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Hu Jintao,2007-10-24 11:24
Comrades:
Now, on behalf of the 16th Central Committee, I will deliver a report to the Congress.
The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was a very important congress held at a crucial stage of my country's reform and development. The theme of the Congress was: Holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the "Three Represents," thoroughly implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development, continuing to emancipate the mind, adhering to reform and opening up, promoting scientific development, fostering social harmony, and striving for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
The great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the banner of contemporary China's development and progress, and the banner of unity and struggle for the entire Party and all ethnic groups across the country. Emancipating the mind is a major magic weapon for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; reform and opening up is a powerful driving force for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; scientific development and social harmony are the basic requirements for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is the goal of the Party and the country by 2020, and it is in the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups across the country.
The world today is undergoing profound and extensive changes, and contemporary China is experiencing profound and extensive transformations. Opportunities are unprecedented, and so are the challenges, but the opportunities outweigh the challenges. The entire Party must unswervingly hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, lead the people from this new historical starting point, seize and make good use of the important strategic opportunities, seek truth from facts, forge ahead with determination, continue to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, accelerate socialist modernization, and fulfill the lofty mission entrusted to us by the times.
I. Work done in the past five years
The five years since the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China have been extraordinary. Faced with a complex and ever-changing international environment and arduous tasks of reform and development, the Party led the people of all ethnic groups across the country, holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents," overcoming various difficulties and risks, creating a new situation for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and opening up a new realm for the Sinicization of Marxism.
The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) established the guiding role of the important thought of the "Three Represents" and made the strategic decision to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. To implement the spirit of the 16th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee convened seven plenary sessions, making decisions and arrangements on major issues concerning the overall situation, such as deepening institutional reform, improving the socialist market economy system, strengthening the Party's governing capacity, formulating the 11th Five-Year Plan, and building a socialist harmonious society. It also put forward and implemented major strategic thoughts such as the Scientific Outlook on Development, promoting new and significant achievements in the work of the Party and the state.
Economic strength has significantly improved. The economy maintained steady and rapid development, with GDP growing at an average annual rate of over 10%, economic efficiency significantly improved, fiscal revenue increasing substantially year after year, and prices remaining basically stable. Solid progress was made in building a new socialist countryside, and regional development coordination was enhanced. The construction of an innovative nation progressed well, and independent innovation capabilities were greatly improved. Significant achievements were made in the construction of infrastructure and key projects in energy, transportation, and communications. Manned spaceflight was successfully achieved. New progress was made in energy and resource conservation and ecological environmental protection. The 10th Five-Year Plan was successfully completed, and the 11th Five-Year Plan is progressing smoothly.
Significant breakthroughs were achieved in reform and opening up. Comprehensive rural reforms were gradually deepened, with the complete abolition of agricultural tax, livestock tax, and special product tax, and policies supporting and benefiting agriculture were continuously strengthened. Major progress was made in the reform of the state-owned asset management system, state-owned enterprises, and the financial, fiscal, investment, pricing, and technological sectors. The non-public sector of the economy further developed. The market system was continuously improved, macro-control continued to improve, and the government's functions accelerated their transformation. Total import and export volume increased substantially, the "going global" strategy took solid steps, and the open economy entered a new stage.
People's lives have improved significantly. Urban and rural residents' incomes have increased substantially, and household assets have generally grown. A basic living standard guarantee system for urban and rural residents has been initially established, ensuring the basic living needs of the impoverished population. Residents' consumption patterns have been optimized, with continuous improvements in their clothing, food, housing, and transportation standards, and a marked enhancement in the public services they enjoy.
New progress has been made in the development of democracy and the rule of law. Political system reform has been steadily advanced. The system of people's congresses, the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the system of regional ethnic autonomy have been continuously improved, and grassroots democracy has become more vibrant. Human rights have developed healthily. The patriotic united front has grown stronger. The legal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been basically established, and the basic strategy of governing the country according to law has been effectively implemented. Reforms of the administrative management system and the judicial system have been continuously deepened.
Cultural development has entered a new phase. The construction of the socialist core value system has been steadily advanced, and the research and development of Marxist theory has yielded significant results. Ideological and moral construction has been widely carried out, further enhancing the overall level of civilization in society. Significant progress has been made in cultural system reform, with rapid development in cultural undertakings and industries, enriching the people's spiritual and cultural life. New achievements have been made in mass fitness and competitive sports.
