许宏晨 | Apply the New Development Philosophy in Full

嘉宾简介：

       许宏晨，北京语言大学外国语学部英语学院教授。2009年于北京大学获得文学博士学位，研究领域为社会语言学与外语教学，应用语言学量化研究方法。2009-2011年在北京外国语大学中国外语教育研究中心外国语言学及应用语言学博士后流动站从事科研工作，主攻语言测试。主持多项国家级和省部级科研项目，出版专著4部，发表论文40余篇。

英文文本：

In reviewing this course of events, I wish to underline the paramount importance of the new development philosophy among the key theories and concepts on economic and social development that we have put forward since the 18th CPC National Congress. As a systematic framework, the new development philosophy addresses a series of theoretical and practical questions regarding our development goals, drivers, methods and pathways, and defines the key political parameters, including our stance, values, and model and path of development. The whole Party must apply the new development philosophy in full, to the letter and in all fields. To this end, we should adopt the following approaches in its implementation:

First, we need to understand the fundamental aim of the new development philosophy. 

As an ancient Chinese statesman observed, “In a country, the people are the most important.” The people represent the most solid foundation and the greatest source of strength for our Party in governing the country. 

Working for the wellbeing of the people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the immutable aim of our Party in leading the modernization drive. It is the ultimate goal of all our work, and also the root and essence of the new development philosophy. We will gain a sound understanding of development and modernization only if we follow a people-centered approach and adhere to the principle that development is for the people and by the people, and that its benefits are shared by the people.

The Soviet Union was the world’s first socialist country and once enjoyed spectacular success. Ultimately, however, it collapsed. One main reason for its failure was that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union became detached from the people and turned into a group of privileged bureaucrats who only served their own interests. Even in a modernized country, if the party in power turns its back on the people, it will imperil the fruits of modernization. Realizing common prosperity is more than an economic goal. It is a major political issue that bears on the foundations of our Party’s governance. We must not allow the gap between rich and poor to get any wider – where the poor keep getting poorer while the rich continue to grow richer. We cannot permit the wealth gap to become an unbridgeable gulf. Of course, we must pursue common prosperity in a progressive manner, giving full consideration to what is necessary and what is possible and adhering to the laws governing economic and social development. 

At the same time, however, we cannot afford to just sit around and wait. We must be proactive about narrowing the gaps between regions, between urban and rural areas, and between rich and poor people. We should promote all-round social progress and well rounded personal development, advocate social equity and justice, and ensure that development offers greater benefits to all the people in a fair way. We should see that our people have a stronger sense of gain, fulfillment and security, and make them feel that common prosperity is not an empty slogan, but a concrete fact that they can see and feel for themselves.

Second, we need to stay problem-oriented in implementing the new development philosophy. 

Today, China stands at a new starting point in development, which requires us to employ a problem-oriented approach so that we can apply the new development philosophy with greater precision.

We need to effectively address imbalances and insufficiencies in order to improve the quality of our development. For example, many obstacles are impeding our progress towards greater self-reliance in science and technology, which is essential to China’s survival and development. Another problem is how to narrow the wide development gap between urban and rural areas and between regions. The answer calls for extensive and in-depth research into many new issues. In particular, we need to intensify our research, and come up with clear ideas about how to manage disparities and restructuring in regional development, accelerated population migration across regions, and a lower desire among rural residents to settle in cities. 

There is a broad consensus about promoting a green transformation in every aspect of economic and social development. However, our energy system is still heavily reliant on coal and other fossil fuels, which puts a great strain on our efforts to realize a green and lowcarbon transformation in our production models and ways of life. The targets of achieving peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 are formidable. 

Given the backlash against economic globalization and the complex and volatile international environment, we need to strike a good balance between strengthening self-reliance and pursuing openness and cooperation, between participating in the international division of labor and safeguarding national security, and between introducing foreign investment and conducting security reviews, so that China can open wider to the outside world without prejudice to its national security. 

In short, at the new development stage, we need to expand our understanding of the new development philosophy, so that we can take more targeted and more concrete measures that will truly deliver high-quality development.

Third, we need to be mindful of potential risks. 

“Prior planning prevents pitfalls and proper preparation preempts perils.” As the principal challenge in our society has changed and the global balance of power is shifting, China will have to contend with more internal and external risks. We must be more aware of potential dangers, have plans in place to counter worst-case scenarios, and prepare for more complex and graver challenges. 

The Central Committee prioritized issues of security in its Recommendations for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. It advises that we ensure security in all areas and throughout the process of China’s development. If our security foundations are unstable, our development will be precarious. We should uphold political security, the safety of the people, and the interests of the nation as an indivisible whole. We must have the courage and capacity to meet challenges, and build up our strength to deter threats.

We should prevent drastic fluctuations in the macro economy and avoid excessive foreign investment inflows or outflows in the capital market. We must ensure the security of food, energy, and key resources, as well as the stability and security of industrial and supply chains. We need to prevent the disorderly expansion and unchecked growth of capital, and ensure eco-security and workplace safety. We should guard against the risk of large-scale job losses, improve public health security, and effectively prevent and handle incidents of social disturbance.

In strengthening the institutional framework for safeguarding national security, we should draw on the experience of other countries, work out how to establish appropriate safeguards where necessary, and identify effective solutions for a range of national security issues.