"The people are the nation, and the nation is the people." This profound statement clarifies our Party's governing philosophy. It is a landmark, original contribution of the Party's innovative theory in the new era. From its initial articulation at the mobilization conference for studying the Party's history—"The people are the nation, and the nation is the people; public support determines the Party's survival"—to the further elaboration at the 100-th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Party—"To seize and safeguard the nation means to safeguard the hearts of the people," our Party has continuously deepened its understanding of this critical insight. We have infused the fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people with richer, more vibrant contemporary significance.
The nation is founded on its people, and the state exists for their sake. The land belongs to the people, bears the name of the people, and the Party has tightly bound the country with the people—a relationship fundamentally determined by the Party's nature and mission. Our Party always represents the fundamental interests of the vast majority of the people, holds no special interests of its own, and never serves any interest group, powerful clique, or privileged class. Because the Communist Party of China draws its roots from the people, its lifeblood from the people, and its strength from the people—sharing in their joys and sorrows, relying on them for survival—the state remains firmly in the hands of the people. Safeguarding and building a prosperous nation for the people has become the enduring pursuit of the Communist Party of China.
"The people are the country, and the country is the people." This scientific insight clarifies the central role of the people. The people are the creators of history and true heroes. From relying on workers and peasants to establish a red China, to igniting the entrepreneurial passion of the masses that sparked a construction boom; from gathering public wisdom and strength to open up new development horizons, to unifying the efforts of all people to continuously create Chinese miracles—our Party's 105-year history is one of close reliance on the people, relentless struggle, and constant victory. The people are our Party's greatest source of confidence in governance, the solid foundation of the Republic, and the cornerstone of strengthening the Party and the nation. As General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "To build a fully developed socialist modern country, the people are the decisive force," and "To comprehensively advance the building of a modern socialist country, we must fully unleash the creative power of hundreds of millions of people."
On this new journey, we must uphold the people-first principle, respect the initiative of the masses, and fully mobilize their enthusiasm, creativity, and drive. We should sincerely learn from the people, seek their guidance, and draw wisdom from them. We will advance whole-process people's democracy, ensuring that citizens manage state affairs, economic and cultural undertakings, and social matters through various channels in accordance with the law. With a sense of ownership, they will enthusiastically contribute to modernization. We will faithfully implement the development philosophy centered on the people, keeping their safety, well-being, and livelihoods at the forefront. We will earnestly address practical concerns such as employment, education, social security, healthcare, housing, elderly care, food safety, and public security—issues that matter most to the public. By doing so, we will continuously enhance people's sense of gain, happiness, and security, ensuring that the fruits of modernization benefit all citizens more equitably and comprehensively.
(Editor: Yin Xia)
