In General Secretary Xi Jinping’s report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the word “Renmin” or “people” was mentioned more than 170 times. The first time it was mentioned was right at the beginning when the CPC’s top leader explained the main theme of the congress. He said the original aspiration and the mission of the Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. 

Since taking office as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi has repeatedly reminded Party members and officials not to forget where and how the CPC started. 

Throughout the whole report, “people” was the key word in almost every major paragraph, and repeated again and again. Xi spent seven years as a farmer in a village in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province and is the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee who has served as a county Party Secretary. His experiences at the grassroots level must have a strong influence on his ties with the people. 

Everyone has noticed the new theories, new ideas, new thinking and new strategies in Xi’s report and is interpreting them from different angles and different perspectives. When I read the report between the lines, I read “people,” not only how many times the word is mentioned, but more importantly, how these grand visions will be impacting the lives of the average Chinese. How will these great ideas and concepts bear real fruit for the people? How can the results of the strategies and policies at the top trickle down to people at the grassroots? How much tangible benefit can the masses receive at the end of the day? Can the CPC deliver? These questions are what matter to the people. 

One of the new thoughts in the report is the new contradiction. The CPC central leadership has realized that the principal contradiction of the new era is the contradiction between people’s growing demands and imbalanced as well as inadequate development. Official and open recognition of imbalanced and inadequate development is a clear sign that the Party is going to intensify its effort to address some of the main problems accumulated in the last decades. People who haven’t benefited much from reforms shouldn’t be left behind anymore. People in less developed regions should enjoy equal opportunities in development. The new aspirations of people who have already enjoyed a high standard of living should also be met. 

There are a host of strategies in the report to meet the goal of achieving a moderately prosperous society. For example, the new strategy of vitalizing the countryside is of great importance but often overlooked by observers. This strategy demonstrates the Party’s enhanced resolve and effort in the emancipation of millions of people in rural areas in terms of both poverty alleviation and further development. Despite great improvements of living standards for most of the rural population, there are still impoverished people, or people who have recently escaped poverty. They are the ones who are most in need of vitalization. The new strategy is also needed to narrow the gap between the urban and rural population.

These are just some of the new theories, concepts and strategies in the report that are designed to meet the demands of the people. It’s crucial for the ruling party to successfully implement them. The report said that the CPC must stick to the development concept centered on the people. If a ruling party put people’s aspirations and interests first, instead of serving the interests of only the rich and powerful, and especially if it can deliver, it’s a good party. The CPC has definitely delivered in the past five years. Whether it can continue to deliver in the next five years remains to be seen. 

From the report, I not only read “Chinese people,” I also read “people” in other parts of the world. The report devoted a big portion to elaborating on foreign policy. It said the fate of the world is in the hands of its people. The future of mankind depends on the choices of people of all countries. The Chinese people are willing to work with people from other countries to build a better future for mankind. Such notions as win-win, inclusive development and common prosperity were reiterated and stressed in the report. 

As far as specific policies are concerned, the report proposed further opening-up of the country’s market and industries, equal treatment to overseas investors and innovation in investment abroad. The Belt and Road initiative will also be further promoted. All of these policies can provide great potential opportunities for companies and people around the world. 

In fact, China has been a major contributor to the world economy over the past few years, accounting for 33.2 percent in contribution to the global economy in 2016. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a remarkable feat. If you look at the population factor, China, which has one-fifth of the world’s population, accounts for one-third of global economic growth. If a country can provide opportunities for people in other countries, while bringing benefits to its own people, it’s a good country. 

I would say that the 19th CPC National Congress will earn its place in the minds of people in China. It will also leave its impact on many people around the world.