The Chinese dream and its appeal
--Keynote Speech at the International Dialogue on the Chinese Dream
By Cai Mingzhao, Minister of the State Council Information Office
(December 7, 2013 Shanghai)
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Cai Mingzhao, Minister of the State Council Information Office, delivered a keynote speech at the International Dialogue on the Chinese Dream in Shanghai on Dec.7, 2013. [Photo: China.org.cn] |
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am very glad to be here with you today in Shanghai to talk about the Chinese Dream. Sitting by the Yangtze River and facing the sea, Shanghai is China's gateway to the world and a window for people to learn about our country. It is therefore of special significance to hold the International Dialogue on the Chinese Dream here, in this wonderful city.
On behalf of the State Council Information Office, I would like to express my cordial welcome to all our guests, and my sincere gratitude to those who have come all the way from other countries!
In November last year, soon after the conclusion of the 18thNational Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Xi Jinping put forward, for the first time, the idea of the Chinese Dream on a visit to “The Road towards Renewal” exhibition at the National Museum of China.
In March this year, he further elaborated on the Chinese Dream in his speech at the closing ceremony of the First Session of the 12thNational People's Congress. Since then, he has talked about the concept on a number of occasions.
Xi stressed that the Chinese Dream means the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It embodies achieving prosperity for the country, renewal of the nation and happiness for the citizens. Only when the country is doing well, can the nation and people do well.
Xi emphasized that the Chinese Dream in essence means the dream of the people. The Chinese Dream is to let people enjoy better education, more stable employment, higher incomes, a greater degree of social security, better medical and health care, improved housing conditions and a better environment. It is to let our children grow up well, have satisfactory jobs and live better lives.
Xi stressed that all the Chinese people who live in our great country at this great time have the opportunity to enjoy a successful life, the opportunity to realize one's dream, and the opportunity to grow and progress together with the country.
Xi also emphasized that the Chinese Dream is a dream for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit for all. It is connected to the beautiful dreams of the people in other countries. The Chinese Dream will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also people of all countries in the world.
Xi's statements have thus explained the meanings of the Chinese Dream.
Eight days ago, we hosted a forum in Beijing, and invited ordinary citizens to talk freely about their understanding of the Chinese Dream.
Mr. He, an interior decoration worker from Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, said, "After President Xi Jinping put forward the Chinese Dream, we feel that we have something to look forward to. We can bravely design our own dreams. The dream is for China, as well as for every one of us."
Mr. Tao, a migrant worker, said, "The Chinese Dream is within our reach. We can expect better education for our children, and feel reassured of proper support for our elders. The Chinese Dream is very close to us."
A postgraduate student from the China University of Political Science and Law said, "The Chinese Dream sends to the world a message that China is rising. We are very proud, and are more motivated in learning. The future will certainly belong to us young people."
A student with Tsinghua University said, "The Chinese Dream gives us a clear direction as to what to do and why doing it. We can avoid blind actions. We feel relieved because President Xi has explained how to strive after the Dream."
I believe that every person in China has his or her own understanding of the Chinese Dream, just as these migrant workers and college students do. Searching for Chinese Dream on search portal Baidu, one can get more than 100 million relevant articles.
The above reactions from the public suggest that President Xi's proposal of a Chinese Dream has resonated among the Chinese people and become a favored topic. Why?
The Chinese Dream has a strong appeal because it reflects the wishes of hundreds of millions of Chinese for a beautiful future. The Chinese nation is a great nation. It has created a splendid civilization. Yet it has also weathered many vicissitudes. In the 100 years from the 1840s to the 1940s, China was repeatedly invaded. The Chinese people suffered extreme hardships and incurred huge sacrifices rarely seen elsewhere.
These tribulations taught the Chinese people a lesson: "Lagging behind leaves one vulnerable to attacks." Thus they derived at a common ideal, that is, to rejuvenate the Chinese nation. From then on, the Chinese people began to pursue this dream.
With the Communist Party of China in the lead, the Chinese people struggled arduously and worked assiduously, and finally in 1949 founded the People's Republic of China. The Chinese people finally stood up.
In the 60 years since then, China has engaged in socialist construction and implemented the reform and opening-up policy. Now the country is at a historical turning point.
