Opinion | China’s push for common prosperity has been misunderstood by the rest of world

  • Foreign commentators who say Beijing’s focus on common prosperity marks a policy shift are wrong
  • Many have taken Deng Xiaoping’s theory of ‘get rich first’ out of context, thereby cutting the historical link of Xi Jinping’s policy with that of his predecessors

Illustration: Craig Stephens

China is an enigma to many foreigner observers who fail to understand its unique history, culture and political system. As a result, it is all too easy for them to make false judgments about the country’s policy direction.

The Chinese government has made a huge commitment to common prosperity, prioritising it since 2021, and it may take decades to achieve. Three points need to be clarified to foster a better understanding of what China’s goal of common prosperity really means.
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