From “Strategic Planning Map” to “Strategic Construction Blueprint”

Series of Understanding the Government Work Report

By Xin Ming

The First Session of the 13^th NPC opened on the morning of 5^th March when Premier Li Keqiang delivered the Government Work Report on behalf of the State Council. This report consists of three parts. First, work completed over the past five years. Second, the overall requirements and policy direction for economic and social development in 2018. Third, proposals for the work of government in 2018.

Xin Ming, Professor of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, shared his interpretation of the report with us through a telephone interview.

Highlights

This year’s government work report has three characteristics.

• Rational, sober, and confident

Some of the data in the government work report will certainly inspire the Chinese public with confidence.

China’s economic growth rate has averaged 7.1% over the past five years – much higher than the forecast. While the international economy remains sluggish, and the average global economic growth rate struggles at less than 4%, China has outperformed the rest of the world.

During this period the point was reached at which China’s economy made up 15% of the world total, and China contributed more than 30% of global economic growth.

However, China remains sober in judging its economic performance and takes an objective view of potential problems and risks.

The report shows a clear understanding of the historical direction and environment facing China’s social development. It does not evade the problems and risks China faces. While acknowledging the tremendous progress, China still remains sober.

• Be realistic and pragmatic in actual practice and concrete work.

The work planned for 2018 in the work report is realistic and pragmatic in actual practice. The report focuses on nine areas, dealing with each in specific terms and with a clear plan for what to do, and how and when to do it. For example, the government will continue to focus on supply-side structural reform, building an innovative country, promoting the strategy of rural rejuvenation and regional coordinated development, increasing consumption, fostering effective investment, and improving people’s lives through clear idea and concrete measures.

• The report defines ambitious goals and a detailed strategy to achieve them.

If the report of the 19^th National Congress of CPC is a strategic plan and road map, the government work report of 2018 is a well-conceived strategic construction blueprint, with concrete measures and explicit directions for implementation. There is still a long way to go, but for the current time it serves as an inspiring guideline. For example, there should be new progress in supply-side structural reform and the creation of a country driven by innovation, and breakthroughs in fundamental and crucial reform should be achieved in an orderly manner.

Achievements

• The extraordinary achievements of the past five years have been hard-won.

Numerous figures in the report fully illustrate the extraordinary achievements of the past five years. For example, China lifted 68 million people out of poverty. The completion of this tough task marks not only a tremendous gain for China, but also a notable contribution to the world’s efforts in relieving poverty.

During this period, China has solved many problems which had previously been addressed without success. These achievements are hard won, but they give us grounds to believe that we are able to achieve essential and critical changes in the years ahead.

In the environment that the world economy finally gained momentum. China’s GDP growth of 6.9% in 2017 was no easy task, but the achievement of several major goals in economic and social development meant that it surpassed all expectations. We look forward to further concerted efforts on the part of all the people throughout the country to tackle the difficulties we face.

Xin Ming, Professor of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China Focus