Positive changes the defining feature of the past and future

The Chinese Dream, proposed by Xi Jinping when he became general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in late 2012, has been the catchword for the country since then. It will continue to frame the agenda for the nation after the 19th CPC National Congress that begins later this month. President Xi has emphasized the purpose of government is to protect and improve the lives of the people and the Chinese Dream serves as a clarion call for bringing real benefits to the Chinese people.

The first stage of this dream, building a moderately prosperous society, is to be attained by deepening reform and governing the nation according to the law, which requires strict governance of the Party.

As the other three goals would be impossible to realize without the rectitude of Party members, an anti-corruption campaign has been rigorously implemented, effectively curbing the rampant corruption within the Party and government that had previously accompanied the country’s dramatic economic growth.

And in this regard, great achievements have been made. In the past five years, 140 officials at ministerial level or above have been either investigated or indicted, which indicates the central leadership’s resolve to make everyone equal before the law and its bid to consolidate the Party’s governing capabilities by ensuring the probity of officials.

With such needed change has come the better-than-expected performance of the country’s economy over the past five years, much higher than the world’s average, despite the headwinds of economic restructuring and the difficult external environment.

Last year, China’s gross domestic product reached $11.2 trillion, accounting for 15 percent of the global total, 3 percentage points higher than that of 2012. From 2013 to 2016, China’s economy contributed 30 percent to the world’s economic growth, more than that of the eurozone, the United States and Japan combined.

That achievement has been the hallmark of resolve demonstrated by the country’s leaders over the past five years to advance necessary economic and social reforms that have entered the deep-water stage.

There is a lot more that can be said about the progress that has been made over the past five years. But there is one word that encapsulates what the country and its people have experienced in that time — change.

Some have sought to ignore or belittle that change, but it is there nonetheless. And people here are aware of it, and feel its effects.

Some who benefited from the situation before change, and sought continuation of the existing status quo may have grudges or grievances. Yet, for most people, the change has been undeniably for the better and will be even more so in the near future.