The Communist Party of China (CPC) has made many innovations to its ruling principles since the 16th Party Congress. The most basic ruling principle is “ruling for the people”. Additionally, over the past 10 years the CPC has focused on scientific development, social harmony and peaceful development.

Scientific development: Get a clearer view of the problems facing Chinese development

The CPC noticed 10 years ago that a ruling party’s most important priority should be to focus on bringing tangible development to the common people.

Over the past 10 years, the CPC has clearly emphasized that all development should be based on scientific approaches. The 2003 outbreak of SARS demonstrated that social institutions were lagging behind economic development. Central authorities quickly realized that previous societal development had been restricted, and a people-oriented developmental model was needed.

The slogan “People-Oriented” is significant and has so far generated positive results in practice. To mention specifics, the theory and application of disaster relief has changed from the past. People’s livelihoods now take priority over state property.

Scientific development should be comprehensive, and include economic, cultural, social, political and democratic factors. Scientific development should be coordinated, and the imbalance between development of social undertaking and the economy must be solved. Scientific development should be sustainable.

Scientific development clearly addresses the problems facing Chinese development, and places a new direction on the future development of the nation.

Social harmony: Let all walks of life have channels for voicing their needs

Building a socialist and harmonious society has been a significant strategic ideology over the past 10 years. However, there have been a large number of sharp social contradictions during this time. The source of these contradictions stems from the unequal benefits given to different levels of society.

These contradictions should be solved by the ruling party through equally addressing demands from all levels of society to let the public feel this is a fair and just society

Society expects more tangible and cultural benefits as it matures. As a result, all levels of society need opportunities to voice their opinions and channel their demands. Democratic and legal systems should be used to address such demands.

Peaceful development: China’s development won’t threaten the West

China has made remarkable achievements over the past three decades. Some Westerners label it as “a rising power”, or even concocted the “China Threat Theory”.

“China Threat Theory” reflects an unbalanced state of mind. The development of China is difficult for such people to accept, and they don’t want to see China develop.

Entering the new century, the CPC put forward a peaceful development theory, trying to explain China’s development for the world as an opportunity, not a challenge.

Actually, China has many internal problems to address before it can focus its attention on the outside world. Traditional Chinese culture also emphasizes harmony. Zheng He, a famous Chinese explorer who traveled to the east coast of Africa, didn’t take a single piece of land from other countries. In contrast, discoveries by Western explorers lead to wars of aggression, colonial rule, the death of indigenous populations and slave trade.

China did not seek hegemony in the past, and if she rises she will continue to follow a path of harmony and prosperity.

The author is a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and author of "Why and How the CPC Works in China".

The article was originally published in Chinese, and translated by An Wei.