China's agenda in 2025: Investing in people to cultivate talents

Editor's note: Xia Lu, a special commentator for CGTN, is a research fellow at the National Academy for Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China and Deputy Dean of School of Marxism at Xinjiang University. Gao Lei, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Opening-up, Research Institute of Globalization and China's Modernization, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Like every year, in early March, China routinely ushers in its annual political season – the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). During the one-week-long session, NPC deputies and CPPCC members from all over the country and from almost all walks of life gather in Beijing, bringing in their proposals and also waiting to get the most updated visions from the central authority. 

On March 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping's joining in the discussing and reviewing meeting with CPPCC members from the fields of science, technology and education has released strong signals about the visions. By emphasizing the grave significance of science and technology, education, and talents to the Chinese modernization, Xi urges that China in the future should embrace a vivid situation in which talents come out in large numbers, everyone fully display their talents, and talents are fully utilized.

In this year's government work report, the innovative concept of "investing in people" has been put forward for the first time, which, like a beacon, has pointed out the crucial direction for China's future development. Over the years, Chinese government at all levels have achieved remarkable results in the areas of physical investment such as infrastructure, bringing about a brand-new look in urban and rural areas. However, as China ushers in a new stage of development, the limitations of solely relying on "investing in things" are gradually emerging. Problems such as reduced investment efficiency and resource waste have come one after another. 

Human capital, in fact, is the core element driving high-quality development. Allocating more financial and resource inputs to "investing in people," especially tilting toward people's livelihood in fields such as education and medical and elderly care, can not only improve people's living standards but also stimulate the internal driving force of economic development, achieving a win-win situation for people's well-being and development.

Education is a key part of "investing in people" and it plays an irreplaceable supporting role in scientific and technological progress and talent cultivation. 

From the perspective of science and technology, education is an important starting point for the dissemination, transformation, and innovation of science and technology. Through education, cutting-edge scientific and technological knowledge can be generalized, and scientific research achievements can be accelerated to be transformed into real productive forces. Institutions of higher learning, in particular, are the cradles for nurturing new technologies. In terms of talent cultivation, education starts from basic education, continuously supplying high-quality talents to the country and building a solid ladder for talent growth.

Innovation is the driving force to development, and talent is the foundation of innovation. Nowadays, emerging fields such as artificial intelligence are booming, and there is an extremely urgent need for innovative talents. Therefore it requires us to cultivate talents from an early age, increase investment in education, and let the seeds of innovation take root in the hearts of the younger generation. Measures mentioned in the government work report, such as providing parenting subsidies and strengthening the standardized construction of compulsory education schools, are vivid practices of the concept of "investing in people" in the field of education.

"Investing in people" is not only a focus on individuals but also a profound consideration for the overall development of society. Under the new situation, "investing in people" needs to focus on the entire life cycle. Stabilizing and expanding employment enables the fully display of people’s talents and the realization of their self-value. Increasing residents' income can also enhance people's sense of gain and happiness. By improving the quality of human capital and enhancing the overall quality of the workforce, the nation's competitiveness will be significantly strengthened. 

Centering around the people, thinking, planning, and implementing based on the concept of "investing in people," and making every effort to stimulate people's enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity will surely inject a continuous and powerful impetus into the construction of Chinese modernization. And a society composed of well-educated, healthy, and psychologically positive individuals will be better equipped to face various future challenges and achieve high-quality economic development.

In conclusion, "investing in people" is not simply a regular task featuring in the government work report but rather an essential path for achieving social progress and promoting sustainable economic development. This phrasing also reflects a shift in the performance outlook of Chinese leaders. For a long time, some departments have pursued a performance evaluation that emphasizes "quick results" or "immediate effects." In reality, projects like education, science and technology do not easily yield short-term results, but their long-term returns can be particularly substantial. 

Therefore, it clearly indicates that the concept and approach of long-term expectation management in governance are gradually becoming principles that officials at all levels adhere to. Only through the collective efforts of society can this concept be truly implemented, creating a better future for every individual. With these efforts, we have reason to believe that China's future will be more prosperous and that people's lives will be happier.

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