Domestics Affairs

The good times, they are coming

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-12 07:25

A catch phrase of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee is "people's livelihood".

Some people, however, may feel weary after hearing it for several years, especially after seeing runaway housing and soaring food prices, and rampant corruption. It seems that we are not moving on the right track to the future. But is that true?

When I was young, my father used to tell me how the Communist Party of China had changed the fate of the nation and hence his life. To be frank, I was quite irritated by his "preaching" as a child. Now that my father is no more, my mother is doing the "preaching". The difference is I believe in it now. Why? Because I've seen the changes in my parents' life, and my own. And I am not in minority. At least it's true for our brothers and sisters who have just been evacuated from Libya.

The Foreign Ministry has said some 35,860 Chinese working in Libya have returned home. The operation, completed in a short time, is hailed as the largest evacuation of Chinese nationals from overseas.

In the past, the government was not in position to launch such a swift, large-scale air, sea and land operation even when our fellow citizens overseas faced trouble.

With China's growth has come a more open attitude toward the outside world. A successful China has become more confident in fostering relationship with the rest of the world. As a result of China's "Going Global" strategy, an increasingly number of Chinese businesses have joined the ranks of outbound investors.

Official figures show 847,000 Chinese were working overseas at the end of last year, 69,000 more than in 2009. And last year, more than 60 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad, compared with about 120,000 in the 29 years between 1949 and 1978, according to some estimates.

Since the economy is the foundation of politics, China's economic rise has facilitated a positive change in the government's philosophy. The term "harmonious society" is the direct result of such a change. It may sound vague, but even people at the grassroots level can feel its impact. During the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), 143 million farmers were covered by the new social pension insurance plan, which used to be a privilege restricted to urban dwellers. Many people moved into new affordable housings, too.

For Chinese nationals living abroad, the government has stepped up its efforts for consular protection. Chinese embassies or consulates general are only a call away for a Chinese national who needs help. The evacuation from Libya is proof of the government's people-first diplomacy.

China's development over the past three decades has indeed become a solid foundation for solving social problems, improving its global standing, and creating a favorable environment for its businesses and nationals abroad. But let us not forget that economic development alone cannot solve all problems.

Luckily, the government has been seeking solutions in other fields, too. In his Government Work Report, Premier Wen Jiabao has vowed to actively yet prudently advance restructuring and take steps to root out corruption. With these and a lot more action plans, we can rest assured that our sense of happiness will be enhanced in tandem with economic development.

The author is a doctoral scholar with the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, School of Law, China University of Political Science and Law.