Experts believe the term "governing the country," as published in the communiqué issued after the Third Plenary Meeting of the 18th CPC Committee, signals a change in the nation’s political mindset.

It is a big step for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to change its political concept from "managing the country" to "governing the country," said Xu Yaotong, professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, one day after the issuance of the communiqué on Nov. 12.

According to Xu, "managing" is part of the old political jargon and those who were ruled and managed should subsequently be submissive and obedient. "Governing," on the other hand, is a modern political term and refers to diversified governing systems and channels.

"The people in the country make up the major force of the governing system. In addition, the organizations and companies all play their roles in governing the country," Xu continued.

In reference to the change of the channels, he explained that by managing a society, orders should always flow from the upper classes to the lower ones. However, by governing a society, orders can flow in reversible or even diversified ways, such as from bottom to top or even from middle to both lower and upper spheres.

"Besides, we need to stress that what we want is modern governing; a more scientific, democratic and systematic function in certain formats and procedures," Xu said in a video interview with People’s Daily.