General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: " To lead the people to a better life is our Party’s abiding goal." As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved. What we now face is the contradiction between the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. This is a historical change in the overall situation. It requires us to profoundly grasp the rich connotation of "good life". . We must regard the people’s aspirations to live a better life as our goal. On the basis of continuing to promote development, we will focus on solving the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development. We will better meet the growing needs of the people in the economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological fields, and strive to create a better life that belongs to the people in the new era.

Firmly pursue the goal to lead people to a better life  

Living a better life is People’s aspirations for thousands of years. From "ideal country" to "Utopia", from "Datong society" to "ShiwaiTaoyuan", it reflects the persistent pursuit of people from different eras and countries from different aspects. As Engels said: "In each individual's consciousness and feelings, there are some principles that exist as an insurmountable principle. These principles are the result of the development of the entire social history, and there is no need to prove it... for example, everyone is seeking happiness.” This kind of happiness is a vivid interpretation of a good life. In order to achieve this goal, people are either mentally trying to find the key to opening the door to a better life, or exploring the path to a better life from practice. It is precisely because people are full of yearning and expectation for a better life that it promotes the continuous development of human civilization and the continuous progress of human society.

The industrious, courageous and intelligent Chinese people have always loved life and have been struggling unremitting to achieve the goal of a better life. However, for the Chinese people in modern times, life at that time can only be described as in deep water and hot fire. Due to the invasion of Western powers and the corruption of feudal rule, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. The country has been disintegrated and the life of the Chinese was destroyed. The Chinese nation suffered unprecedented hardships. National independence and liberation could not be realized yet. What about the happy life of the people?  On the occasion of the nation's peril, the Chinese people chose the Chinese Communist Party and firmly believed that only the Chinese Communist Party can lead them to a better life. 

The original aspiration and the mission of Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. Therefore, the people’s aspirations for a better life has always been the goal of the Chinese Communists. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people overthrew the reactionary rule of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism, established the People's Republic of China, realized the great leap from thousands of years of feudal autocracy to people's democracy, and provided the fundamental premise for the people to strive for a better life. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, we have completed the socialist revolution, established the socialist system in which the people are the masters of the country, carried out comprehensive and large-scale socialist construction, and completed the most extensive and profound social changes in the history of the Chinese nation, established institutional basis and material basis for the people to create their own beautiful life. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, we carried out a new great revolution of reform and opening up, which greatly inspired the creativity of the broad masses of the people, greatly emancipated and developed social productive forces, and greatly enhanced the vitality of social development. Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, has adhered to the people-centered development concept, grasped the most direct and realistic problems that the people care about most, and handled one thing after another, year after year. Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, has adhered to the people-centered development concept, grasped the most direct and realistic problems that the people care about most, and handled one thing after another, year after year, have solved many long-standing problems that we have wanted to solve but have not yet solved, have accomplished many great things that we wanted to do in the past, achieved historic achievements and achieved historic changes, pushing socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era. The people's material and spiritual lives have been greatly satisfied and their sense of attainment, happiness and security have been further enhanced. The Chinese people are moving towards a more solid and beautiful life step by step. 

Half of the people who have embarked on a one hundred mile journey may fall by the way side. Now, we are closer, more confident and more capable than at any time in history to achieve the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese people are more qualified than at any time in history to achieve the goal of a better life. The closer we get to our goal, the more we need to work hard. In the new era, people expect better education, more stable work, more satisfactory income, more reliable social security, higher level of medical and health services, more comfortable living conditions, more beautiful environment, and children can grow up better, work better and live better. In the new era, the original aspiration and the mission of Chinese Communists, fundamentally speaking, are constantly seeking happiness for the Chinese people,in the historical process of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Chinese Communists lead the people to create their own beautiful life.   

Accurately grasp the rich connotation of the people's aspirations for a better life

In the new era, people have new aspirations for a better life. A good life is a general concept. It includes not only the material life level, but also the spiritual life level and social life level of people. It is the improvement of people's own quality and the filling of inner spirit. It is the harmonious symbiosis between man and nature, and it is the all-round development of man and the overall progress of society. The better life of the new era is the reflection of the people's comprehensive requirements on economy, politics, culture, society and ecology, is the sum of high-level life in all fields. It is closely related to the goal of building a socialist modernization power. It is closely linked to the overall plan “seeking economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress”. It is consistent with the inherent requirements of the socialist core values. This fully reflects the high degree of unity between the all-round development of human beings and the overall progress of society.

