As the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrated its 105th founding anniversary on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated a principle that has long defined the Party's approach to governance: "This country is its people; the people are the country."

Addressing a gathering in Beijing, Xi stressed that the Party must rely closely on the people to create historic feats and called on Party members to carry forward the spirit of hard work and dedication on the new journey toward Chinese modernization.

For experts, Xi's remarks reaffirm a governing philosophy that has remained unchanged throughout the CPC's 105-year history: the people are not only the beneficiaries of development, but also the driving force behind it.

Zheng Changzhong, a professor at Fudan University's Political Party Building and National Development Research Center, said the principle of putting the people first has consistently shaped the Party's development, from leading the Chinese people to overthrow the "three mountains" during the revolutionary period, to lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty through reform and opening up, and now advancing Chinese modernization.

"Putting the people first is far more than a political slogan," Zheng told CGTN. "It is the core logic of China's governance."

In his view, the ultimate purpose of modernization is to improve people's well-being. Whether through expanding employment opportunities, improving education and healthcare, or strengthening elderly care and other public services, development is meaningful only when it delivers tangible benefits to the people.

Wang Hongyan, chief research fellow at the Institute of Political Science of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the CPC's 105-year history is fundamentally a history of uniting and relying on the people to drive revolution, development and reform.

Echoing Xi's remarks that "the people are the creators of history and the true heroes," Wang said the Party has continuously strengthened its ability to implement the mass line, ensuring that governance remains responsive to the people's needs and aspirations. She added that adhering to the mass line will remain essential as China advances toward its long-term development goals.

Xi's latest remarks once again place the people at the center of the Party's mission. As China embarks on a new stage of modernization, experts believe the enduring principle of "the people are the country" will continue to shape the country's governance philosophy, providing both the source of its strength and the foundation for future development.