The Chinese mainland has topped a trust index among major economies surveyed worldwide with its residents found to be putting increasing trust in their government. Compared with 86 points out of 100 in 2019, the barometer shows 90 points this year, which is substantially higher than the global average of 49 and more than double the U.S. score, which stands at 39 points. These are the findings of the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual trust and credibility survey report covering 28 economies released by Edelman Intelligence, a U.S.-based communications firm, on March 3. One to 49 on the index denotes distrust, 50-59 neutral and 60-100 trust. 

The stronger faith shown in the Chinese Government might be the last thing some U.S. politicians would like to see. During his visit to Germany in November 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's speech smacked of trying to incite a color revolution in China. The Edelman report will undoubtedly frustrate other politicians like him.

What are the reasons the Chinese trust their government? The trust can be attributed to the philosophy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that power should be exercised for the interests of the people.

Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has prioritized the interests of the people. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, exercising power for the good of the people has become the work principle of the Chinese authorities. In 2019, this was reinforced with an education campaign for Party members so that they remain true to the Party’s original aspiration and keep its mission in mind.

The original aspiration and the mission are to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. This has inspired generations of Chinese communists to forge ahead with great efforts. Over the past 70 years, the CPC has led the people to shake off foreign oppression, attain national independence and rise from poverty to prosperity to live with dignity.

According to President Xi Jinping's report to the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017, "The aspirations of the people to live a better life must always be the focus of our efforts."

The people-centered governing philosophy of the Chinese Government focuses on improving the quality of life, providing better education, creating more jobs and developing a better living environment. Government officials at all levels rush to the frontline during calamities such as the devastating flood in 1998 and the powerful earthquake in Sichuan Province in southwest China in 2008.

CPC members have always taken the lead during difficult times. Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease this year, the Party and the government have prioritized people's health and safety, made proactive efforts for treating patients, prevented the spread of the epidemic and allocated medical personnel and supplies across the country to support Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic in the central province of Hubei. In a little more than a month, the epidemic has been brought under control.

The trust also lies in the CPC leading the people to achieve the rejuvenation of the nation, which is a dream shared by all Chinese. It has taken the people closer to achieving the goal than ever in history. In the arduous journey, the Chinese follow the leadership of the CPC and the Party relies on them in a relationship that is highly interdependent.

Some Western politicians view this as propaganda and refuse to believe it, which only shows their ignorance of China's past and present. No matter how they interpret the reasons, it is a fact that the Chinese Government is committed to the wellbeing of its people.

Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar

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