Study Notes | Considering Issues from the People’s Perspective

Taking trains, switching buses, traveling for over three hours, walking through pomelo groves and chatting with villagers about their daily lives and harvests… During the first domestic inspection following the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, the leader traveled from Guangzhou City in Guangdong Province to Nanfu Village in YanYang Town, Meizhou City, located in northeastern Guangdong.

When asked about the purpose of this visit, the leader explained the intention: “This is a revolutionary area. As a forefront of reform and opening up, Guangdong has development imbalances, which is also my concern.”

“We must remain true to our original aspirations, consider issues from the people’s perspective, ensure and improve people’s livelihoods through development, and steadily advance common prosperity.” This was the solemn declaration made during the Fourth Plenary Session.

Sharing the concerns of the people is our Party’s original aspiration and enduring commitment. From wartime to peacetime, from bravely facing national crises to fearlessly overcoming obstacles, from pioneering reforms to wholeheartedly promoting development, and from working tirelessly for national rejuvenation – all these efforts aim to fulfill the people’s aspirations for a better life.

Having grown up from the loess lands, the leader has always maintained the unwavering belief that “we must do practical things for the people.” This conviction sprouted during the years working and living alongside villagers as an educated youth, was practiced through tireless research to solve food security issues on the plains of central Hebei, manifested in the earnest reminder to “remember the word ‘people’ before ‘government'” in Fujian, embodied in the governance wisdom of “addressing conflict hotspots to earn people’s trust” in Zhejiang, and crystallized in the heartfelt declaration of “serving as willing oxen for the people” during work in Shanghai.

Currently, we are only ten years away from basically achieving socialist modernization. The 15th Five-Year Plan period represents a crucial phase for “consolidating foundations and making comprehensive efforts.” Understanding the requirement to “consider issues from the people’s perspective” within the context of our era’s development reveals its profound significance.

Making “putting the people first” a fundamental principle and “continuously improving people’s quality of life” a primary objective of economic and social development, the people-centered development philosophy permeates the 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations.

A nation’s wealth lies in enriching its people. Common prosperity concerns the vital interests of the people – it cannot be rushed, nor can it be delayed.

Among the objectives for basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035, “achieving more substantial progress in common prosperity for all people” serves as a key indicator.

The 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations emphasize in their guiding principles that common prosperity for all people should take solid steps forward. When explaining the discussion draft of the plan recommendations, the leader highlighted this as “an overarching requirement guiding economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.”

In Chinese modernization, people’s livelihoods take precedence. Development serves people’s livelihoods, while people’s livelihoods connect to domestic demand and development.

The 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations focus on building a strong domestic market, clearly proposing “closely integrating livelihood benefits with consumption promotion, and combining investment in material infrastructure with investment in human capital.”

Specifically, by addressing employment – the most crucial livelihood issue – the foundation for consumption growth can be continuously strengthened; continuously increasing investment in education, social security, and other human capital areas will inevitably promote a virtuous cycle of “human capital improvement – increased resident income – consumption-driven economic growth”; dedicating sincere efforts to addressing people’s urgent concerns and difficulties helps cultivate new economic growth points while improving people’s wellbeing…

During the first domestic inspection following the Fourth Plenary Session, while deploying high-standard construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the leader called for “streng

Guangzhou City

Guangzhou is a major port city in southern China and the capital of Guangdong province, with a history spanning over 2,200 years. It was a key terminus of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and later became a critical trading post for European merchants. Today, it is a modern metropolis known for its significant international trade fairs and vibrant Cantonese culture.

Nanfu Village

Nanfu Village is a traditional Hakka village located in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, China, renowned for its well-preserved circular fortified architecture known as tulou. These earthen structures, some dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, were built by the Hakka people for defensive purposes and communal living. Today, the village offers a glimpse into the unique history, culture, and resilient spirit of the Hakka community.

YanYang Town

Yan’yang Town is a historic water town located in Zhejiang Province, China, known for its well-preserved ancient architecture and scenic canals. Its history dates back over 1,300 years to the Tang and Song dynasties, when it served as a prosperous trading hub along the Grand Canal. Today, it is celebrated for its traditional stone bridges, old residences, and serene waterways that attract tourists seeking a glimpse of classical Jiangnan culture.

Meizhou City

Meizhou City is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province, China, renowned as the ancestral home and cultural center of the Hakka people. It is most famous for the Meizhou Ancestral Temple, a sacred site dedicated to the Guardian Deity of the Hakka, which has been a focal point of worship and cultural identity for centuries. The city preserves a rich Hakka heritage, evident in its unique traditional architecture, such as the circular tulou buildings, and its distinctive customs and language.

Guangdong Province

Guangdong Province is a coastal region in southern China with a history dating back over 2,000 years, once known as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. It has long been a major center for international trade and migration, particularly through its bustling capital city of Guangzhou. Today, Guangdong is a global economic powerhouse and a cultural hub, renowned for its influential Cantonese language, cuisine, and Lingnan architectural traditions.

Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee is a key political meeting of the Communist Party of China, typically focused on internal party governance and strategic direction. Historically, such plenums have addressed significant ideological and organizational issues, with this session expected to reinforce party discipline and unity in line with contemporary national goals.

15th Five-Year Plan

The “15th Five-Year Plan” is not a physical place or cultural site, but a strategic economic and social development blueprint for China. It refers to the series of national development guidelines, with the 15th iteration covering the period from 2026 to 2030. Its history is part of China’s long-term planning system that began in 1953 to guide the country’s modernization and growth.

Hainan Free Trade Port

The Hainan Free Trade Port is a major economic initiative launched by the Chinese government in 2020, building upon the province’s existing status as a special economic zone. Its goal is to transform the entire island of Hainan into a globally influential, high-level free trade port by the middle of the 21st century. The policy features liberalized trade and investment, with streamlined customs and special tax incentives designed to attract international business and boost economic development.