By putting forward the Chinese Dream, President Xi opened a new chapter for the Chinese nation in the new century and has inspired the Chinese people to aspire for a beautiful life and the renewal of the nation.
The Chinese Dream has a strong appeal because our people are confident that it can come true. A survey conducted June this year by the Guangdong Provincial Survey and Research Center revealed that most respondents endorsed the Chinese Dream and were optimistic about its realization. Specifically, 89.4 percent believed that the Chinese Dream could be realized.
People are confident in the Chinese Dream because we have found the correct road to realize it. That road is socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is built on experiences accumulated in the three decades of the reform and opening-up drive, in the more than 60 years of consistent refinement after the founding of the People's Republic of China, in the more than 170 years since the Opium War in 1840, and in the 5,000-year-long civilization of the Chinese nation. This road is based on both historical factors and existing realities.
Along this road, we have implemented the reform and opening-up policy for 35 years. During this period, China’s GDP has increased 142 folds and urban residents' income 71 folds. People's living standards have been drastically improved, and so has our comprehensive national strength.
Now, we are closer to our dream and goals than ever. This makes people believe that as long as we follow the road of Chinese socialism, and expand and extend the road timely, the Chinese Dream can certainly be realized, and China's future will certainly be more beautiful.
The Chinese Dream has a strong appeal because our people support and trust the new central collective leadership. In the past year since the convening of the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee led by General Secretary Xi Jinping has broken new ground, introduced new work styles and made fresh progress in various fields.
The CPC Central Committee has adopted eight measures to combat corruption and launched "mass line" educational activities for the Party, so as to make sure that officials are honest, the government is clean and political affairs are handled with integrity.
The new central collective leadership's efforts to improve the governance system and enhance governing ability have brought profound changes to social life in China and further boosted the Chinese people's confidence in the realization of the Chinese Dream.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Chinese Dream is immensely popular and inspiring among the Chinese people, because they are looking forward to our national rejuvenation, and to a beautiful and successful life. In the one year since the Chinese Dream was put forward, it has emitted great positive energy in the country.
The Chinese Dream has motivated the Chinese people. It lays a blueprint for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and evokes people's unprecedented confidence and pride in our nation. It inspires people to work hard for a beautiful life.
Inspired by the Chinese Dream, more and more people have begun to chase their own dreams, including dreams to receive better education, start businesses, purchase homes and get rich. People firmly believe that as long as they work hard, their dreams would come true.
The Chinese Dream has become a driving force behind the deepening of the reforms. At the Third Plenary Session of the 18thCPC Central Committee that concluded not long ago, the Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening the Reforms was adopted.
It has responded to people's concerns and requests and has covered unprecedented reform issues, winning strong public support.
The Decision requires that the tasks to comprehensively deepen the reforms should be completed by 2020. The deadline is the same as that of building China into a moderately prosperous society in comprehensive aspects.
Such broad consensus on comprehensively deepening the reforms has been reached because the reform measures will contribute to the realization of the Chinese Dream.
We can say that deepening the reforms will achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Following this road, we can, step by step, reach our goal and realize our dreams.
The Chinese Dream gives CPC members a clearer understanding of their historical responsibilities. The CPC's fundamental mission is to serve the people. Its major goals are the prosperity of the country, the rejuvenation of the nation and the happiness of the people.
The Chinese Dream proposed by President Xi has closely linked the CPC's policies and practices with the basic interests of the Chinese people, and tightly connected its destiny with the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people.
To strengthen Party building, the CPC has launched "mass line" education activities. This is to fight against formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance in the Party, and remove the dangers confronting the Party, such as a lack of drive, incompetence, being out of touch with the people, corruption and other misconducts.
Through a series of actions to rectify work styles and tighten disciplines, CPC members are more conscientious in upholding people's interests; and the CPC's appeal to the people and its governing ability have also increased measurably.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Chinese dream proposed by President Xi has also caught international attention. I hope, through today's dialogue, more friends across the world will be able to understand the Chinese people's dreams, how they have chased the Chinese Dream and the profound changes brought about by the Chinese Dream.
I believe that the realization of a dream for 1.3 billion people will be a major event in the history of mankind. China will take on a new form and will make greater contribution to the world.
I wish the dialogue a great success. I wish you all a pleasant time in Shanghai. Thank you.