Social development unfolded comprehensively. Education at all levels and of all types developed rapidly, and free compulsory education in rural areas was fully implemented. Employment expanded steadily. The social security system was further strengthened. A major victory was achieved in the fight against SARS, the public health system and basic medical services were continuously improved, and the health level of the people continued to rise. Social management was gradually improved, the overall social situation remained stable, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.
China has made historic achievements in national defense and military development. The military transformation with Chinese characteristics has been accelerated, the task of reducing the number of military personnel by 200,000 has been successfully completed, the revolutionary, modern, and standardized development of the armed forces has been comprehensively strengthened, and the ability to fulfill the historical mission of the new century and new stage has been significantly improved.
Work related to Hong Kong and Macao, as well as Taiwan, was further strengthened. Hong Kong and Macao maintained prosperity and stability, and their economic and trade relations with the mainland became even closer. Cross-strait party exchanges were successfully launched, and personnel exchanges and economic and cultural exchanges reached new levels. The Anti-Secession Law was enacted to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Significant progress has been made in all-round diplomacy. Adhering to an independent foreign policy of peace, various diplomatic tasks have been actively carried out, exchanges and cooperation with other countries have been extensively strengthened, and an important and constructive role has been played in international affairs, creating a favorable international environment for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
The great new project of Party building has been steadily advanced. The building of the Party's governing capacity and its advanced nature has been deepened. Theoretical innovation and theoretical arming have yielded remarkable results. The campaign to maintain the advanced nature of Communist Party members has achieved significant results. Intra-Party democracy has been continuously expanded. Significant progress has been made in the building of leading bodies and the cadre ranks, especially in cadre education and training; talent work has been further strengthened; and the reform of the cadre personnel system and the innovation of organizational systems have been continuously deepened. The building of Party conduct and integrity and the fight against corruption have achieved remarkable results.
While acknowledging our achievements, we must also be soberly aware that our work still falls short of the people's expectations, and we face numerous difficulties and problems on our path forward. These include: the excessive resource and environmental costs of economic growth; persistent imbalances in urban-rural, regional, and socio-economic development; increasing difficulty in achieving stable agricultural development and sustained income growth for farmers; numerous issues concerning the vital interests of the people, such as employment, social security, income distribution, education and healthcare, housing, workplace safety, the judiciary, and public security, with some low-income groups facing significant hardship; the need to strengthen ideological and moral education; the Party's governing capacity not fully adapting to the new situation and tasks, and insufficient in-depth investigation and research on major practical issues related to reform, development, and stability; weak and disorganized grassroots Party organizations; and a few Party members and cadres exhibiting improper conduct, with formalism and bureaucracy being prominent issues, and extravagance, waste, and corruption remaining serious problems. We must attach great importance to these issues and continue to address them earnestly.
In summary, these past five years have been a period of significant progress in reform and opening up and the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society; a period of substantial enhancement of my country's comprehensive national strength and greater benefits for the people; a period of remarkable improvement in my country's international standing and influence; and a period of marked strengthening of the Party's creativity, cohesion, and fighting capacity, and closer unity among the Party and all ethnic groups across the country. Practice has fully proven that the major decisions made by the Central Committee at and since the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China are entirely correct.
The achievements of the past five years are the result of the joint efforts of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of all ethnic groups across the country, to all democratic parties, people's organizations, and patriotic people from all walks of life, to our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan, as well as to the vast number of overseas Chinese, and to all friends from all countries who care about and support China's modernization!
II. The Great Historical Process of Reform and Opening Up
We are about to celebrate the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up. In 1978, our Party convened the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, a meeting of great historical significance, which ushered in a new historical period of reform and opening up. Since then, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people, with their indomitable spirit of enterprise and magnificent innovative practices, have written a new and magnificent epic of the Chinese nation's self-reliance and tenacious progress, and the face of the Chinese people, the face of socialist China, and the face of the Communist Party of China have undergone historic changes.
Reform and opening up is a new great revolution led by the Party under new historical conditions. Its purpose is to liberate and develop social productive forces, realize national modernization, make the Chinese people rich, and revitalize the great Chinese nation; it is to promote the self-improvement and development of my country's socialist system, give socialism new vitality, and build and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics; and it is to strengthen and improve Party building, maintain and develop the Party's advanced nature, and ensure that the Party always stays at the forefront of the times in leading contemporary China's development and progress.
