A Decade of Glory
Putting people first is the principle the CPC has always followed. Over the past decade, the Party has attached great importance to social construction and to improving the people's wellbeing. The "people first" concept is deeply implanted at all levels of government, as apparent in the remarkable improvements in people's livelihood. The per capita disposable income of urban residents in 2011 increased 1.8-fold over 2002 to reach RMB 21,810, averaging an annual increase of 9.2 percent in real terms. The per capita net income of rural residents that year also rose 1.8-fold over 2002, averaging an annual increase of 8.1 percent in real terms. The Engel's Coefficient of urban residents in 2011 was 36.3 percent and that of rural residents 40.4 percent -- both lower than in 2002. During the past decade, China's social security system has taken shape, with social insurance as the mainstay. It encompasses social relief, social welfare, special care and placement, a housing security system and social charities. Free compulsory education covers both rural and urban areas. Education opportunities are far more equal, and the average length of national education exceeds nine years. The national medical service system has also held firm in face of such major epidemics as SARS, highly pathogenic avian influenza and Influenza A (H1N1). Reforms to the healthcare service system have made substantial progress, and a national basic medical insurance system has taken shape. China expanded its national medical service institutions to 950,000 in 2011. Sports undertakings have also reaped impressive results. China's successful hosting of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games greatly enhanced the country's international influence. From 2003 to 2011, China's athletes garnered 1,063 world gold medals and set 136 world records.
Over the past decade the CPC Central Committee has proposed the new concept of building a resource-saving and environment-friendly society. The country's ecological environment has seen constant improvement owing to efforts to save energy and reduce emissions. Recent monitoring results show that water quality and urban air quality have both significantly improved. In 2011, total energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 12.9 percent from that of 2002, and comprehensive pollutant emissions were curbed.
The last decade also featured China's successful hosting of international grand events and appropriate handling of various challenges, hence clearly demonstrating the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. The 2010 Shanghai World Expo attracted more than 70 million visitors, setting a new world record. The ingenious designs of various pavilions and well-planned organization aptly highlighted the expo theme of "Better City, Better life." In coping with the international financial crisis, China also fully demonstrated the advantages of its system of socialist market economy. As the first to achieve economic turnaround, China became an important engine for world economic recovery. In dealing with such devastating natural disasters as the Wenchuan earthquake, the Zhouqu mudslide and the Yushu earthquake, as well as hailstorms and drought, the CPC exerted its power to rally both the army and people. In efforts to safeguard people's lives and property, the government has, under CPC leadership, successfully combated interference and sabotage by hostile overseas forces and appropriately dealt with riots in Lhasa of Tibet and Urumqi of Xinjiang according to Chinese laws, and restored local order. Thanks to favorable policies that the central government has introduced, regions inhabited by ethnic minorities are experiencing leapfrog social and economic development. The world has moreover been amazed at China's major breakthroughs in science and technology, notably the successful launches of manned spacecrafts, the lunar exploration project, and the development and testing of Jiaolong, China's first manned deep sea submersible. Major projects like the Three Gorges Dam, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the South-to-North water diversion project, have all brought encouraging results.
China's international status and influence have grown remarkably. The country's enhanced comprehensive strength has prompted the clear intention of growing numbers of countries to strengthen their bilateral ties with China. By advocating peaceful development, China is building new-type relations with big countries, deepening its contacts with neighboring states, and consolidating relations with developing countries. In the international arena, China has maintained the authority of the UN and its Security Council, and proactively taken on corresponding international responsibilities. China has also participated in the construction and reforms of multilateral mechanisms. By attending major international events such as the G20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summits, China, with its distinct opinions and standpoints on major political and economic issues, plays a uniquely constructive role in international and regional hot issues. In upholding the basic principle of maintaining national sovereignty, security and development, China is contributing to the establishment of a harmonious international new order of more equal opportunities and evenly distributed power.
The building of the ruling party over the past decade has been strengthened to heighten its progressiveness and governance ability. In keeping abreast of the times, the CPC has put into practice of the principle of exercising power for the people, showing concern for them and working for their interests in the decision to build a Marxist study-type Party. In the past 10 years, the advantages of the CPC with regards to theories, politics, organizations, systems and close ties with the people have come into full play. The CPC has also established and improved its system of punishing and preventing corruption and perfected its restriction and supervision mechanism over exercise of power. The media plays a growingly important role in supervision of the Party, thus enhancing its ability to resist corruption and other risks, and maintaining its advancement and integrity.
Remarkable progress has been made in Chinese society in the past decade under the CPC leadership. The secret of China's impressive achievements lies in the Party's adherence to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important concept of the "Three Represents," and in its theoretical innovations based on practice. The scientific outlook on development -- the result of a new theoretical innovation, has provided effective guidance in building a moderately prosperous society and in accelerating socialist modernization. Looking to the future, we are facing both opportunities and challenges, and thoroughgoing application of the Scientific Outlook on Development remains a long-term and arduous task.
SHEN CHUANLIANG is an associate professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
