Phoenix TV:

China has proposed developing whole-process people's democracy. The West has always relied on counterbalance among parties and referendums to test their democracy. How will China ensure democracy in its whole-process people's democracy? Besides, China has officially put common prosperity on the agenda. Now China's economic growth rate is slowing. Will it pose a challenge for the country to achieve common prosperity? How can China achieve common prosperity with the pressure of economic growth? Thank you. 

Xu Lin:

Your questions concern two aspects. Therefore, let us invite Mr. Jiang and Mr. Han to answer them respectively. 

Jiang Jinquan:

Developing whole-process people's democracy is a major proposition that General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward based on the development of democracy in China. It's also included in the communique of the sixth plenary session. Your question is a very good one, and I would like to share my views with you. 

Democracy is a shared value of all human beings and a critical philosophy that the CPC and the Chinese people have unswervingly upheld. The Party has held the banner of people's democracy since its founding. By reviewing the gains and losses of political development at home and abroad, the Party keenly realized that China's political civilization and political system must be deeply rooted in China's society. It will not work for China to copy the political systems of other countries, which may even ruin the country's future. 

Democracy is not an exclusive patent of Western countries and should not be defined and dictated by Western countries. Democracy is, at its core, all about the people running the country. The electoral democracy that some Western countries are proud of is an election ruled by capital and a game of capitalist groups. It is the "democracy" of the rich. It is not a real democracy.

At the same time, the democratic mode across the globe cannot be the same. Even among different Western countries, the democratic systems and forms are not entirely identical. The practice of measuring the diverse political systems with a single yardstick and judging the colorful political civilization of humanity from a simplistic perspective is undemocratic. As for which country's democracy is good or bad, people living in that country have a natural feeling and say. This shouldn't be judged by a handful of people from other countries. Some Western countries see their democracy being hollowed out, and their people become more and more dissatisfied with it. Meanwhile, they wantonly impose their so-called democratic mode on other countries, which is not fit for local conditions, bringing severe disasters and sufferings to the people of related countries. This is becoming more and more clear to people all over the world.

Friends from the media may have noticed some recent statistics. The latest opinion poll released by American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on Oct. 31 showed that 57% of respondents globally and 72% of respondents in the U.S. do not believe that the U.S. democracy is a good example. Another opinion poll in the U.S. showed that over 81% of Americans are worried about their democracy. In stark contrast to that, two opinion polls by American institutions showed that Chinese citizens' satisfaction with the Party and the government of China reached 95% and 98%, respectively. Any clear-eyed people will find it easy to conclude which is better. Next month, the U.S. is to host a so-called summit for democracy, with an attempt to revitalize Western democracy. To convene such a summit when Western countries face loads of problems in democracy is such an ironic thing. The intention is clearly to undermine other countries and divide the world into two groups or multiple groups. The results will be nothing but worse. To this, the CPC and the Chinese people have always had a clear head. We are eager to learn what lessons we can from the achievements of other cultures and welcome helpful suggestions and constructive criticism. However, we will not accept sanctimonious preaching from those who feel they have the right to lecture us.

Democracy is not an adornment used for decorative purposes. However, it is used to solve problems faced by the people. In judging a country, whether democratic or not, the key is to see whether the people indeed run the country. It is important to see whether the people have the right to vote, and more importantly, whether they have the right to broader participation. Compared with what oral promises are made to the people in the electoral process, it is more important to see how many of these promises are delivered afterward. It is essential to see the systems and laws institute what kinds of political procedures and rules, and more importantly, whether these systems and laws are genuinely executed. It is necessary to see whether the rules and procedures governing the exercise of power are democratic, and more importantly, whether the power is genuinely under oversight and checks by the people. If the people of a country are only called upon to vote and are forgotten once they cast a vote, or if the people only hear high-sounding promises during the election campaign and yet have no say whatsoever afterward, or if the people are wooed to get their votes and ignored once the voting is over, then such a democracy is not a true democracy.

