During the 2016 National Two Sessions, General Secretary Xi Jinping, while attending a joint group meeting of members from the China Democratic National Construction Association and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce at the Fourth Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, first defined the government-business relationship with the words "proactive" and "clean."

The government-business relationship is essentially a comprehensive reflection of the relationship between the government and the market, and it directly impacts the development of private enterprises. For leading officials, "proactive" means "sincerely and openly engaging with private enterprises," "helping them solve practical difficulties, and genuinely supporting the growth of the private economy." "Clean" means "maintaining a pure and transparent relationship with private entrepreneurs, without greed or selfish motives, without abusing power for personal gain, and without engaging in power-for-money deals." For private entrepreneurs, "proactive" means "speaking truthfully, providing honest feedback, offering constructive criticism, and enthusiastically supporting local development." "Clean" means "maintaining personal integrity and staying on the right path," "operating businesses in compliance with laws and regulations, and conducting affairs openly and honestly."

The government-business relationship connects both the political ecosystem and the social ecosystem. General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently emphasized this issue, delivering important statements on multiple occasions and setting clear requirements.

At the 2023 National Two Sessions, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again attended a joint group meeting of members from the China Democratic National Construction Association and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, stressing the need to "implement the construction of a proactive and clean government-business relationship in practice." He assured private entrepreneurs that the Party Central Committee "always regards private enterprises and private entrepreneurs as one of our own," encouraging them to set aside concerns, overcome hesitations, and pursue development boldly.

At a symposium with private entrepreneurs in February this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping further elaborated on the dialectical unity of "proactive" and "clean" relationships. He provided clear guidance for both leading officials and private entrepreneurs on how to further build such a relationship, ensuring that interactions between government and business are rule-based and measured. Party committees, governments, and leading officials at all levels are encouraged to engage with enterprises and entrepreneurs in an open and upright manner, optimize the environment for the development of the private economy, and unite and guide private business leaders effectively. This is an essential part of adhering to the "Two Unwaverings" and gathering momentum for high-quality development.

Further building a proactive and clean government-business relationship is a key measure for optimizing the business environment. The sustained and healthy development of the economy and society relies on a favorable business environment. A government-business relationship that is neither proactive nor clean, proactive but not clean, or clean but not proactive severely undermines government credibility and enterprise development. Establishing a proactive and clean relationship, delegating power where necessary, and creating a conducive environment can effectively reduce the institutional costs of market operations. Implementing a unified proactive and clean government-business relationship will encourage all types of market entities, including private enterprises, to be motivated and daring, thereby boosting confidence for overcoming challenges in the new context and laying a solid foundation for economic recovery and growth.

Further building a proactive and clean government-business relationship is an important tool for continuously purifying the political ecosystem. This relationship succinctly summarizes the principles and norms that both leading officials and entrepreneurs should follow, setting rules for how they should interact. Ensuring that power operates within institutional norms and preventing power rent-seeking and(interest transfers) increases the pressure on officials to fulfill their duties responsibly and the motivation to innovate boldly. This is significant for breaking "hidden rules" and establishing "transparent rules," thereby promoting a clean and upright political ecosystem.

Further building a proactive and clean government-business relationship is an effective way to promote the "Two Healths" (the healthy growth of the non-public sector of the economy and the healthy development of non-public sector entrepreneurs). The private economy is an important component of the socialist market economy and a critical foundation for high-quality development. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Promoting the healthy development of the non-public sector of the economy and the healthy growth of non-public sector entrepreneurs is both a major economic issue and a major political issue." The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee proposed comprehensively building a proactive and clean government-business relationship and improving the(working mechanism) for promoting the healthy development of the non-public sector and the healthy growth of non-public sector entrepreneurs. This is a key institutional guarantee for stimulating the vitality of the private economy and optimizing the business environment. By establishing a unified proactive and clean government-business relationship, clarifying the rules of engagement, breaking "hidden rules" and "relationship networks," and encouraging private entrepreneurs to set aside concerns and boost confidence, it helps foster market competition based on solid strength and good reputation. It also contributes to creating a market environment where businesses operate legally, honestly, and compete fairly, while nurturing entrepreneurship and guiding private entrepreneurs to establish and practice correct values. This promotes sound internal governance in private enterprises and enhances the role of the private economy in stabilizing growth, fostering innovation, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods.

Both economic and social development and the construction of clean governance rely on a (benignly interactive) government-business relationship. When the government-business relationship is "proactive," enterprises are more dynamic in investing and innovating; when it is "clean," the political ecosystem becomes increasingly purified. The proactive and clean government-business relationship embodies a methodology that reflects the inherent logic of the Chinese Communist Party's governance for the people. On the new journey, Party members and officials must deeply understand the requirements of a unified proactive and clean relationship, maintain integrity, and hone their skills, thereby contributing greater strength to promoting high-quality development. (Liaoxin She)