People-Centred Development Philosophy Drives China’s Success

“This country means its people; the people are the foundation of this country.” This statement displayed at the Communist Party of China History Museum reflects a key principle of China’s development model: putting people at the centre of governance. China’s biggest achievement under this approach has been poverty reduction. Since the 1980s, the country has lifted around 800 million people out of extreme poverty, accounting for about three-quarters of the global reduction in extreme poverty. The achievement was driven not only by economic growth but also by higher agricultural productivity, industrialisation, urbanisation, infrastructure development and social policies.

A key feature of China’s poverty reduction strategy was targeted support. Poor households were identified and assessed according to their occupation and specific needs. Farmers received support such as agricultural technology, irrigation and market access, while others were offered skills training and employment opportunities. The approach followed the principle, “Do not give the poor a fish as a gift, but teach them how to fish.”

China also developed long-term systems to prevent people from falling back into poverty. Local governments were given responsibilities to monitor vulnerable communities and respond to emerging risks. China’s development cannot be measured by GDP alone. Health, education and income are equally important. According to the UNDP’s 2026 Human Development Report, China’s Human Development Index stood at 0.797 in 2023. Life expectancy rose from 69 years in 1990 to more than 79 years in 2025, while expected years of schooling increased from 8.8 to 13.9 years. More than 1.33 billion people are also covered by basic medical insurance. For developing countries such as Bangladesh, the key lesson is to put people, rather than projects, at the centre of development. The success of a hospital, school or road should be measured by its impact on healthcare, education, employment, income and security.

Bangladesh could also adopt targeted local development based on reliable data. Districts and Upazilas could identify whether their main needs are employment, healthcare, agriculture, flood protection or other services. Digital systems could help deliver social protection, healthcare, education and agricultural support more effectively. Local people should also participate in planning, implementation and evaluation. Long-term development goals should remain consistent despite changes in government, while spending and outcomes should be subject to regular public reporting and independent evaluation.

China’s 2026–30 employment plan also stresses a “work first” strategy, with a focus on youth employment, skills development and better links between education and labour-market needs. The country plans to provide more than 50 million subsidised technical training opportunities over five years. The central lesson is simple: development should ultimately be measured by how much people’s lives improve.

Writer: Journalist, CMG Bangla