform methods that resonate with Chinese characteristics to advance modernization. By maintaining the people’s primary status while celebrating their innovative spirit, we can timely summarize new experiences and continuously grasp the essential laws of reform and opening-up. This will lead to deeper and more impactful reforms that break barriers and pave the way for progress.

Positioned at the pinnacle of advancing the great cause of national strength and rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization, this endeavor is intertwined with socialism’s reform processes. Unlike Western modernization, Chinese-style modernization aims to resolve fundamental challenges of human society, offering essential requirements and guiding principles for further deepening reform. The current international and domestic contexts present unprecedented risks, challenges, and difficulties for comprehensive reform.

In summary, this deepening of reform represents a significant transformation in how existing interests and frameworks are adjusted, addressing long-standing structural contradictions and propelling development to new heights. Therefore, by fully respecting the primary role of the people and their spirit of innovation, we can create a better institutional environment that fosters accountability and stimulates creative energy. Extracting new insights from the people’s innovative practices is crucial; as barriers are dismantled, these breakthroughs will contribute to broader reform initiatives, enabling holistic planning and ongoing advancement.

As we commit to a people-centered approach in deepening reform, we engage in a systematic strategic endeavor that opens new avenues for Chinese-style modernization. With the deepening of reforms, the complexity and interconnectedness of issues increase, making it clear that solutions cannot emerge from isolated reforms in singular domains. The Central Committee has highlighted the need to prioritize economic reform while simultaneously orchestrating advancements across all sectors. Reform arises from addressing real-world challenges and deepens as these conflicts are resolved.

Now, as we enter a new phase of reform focusing on comprehensive and systematic approaches, we must unite the broadest possible consensus among the people. This entails continuous theoretical innovation based on practical foundations, using innovative thinking to analyze and resolve issues while enhancing understanding of reform principles. The new practices of Chinese-style modernization have lent fresh and specific meanings to comprehensive reform, expanding its scope beyond economic areas to include political, social, cultural, and ecological systems.

For reform to achieve notable breakthroughs, new and innovative solutions to uniquely Chinese problems must be proposed. The melding of basic Marxist principles with the concrete realities of China and its rich cultural heritage facilitates the ongoing liberation of thought. Comprehensive reform requires a better alignment between relations of production and productive forces, the superstructure and the economic foundation, governance, and social development. We must fully leverage Marxist methodologies and traditional cultural resources to explore theories and institutional innovations that address future challenges.

Ultimately, to measure the success of these reforms, increasing the people’s welfare must serve as our highest standard. The people are not only the drivers but also the beneficiaries and evaluators of reform efforts. The central purpose of advancing Chinese-style modernization through comprehensive reform is to enhance the public’s sense of gain, happiness, and security on larger, deeper, and broader levels. The aspirations of the people for a better life should always guide our efforts, reinforcing that our focus on reform and development remains to improve their quality of life comprehensibly.

In this pursuit, we must ensure that modernization fosters a modernized governance system that aligns with the ongoing prosperity of the people. By adopting new development philosophies, strategies, and models, we can address key concerns such as income distribution, education, employment, social security, eldercare, healthcare, housing, and environmental governance, effectively implementing reforms that resonate with the populace. In this new era, we aim to comprehensively deepen reforms so that the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security is enhanced at every level.