Connotations of Chinese Dream

By Cai Mingzhao (China Daily) Updated: 2013-12-09 07:19

It means nation's rejuvenation and has a strong appeal as it reflects the wishes of all Chinese people for a better future

In November last year, soon after the conclusion of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Xi Jinping put forward, for the first time, the idea of the Chinese Dream on a visit to "The Road towards Renewal" exhibition at the National Museum of China.

In March this year, he further elaborated on the Chinese Dream in his speech at the closing ceremony of the First Session of the 12th National People's Congress. Since then, he has talked about the concept on a number of occasions.

Xi stressed that the Chinese Dream means the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It embodies achieving prosperity for the country, renewal of the nation and happiness for the citizens. Only when the country is doing well, can the nation and people do well.

Xi emphasized that the Chinese Dream in essence means the dream of the people. The Chinese Dream is to let people enjoy better education, more stable employment, higher incomes, a greater degree of social security, better medical and health care, improved housing conditions and a better environment. It is to let our children grow up well, have satisfactory jobs and live better lives.

Xi stressed that all the Chinese people who live in our great country at this great time have the opportunity to enjoy a successful life, the opportunity to realize one's dream, and the opportunity to grow and progress together with the country.

Xi also emphasized that the Chinese Dream is a dream for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit for all. It is connected to the beautiful dreams of the people in other countries. The Chinese Dream will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also people of all countries in the world.

Xi's statements have thus explained the meanings of the Chinese Dream.

I believe that every person in China has his or her own understanding of the Chinese Dream. Searching for Chinese Dream on search portal Baidu, one can get more than 100 million relevant articles. President Xi's proposal of a Chinese Dream has resonated among the Chinese people and become a favored topic. Why?

The Chinese Dream has a strong appeal because it reflects the wishes of hundreds of millions of Chinese for a beautiful future. The Chinese nation is a great nation. It has created a splendid civilization. Yet it has also weathered many vicissitudes. In the 100 years from the 1840s to the 1940s, China was repeatedly invaded. The Chinese people suffered extreme hardships and incurred huge sacrifices rarely seen elsewhere.

These tribulations taught the Chinese people a lesson: "Lagging behind leaves one vulnerable to attacks." Thus they derived at a common ideal, that is, to rejuvenate the Chinese nation. From then on, the Chinese people began to pursue this dream.

With the Communist Party of China in the lead, the Chinese people struggled arduously and worked assiduously, and finally in 1949 founded the People's Republic of China. The Chinese people finally stood up.

In the 60 years since then, China has engaged in socialist construction and implemented the reform and opening-up policy. Now the country is at a historical turning point.