Every once in a while, there is talk to discuss when this country will traverse the threshold for modernization, and they seldom fail to make a splash.

A recent statement claiming that the dream will be fulfilled a decade or so ahead of schedule to make China a "moderately developed country" around 2040 excited many. The latest Chinese Academy of Social Sciences report that the country has a slim 4-percent chance of becoming a developed country by the end of the century, however, sounds more frustrating than inspiring.

Our compatriots are into name games. This is but another. It may be unfair to blame our scholars for investing precious resources in such games. But we as a nation would definitely be better off should our scholars concentrate more on refining our approach to development.

For many in this country, the Chinese dream stands more for the nation as a game of catching up with developed countries and realizing the "great rejuvenation of the nation" than mere individual pursuits. And that dream appears more approachable than ever these days.

Yet timing a highly subjective concept, or state of development, is to a great extent a matter of judgment. This is why we prefer seeing more scholarly explorations about what kind of modernity we should be after, and how to achieve it.

In spite of the recent rhetoric about the "scientific outlook on development," the country's three-step modernization strategy, which is the de facto official yardstick for gauging development, is based overwhelmingly on economic indices.

However, higher GDP and national income, gross or per capita are only part of the picture of modernity. Indices of modernity involving human development are embarrassingly underdeveloped in this country. And that is where we have seen the least scholarly focus.

Given the momentum of the economy, much of the math is reasonably easy for the country. The more challenging aspect lies in updating our values and systems. We appreciate one scholar's comment that "modernization would be unachievable for China without feudal values being eradicated."

A developed economy and contemporary social structure calls for a corresponding reshuffle of governance philosophies and approaches. The national leadership has seen the imperative and has constantly accentuated "governance capabilities." That is a fine starting point, but it is just a starting point.

The non-economic aspects of the challenge may turn out to be trickier. But without true progress, our picture of modernity will never be complete.

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