We must always remember that the great cause of reform and opening up was carried out on the basis of the first generation of the Party's central leadership collective with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, who created Mao Zedong Thought, led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to establish a new China, achieved great successes in socialist revolution and construction, and gained valuable experience through arduous exploration of the laws of socialist construction. The victory of the New Democratic Revolution and the establishment of the basic socialist system laid the fundamental political premise and institutional foundation for all development and progress in contemporary China.
We must always remember that the great cause of reform and opening up was initiated by the second generation of the Party's central leadership, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping at its core, leading the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. Faced with the perilous situation caused by the ten-year "Cultural Revolution," the second generation of the Party's central leadership adhered to emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. With immense political and theoretical courage, they scientifically evaluated Comrade Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought, thoroughly negated the erroneous theory and practice of "taking class struggle as the key link," made the historic decision to shift the focus of the Party and the country's work to economic construction and implement reform and opening up, established the basic line for the primary stage of socialism, sounded the clarion call for taking our own path and building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and created Deng Xiaoping Theory, guiding the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to stride forward on the great journey of reform and opening up.
We must always remember that the great cause of reform and opening up was inherited, developed, and successfully propelled into the 21st century by the third generation of the Party's central leadership with Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core, leading the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. From the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee to the 16th CPC National Congress, the third generation of the Party's central leadership, entrusted with a crucial historical mission, held high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, adhered to reform and opening up, kept pace with the times, and, in the face of severe tests such as domestic and international political turmoil and economic risks, relied on the Party and the people to defend socialism with Chinese characteristics, create a new system of socialist market economy, open up a new situation of comprehensive opening up, advance the new great project of Party building, establish the important thought of the "Three Represents," and continue to guide the ship of reform and opening up to sail forward in the right direction.
Since the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents," we have adapted to the changing domestic and international situation, seized the important strategic opportunities, carried forward the spirit of seeking truth from facts and pioneering and enterprising, adhered to theoretical and practical innovation, focused on promoting scientific development and social harmony, improved the socialist market economy system, and unswervingly continued to advance the great cause of reform and opening up in the practice of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
The most distinctive feature of the new era is reform and opening up. From rural areas to cities, from the economic sphere to all other sectors, the process of comprehensive reform has unfolded irresistibly; from coastal areas to riverine and border regions, from the east to the central and western regions, the door to the outside world has been resolutely opened. This unprecedented reform and opening up has greatly mobilized the enthusiasm of hundreds of millions of people, enabling my country to successfully achieve the great historical transformation from a highly centralized planned economy to a vibrant socialist market economy, and from a closed or semi-closed state to all-round opening up. Today, a socialist China, facing modernization, the world, and the future, stands tall in the East.
The most significant achievement of the new era is rapid development. Our Party implemented the three-step strategy for modernization, leading the people in arduous struggle and propelling my country to sustained and rapid development at a pace rarely seen in the world. my country's economy has grown from the brink of collapse to become the world's fourth largest economy and the third largest in terms of total imports and exports. People's lives have improved from basic subsistence to a generally well-off society. The rural poor population has decreased from over 250 million to over 20 million. China has achieved remarkable successes in political, cultural, and social development. China's development has not only enabled the Chinese people to steadily embark on a broad path of prosperity and well-being but has also made significant contributions to global economic development and the progress of human civilization.
The most prominent feature of the new era is keeping pace with the times. Our Party adheres to the Marxist ideological line, constantly exploring and answering major theoretical and practical questions such as what socialism is, how to build socialism, what kind of party to build, how to build the party, what kind of development to achieve, and how to achieve development. It continuously advances the Sinicization of Marxism, upholding and enriching the Party's basic theories, basic line, basic program, and basic experience. Socialism and Marxism have flourished on Chinese soil, bringing greater benefits to the people and enabling the Chinese nation to stride forward with the times and usher in a bright future of great rejuvenation.
Facts eloquently prove that reform and opening up is a crucial choice that determines the fate of contemporary China, and the only path to developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening up can develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism.
As a new great revolution, reform and opening up cannot be smooth sailing, nor can it be accomplished overnight. Most fundamentally, reform and opening up conforms to the will of the Party and the people, follows the trend of the times, and its direction and path are entirely correct. Its achievements and merits cannot be denied, and there is no way out for stagnation or regression.
