Securing New and Greater Successes in Population-related Work

The 22nd issue of Qiushi Journal in 2024 published an article by the CPC Leadership Group of the National Health Commission which introduces the Commission’s unremitting efforts to promote high-quality population development.

The article stresses that population development is a vital issue bearing on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and that demographic issues have overall, long-term, and strategic significance for our country. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping has elucidated a series of major theoretical and practical issues of fundamental, strategic and overarching importance from the perspective of national rejuvenation and sustained development. This has provided fundamental guidance for population-related work in the new era.

Since 2012, China’s population-related work has continuously made new changes and achieved new successes. For example, as theories on population develop, the Party gains a better understanding of the laws underlying population development; after adjustments to the childbirth policy were made to promote balanced, long-term population development by the CPC Central Committee, a fundamental transformation has been achieved in population-related work; the effectiveness of various major initiatives and policy measures aimed at population development has become increasingly apparent, as evidenced by improvements in population structure, childbirth services, education levels, and public health standards.

The expositions made by General Secretary Xi Jinping and the decisions issued by the CPC Central Committee have demonstrated a profound emphasis on demographic issues, accompanied by a precise grasp of the laws governing population development. They have provided us with clear guidance in analyzing China’s demographic situation and managing population-related work in the new era. From these, we can conclude that, first and foremost, it is necessary to correctly view and understand China’s population dynamics. Furthermore, we should uphold major principles and employ appropriate methodologies in conducting population-related work. Lastly, it is vital for us to constantly keep in mind the key tasks for high-quality population development.

China is striving to achieve modernization for its vast population of over 1.4 billion people, a task of unparalleled difficulty and complexity, for which there is inevitably no precedent to follow. In carrying out population-related work, we must seek inspiration from Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and adopt its worldview and methodology. Particular emphasis should be placed on the methodology encapsulated in the “Six Must-Adherings,” namely, adhering to people-centeredness, adhering to self-confidence and self-reliance, adhering to fundamental principles and breaking new ground, adhering to a problem-oriented approach, adhering to systems thinking, and adhering to a global vision. Only by applying the methodology above can we improve our capability in this regard and secure more successes in population-related work.

Editor: Yi Xiaowei