Xiaokang society, or "a moderately prosperous society in all respects," is a 
term that carries a long-cherished dream of the Chinese nation. On July 1, 
China announced achieving its first centenary goal of building such a society. 
But what does it mean for a country of 1.4 billion people and the world at 
large?

A white paper titled "China's Epic Journey from Poverty to Prosperity" released 
on Tuesday has the answers.

By the Chinese people, for the Chinese nation 

In the traditional Confucian sense, Xiaokang is a state wherein, despite 
imperfections, everyone is adequately provided for. It was reintroduced into 
political discourse in the 1970s, and the Communist Party of China (CPC) has 
since led efforts to turn this concept into reality. 

It is a "critical step towards national rejuvenation," according to the white 
paper.  

After realizing Xiaokang, China has turned to the second centenary goal of 
building a modern socialist country in an all-round way by the middle of the 
century to celebrate the centenary of the People's Republic of China. 

Noting that all-round development is essential to moderate prosperity, the 
paper details the progress made in economic, political, cultural, social and 
eco-environmental fields in the process of building a moderately prosperous 
society. 

For example, China's economic strength has increased significantly, with its 
GDP soaring to about 101.6 trillion yuan (about $15.7 trillion) last year from 
67.9 billion yuan ($10.53 billion) in 1952. 

The paper also highlights the concept of "prosperity for all," where all people 
share the fruits of development and "no individual, region or ethnic group is 
left behind" in this kind of society. 

The living standards of the poor have risen substantially, achievements in 
rural infrastructure are great, and a new urban-rural relationship is taking 
shape, according to the paper. 

Carrying tremendous global weight 

As for the significance of Xiaokang society for the progress of mankind, the 
paper explains that a more prosperous and stable China – the world's most 
populous and largest developing country – contributes to world peace and 
development in its own right. 

In achieving a moderately prosperous society, China has helped to dramatically 
reduce the world's poverty-stricken population, it said. 

In February, President Xi Jinping announced China's eradication of extreme 
poverty, saying that more than 10 million impoverished people were lifted out 
of poverty on average each year since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 
2012. 

This means that China met the poverty eradication target set in the United 
Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. 

Meanwhile, the paper noted that China's mutually beneficial opening-up policy 
will help build an even more open economy, so as to provide other countries 
with more opportunities in markets, investment and growth. 

China's experience offers a new option for those countries and peoples who are 
looking for both rapid growth and independence, said the paper. 

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-09-28/China-issues-white-paper-about-achieving-moderately-prosperous-society-13UWW5MBRD2/index.html


SOURCE: CGTN