In the spring of 1992, late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping toured southern China. This was the trip that furthered the opening-up of China's State-run economy, and in which Deng made his famous speech about "socialism with Chinese characteristics." He emphasized private ownership, foreign investment, and reforming the rural areas.

Now two decades have passed. Despite all the vows of commitment to the course of reform, there are concerns that economic modernization and the opening-up of China's economy has halted, and social conflicts have become frequent. There are also calls for bolder reforms and even a second "southern tour."

Some liberal intellectuals are greatly influenced by Western thought. They think that to reform is to have multi-party system and that's where democracy lies.

But they may overlook Westerners' pragmatism. When the Westerners choose their preferred candidates, they care more about whether these candidates' policies will do them good rather than which party these candidates come from.

That's why the Americans elected Democratic candidate Barack Obama as their president, as he agreed to an economic stimulus plan during the US economic downturn in 2008.

The essence of Deng Xiaoping's tour 20 years ago can't be detached from its background. The significance of his talk lies in its timing, which took place between the eventful year of 1989 and the 14th CPC National Congress in 1992. It set the tone for Deng's concept of socialism and revitalized the reform drive that he first proposed some 20 years before the tour, in early 1970s.

China has made abundant progress since his talk. Without the historical background of his talk, the discussion of the need of reform goes nowhere.

However, this doesn't mean we don't need any reform now. Indeed we do, but the focus of reform is different from that of 20 years ago and should be concrete rather than abstract.

In today's globalized world, some have preconceived ideas that reform relates to privatization. I think the core of reform we need is not about opening coastal cities to boost the economy but about paying more attention to people's social welfare.

For example, China's domestic demand should continue to become more of a driving force for the country's economic growth.

Balancing urban and rural development, and reforming existing household registration system also top the reform agenda.

One of the successful and most widely discussed reforms is the experiment undertaken by Chongqing, an enormous municipality with a population of 33 million, 23 million of which are registered as farmers.

More than 8 million farmers have already migrated to the municipality's more urban areas to work. Chongqing has responded by embarking on a huge subsidized housing project, designed to eventually house 30 to 40 percent of the city's population.

Chongqing has also improved the lives of farmers by loosening the household registration system.

Today, farmers can choose to register as "urban residents" and receive equal rights to education, healthcare and pensions after three years, on the condition that they give up their rural registration and their right to use a small plot of land.

Chongqing has done a good job in combining socialism with innovative reforms. Reform is a kind of test and trial.

Deng's talk was rooted in pragmatism. His merging of a market economy with socialism and his ultimate aim of realizing "common prosperity" also reflects this.

The objective of any reform should be realized through practice.

The article was compiled by Global Times reporter Wang Wenwen based on an interview with Cui Zhiyuan, professor from the School of Public Administration, Tsinghua University. wangwenwen@globaltimes.com.cn