In the historical process of reform and opening up, our Party has combined upholding the basic principles of Marxism with advancing the Sinicization of Marxism, combining upholding the Four Cardinal Principles with upholding reform and opening up, combining respect for the people's pioneering spirit with strengthening and improving the Party's leadership, combining upholding the basic socialist system with developing the market economy, combining promoting changes in the economic base with promoting reforms in the superstructure, combining developing social productive forces with improving the overall quality of the nation, combining improving efficiency with promoting social equity, combining upholding independence and self-reliance with participating in economic globalization, combining promoting reform and development with maintaining social stability, and combining advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics with advancing the new great project of Party building. This has yielded valuable experience for a developing country with a population of over one billion in lifting itself out of poverty, accelerating modernization, and consolidating and developing socialism.
The fundamental reason for all the achievements and progress we have made since the reform and opening up can be summarized as follows: we have opened up the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The most fundamental aspect of holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is adhering to this path and this theoretical system.
The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, based on China's fundamental national conditions, centered on economic development, adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles, persisting in reform and opening up, liberating and developing productive forces, consolidating and improving the socialist system, building a socialist market economy, socialist democracy, advanced socialist culture, and a harmonious socialist society, and ultimately building a prosperous, democratic, civilized, and harmonious socialist modern country. The reason why the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is entirely correct and can lead China's development and progress lies in the fact that we have both adhered to the basic principles of scientific socialism and endowed it with distinct Chinese characteristics based on my country's realities and the characteristics of the times. In contemporary China, adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is truly adhering to socialism.
The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a scientific theoretical system that includes Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of the Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, among other major strategic thoughts. This theoretical system upholds and develops Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, embodies the wisdom and hard work of generations of Chinese Communists leading the people in their unremitting exploration and practice, and represents the latest achievement in the Sinicization of Marxism. It is the Party's most valuable political and spiritual asset and the common ideological foundation for the unity and struggle of all ethnic groups in China. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a constantly developing and open theoretical system. Nearly 160 years of practice since the publication of the *Communist Manifesto* have proven that Marxism can only unleash its powerful vitality, creativity, and appeal when combined with the specific conditions of a country, progresses with the times, and shares the destiny of the people. In contemporary China, adhering to the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is truly adhering to Marxism.
Practice is endless, and innovation is endless. All Party members must cherish, uphold, and continuously develop the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which the Party has painstakingly pioneered. We must adhere to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and keeping pace with the times. We must be courageous in reform and innovation, never becoming rigid or stagnant. We must not be afraid of any risks or be misled by any interference, so that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics can become ever broader and that contemporary Chinese Marxism can radiate an even more brilliant light of truth.
III. Thoroughly Implement the Scientific Outlook on Development
In this new stage of development, to continue building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must adhere to the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" and thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development.
The Scientific Outlook on Development is an inheritance and development of the important thoughts on development of the three generations of the Party's central leadership collectives. It is a concentrated embodiment of the Marxist worldview and methodology on development. It is a scientific theory that is both consistent with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" and keeps pace with the times. It is an important guiding principle for my country's economic and social development and a major strategic thought that must be adhered to and implemented in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The Scientific Outlook on Development is based on the fundamental national conditions of China's primary stage of socialism, summarizes my country's development practice, draws on foreign development experience, and adapts to new development requirements. Entering the new century and a new stage, my country's development presents a series of new stage-specific characteristics, mainly: Economic strength has significantly increased, but overall productivity is still not high, independent innovation capacity is not strong, and long-standing structural contradictions and extensive growth patterns have not been fundamentally changed; a socialist market economy system has been initially established, but institutional and systemic obstacles affecting development still exist, and reform faces deep-seated contradictions and problems; people's lives have generally reached a moderately prosperous level, but the trend of widening income inequality has not been fundamentally reversed, and there are still a considerable number of urban and rural poor and low-income people, increasing the difficulty of balancing the interests of all parties; significant achievements have been made in coordinated development, but the weak agricultural foundation and lagging rural development have not changed, and the tasks of narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and regions and promoting coordinated economic and social development are arduous; socialist market economy system has been initially established, but institutional and systemic obstacles affecting development still exist, and reform faces deep-seated contradictions and problems; the overall living standards of the people have reached a moderately prosperous level, but the trend of widening income inequality has not been fundamentally reversed, and there are still a considerable number of urban and rural poor and low-income people, increasing the difficulty of balancing the interests of all parties; significant achievements have been made in coordinated development, but the situation of weak agricultural foundation and lagging rural development has not changed, and the tasks of narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and regions and promoting coordinated economic and social development are arduous; While socialist democracy continues to develop and the basic strategy of governing the country according to law is being solidly implemented, the development of democracy and the rule of law is not yet fully adapted to the requirements of expanding people's democracy and economic and social development, and political system reform needs to be further deepened. Socialist culture is becoming more prosperous, while the people's spiritual and cultural needs are becoming increasingly strong, and the independence, selectivity, variability, and diversity of people's thoughts and activities are significantly enhanced, which puts forward higher requirements for the development of advanced socialist culture. Social vitality has been significantly enhanced, while social structure, social organization forms, and social interest patterns are undergoing profound changes, and social construction and management are facing many new challenges. Opening up to the outside world is expanding, while international competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and the pressure of developed countries' economic and technological advantages persists for a long time. Foreseeable and unforeseeable risks are increasing, and the requirements for coordinating domestic development and opening up to the outside world are higher.
