In 2024, China accelerated its journey towards modernization, distinguishing its path from models seen in developed nations by prioritizing the well-being of its citizens. President Xi Jinping emphasized this people-centric approach, asserting, \"As far as Chinese modernization is concerned, the people's well-being matters the most,\" during his inspection of Chongqing Municipality in April.
Serving the People
President Xi has consistently highlighted the importance of addressing issues that impact citizens' daily lives. His inspection tours across China have focused on understanding the lives of ordinary people, examining aspects such as income, housing, healthcare, education, and elderly care. \"The Communist Party of China is dedicated to serving the people, and the well-being of the people of all ethnic groups and every household is my concern,\" he stated while visiting a multi-ethnic residential community in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in June.
Reflecting this commitment, China's Ministry of Finance allocated 70% of the government expenditure in 2024 towards ensuring the people's well-being. The national general public budget reached approximately 28.55 trillion yuan ($3.91 trillion), marking a 4% increase from the previous year. Significant allocations were made to education, social insurance, and employment, each surpassing 4 trillion yuan.
A Bumper Harvest
Ensuring grain security and revitalizing rural areas were also top priorities for President Xi in 2024. His visits to rural regions included engagements with workers in fields, greenhouses, and orchards, where he delved into crop production and farmers' livelihoods. In March, during a visit to a village in Hunan Province, Xi underscored the necessity of securing China's grain supply for its population exceeding 1.4 billion.
Under his leadership, China's total grain output in 2024 surpassed 706 million tonnes, a 1.6% increase from the previous year, reaching a new record. The expansion of grain planting areas to over 119 million hectares and a 1.3% rise in grain output per unit area contributed to this achievement. Additionally, the implementation of the food security law in June aimed to further stabilize grain and related product supplies.
Accelerating Rural Revitalization
Following the elimination of absolute poverty in 2021, China's focus has shifted to rural revitalization. President Xi reiterated the need for accelerating these efforts during his November 2024 tour of Hubei Province. The government identified 160 major counties for rural revitalization assistance, allocating over 177 billion yuan in subsidies to support their development.
By the end of the first three quarters of the year, rural residents' per capita disposable income rose to 16,740 yuan, a real-term increase of 6.3% annually. The central government also committed 7.4 billion yuan to enhance living conditions and protect ethnic minority villages. Monitoring mechanisms were established to prevent relapsing into poverty, with significant progress reported by September.
Employment-boosting work-relief programs created 2.45 million jobs for low-income workers, a 30.2% year-on-year increase, and distributed 31 billion yuan in wages, up 22.7% from the previous year. By October, employment for poverty-stricken individuals reached 33.079 million, exceeding the annual target by 2.888 million, solidifying the gains made in poverty alleviation.
(The podcast is presented by Li Dongning)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
