Party keeps putting people first

Confidence in the future

With China on course to deliver its target of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, analysts said the future focus of the Party's people-oriented strategy will shift toward shared prosperity.

Xi outlined a two-stage development plan for the period from 2020 to the middle of this century in his report to the 19th CPC National Congress. He said that the first stage, between 2020 and 2035, would be the period in which rights of the people to participate and to develop as equals are adequately protected, with people leading more comfortable lives, and the size of the middle-income group growing considerably.

"To lead the people to a better life is our Party's abiding goal. We must put the people's interests above all else, see that the gains of reform and development benefit all our people in a fair way and strive to achieve shared prosperity for everyone," he said.

Tao, the professor, said to attain shared prosperity is the most difficult aspect of the Party's long-range goal to 2035.

"It (the work to ensure common prosperity) would be the most telling aspect of the nature of the Party and our society," he said, adding that China is still a developing nation, and it is still faced with issues of inadequate and unbalanced development.

"As the nation pursues growth, it must give more priority to equality and ensure that substantial progress is achieved in sharing the country's prosperity," he added.

The Party's poverty alleviation drive has already fundamentally reshaped the lives of Mose Lazuo and her fellow villagers, and it has given them greater confidence in the future.

Mose said she is hoping that she will further her studies to become a schoolteacher in the near future, and her mother has taken advantage of the influx of tourists to run a guest house.

"As long as the road is connected, the future will be full of opportunities," she said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.