Liu Guangyuan

Opinion | Communist Party’s success is built on putting people first

The party’s confidence lies in the Chinese people’s support for their government, fostered over the years through policies that consistently put majority interests ahead of the few

The alleviation of extreme poverty, the successful management of the pandemic and the pursuit now of the goal of common prosperity exemplify the party’s people-first approach

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Students wave the flags of China and the Communist Party before celebrations in Beijing on July 1 to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Photo: AFP

Liu Guangyuan

Published: 6:48am, 1 Sep 2021

As a diplomat, I am often asked how the Communist Party of China could continuously achieve success and how China could develop so fast. My answer has always been: putting people first.

Over the past century, the party has led the Chinese people in an arduous journey to found the People’s Republic of China and advance reform and opening up. Today, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and the Chinese nation is marching towards great rejuvenation. History tells us that the principle of “for the people and by the people” is the formula of success.

Xi Jinping, the party’s general secretary, has stressed that the people are the party’s roots, lifeblood and source of strength. The party represents the fundamental interests of all Chinese people and has no special interests of its own.

Now on a journey towards the second of China’s twin centenary goals, to fully build a great modern socialist country, the party stays true to its original aspiration and mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.

Chinese diplomats strive to promote the well-being of all Chinese people and benefit the world. Whether during a crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic or in places plagued by wars, China does its best to safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens. Our consular hotline 12308, running 24 hours a day, has handled about 3,000 calls on average every day over the past year and last year we evacuated more than 2,000 Hong Kong residents from Covid-19 affected areas.