For whom governance performance is pursued, what kind of governance performance to pursue, and how to achieve it.
Editor’s Note: Why does the Chinese leadership emphasize the correct understanding of governance performance? Ma Hui, vice minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, shares his insights on China’s governance at this edition of the China Briefing newsletter.
As the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, political parties in some countries are confronted with difficulties arising from political polarization, economic stagnation and hardships in people’s lives. As China embarks on the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has launched a Party-wide campaign to establish and practice a correct view of governance performance. These efforts focus on three fundamental questions: for whom governance performance is pursued, what kind of governance performance to pursue, and how to achieve it (政绩为谁而树、树什么样的政绩、靠什么树政绩). This will help provide a solid underpinning for advancing Chinese modernization and may offer inspiration for political parties around the world to address development and governance challenges.
The CPC delivers for the people. Committed to serving the public good and governing for the people, the CPC is dedicated wholeheartedly to serving the people. The people-centered approach is the fundamental political stance of the CPC. Governance performance is not an abstract idea, but tangible outcomes in people’s lives: secure housing, stable employment, and genuine public confidence in the future. Guided by a people-centered development philosophy, we take improving people’s lives and enhancing their wellbeing as the starting point and ultimate goal.
The CPC pursues governance performance that stands the test of practice, the people, and history. In contrast to those focused narrowly on short-term results, the CPC remains committed to strengthening fundamentals, laying solid foundations, and pursuing long-term gains. Anchored in high-quality development, it rejects quick wins and superficial prosperity, and places greater emphasis on quality, efficiency and sustainability. What the Party strives for are substantive achievements that value both visible progress and long-term foundational gains in governance performance.
The CPC achieves governance performance through solid work, sound decision-making and sustained efforts. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Party proceeds from reality and conducts in-depth research in all its work. It firmly opposes formalism and vanity projects that serve no real purpose. Evaluation of governance performance places greater emphasis on a comprehensive range of indicators beyond GDP, including concrete progress in social stability, livelihood improvement, ecological protection and safe development. Officials are encouraged to act with perseverance and focus, ensuring that policies and projects deliver solid governance performance.
The CPC’s people-first governance philosophy, its pursuit of delivering for the people, and the practice of a correct view of governance performance provide a path and solution for political parties worldwide to strengthen self-improvement and enhance governance effectiveness. The CPC stands ready to deepen exchanges and mutual learning on governance experience, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and contribute to advancing the cause of human progress and jointly building a better world.
Author: Ma Hui is the Vice Minister of the International Department of
the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
