What’s new: The Communist Party of China in Hunan province has launched a campaign on “emancipation of the mind” this month, echoing a key principle made by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1978, which advocated for liberation of thinking and warned against rigid thoughts and guided China’s reform and opening-up policy.
Local officials will discuss ways to reverse the mindset that focuses on GDP growth above all else, an economic development model that relies solely on resources and capital, and the “ostrich mentality that intentionally avoids and covers up conflicts and problems,” according to a notice published by Hunan government Sunday.
The provincial party committee called for the creation of “an atmosphere that respects reform, encourages exploration and tolerates mistakes,” urging the rank and file to break with past ways of thinking.
“Fast and great development comes when you emancipate your mind, dare to experiment and innovate boldly,” the notice said, “while development will remain stagnant and slow when you are conservative, overly cautious and conventional.”
The background: Deng made the reference to “emancipation of mind” in a key speech gave on Dec. 13, 1978, which set the stage for a pivotal party Central Committee meeting that decided to shift the country’s focus to economic development and introduced the wide-ranging reform and opening up campaign.
In the speech, Deng called liberation of mind necessary in finding solutions to emerging and inherited problems and formulating policies. He encouraged people to “dare to think, explore new paths and put forward new ideas.”
The Hunan notice was published on Feb. 18, one day before the 27th anniversary of Deng’s passing. The provincewide “discussion activities” will carry on until the end of March, the notice said.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
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