Developing socialist democracy is a long commitment of the CPC. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has remained committed to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics, worked to ensure that the Party's leadership, the people's position as masters of the country and law-based governance form an indivisible whole, and firmly opposed the delusion of some political thoughts in Western countries—so-called "constitutionalism," the power rotation among multiple political parties, and "the separation of powers," thus embarking on a democratic path of developing whole-process people's democracy. China's whole-process people's democracy is a complete institutional chain, including electoral democracy, consultative democracy, social democracy, primary-level democracy, citizen democracy, and all other elements of democratic politics. It covers democratic elections, democratic consultation, democratic decision-making, democratic management, democratic supervision, and all other fields of the democratic process. It is not only based on a complete institutional procedure but also full participation and practice. It is a democracy in terms of process and outcome. It achieves the integration of procedural and substantive democracy, and direct and indirect democracy. It is people's democracy and at the same time represents the will of the state. It is the democracy that involves all links, covers all aspects, and the entire population. It is the most broad-based, genuine, and effective socialist democracy. With diverse, smooth, and orderly democratic channels, it effectively guarantees that all the Chinese people can engage in the management of state, economic, cultural, and social affairs through various ways and in various forms following the law. As a result, the Chinese people have strong confidence in their political system. And the fundamental reason is that China's whole-process people's democracy is highly democratic in terms of both quantity and quality, and is sincerely welcomed by the Chinese people. This is the true democracy of the people. Thanks.

Han Wenxiu:

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that common prosperity should be promoted through high-quality development, which has clarified how to achieve common prosperity and the objectives. To advance common prosperity, addressing the issue of development is the top priority, and distribution is also essential. However, we cannot achieve common prosperity only by distribution. Although China's per capita GDP has exceeded $10,000, it has not reached the level of high-income countries. Therefore, even the equal distribution of the total national income cannot help us realize common prosperity. There is no shortcut or magic trick to achieve common prosperity. It must be delivered through the hard work of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people.

First, promoting common prosperity requires high-quality development. China remains the largest developing country globally, and we still need to solve problems on our way forward through development. In the new era, we must implement the new development philosophy thoroughly and accurately to realize high-quality development. We should make growth more balanced, coordinated, and inclusive, constantly narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas and between regions, and lay a solid foundation for common prosperity at the source. Furthermore, we should uphold people-centered development thinking and ensure equal opportunities, rules, rights and interests for our people to create social wealth and jointly share the development fruits. Thus, we can say that promoting high-quality development is also a process of dealing with the main problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, raising the proportion of the middle-income group and improving the distribution structure, advancing well-rounded development of the people, and forwarding common prosperity.

Last year, in the face of COVID-19, China took the lead in restoring economic growth and got rid of extreme poverty as scheduled. It also completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. All these demonstrate China's strong economic resilience. Economic fluctuation is a short-term phenomenon, while common prosperity is a long-term objective. The Chinese economy has sound fundamentals, the potential of enormous domestic demand, and massive growth space. Therefore, it is fully capable of sustaining long-term sound development and providing a more solid material foundation for furthering common prosperity effectively.

Second, promoting common prosperity demands an income distribution system that reflects efficiency and advances equity. Primary distribution plays a fundamental role in forming the final distribution pattern. We should adhere to the distribution system in which distribution according to work is dominant and a variety of modes of distribution coexist, and encourage and guide members of society to become well-off through working honestly, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We should focus on both efficiency and equity for primary distribution, standardize the distribution order, and reasonably control the initial distribution gap. Redistribution should further adjust the distribution gap and better perform its function of adjusting income by improving the tax system, increasing the proportion of direct tax, and strengthening tax collection and administration. At the same time, we need to refine the social security system and the transfer payment system, and enhance support and assistance to low-income people and areas in need. We should better help those most in need, increase the low-income group's earnings, and make the olive-shaped distribution structure smaller at both ends and more significant in the middle. Redistribution should balance efficiency and equity instead of gaining in one area and losing in another. In short, we need to develop a basic institutional arrangement for coordinating primary, secondary, and tertiary distribution so that distribution adjustment can help make the cake bigger and share it fairly.

Third, promoting common prosperity calls on all enterprises to "run their affairs well." Entrepreneurs can contribute to common prosperity through a variety of channels and means. But it is essential to do business following the law and good faith, pay taxes under relevant laws and regulations, fulfill social responsibilities, treat employees and customers well, protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers and consumers, run their businesses well, and create wealth for the society. These are what all enterprises are meant to do and the "right path" to contribute to common prosperity. At the same time, China encourages and supports enterprises and entrepreneurs who are willing and able to actively participate in public welfare and charity programs. Objectively, this can play a role in the tertiary distribution. As China's enterprises continue to grow, more people become well-off, and the national incentive policies improve, the country's charity cause will see significant development. However, a charitable donation is voluntary. We will never undercut the rich to aid the poor, weaken the rich such that they become poor, or force people to donate, because these practices are not in line with the essence of common prosperity, nor can they help achieve common prosperity. Thank you.