These circumstances demonstrate that, through the unremitting efforts since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the reform and opening up, our country has achieved remarkable development achievements, with profound and significant changes occurring from productive forces to relations of production, and from the economic base to the superstructure. However, the fundamental national condition that my country is still in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a long time has not changed, nor has the principal contradiction in Chinese society—the contradiction between the people's ever-growing material and cultural needs and the backward social production—remained unchanged. The current stage-specific characteristics of my country's development are a concrete manifestation of the fundamental national condition of the primary stage of socialism in the new century and new stage. Emphasizing the recognition of the fundamental national condition of the primary stage of socialism is not about being self-deprecating or complacent, nor is it about being divorced from reality or eager for quick success; rather, it is about adhering to it as the fundamental basis for promoting reform and planning development. We must always maintain a clear mind, base ourselves on the greatest reality of the primary stage of socialism, scientifically analyze the new opportunities and challenges of my country's full participation in economic globalization, comprehensively understand the new situation and tasks of the in-depth development of industrialization, informatization, urbanization, marketization, and internationalization, profoundly grasp the new issues and contradictions facing my country's development, more consciously follow the path of scientific development, and strive to open up a broader prospect for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The Scientific Outlook on Development prioritizes development, centers on people-centeredness, requires comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development, and employs a holistic approach that takes all factors into consideration.
—We must always prioritize development as the Party's primary task in governing and rejuvenating the country. Development is of decisive significance for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and accelerating socialist modernization. We must firmly grasp economic development as the central task, concentrate our efforts on construction and development, and continuously unleash and develop social productive forces. We must better implement the strategies of invigorating the nation through science and education, strengthening the nation through talent, and sustainable development, focusing on grasping the laws of development, innovating development concepts, transforming development methods, and solving development problems to improve the quality and efficiency of development, achieve sound and rapid development, and lay a solid foundation for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must strive to achieve people-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable scientific development; harmonious development that achieves the organic unity of all undertakings and the solidarity and harmony of all members of society; and peaceful development that both develops itself by safeguarding world peace and safeguards world peace through its own development.
—We must adhere to a people-centered approach. Wholeheartedly.
Serving the people is the fundamental purpose of the Party, and all the Party's struggles and work are for the benefit of the people. We must always take realizing, safeguarding, and developing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people as the starting point and end result of all the work of the Party and the state, respect the people's principal position, give full play to the people's pioneering spirit, safeguard the people's various rights and interests, follow the path of common prosperity, promote the all-round development of people, and ensure that development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people.
—We must adhere to comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development. In accordance with the overall layout of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must comprehensively advance economic, political, cultural, and social development, promoting coordination among all aspects and stages of modernization, and ensuring harmony between the relations of production and the productive forces, and between the superstructure and the economic base. We must adhere to a path of civilized development characterized by production growth, improved living standards, and a sound ecological environment; build a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society; achieve a balance between speed, structure, quality, and efficiency; and coordinate economic development with population, resources, and the environment, enabling people to live and work in a healthy ecological environment and achieving sustainable economic and social development.
