New plans

China has two centenary goals, they are to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021, and to turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the time the People's Republic of China celebrates its centenary in 2049.

Miao girls in their ethnic costumes in Xijiang Miao Village, Leishan County of Guizhou Province watch the opening ceremony of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. [Photo/China Today]

In his report, Xi gave a more detailed roadmap for accomplishing the second goal.

The report noted that in the first stage from 2020 to 2035, China will build on the foundation created by the moderately prosperous society through a further 15 years of hard work to see that socialist modernization is basically realized. After another 15 years of efforts from 2035, the country will be developed into a great modern socialist country.

In the course of realizing the two centenary goals, China will further supply-side structural reform, accelerate the building of an innovative country, revitalize the countryside, promote regional economic integration, improve the socialist market economy system, and pursue opening-up on all fronts.

"Unleashing and developing the productive force is a fundamental task of socialism. These measures will undoubtedly inspire creativity and vitality throughout society, and bring about more efficient, fairer, more sustainable, and higher quality development," Shi said.

The report stressed that the very purpose of developing socialist democracy is to give full expression to the will of the people, protect their rights and interests, spark their creativity, and strengthen institutional guarantees to ensure the people run the country.

It detailed the six aspects of China's socialist democracy: upholding the unity of Party leadership, the people running the country, and law-based governance; strengthening institutional guarantees to ensure the people run the country; giving play to the important role of socialist consultative democracy; advancing law-based governance; deepening reform of Party and government institutions and the system of government administration; and consolidating and developing a patriotic united front.

Xi said, "The political system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a great creation of the CPC and the Chinese people. We have every confidence that we can give full play to the strengths and distinctive features of China's socialist democracy, and make China's contribution to the political advancement of humankind."

On people's livelihood, the report said "to lead the people to a better life is our Party's abiding goal."

It is the CPC's responsibility to make sure every Chinese citizen shares the development outcomes of the country's tremendous economic achievements. Towards this end, the report proposed measures such as giving priority to developing education, improving the quality of employment and raising incomes, strengthening social security networks, eliminating poverty, and implementing the Healthy China initiative to improve people's wellbeing.

The report also includes the decision to promote ecological progress and build a beautiful China. For this purpose, it proposed measures like promoting green development, solving prominent environmental problems, intensifying the protection of ecosystems, and reforming the environmental regulation system.

All these plans, without exception, embody China's new development concepts of innovation, coordination, eco-friendliness, openness and inclusiveness.

Shared future

The Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is not exclusive to China. It can benefit other countries that seek to accelerate their own development. In the words of Xi, "The path, the theory, the system, and the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics have kept developing, blazing a new trail for other developing countries to achieve modernization. The concept offers a new option to other countries and nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence; and it offers Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach to solving the problems facing humankind."

Over the past few years, Xi has proposed to build a community of shared future for humankind on various international occasions, and it has also been incorporated in a UN resolution.

The world is undergoing profound development, transformation and adjustment, but peace and development remain the call of our day. Meanwhile, the trends of global multi-polarity, economic globalization, IT applications, and cultural diversity are advancing; changes in the global governance system and the international order are speeding up; and international forces are becoming more balanced.

And yet, global economic growth lacks energy, the gap between rich and poor continues to widen, conflicts often arise in some regions, and unconventional security threats like terrorism, lack of cybersecurity, and climate change continue to spread.

"We call on the people of all countries to work together to build a community of shared future for humankind, to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity," Xi said in the report.

He also pointed out that to make new and greater contributions to humanity is the CPC's abiding mission.

Some people regard China's endeavors, like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, as challenges to the current international order. However, the report shows that the initiatives are consistent with China's adherence to the fundamental national policy of opening up and its commitment to actively promoting international cooperation in a responsible way.

China resolutely opposes trade protectionism, actively supports the multilateral trading system, and promotes the establishment of free trade areas and of an open and inclusive world economy.

Meanwhile, China will continue to insist on the diplomatic principles of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and uphold its fundamental foreign policy goals of preserving world peace and promoting common development.

The report said that China will continue to play its part as a major and responsible country, take an active role in reforming and developing the global governance system, and continue to contribute Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach to global governance.

"China's development does not pose a threat to any other country. No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," Xi said.

Lan Xinzhen is a commentator with Beijing Review magazine.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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