Looking at Common Prosperity from the Hundred Years of Party History

The century-old history of the Communist Party of China, in a sense, is the history of fulfilling the party's original mission and fundamental purpose, and putting forward and continuously fulfilling its promises to the people. Achieving common prosperity through socialism is one of the solemn commitments our party has made to all the people.

(I)
At the beginning of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Chinese advanced elements who believed in Marxism sprouted the idea of "common prosperity" from the criticism of capitalism and the research and propaganda of socialism. In September 1915, Chen Duxiu pointed out in the article "French and Modern Civilization" published in the inaugural issue of "Youth Magazine" that "although the private ownership of property cannot be abolished because of the sudden abolition, the ruling and rich in various countries are suddenly rich and poor. The difference is by no means a blessing for society". In his speech "socialist criticism" delivered by Guangzhou public law and political school, he also pointed out that one of the disadvantages of capitalist society is "uneven distribution", resulting in "the separation of the lazy class (referring to the bourgeoisie) and the employed working class", which is "not allowed in the socialist era". When Li Dazhao taught the course of "Socialism and Social Movement" at Peking University, he also gave a vivid description of the definition, history and characteristics of socialism. He pointed out: "Socialism does not make people rich or poor, but makes production, consumption, and distribution. With suitable development, everyone can enjoy the average supply and get the greatest happiness."
After the birth of the Communist Party of China, it has always insisted on seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation as its original mission. For this original mission, during the period of the new democratic revolution, our party united and led the peasants to "fight the local tyrants and divide the fields", implement "the tillers have their land", help the poor to stand up and be liberated, win the victory of the Chinese revolution, and establish a new China. Its great significance is to realize that the people are the masters of the country and create fundamental political conditions for getting rid of poverty and backwardness and achieving common prosperity.
(II)
After the founding of New China, the term "common prosperity" was first written into important party documents and important newspapers and periodicals in 1953. On September 25 of this year, the "People's Daily" issued a slogan to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the founding of New China. Article 38 of the slogan called on the members of the National Agricultural Production Mutual Aid Group and the members of the cooperatives to "unite, give play to the spirit of collectivism, and improve Production efficiency, increase the output of food and other crops, increase income, and strive for a common prosperous life". -- This is the first time that the concept of "common prosperity" has appeared in an important newspaper of the party. On December 16 of the same year, the "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Development of Agricultural Production Cooperatives" drafted by Mao Zedong himself was announced to the whole country. It proposed that in order to further improve agricultural productivity, the most fundamental task of the party's work in rural areas, it is to "educate and promote the gradual joint organization of the peasant masses with principles and methods that are easy to understand and acceptable to the peasants" and "gradually overcome the contradiction between the development of the two economic sectors of industry and agriculture, and enable the peasants to gradually and completely get rid of poverty and achieve a life of common prosperity and general prosperity." -- This is the first time that "common prosperity" has been used in an important document of the party ".
It is no accident that the concept of "common prosperity" was widely used in 1953 and after. This year, our party conceived and formally put forward the party's general line during the transition period. The general line for the transitional period is to allow individual farmers to implement the collectivization of production through mutual assistance and cooperation, and to transition to socialism step by step. Why did the task of transition to socialism come up only three years after the founding of New China, the rural land reform had just been completed, and the large-scale construction of new democracy had not yet been fully launched? Obviously, this requires extensive and in-depth propaganda, explanation, education and guidance to the broad masses of farmers, handicraftsmen and the business community. "Common prosperity" is in this context, in this process, first of all, focus on education and guide the broad masses of farmers to change individual land ownership into collective land ownership -- take the road of collectivization and put forward the "clear and easy to understand" and can be a beautiful vision and important concept accepted by farmers.
On November 9, 1953, the "People's Daily" published an editorial entitled "It is necessary to publicize the general line of the transition period to the peasants with great fanfare", emphasizing that "the implementation of socialist transformation of agriculture is the only bright road for all peasants." "The result is that everyone is rich". Since November 26 of that year, People's Daily has specially set up a column entitled "publicizing the General Line to Farmers" on the third page, and successively published eight propaganda articles written by Liao Gailong, Guo Xiaochuan, Wujiang, Xiong Fu, and so on. These articles point out that for farmers, the life of a small-scale peasant economy such as "one cow on 30 mu of land" is not rich, because individual farmers have little arable land, scattered farming, backward technology, and little harvest. They work hard all year round, and their income is still very limited. "Only when farmers unite to organize agricultural production cooperatives and take the socialist road, can agricultural production progress, to make all farmers live a rich life" "so that we can get rich together". Guo Xiaochuan, a famous poet, directly linked "common prosperity" with "socialism" in his contribution to the column, pointing out that after the completion of land reform, there are only two ways for individual farmers: one is to develop towards socialism; the other is to develop towards capitalism. "Taking the road of capitalism is the road for a few people to get rich and the vast majority of people to be poor and bankrupt. For the majority of farmers, it is an extremely tragic and extremely painful road"; only "the road of socialism is the road for farmers to prosper together". What is socialism? Guo Xiaochuan writes that in the countryside, socialism means that the working people share the means of production (land, large agricultural tools, large livestock, etc.), and that they unite to produce on a large scale with new agricultural tools, agricultural machinery and new agricultural practices, and that the method of distribution is "pay for work", that they produce a lot of things, and that they can be taken care of by society, "so that everyone can prosper together". In short, "a socialist society is the happiest and brightest society." "It can make farmers prosper together step by step." "One step on the road of socialism will bring benefits. The more you go forward, the greater the benefits."
