In China, the general public’s faith in the government reached as high as 84 percent, according to the recently released 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report. Overtaking the United States by 51 percentage point in terms of the same trust index, China once again topped the global trust survey. The survey result indeed reflects the political inclination and ideological outlook of the Chinese people as they enter a new era. So what is the source of the Chinese government’s credibility? 

Rising national power

The general population’s acknowledgement and trust in Chinese government first comes from the fact that they receive a higher real benefit from the government’s administration. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party and the government have endeavored to further ensure and improve the public’s standard of living by implementing a five-sphered integrated plan to achieve progress in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological dimensions and the four-pronged comprehensive strategy: to take comprehensive measures to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepen reform, advance law-based governance and strengthen Party self-governance. On the basis of rising comprehensive national power, the Chinese people have obtained higher real benefit.

A type of social phenomena, corruption has existed in many societies in ancient times and today. Throughout the whole process of reform and opening up, the Party and the government have been combating corruption. An analysis of the cases investigated and prosecuted since the 18th CPC National Congress shows that some of the offenders’ huge avarice, long histories of corruption, tremendous amount of money misappropriated as well as the vicious influence and dire consequences are quite outrageous.

The anti-corruption campaign began with addressing the symptoms and gradually transitioned to treating the root causes. In the past five years, the goal of creating a deterrent against corruption has been initially attained, the cage of institutions that prevents corruption has been strengthened, and moral defenses against corruption are in the making. The anti-corruption campaign has developed into a crushing tide, and is being consolidated and developed.

The Chinese people applaud these efforts. The campaign to tighten the Party discipline and improve Party conduct complies with the people’s expectations and conforms to the people’s will, winning the Party and the government greater trust and support from the general population.

Sovereignty safeguarded

In response to the changes of the political situation in Taiwan, mainland China, while encouraging the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, has resolutely opposed separatist elements advocating “Taiwan independence.” In reaction to Japan’s unlawful claim of sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, China has conducted regular monitoring to reverse the two countries’ actual ability to control the Diaoyu Islands. In regard to the arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China concerning certain issues in the South China Sea, China declared that it did not accept, participate in or acknowledge the arbitration, and at the same time, it actively promoted construction on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

In response to the anti-globalization trend spreading in the West, China has proposed the “Belt & Road” initiative and welcomes other countries to benefit from its development. China has vowed to continue its fight against climate change and promote global climate governance despite the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. 

All of these steps in recent years have brought China closer to the center of the world arena. These great things powerfully safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests, enhancing the trust from the general population.

Development blueprint

Now that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, it is high time to address the imbalances and inadequacies in development to satisfy people’s ever-growing need for a better life. Therefore, the period between now and 2020 will be decisive in finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. China has drawn up a two-stage development plan for the period from 2020 to the middle of this century—to ensure that socialist modernization is basically realized by 2035 and develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful before the middle of this century. These targets and blueprints are neither abstract concepts nor window dressing, but a vision that is coming true, which belongs to the country, the nation and each Chinese people.

Zuo Peng is a professor from the School of Marxism at the University of Science & Technology Beijing.

(Edited and translated by BAI LE)