—We must adhere to the principle of overall planning and coordination. We must correctly understand and properly handle the major relationships within the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, coordinating urban and rural development, regional development, economic and social development, harmonious development between humanity and nature, domestic development and opening up to the outside world, coordinating the relationship between the central and local governments, and coordinating individual and collective interests, local and overall interests, and current and long-term interests, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of all parties. We must coordinate the domestic and international situations, cultivate a global perspective, strengthen strategic thinking, and be adept at seizing development opportunities and responding to risks and challenges from the evolving international landscape, creating a favorable international environment. We must not only have an overall grasp of the situation and make comprehensive plans, but also focus on key tasks that affect the overall picture and prominent issues concerning the interests of the masses, vigorously promoting and achieving breakthroughs in key areas.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must always adhere to the basic line of "one central task and two basic points." The Party's basic line is the lifeline of the Party and the country, and the political guarantee for achieving scientific development. Taking economic development as the central task is essential for national prosperity and is the fundamental requirement for the prosperity and long-term stability of our Party and our country; the Four Cardinal Principles are the foundation of our nation and the political cornerstone for the survival and development of our Party and our country; reform and opening up is the path to national strength and the source of vitality for the development and progress of our Party and our country. We must consistently unify taking economic development as the central task with the Four Cardinal Principles and the two basic points of reform and opening up in the great practice of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and this must never be shaken at any time.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must actively build a socialist harmonious society. Social harmony is an essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Scientific development and social harmony are intrinsically unified. There can be no social harmony without scientific development, and scientific development is difficult to achieve without social harmony. Building a socialist harmonious society is a long-term historical task that runs through the entire process of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is a historical process and social outcome of correctly handling various social contradictions on the basis of development. We must increase social material wealth and continuously improve people's lives through development, while also ensuring social fairness and justice and continuously promoting social harmony through development. Achieving social fairness and justice is a consistent proposition of the Communist Party of China and a major task in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must adhere to the general requirements of democracy and the rule of law, fairness and justice, integrity and amity, vitality, stability and order, and harmony between humanity and nature, and the principles of common construction and common enjoyment. We must focus on resolving the most pressing, direct, and realistic issues concerning the interests of the people, and strive to create a situation where all people can contribute their abilities and receive their due rewards while living in harmony, thus providing a favorable social environment for development.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must continue to deepen reform and opening up. We must integrate the spirit of reform and innovation into every aspect of governance, unswervingly adhere to the direction of reform, improve the scientific nature of reform decisions, and enhance the coordination of reform measures. We must improve the socialist market economy system, promote institutional reform and innovation in all aspects, accelerate the pace of reform in important areas and key links, comprehensively improve the level of openness, and strive to build a dynamic, efficient, more open system and mechanism conducive to scientific development, providing strong impetus and institutional guarantees for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must adhere to improving people's lives as the key to correctly handling the relationship between reform, development, and stability, ensuring that reform always enjoys the support of the people.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must earnestly strengthen and improve Party building. We must approach this from the perspective of fulfilling the Party's mission of governing and rejuvenating the country, and prioritize enhancing the Party's governing capacity, maintaining and developing its leadership.
The Party's advanced nature is reflected in leading scientific development and promoting social harmony, and is implemented in guiding China's development and progress and better representing and realizing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people, making the Party's work and Party building more in line with the requirements of the scientific outlook on development, and providing reliable political and organizational guarantees for scientific development.
All Party members must fully grasp the scientific connotation and essence of the Scientific Outlook on Development, enhance their consciousness and determination to implement it, strive to change their mindset that is incompatible with or inconsistent with the Scientific Outlook on Development, focus on solving the prominent problems that affect and restrict scientific development, guide the enthusiasm of the whole society for development towards scientific development, and implement the Scientific Outlook on Development in all aspects of economic and social development.
IV. New Requirements for Achieving the Goal of Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects
We have taken solid steps toward the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, as set forth at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We must continue to work hard to ensure that we achieve this goal by 2020.
