The 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) set a clear goal: to achieve modernisation by 2035. A key factor in reaching this milestone is the success of rural revitalisation, with the next decade seen as a critical window for progress. SMU Associate Professor of Political Science John Donaldson noted that as China advances toward this goal, it will likely face an “increasingly hostile international environment.” Nevertheless, he believes the CCP will claim success by 2035 regardless. The core question, he emphasised, is whether there will be genuine improvements in the quality of life for people in both urban and rural areas.
