BEIJING—President Xi Jinping has laid down a new driving philosophy for the Communist Party of China’s role in leaping the nation’s new level of economic development to building a “great modern socialist” country with his “Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.”
Xi’s political report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC on Wednesday constitutes the new roadmap for the party’s crucial role in building China’s “moderately prosperous society” and the latest step towards establishing a modern socialist state.
In addressing the 2,280 delegates to the party congress at the Great Hall of the People here, Xi, who is also the CPC’s general secretary, outlined a two-step approach to achieve a great modern socialist country once building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is achieved by 2020.
“Both China and the world are in the midst of profound and complex changes. China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development; the prospects are bright but the challenges are severe. All comrades must aim high and look far, be alert to dangers even in times of calm, have the courage to pursue reform and break new ground, and never become hardened to change or inactive,” Xi said, even as he hailed the country’s economic development under the leadership of the CPC.
“We will unite the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and lead them to a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and in the drive to secure the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era,” he declared.
The Chinese leader added that socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. “This is a new historic juncture in China’s development,” he said.
Under the “Xi Jinping Thought,” socialist modernization will be attained from 2020 to 2035. From 2035 to the middle of the century, China will become a great socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.
As the country celebrates its centennial in 2049, China will be a global leader in terms of composite national strength and international influence.
“In the early days of reforms and opening up, the party made a clarion call for us to take a path of our own and build socialism with Chinese characteristics. Since that time, the party has united and led all the Chinese people in a tireless struggle, propelling China into a leading position in terms of economic and technological strength, defense capabilities, and composite national strength. China’s international standing has risen as never before,” he noted, adding “Our party, our country, our people, our forces and our nation have changed in ways without precedent.”
In his report, Xi said the goal exceeds the CPC’s previous plans to “basically realize modernization” by the middle of the 21st century. It also sets a higher target for China’s modernization in terms of material, political, cultural and ethical, social and ecological development.
The two-step approach is an important component of the Xi Jinping Thought, a long-term guide for action, which is built on and further enriches Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. It represents the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, the Chinese president stressed.
Xi listed 14 points that underpin the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
According to Xi, principal contradiction facing Chinese society is that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life.
“The people’s desire to live a better life is increasingly broad. Not only have material and cultural needs grown, but also demands for democracy, rule of law, fairness and justice, security and a better environment are increasing, Xi pointed out.
The report of the Xi, who is expected to get a fresh mandate as CPC general secretary and as China president, outlines the development of a modernized economy and socialist democracy, stronger cultural confidence and improved social wellbeing.
Xi exhorted the party’s 89 million members to regard as their goal “the people’s aspirations to live a better life.”
According to him, the CPC is the highest force for political leadership, and that it should adopt strict governance over the party and improvement of the party’s ability to govern and lead.
Xi stressed that having gained overwhelming momentum in its fight against corruption, the CPC should resolutely secure a “sweeping victory” over “the greatest threat” to the Party.
Top CPC officials said the report delivered by Xi at the opening of the 19th National Congress establishes Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristic for a New Era.”
Zhang Dejiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the comment during a discussion with party delegates from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Wednesday.
Another member of the CPC’s Politburo Standing Committee, Yu Zhengsheng, shared the view of Zhang, saying the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core has created “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, and it is the latest achievement when the Party is adapting Marxism to China’s conditions.
Liu Yunshan, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized Xi’s new thoughts and called on all party members to put these ideas into practice in the new era.
The party congress is expected to deliberate an amendment to the CPC Constitution. Delegates will elect a new CPC Central Committee and a new CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Established in 1921, the CPC founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and began reform and opening up in 1978.
Xi also extolled the remarkable achievement of China under the leadership of the CPC where country’s GDP rose from 54 trillion yuan (or 8.2 trillion U.S. dollars) to 80 trillion yuan, contributing more than 30 percent of global economic growth over the past five years.
The Chinese leader said more than 60 million people have been lifted out of poverty and over 1,500 reform measures have established general frameworks for reform in major fields, and the country is building world-class armed forces.
Xi noted that while China has achieved new level of economic development, grown rich and become a strong nation, it is still and will long remain in the primary stage of socialism, adding its international status as the world’s largest developing country has not changed,
“Achieving national rejuvenation will be not a walk in the park. It will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there,” the party general secretary pointed out.