A better life is a new life for the common prosperity of the people. Marx and Engels pointed out in the German Ideology: "In order to be able to "create history," people must be able to live. But in order to live, they must first eat, drink, wear, and other things." That is to say, people's better life must be based on sufficient material life materials. In the new era, people must have sufficient material conditions for a better life. Everyone has the opportunity to achieve their own development through hard work. At the same time of economic growth, personal income is also growing. The income gap of residents is reasonably and effectively controlled. Under the current standards, all the poor people in rural areas will get rid of poverty, absolute poverty will be eliminated. We will achieve common prosperity for all people. Everyone can share the fruitful results of reform and development. But at the same time, we cannot equate a good life with the possession of material wealth. Only by establishing a correct view of money and happiness can people truly become the masters of material things and truly control their own good life. 

A better life is a new life in which the people determine their own destiny. China's socialist democracy is the most extensive, true and effective democracy that protects the fundamental interests of the people. A better life in the new era is reflected in the people’s ability to participate in political and social life in an orderly manner. The people conduct democratic elections, democratic consultations, democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic supervision in accordance with the law. The protection of human rights and the rule of law is strengthened, and the people enjoy broad rights and freedoms in accordance with the law. A better life in the new era is reflected in an increasingly perfect rule of law atmosphere. We made laws in a scientific way, enforce them strictly, administer justice impartially, and ensured that everyone abides by the law. The constitutional law is supreme, and everyone is equal before the law. The concept of the rule of law is deeply rooted in people’s hearts. Fairness and justice are widely maintained and extended. A better life in the new era is reflected in the support of the people of all ethnic groups in the Chinese family, holding together like the pomegranate seeds, sharing the same outlook and destiny with oneself, uniting and struggling, and pursuing common prosperity and development. Of course, our democracy is by no means a Western-style democracy, but a people's democracy with socialism with Chinese characteristics. “Finding the greatest common divisor for the will and requirements of the whole society”, which is the true meaning of the people's democracy and an important source of the people's better life.

A better life is a new life in which the people’s spirit is fulfilling. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The biggest difference between human society and the animal world is that people have spiritual needs, and the people's demand for spiritual and cultural life exist all the time." A better life in the new era is manifested in the fact that the spiritual and cultural needs of the people can be fully satisfied, and the Chinese traditional culture is inherited and developed, everyone consciously abides by and practices the core values of socialism, people's value judgment and moral responsibility are significantly enhanced, moral standards are continuously improved, and moral realms are significantly improved; A better life in the new era is manifested in the emergence of outstanding works, which are worthy of our great nation and great times. New forms, new features, and new types of literary and artistic works have become an important part of socialist literature and art, and they have entered people's colorful life. A fulfilling spirit and healthy body will be an important feature of our better life. At the same time, in the field of spiritual culture, we must not allow the penetration and erosion of Western decadent ideas, and we must not allow the decadent and declining of money worship, hedonism, extreme individualism and so on. 

A better life is a new life, which built and shared by the people. Marx once pointed out: "The essence of man is not the abstraction inherent in a single person. In its reality, it is the sum of all social relations." The happiness of a person is inseparable from the harmony of the entire society. A better life in the new era is bound to be built in the environment of public safety and social stability. Social fairness and justice are strongly guaranteed. Everyone is responsible, everyone enjoys. All people have the right to education, employment and pay, medical and old-age services and housing. The people have a sense of happiness and security, which is more substantial, more secure and more sustainable. The social governance pattern of co-construction, governance, and shared has gradually taken shape.The level of social governance is clearly improved in the rule of law, intelligence, and professionalism. Resident autonomy has achieved positive interaction with government governance and social regulation. In the harmonious life which built and shared by the people, we must resolutely oppose all statements and actions that undermine, distort, or negate the leadership of the party and the socialist system of our country. We must staunchly oppose all attempts to split China or undermine its ethnic unity and social harmony and stability. We should use practical actions to create a harmonious and stable social environment for our better life.

A better life is a new life, in which man and nature are in harmony. Man and nature are communities of life, we should respect and protect nature; and accommodate itself to nature's needs. A good ecological environment is the most fair public product, and it is the most popular welfare for the people. We advocate simplicity and moderation, green and low-carbon life style, oppose extravagance, waste and unreasonable consumption. We promote green consumption, civilized consumption, green families, green schools, green communities and green travel. People insist on saving resources and insisting on protecting the environment. Everyone protects the ecological environment like protecting the eyes and treats the ecological environment like treating life. Everyone makes contributions to a beautiful home. The people live in an environment, which has the green mountains, the blue sea and the blue sky. People can enjoy the tranquility and comfort brought by nature at any time, in the green grass, in the jungle, and beside the lake. Of course, creating a better life in harmony with nature is not the simplest kind of planting grass and tree. It is a comprehensive plan covering many aspects. It is a comprehensive and systematic green change. It is a happy life in which people and nature are in harmony.

