BEIJING -- At the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the nation's top academy for governance, a bust of Gu Wenchang stands as a silent lecture to Party and government officials.

Gu served as the Party chief of Dongshan county, East China's Fujian province, from the 1950s to the early 1960s, a barren island then ravaged by sandstorms and poverty. He is remembered for leading the construction of a coastal shelterbelt that still shields the island today -- a legacy that Chinese President Xi Jinping paused to reflect on during an inspection trip in the autumn of 2024.

"Gold and silver awards are no match for the people's acclaim," Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said while visiting the Gu Wenchang memorial hall, urging officials to follow Gu's example and establish a correct understanding of performance and achievements.

Fast-forward to today, this local lesson has gained renewed relevance on the national stage. As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), a critical phase in the country's journey toward modernization, Xi deems it pivotal for officials to establish a correct understanding of what it means to perform well in both formulating and implementing the plan.

"A correct understanding of governance performance requires us to proceed from reality, respect objective laws, and through sound decision-making and hard work, create achievements that withstand the test of practice and history, truly benefit the people, and earn public recognition," he said at a study session for principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels in late January.

Conversely, a misguided performance evaluation perspective, which prioritizes personal or small-group interests and is eager for quick success and instant benefits, will lead to fraud, reckless decisions and vanity projects that create lasting problems or hidden dangers and provoke strong public resentment, according to Xi.

Translating calls into action in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the CPC launched a Party-wide campaign after the just-concluded Spring Festival holiday to guide CPC members, especially officials, in establishing a correct understanding of what it means to perform well.

A correct understanding of performance "reflects not only in immediate, tangible results, but also in laying solid foundations, building long-term momentum, and creating lasting benefits," Xi told the Central Economic Work Conference last December, a meeting that charted China's economic priorities in 2026.

China has achieved considerable progress in correcting vanity projects in recent years, as the country discontinued too much focus on GDP figures when evaluating officials and pursues high-quality development that features innovation, coordination, green development, openness and shared benefits.

Yet, the struggle against short-termism remains an unfinished task. At the December meeting, Xi warned against the "new variants" of vanity projects, specifically criticizing inappropriately large development zones and the disorderly development of exhibitions and forums.

He also flagged issues such as "data inflation," fake project launches, and the phenomenon of local authorities using rebates and subsidies to attract "shell companies" devoid of physical operations or personnel to engineer a false boom.

"All plans must be grounded in reality, aimed to pursue genuine and unvarnished growth, and advance high-quality, sustainable development," Xi urged, speaking on the compilation of national and local development plans.

A draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan is set to be deliberated by Chinese lawmakers at the annual "two sessions" next month. The CPC Central Committee has highlighted "putting the people first" and "pursuing high-quality development" among the guiding principles for economic and social development in 2026-2030.

For the CPC, according to Xi, the ultimate gauge of governance performance is the improvement of the people's well-being. "A key standard for evaluation is how many tangible benefits have been delivered to the public," he stressed.

This tenet has already driven profound changes across China. Under Xi's leadership, the country lifted nearly 100 million people out of destitution in eight years, officially eliminating absolute poverty. Green development initiatives have expanded forest coverage, improved air quality, and enhanced living environments -- all to ensure that development ultimately serves the well-being of the people.

Gu Wenchang's achievements have stood the test of time. Today, Dongshan enjoys a high greening rate and clean air. Benefiting from a sound natural environment and supported by industries such as new energy and tourism, the county's GDP nearly tripled between 2012 and 2025.

"We should focus on down-to-earth, practical work rather than 'visible achievements' driven by instant success, and strive for 'hidden achievements' that create lasting benefits for future generations," Xi said.