“People-Centered: The Comprehensive Development of People and Society” Achievement Release Conference and Academic Seminar

On September 17, “People-Centered: The Comprehensive Development of People and Society” Achievement Release Conference and Academic Seminar was held at Renmin University of China.

LIN Shangli, former President of Renmin University of China and dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy, and RUC Vice President ZHI Xiaoqiang attended the Conference and delivered remarks. LIU Qing, executive dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy, presided over the opening session.

LIN Shangli stated that the research findings presented at the event, People-Centered: The Comprehensive Development of People and Society, were developed on the basis of a synthesis of China’s development experience and an understanding of and concern for the evolving trends of human society. As an original academic contribution with both theoretical value and practical significance, the research offers a fresh perspective for the in-depth study of Chinese modernization and the assessment of global development trends. Research on the Comprehensive Development of People and Society (CDGs) emerged from global discussions on the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the digital age, humans and intelligent agents coexist. The concept of sustainable development faces challenges in keeping pace with the demands of the times. The comprehensive development of people and society has thus become a new issue of both contemporary and global significance. Integrating Marxist theory, development economics, and China’s development practices, the research will further develop a systematic indicator framework to support assessments of local development in China and provide a frame of reference for global development. In his concluding remarks, Lin said that the research team would fully incorporate scholars’ high-quality feedback, continue to refine its original theoretical framework, and build a flagship academic brand with international influence.

ZHI Xiaoqiang noted that the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) profoundly elaborates the essential requirements of Chinese modernization and proposes that by 2035, more notable and substantive progress will be made in promoting the people’s well-rounded development and prosperity for all. Grasping the inherent logic between the all-round progress of society and people’s well-rounded development, and constructing a theoretical framework suited to Chinese practice, is a major question of our times that China’s philosophy and social sciences must answer well. As the first new-type regular university founded by the CPC, Renmin University of China has always aligned its development with the cause of the Party and the country, consciously shouldering the historic responsibility of developing an independent knowledge system for China. The original academic contribution People-Centered: The Comprehensive Development of People and Society both builds on and innovates upon the United Nations’ concept of sustainable development while grounding itself in China’s development practices and Chinese civilization. It offers a strategic opportunity for China to move from being a “leader in development practices” to becoming a “contributor to development theory.” Renmin University of China will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation among think tanks, universities, and research institutions, working together to advance understanding of the major issue of the comprehensive development of people and society. It will also strive to produce more high-quality research that serves the advancement of Chinese modernization and promotes the comprehensive development of people and society.

LIU Chang, an associate professor at the National Academy of Development and Strategy and a key member of the research team, presented the research findings of People-Centered: The Comprehensive Development of People and Society.

Situated at the historic juncture where the digital age converges with a century of profound transformation, People-Centered: The Comprehensive Development of People and Society systematically traces the evolution of human development concepts from industrial civilization to digital civilization. Building on the core principles of sustainable development, the research offers a systematic and in-depth interpretation of the concept of the comprehensive development of people and society. In the digital age, the tension between humans and technology is emerging as a new central contradiction. The concept of sustainable development alone can no longer adequately address emerging challenges such as algorithmic power, the data divide, and the crisis of human agency. The concept of the comprehensive development of people and society places people at the center and makes their development the ultimate goal, while recognizing society as the foundation and setting for development. It encompasses five key dimensions: material prosperity, spiritual fulfillment, ecological well-being, social harmony, and effective governance. It seeks to coordinate four fundamental relationships: between people, between people and society, between humanity and nature, and between humanity and technology. The research has developed an assessment framework encompassing eight dimensions and conducted empirical assessments of 222 countries and territories worldwide. It provides a theoretical framework and practical tools to support countries in formulating medium- and long-term development plans.

During the keynote speech session, LIU Gang, president and Party committee secretary of the Xinhua Institute, examined human modernization, social modernization, and comprehensive development, explaining the modernization of people and society from the perspective of humanistic economics. ZHOU Li’an, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), director of the Department of Economics and Management at Peking University, and a state-level distinguished professor, delivered a presentation titled “From the Purpose of Development to the Mechanisms of Development.” He provided an in-depth analysis of how development concepts can be translated into practice through incentive structures and organizational mechanisms. CHEN Binkai, vice president of the Central University of Finance and Economics, noted that the concept of the comprehensive development of people and society conceptualizes China’s development experience and provides a new guiding framework for future global economic development. TANG Xiao, secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee of Tsinghua University, addressed the design of performance indicators to support the comprehensive development of people and society. He proposed that such indicators should possess three key attributes: validity, degree of distinction and commensurability. He also explored how they can reflect development outcomes in different contexts. YANG Guangbin, dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China, drew on comparative politics to explain in depth why social revolution constitutes a prerequisite and foundation for people’s well-rounded development. WEI Chu, dean of the School of Applied Economics at Renmin University of China, shared the school’s research and exploration of the concept of the comprehensive development of people and society from three perspectives: developing an independent talent cultivation system, building an independent knowledge system for China, and promoting the global dissemination of Chinese civilization. YU Chunhai, dean of the School of Economics at Renmin University of China, examined the concept from a macroeconomic perspective, explaining its practical significance as a new framework for understanding economic and social development. WEI Qingong and PAN Yinghao, associate professors at the National Academy of Development and Strategy and key members of the research team, chaired the session.

Reviewers: WANG Wei, LIU Chang

Executive Editors: LIU Qi, YANG Fanxin, ZHANG Jingjing

Translator: ZHANG Yuqing

Web Editor: ZHANG Jingjing