Good governance and harmonious society

This is an idiom coming from "Yue Yang Lou Ji" ("The Yueyang Tower"), an essay by Fan Zhongyan (989-1052), a statesman and literary scholar of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Under good governance, policies and decrees can all be implemented and political affairs run smoothly and efficiently; and in a harmonious society, the people are on good terms. 

Such a state of governance is very close to the traditional ideal that "The country enjoys prosperity, and the people live in peace," but with more emphasis on the people factor and the interaction between a good government and a harmonious society.

When joining the deputies from Liaoning Province to the Fifth Session of the 12th NPC in March 2017, Xi Jinping said: To pursue good governance, harmony, stability and good order, there must be a healthy political environment. 

At present, China must undertake stern tasks in reform, development and stability, while encountering unprecedented problems, risks and challenges and facing the greatest test for governance. The Party must exercise strict self-governance and foster a healthy political environment so as to build cohesion, pool strengths, forge internal drive, and create the external conditions for further achievements.

政通人和

“政通人和”語出《岳陽樓記》，意為政事通達，人民和順。“政通”即國家政策、法令等能夠全面貫徹落實，政治事務運轉順暢有效；“人和”即人人各得其宜、上下一心、團結融洽。作為良好的治理狀態，它與“國泰民安”相近，但更加強調“人”的因素，并凸顯“政通”與“人和”互為因果的關系。

2017年3月，習近平參加十二屆全國人大五次會議遼寧代表團審議時指出，一個地方要實現政通人和、安定有序，必須有良好政治生態。當代中國改革發展穩定任務之重、矛盾風險挑戰之多、治國理政考驗之大都前所未有，只有堅持全面從嚴治黨，營造風清氣正的良好政治生態，才能更好凝心聚力，為干事創業激發內在動力、創造外部條件。