Our Policy is Overall Consideration and Proper Arrangement

On June 19, 1957, Mao Zedong put forward the important principles of correctly handling various economic and political relations in socialist construction in his article "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions among the People" published in People's Daily.

Before that, in January of that year, he had already said, “Our policy is still one of over-all planning and all-round consideration so that everyone is provided for.” And added: “it is a great strategic policy.” At that time, China had a population of 600 million people. Mao Zedong pointed out that the term "all-round consideration" here referred to the all-round consideration which should embrace the 600 million people of our country. So that in drawing up plans, handling affairs or during thinking over problems, we must have proceed from the fact that China had a population of 600 million, and we must never forget this fact.

All aspects of our cause are developing vigorously, with great progress. However, in the present transition period which embodies a tremendous social change there are still many difficult problems. Both progress and at the same time difficulties; this is a contradiction. In the face of such a situation, our guiding principle should be all-round consideration and proper arrangement.

When handling various issues such as food, natural calamities, employment, education, the issue of intellectuals, the united front of all patriotic forces, the ethnic groups, or any issue, we must always proceed from the standpoint of all-round consideration, which should embrace the whole people, and must make the proper arrangement, after consultation with all sides concerned, in the light of what is feasible or not at a particular time and place.

The CPC is the ruling party in the whole territory of China. It must be accountable to the whole Chinese people. Of course, this does not mean that the government alone must take care of everyone and everything. Instead, the issues related to many people and many things can be taken direct care and can be resolved by public organizations or the masses.