River's revival a case study in good governance

On a balmy June afternoon, the banks of the Guitang River hum with life. Joggers pass by on the wooden boardwalks, while families push strollers past cafes and quaint shops. It's a scene that 75-year-old Chen Xiaofan, who lives along the river in Hunan province, sees as nothing short of a miracle.

After all, in the early 2000s, the river in Changsha, the provincial capital, was a black, open sewer — a literal scar on the city's Yuhua district.

Today, the river's water quality has improved from an inferior Grade V to a Grade III — suitable for fish. Biodiversity has rebounded, with 425 species now inhabiting the area, including rare fish, wild ducks and egrets.

The transformation is much more than an environmental success story. It has become a key case study in a Party-wide campaign launched in February that redefines what constitutes political success for local officials.

The Guitang River's transformation demonstrates the results of generational efforts made by successive local officials under a governance philosophy based on a key principle: "Gold and silver cups are not as valuable as public reputation".

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has emphasized this principle, stressing the importance of establishing and practicing a correct understanding of governance performance.

Xi, who is also Chinese president, said that communists must bear in mind that working for the people's well-being is their greatest political achievement, and that officials should contribute their share to this cause without taking credit for its success.