FIELD SURVEY: Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visits the home of impoverished villager Ma Maizhi on February 3. Xi presented school supplies to Ma's children in the Bulenggou Village of the Dongxiang Autonomous County, northwest China's Gansu Province (LAN HONGGUANG)

The upcoming First Plenary Session of the 12th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and the First Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top advisory body, will finally complete the country's leadership transition.

The job performance of the new leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), headed by Xi Jinping as general secretary of its central committee, in the past months has been described as a "dream start"—the Chinese public has clearly seen the emerging fresh look of the new leadership in governing a state, deeply sensing a promising future for China as well as an exciting and beautiful "China dream" for the people.

New start for reform

It is undeniable that Chinese society underwent a period of anxiety and fickleness marked by a public full of complaints, soaring grievances, acting on one's own will and rebuking government aimlessly. All these signs pointed to the rapidly growing rich-poor wealth gap and the damaged state of social justice. It is an unavoidable winding step in the course of China's development, however, which originated from the variety of reform bottlenecks and the emerging middle-income trap, as well as being directly related to the economic downturn worldwide.

Chinese leaders do not evade any problems or block the public from expressing their will. By discussing openly the major policies and theories as well as frequent base-level field investigations and public opinion surveys, they fully demonstrate the resolve for top-down reform.

The series of moves of the new leaders after the 18th CPC National Congress have instilled in the public a vivid feeling of the rhythms of reform from the top level.

During a visit to an exhibition on China's development since 1840 in Beijing last November, Xi said, "Realizing the great renewal of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream for the Chinese nation in modern history." He also emphasized that spouting empty talk is harmful to the nation, while doing practical work can help it thrive. Xi's remarks highlighted that people's prosperity and a strong country are the two greatest common goals of Chinese society. He also spoke of restoring the social cohesion of Chinese society.

A commentary article on the British website Ftchinese.com remarked on the new look of Chinese politics that the right perception is a precondition for the right action. It is true that the new leadership has already taken action. On December 4, 2012, the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee held its first meeting after taking office. The meeting adopted a document making explicit requirements on how Political Bureau members should improve their work style in eight aspects, including reducing meetings, getting rid of superfluous language, shortening traffic control during officials' visits, and exercising thrift. The new regulations have sent a clear signal that the top leadership sets itself as an example.