Q: To build a harmonious and well-off society is an
ideal that humankind has always pursued. Is it too early, however,
for China, a country with a serious wealth gap and significant
urban-rural disparity, to propose and strive for the concept of a
"harmonious society?" What is the government's overall goal, and
how will the government help people realize it?
A: International experiences show there are two possible
outcomes for a low-income country striving to become a
medium-income country, or to increase the per-capita GDP from
US$1,000 to US$3,000. One is that the country will move into a
"golden developing period," maintaining economic growth for a
comparatively long period of time and smoothly realizing
industrialization and modernization. The other potential outcome is
that the country will move into a "period of acute conflicts," when
the incompatibility between economic and social development exposes
all kinds of economic and social contradictions, which, if not
handled well, will intensify. This could retard development and
even trigger social uneasiness and recession.
China began this transition in 2003 when its per-capita GDP
reached the threshold of $1,000. As China is now in the process of
system transition, restructuring and reform, the country has
created the greatest economic miracle humankind has ever seen, with
two decades of economic growth as high as 9 percent. But the price
for this rapid growth is growing social disharmony, with unfair
income distribution, a wealth gap, unemployment and corruption as
the key complaints. Under such circumstances, to build a harmonious
society is crucial to realize a smooth transition, and achieve
prosperity for all Chinese people.
The "socialist harmonious society" that China is going to build
is defined as a stable and orderly society embracing democracy, the
rule of law, equality, justice, sincerity, amity and vitality,
where humans and nature are in harmony. The overall goals include
to expand the middle class, reduce the number of low-income and
impoverished people, make incomes more equitable, crack down on
corruption and illegal income, strengthen transfer payments, focus
on expanding employment, strive to improve social and labor
relations, and handle with due prudence all kinds of emerging
social conflicts in accordance with the new conditions, so as to
build a well-off society where there is happiness, justice,
harmony, thriftiness and vitality.
It has been an ideal for humankind as well as for the Communist
Party of China to realize social harmony and build a well-off
society. China pledges to build a harmonious society in two decades
as the concept aligns with the interests of its 1.3 billion
people.
Many farmers in China still use oxen to
work their fields. The government has a long way to go to narrow
the gap between urban and rural areas.
