China’s rise was neither easy nor without difficulties. China had to fight a multi-pronged battle to pave the way for a sustainable future. It faced internal challenges of harsh foreign attitudes, foreign-aided rioters, isolation from the West and poverty, class divisions and lack of resources. China rose after overcoming these challenges. China’s rise offers many lessons for nations to learn, such as how to overcome challenges, how to run a government, what democracy is, how to improve people’s welfare, and state and government officials. What attributes must I have? A few are discussed below.
First, state and public officials should live in society, not float above it. It helps them to understand the ground realities and to build a relationship with the society. The Communist Party of China fully understood and observed this philosophy. CPC members and civil servants lived like ordinary people, paying utility bills like other people.
Second, state and government officials must be selfless, have high integrity, be honest, and focus on the needs of the people and society. In difficult times they should lead by example. They should not ask people for sacrifices. They should give their sacrifices for the betterment of society and country.
Third, the rule of law is fundamental. All must submit to the rule of law, no matter who they are. The country must be governed by the rule of law and integrated by the rule of law. CPC focuses on the rule of law and its implementation in its true spirit. The CPC concluded that to ensure the rule of law and the welfare of the people, corruption should be eradicated and justice should be ensured at all levels.
After assuming the leadership of the CPC and China, President Xi launched a comprehensive campaign to eradicate corruption at all levels, from the center to the local level. He did not forgive any kind of corruption (financial or due to relatives or friends). China has arrested and punished several high-ranking military generals, politicians, CPC members and bureaucrats. More recently, the CPC expelled the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Defense, and the Chairman of the Bank of China, among others, for corruption.
However, the most interesting part of the story is that China is equally focused on punishing bribe payers. In the past, a person caught paying a bribe had to serve a 5-year sentence. China revised the law last year and began implementing it on March 1, 2024. The punishment limit was increased from 5 years to 10 years. If he continues to offer bribes, he will be sentenced to life imprisonment and his property will be confiscated. In addition, President Xi has warned CPC members, government officials and the armed forces to strictly adhere to party discipline and not engage in any form of corruption, including gifts, and to their relatives and families. Avoid such actions. The results of the campaign are now visible: an environment has been created where corruption is strongly discouraged.
At the same time, the CPC ensures that every person has access to justice and that justice is delivered on a war footing. Therefore, the justice system in China operates freely and dispenses justice without fear or discrimination. China has also launched a drive to modernize the justice and legal system and is making efforts to strengthen the judicial system to protect human rights and ensure fairness and justice. The aim is to make it more efficient, transparent, time-responsive, and independent.
Fourth, the CPC formulated a system of comprehensive and people-oriented governance to ensure the welfare of the people and denounced the ruling mentality. Why? Because the CPC considers governance to be monogamous, coercive, and monopolistic, while governance is pluralistic, democratic, and cooperative. Governance is the art of conducting day-to-day operations in a comprehensive manner by applying the rule of law. In short, governance is about winning the hearts of people by satisfying their needs, and governance directs action to the interests or will of an individual or group of individuals.
Therefore, China envisioned its own model of democracy, “full process people’s democracy” to implement people-oriented governance. It is based on nine pillars: 1) People’s will, 2) People-centeredness, 3) Quality governance, 4) Equal participation and advancement and advancement on the leadership ladder. opportunities for growth, 5) inclusiveness and continuity, 6) strong procedural accountability, 7) continuous interaction, 8) merit-based election and 9) socialist values. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender or caste. It ensures provision of services and livelihood opportunities to every citizen on equal basis.
China has become a poverty-free country due to its people-oriented governance and “full-fledged people’s democracy”. Now President Xi is leading the party and the state to achieve the goal of a prosperous China.
Fifth, the CPC governs the country using indigenous wisdom. It always applies indigenous wisdom in formulating policies and policies. The CPC never hires consultants or expatriates supported by the IMF or the World Bank to formulate policies for China. However, CPC never hesitates to learn from others for national interest.
Sixth, the CPC concluded that the China Dream has no value or justification without ensuring a quality life for ordinary people and a prosperous society. Thus, people must have the ability and skills to earn a decent living, improve their lives and contribute positively to society. Therefore, education and life skill development were given top priority. China has been investing generously and reforming its education and skills system according to its development status and people’s needs. For example, in the late 1980s, the education and skills system was reformed to meet the new needs of the country. President Xi is modernizing the education and talent development system to lay the foundation for scientific knowledge creation, a prerequisite for innovation and technological progress.
From the above discussion, it can be inferred that China stands out by implementing people-oriented policies, putting people at the center, and solving problems with wisdom and reform, not rhetoric or blame. Moreover, China applied indigenous wisdom, not borrowed wisdom. However, China always put the people at the center of policy making and implementation and ruled the country with compassion, dignity, integrity and honesty.