A better life is a new life, in which the people of the world live in harmony. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The future and destiny of each nation and every country are closely linked. We should meet challenges together, and work hard to build a big harmonious family, turn the aspirations of the people of the world to a better life into reality.” Our better life requires a world, which is far from fear and has universal security, the sun of peace shines on the earth, and everyone enjoys peace and tranquility; Our better life requires a world, which is far from poverty and has common prosperity, the fruits of development benefit the countries of the world, everyone enjoys prosperity and well-being. Our better life requires a world that is far from closed, is open and inclusive, all kinds of civilizations coexist harmoniously and everyone enjoys cultural nourishment. To create such a better life requires us to make friends all over the world, join hands with people from all over the world, promote the building of a community of human destiny, work together to build a better world, and work together to achieve a beautiful dream.

Create a better life that belongs to the people in the great historical journey

The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has drawn a grand blueprint for us to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. The magnificent picture of the people’s good life is slowly unfolding. Under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, we must seize the opportunity,work hard, and strive to create a better life that belongs to the people.

To create a better life that belongs to the people, we must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics. Great practice calls for great theory. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party's outlook, the state's outlook, the people's outlook, the army's outlook and the Chinese nation's outlook have undergone unprecedented changes. In the final analysis, there is a strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. With its strong power of truth, it inspires the whole Party and the people of all nationalities to achieve the goal of a better life. In the new era, let us rally closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, full confidence in the path, theory ,culture and system of Chinese socialism, insist on using Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics, guiding practice, and promoting work, lead the people to achieve the goal of a better life.

To create a better life that belongs to the people, we must always adhere to the people-centered development thought. The people are the creators of history and the fundamental force that determines the future and destiny of the party and the country. We must always adhere to the development for the people, the development depends on the people, and the benefits of development are shared by the people, humbly learn from the people, listen to the voice of the people, and draw on the wisdom of the people. The fundamental criterion for measuring the gains and losses of all work is whether the people support or not, whether they agree or disagree, whether they are happy or not, whether they agree or not. We will work hard to solve the most direct and most realistic interests of the people and let all the people share happiness and glory in the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We must adhere to run the Party for the public’s good and exercise the state power for the benefit of people, practice the fundamental tenet of serving the people wholeheartedly, carry out the party's mass line into all activities of governing the country, take the people's aspirations for a better life as a goal, rely on the people to create historical greatness. We must respect the people's initiative, maximize the wisdom of the masses, unite all forces that can be united, mobilize all positive factors that can be mobilized, and gather together to create the mighty forces that belong to the people's better life.

To create a better life that belongs to the people, we must grasp the major historical opportunity that socialism with Chinese characteristics enters into a new era. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The new era belongs to everyone, and everyone is a witness, founder and builder of the new era. As long as we unite and work together, there will be no power to stop the Chinese people from realizing their dreams!" Creating a better life is closely linked to the great cause of the party and the country. It must be integrated into the new era and integrated into the new journey. This requires us to have a deep understanding of the new requirements of the major contradictions in our society for the work of the party and the state. We should deeply understand that there is no change in China’s basic national conditions and international status. On the basis of continuing to promote development, we will focus on solving the problem of insufficient and imbalance development to better meet the people’s needs for a better life. In the process of effectively responding to major challenges, withstanding major risks, overcoming major obstacles, we must continue to win new victories of great struggles with many new historical features. We should enhance our political faith and our confidence in the path, theories and systems of Chinese socialism and culture. We will not take the old path of a rigid closed-door policy, nor an erroneous path by abandoning socialism, continue to promote the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must continue to carry forward the great creative spirit, great struggle spirit, great solidarity and great dream spirit of the Chinese people. We must actively participate in securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, building a socialist modern power in an all round way and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, to create a better life that belongs to the people.

To create a better life that belongs to the people, we must keep feet firmly on the ground and work hard. General Secretary Xi Jinping advised us: "Happiness comes from struggling." Happiness does not fall from the sky, and dreams do not automatically come true. To achieve our goal and create a better life for the people, we must work hard, work honestly, and work creatively. Labor is the source of wealth, and also the source of happiness. The beautiful dreams in the world can only be realized through labor; all kinds of problems in development can only be solved through labor; all the glory in life can only be created through labor. "As long as you work hard, there is no difficulty in the world." We must firmly establish the concept that labor is the most glorious, noble, greatest and beautiful thing. We should fully arouse the enthusiasm of the people and release the creative potential of the people. Labor has created the Chinese nation, created a glorious history of the Chinese nation, and will certainly create a bright future for the Chinese nation.The Chinese people living in our great motherland and great times enjoy the opportunity of success in life, share the opportunity to make dreams come true, and enjoy the opportunity to grow and progress together with the motherland and the times. With goals, opportunities, and struggles, all better life can be created.

(Author: Tang Zhouyan, Zhang Yong, specially invited researcher in Research Center of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics of Shandong Academy of Social Sciences)