Photo: VCG
A survey on the upcoming "two sessions" conducted by People's Daily Online shows that anti-corruption and social security top the list of the hottest topics Chinese people are concerned with in 2018.
The survey launched on February 8 added new options, such as reform and opening up, rural revitalization, cultural confidence and major-country diplomacy, covering all the major topics in the new era.
Netizens participated in the online survey as of 3 pm on February 27, and more than 4 million forms were submitted.
The results show that people care about anti-corruption and social security the most this year, followed by educational reform, medical reform and poverty alleviation. Opening up and rural revitalization rank the top two among the newly added options.
Anti-corruption holds the top position
Among the surveys on the "two sessions" over the past 16 years, "anti-corruption" topped the list as the hottest topic seven times and holds the top position as the topic people are most concerned with again this year.
In the past year, China's central government has maintained the anti-corruption momentum with remarkable achievements in campaigns of "taking out tigers", "swat flies" and "hunt down foxes."
Additionally, in a random survey conducted by the People's Daily online in 16 provinces, anti-corruption in basic organizations has become the people's major concern. A number of netizens said that anti-corruption in basic organizations matters to people's benefits. According to the survey, 33 percent of netizens believe that corruption in official selections and appointments has been remarkably suppressed. More than 60 percent believe that a strict review and census on officials and intensive investigation and broad exposure on illegal conduct help to prevent corruption.
40% netizens care about widowed elderly people with no family
Social security has always been an important topic in the "two sessions". CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his report to the 19th CPC National Congress that "We should make steady progress in ensuring people's access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing and social assistance".
In terms of social security system reform, national unified management on pension schemes has been the focus followed by the call for the continuous improvement in basic pension benefits. At the same time, the survey shows that more than 40 percent of netizens believe widowed elderly people with no family need social care the most.
Education becomes the focus once again
For two consecutive years, anti-corruption, social security and medical system reform have been the top three buzzwords. After 13 years, education has ranked among the top three hot topics again since educational reform has been vigorously promoted in 2017 as the reform of the national college entrance examinations has been implemented in each province.
The report to the 19th CPC Natioanl Congress said that "We will strive to see that each and every child has fair access to good education," setting a new target for China's educational reform in the new era. The survey result shows that over half of the netizens agree that the gap between rural and urban areas in terms of educational resources narrowed in 2017.
Great changes since reform and opening up policy
Reform and opening up and rural revitalization appeared in the "two sessions" survey as new options, and ranked No. 7 and No. 9, respectively, becoming the top two hot topics among those newly added.
As this year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up policy, the survey shows that the successful convening of the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee is the most memorable landmark event, followed by the discussion on "practice is the sole criterion for testing truth" and the proposal and advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Rural revitalization has also become a focus in the "two sessions" in 2018. Around 40 percent of netizens think that problems such as the incompetence of leading officials in rural areas, insufficient infrastructure conditions and inadequate medical resources should be handled urgently.
About 30 percent of netizens said integrated planning and collaborative promotion with urbanization is an important measure for rural revitalization. The task of how to develop highly productive agriculture with superior quality and high efficiency has become another hot topic.
