The Chinese dream: Four years on

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To mark the fourth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s “Chinese Dream” speech on November 29, 2012, it is time to reconsider not only what the phrase means, but what it set out to do both in terms of politics and society.

“Chinese Dream” has been a buzzword ever since President Xi first introduced it when speaking of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” during a visit to “The Road Towards Renewal” exhibition in Beijing back in 2012, and the slogan has been repeated and emphasized in numerous speeches from then onwards.

Remarkable progress has been seen over the past four years since that landmark speech. The ideas and strategies of the "four comprehensives" and "five development concepts" have provided a clearer direction for pursuing the Chinese Dream, according to Xinhua.

The comprehensive reforms of the Chinese government have made great breakthroughs since the election of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2012, focusing on streamlining and decentralizing the structure of the administrative system.

President Xi Jinping first talked about the concept of the Chinese Dream at the National Museum of China on November 29, 2012. /Photo: Xinhua

Reflecting on Xi’s recent visits to Latin America, under the theme of “quality growth and human development” at the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Lima, China has played an important role and made great contributions to the world’s economy and global cooperation.

China also made history in Hangzhou this September by hosting G20, where it successfully established a major platform for global economic governance on which China can participate more actively and assume greater international responsibilities.

The Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to enhance connectivity between China and countries along the historical Silk Road linking Asia and Europe, has also created international opportunities and extended foreign trade.

The Chinese Dream also concerns the pursuit of a better life, a concept that relates to every single one of the Chinese people.

Many positive results are clear in important areas such as social healthcare, education and employment. Since Xi spoke of the Chinese Dream, the country’s young generation has grown particularly interested in entrepreneurship, with the help and support of government policies.

Reforms in the household registration system, also known as “hukou,” have also brought about significant change, benefitting Chinese people as they pursue happy and satisfying lives.

A healthy environment with low pollution is another aspect that the Chinese Dream has looked to achieve, as the government looks to ensure its citizens a high standard of living.

In order to fulfill the goal of establishing a “moderately well-off society,” as well as the modernization target of becoming a fully-developed nation by the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China--2021 and 2049 respectively, there’s still a very long way to go.

According to Xinhua, Xi said at the end of his speech four years ago, that “the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will inevitably be accomplished.”

(Written by Zhang Meng)