From September 30 to October 7, People’s Daily published a series of eight consecutive articles on China’s economic development. The articles were authored under the pen name “Zhong Cai Wen (钟才文),” a homophone for the abbreviation of “Article by the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission” (中央财经委员会文章).
On October 9, People’s Daily published a follow-up article outlining the significance of the series: to help readers “understand the economic situation and guide economic work.” It said the series explain China’s long-term stable growth, highlight opportunities for the world, and convey a message of confidence, stability, and development.
The eight articles cover the following topics:
- China’s Economic Transformation
- Internal Logic of Stability
- Current Economic Situation
- Opportunities in Economic Upgrading
- High-Quality Development Certainty
- Inclusive Global Development Model
- Open and Win-Win Economy
- Trust and Cooperation with China
Critics, however, question the “wonderful” portrayal of China’s economy, arguing that citizens’ and businesses’ lived experiences tell a different story. They suggest the articles may mask or twist facts. For example, the series highlights high-quality, low-cost goods and services, which in reality benefit consumers, but also reflect intense competition and worsening conditions for service providers. Similarly, while emerging sectors like artificial intelligence show rapid wage growth, these high-tech sectors constitute only a small portion of the overall economy, meaning their gains cannot offset the struggles of larger, traditional industries such as real estate that face declining employment and wages.
Sources:
1. People’s Daily, October 9, 2025
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2025/1009/c70846-40578339.html
2. Epoch Times, October 9, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/10/8/n14612200.htm