According to the unified deployment of the Party Central Committee, starting from the second half of 1953, rural areas across the country have focused on "the two roads of socialism and capitalism" and "socialism. What are the benefits of industrialization for farmers" and other issues, and generally carried out publicity and education on the general line for the transition period to the peasant masses, so that farmers gradually realize that "only by taking the socialist road, only in this way can we get rid of poverty forever and embark on the road of common prosperity for all". Through in-depth and extensive publicity and guidance, "common prosperity" was not only accepted by the majority of farmers, but also quickly understood and recognized by business people and other social classes across the country. On November 21, 1955, the Executive Committee of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce wrote in a letter to the national business community: "Our country's socialist economic construction is booming day by day, our motherland is becoming prosperous and strong day by day, our country's cause is infinitely broad, and our work is endless. The purpose of our building socialism is to make everyone have something to do, something to eat, and everyone to prosper together." In its letter of guarantee to Mao Zedong, the National Congress of Young activists in the industrial and commercial circles said: "only under the guidance of the Communist Party of China and you can we understand the decadent nature of capitalism and the inevitable trend of social development." and chose the broad road of socialism to make the people of the whole country prosperous." "We must work with the people of the whole country and the youth of the whole country to fight to the end to build our country into a prosperous socialist country!" People in women's circles all over the country also realize that "socialism is so related to the people's life and welfare. It is such a beautiful and broad road for all the people to move towards common prosperity. The Chinese people, including Chinese women, all like it and support it."
(III)
Mao Zedong was the earliest advocate and active practitioner of "common prosperity. In July 1949, on the eve of the founding of New China, U.S. Secretary of State Acheson wrote a letter to President Truman, in which he said: "China's population has doubled in the 18th and 19th centuries, thus putting unbearable pressure on the land. The problem of feeding the people is the first problem that every Chinese government is bound to encounter. Up to now, no government has solved this problem." Acheson's meaning is very clear. He believes that China's long-term poverty is mainly caused by the objective situation of more people and less land. It is a problem that no government can solve. Mao Zedong refuted Acheson's argument and believed that "revolution can change everything. A new China with a large population, abundant products, affluent life, and prosperous culture will not come for a long time". Mao Zedong took the socialist road as the only way to eliminate poverty in China and achieve common prosperity for all the people. In October 1953, when he was still brewing and putting forward the concept of "common prosperity", he clearly stated that taking the "capitalist road can also increase production, but it will take a long time and it will be a painful road". This kind of "pain" is suffering on the road of capitalism, and ultimately brings the people the result of polarization and disparity between the rich and the poor, which is contrary to the nature, purpose and original mission of the Communist Party of China, and even contrary to the expectations and aspirations of the people. Therefore, Mao Zedong made it clear that "we will not engage in capitalism, this is a deal". How can we avoid the pain of capitalism and make the country rich and strong and all the people live a happy life? Mao Zedong emphasized, "Now that we implement such a system and such a plan, we can become richer and stronger year by year, and we can see richer and stronger year by year. And this wealth is common wealth, this strength is common strength, and everyone has a share." This kind of common prosperity is certain ". This kind of "sure" can achieve "common prosperity", "common strength", "richer and stronger", and finally achieve "common prosperity" system, there is no doubt that it is the socialist system. In a word, as Mao Zedong said, "most farmers in the country, in order to get rid of poverty, improve their lives, and resist famine, can only achieve their goals by uniting and advancing on the road of socialism."
From the above process, it can be seen that "common prosperity" has been a concept closely linked with "socialism" and firmly "tied" together from the first day it was put forward. From the beginning of calling on the broad masses of farmers and even all walks of life in the country to make the transition to a socialist society, our party has made a solemn promise that taking the socialist road can enable all people to achieve common prosperity.
In order to fulfill this solemn promise, the Chinese Communists with Comrade Mao Zedong as the main representative carried out arduous exploration and hard work, and achieved great achievements in socialist revolution and construction. Since the reform and opening up, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our party has continued to struggle on the basis of the struggles of its predecessors, taking the realization of common prosperity as the core content of the essence of socialism, as the fundamental factor that distinguishes socialism from capitalism, and as the party The major responsibility of the government, as the glorious mission of fulfilling the original mission, implements reform and opening up, upholds and develops socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promotes the common prosperity for all people to achieve great new results. With the overall victory in poverty alleviation, and with the completion of a well-off society in an all-round way and the start of the second century journey to a modern and powerful socialist country, we must be more proactive in responding to the people's new expectations for fairness, justice, and a better and happy life., Put the gradual realization of the common prosperity of all people in a more important position, and promote common prosperity to make more obvious and substantial progress, "Let the people truly feel that common prosperity is not just a slogan, but a visible, tangible, and real fact." We will continue to fulfill the beautiful vision and solemn promise made by the party to the people to achieve common prosperity through socialism.

Source: Learning Times