We must adapt to the new changes in the domestic and international situation, meet the new expectations of people of all ethnic groups for a better life, grasp the trends and laws of economic and social development, adhere to the basic program consisting of the basic goals and basic policies of socialist economic, political, cultural and social development with Chinese characteristics, and put forward new and higher requirements for my country's development on the basis of the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects established at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
—Enhance the coordination of development and strive to achieve sound and rapid economic development. Significant progress has been made in transforming the development model. Based on optimizing the structure, improving efficiency, reducing consumption, and protecting the environment, per capita GDP will quadruple by 2020 compared to 2000. The socialist market economy system will be further improved. Independent innovation capabilities will be significantly enhanced, and the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress to economic growth will rise sharply, placing China among the ranks of innovative countries. The household consumption rate will steadily increase, forming a growth pattern driven by coordinated consumption, investment, and exports. A mechanism for coordinated and interactive development between urban and rural areas and between different regions, as well as the layout of functional zones, will be basically established. Significant progress has been made in building a new socialist countryside. The proportion of the urban population has increased significantly.
—Expanding socialist democracy to better safeguard the rights and interests of the people and social fairness and justice. Citizens' political participation has expanded in an orderly manner. The basic strategy of governing the country according to law has been thoroughly implemented, the public's awareness of the rule of law has been further enhanced, and new achievements have been made in building a law-based government. The grassroots democratic system has been further improved. The government's capacity to provide basic public services has been significantly strengthened.
—Strengthening cultural development and significantly improving the overall quality of the nation's civilization. The socialist core value system has taken root in people's hearts, and sound moral values have been further promoted. A public cultural service system covering the whole society has been basically established, the cultural industry's share of the national economy has significantly increased, its international competitiveness has been significantly enhanced, and cultural products that meet the needs of the people have become more abundant.
—Accelerate the development of social undertakings and comprehensively improve people's lives. The modern national education system will be further improved, a lifelong education system will be basically established, and the overall level of education for all citizens and the cultivation of innovative talents will be significantly enhanced. Social employment will be more adequate. A social security system covering urban and rural residents will be basically established, ensuring basic living standards for everyone. A rational and orderly income distribution pattern will be basically formed, with the majority of income earners being middle-income earners, and absolute poverty will be basically eliminated. Everyone will enjoy basic medical and health services. The social management system will be more sound.
—Building an ecological civilization and basically forming a conservation-oriented system
The industrial structure, growth model, and consumption patterns related to energy resources and ecological environment protection have been optimized. A circular economy has been established on a significant scale, and the proportion of renewable energy has increased markedly. Emissions of major pollutants have been effectively controlled, and the quality of the ecological environment has improved significantly. The concept of ecological civilization has been firmly established throughout society.
By 2020, when the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is achieved, our ancient civilization and developing socialist country will have basically achieved industrialization, significantly enhanced comprehensive national strength, and a domestic market that ranks among the world's largest. It will be a country where people's wealth has generally increased, their quality of life has significantly improved, and the ecological environment is sound. It will be a country where people enjoy fuller democratic rights, have higher levels of civilization and spiritual pursuits, and where various systems are more complete, society is more vibrant, stable, and united. It will be a country that is more open to the outside world, more approachable, and makes greater contributions to human civilization.
The next five years are a crucial period for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We must strengthen our confidence, work diligently, and lay a more solid foundation for building a higher-level moderately prosperous society that benefits more than one billion people.
V. Promote sound and rapid development of the national economy
To achieve future economic development goals, the key lies in making significant progress in accelerating the transformation of the economic development model and improving the socialist market economy system. We must vigorously promote the strategic adjustment of the economic structure, placing greater emphasis on enhancing independent innovation capabilities, improving energy conservation and environmental protection levels, and raising the overall quality and international competitiveness of the economy. We must deepen our understanding of the laws governing the socialist market economy, better leverage the fundamental role of the market in resource allocation through institutional reforms, and establish a macroeconomic control system conducive to scientific development.
(I) Enhancing Independent Innovation Capability and Building an Innovative Nation. This is the core of the national development strategy and the key to improving comprehensive national strength. We must adhere to the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics and integrate the enhancement of independent innovation capability into all aspects of modernization. We must earnestly implement the National Medium- and Long-Term Science and Technology Development Plan Outline, increase investment in independent innovation, and focus on breaking through key technologies that restrict economic and social development. We must accelerate the construction of a national innovation system and support basic research, cutting-edge technology research, and social welfare technology research. We must accelerate the establishment of a technology innovation system with enterprises as the main body, market-oriented, and integrating industry, academia, and research, guiding and supporting the aggregation of innovation elements towards enterprises and promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces. We must deepen the reform of the science and technology management system, optimize the allocation of science and technology resources, and improve the legal guarantee, policy system, incentive mechanism, and market environment for encouraging technological innovation and the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements. We must implement the intellectual property strategy. We must make full use of international science and technology resources. We must further create an environment that encourages innovation, strive to cultivate world-class scientists and leading scientific and technological talents, focus on cultivating front-line innovative talents, and enable the innovative wisdom of the whole society to burst forth and a large number of innovative talents to emerge in all aspects.
