China's Big Goals for 2020! See How China Will Grow!

Source: CGTN, Timothy Kerswell

In recent years, we often hear China is entering a new era because it aims to become a moderately prosperous society, a goal which was set for 2020. 

Prosperity is often associated with material standards of living, and it's notable that in 2019, China's GDP per capita crossed 10,000 U.S. dollars and its GDP is expected to approach 100 trillion yuan, according to China's New Year speech.

However, to be moderately prosperous implies moderation. This means to be well off, but not excessively or exclusively focused on the accumulation of material wealth. A moderately prosperous society juggles complex and sometimes contradictory goals such as growth, social inclusion, social stability and environmental protection. 

During the speech, several key points were spoken on, such as ending poverty, developing shared prosperity with friendly nations, enhancing and celebrating patriotism, and protecting the environment.

Thus inclusive development, moral and civic development, and green development are the themes for 2020.

The most major commitment was that 2020 would be the year China would end absolute poverty, measured by the World Bank index of one U.S. dollar per day. This has been a goal China has long striven to achieve and to which it has made considerable progress. China had previously earned most of its poverty alleviation by generating employment opportunities on a mass scale.

The main goal for 2020 is to solve more complex problems like youth unemployment, old-age poverty, and disability-induced poverty which cannot be solved simply through growth or market mechanisms.

The speech also implored China to reach out into the world and find willing partners, and for these partners to reach back to China.

This statement takes on extra significance at a time when the United States retreats into isolationism, for example by withdrawing from UNESCO.

Through the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative and the hosting of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, China is sending a powerful message. Modernization does not equal Westernization, and China will work with willing parties to develop and share prosperity. 2019 was also the year that the number of countries with diplomatic ties to the People's Republic of China reached 180, indicating continued progress in international relations.

Equally important is the inevitable question of what comes next, as 2020 will no doubt be a year where China will set new ambitious goals for the future.

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