World in crisis needs more leaders to embrace China’s ‘big family’ vision

Consider how we say hello to a group of people. In Chinese, we say da jia hao – literally “big family, hello”. It reflects the collective perspective, where individuals are seen as interconnected parts of a whole. Contrast that with the English “Hello, everyone” and its emphasis on individuality – greeting every one of you.

The idea of people as one big family is a philosophy that runs through Chinese society, shaping everything from family life to national policy. The Confucian ideal of a Great Unity envisions a utopian world of harmony where all resources are shared.

Xi’s vision of common prosperity is an echo of this age-old ideal. In his book Up and Out of Poverty, Xi wrote about his time (1988-1990) in Ningde, one of China’s poorest regions, in Fujian province. There, he emphasised community-driven efforts to address poverty. His strategy wasn’t about quick fixes; it was about empowering local people, building infrastructure and fostering industries for long-term growth.