(II) Accelerate the transformation of the economic development model and promote the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure. This is an urgent and important strategic task concerning the overall national economy. We must adhere to the path of new industrialization with Chinese characteristics, persist in the policy of expanding domestic demand, especially consumer demand, and promote the transformation of economic growth from being mainly driven by investment and exports to being driven by a coordinated approach of consumption, investment, and exports; from being mainly driven by the secondary industry to being driven by the coordinated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries; and from being mainly driven by increased consumption of material resources to being mainly driven by scientific and technological progress, improved workforce quality, and management innovation. We must develop a modern industrial system and vigorously promote…
The integration of informatization and industrialization will promote the transformation of industry from large to strong, revitalize the equipment manufacturing industry, and eliminate outdated production capacity; it will upgrade high-tech industries and develop industries such as information technology, biotechnology, new materials, aerospace, and marine industries; it will develop modern service industries and increase their proportion and level; it will strengthen the construction of basic industrial infrastructure and accelerate the development of modern energy industries and comprehensive transportation systems. Product quality and safety will be ensured. The development of large enterprise groups with international competitiveness will be encouraged.
(III) Coordinate urban and rural development and promote the construction of a new socialist countryside. Solving the problems of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers is crucial to the overall goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and must always be a top priority for the entire Party. We must strengthen the fundamental position of agriculture, follow the path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics, establish a long-term mechanism for promoting agriculture through industry and rural development through urban development, and form a new pattern of integrated urban and rural economic and social development. We must adhere to developing modern agriculture and revitalizing the rural economy as our primary tasks, strengthen rural infrastructure construction, and improve the rural market and agricultural service system. We must increase the strength of policies supporting agriculture and benefiting farmers, strictly protect arable land, increase agricultural investment, promote agricultural scientific and technological progress, enhance comprehensive agricultural production capacity, and ensure national food security. We must strengthen the prevention and control of animal and plant diseases and improve the quality and safety of agricultural products. With increasing farmers' income as the core, we must develop township enterprises, strengthen the county economy, and transfer farmers to employment through multiple channels. We must improve the level of poverty alleviation and development. We must deepen comprehensive rural reform, promote the reform and innovation of the rural financial system, and reform the collective forest tenure system. We must adhere to the basic rural management system, stabilize and improve land contracting relations, and, in accordance with the principles of legality, voluntariness, and compensation, improve the land contracting and management rights transfer market. Where conditions permit, various forms of appropriately scaled operations can be developed. Explore effective forms of collective economy, develop farmers' professional cooperative organizations, and support the industrialization of agriculture and the development of leading enterprises. Cultivate a new type of farmer who is educated, technically skilled, and good at management, and give full play to the leading role of hundreds of millions of farmers in building a new countryside.
(IV) Strengthen energy and resource conservation and ecological environmental protection to enhance sustainable development capabilities. Adhering to the basic national policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment is crucial to the vital interests of the people and the survival and development of the Chinese nation. We must place the construction of a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society in a prominent position within the industrialization and modernization development strategy, implementing it in every unit and every household. We must improve laws and policies conducive to energy and resource conservation and ecological environmental protection, and accelerate the formation of a sustainable development system and mechanism. We must implement the responsibility system for energy conservation and emission reduction. We must develop and promote advanced and applicable technologies for conservation, substitution, recycling, and pollution control; develop clean and renewable energy; protect land and water resources; build a scientifically sound energy and resource utilization system; and improve energy and resource utilization efficiency. We must develop the environmental protection industry. We must increase investment in energy conservation and environmental protection, focusing on strengthening the prevention and control of water, air, and soil pollution, and improving the urban and rural living environment. We must strengthen water conservancy, forestry, and grassland construction; strengthen the control of desertification and rocky desertification; and promote ecological restoration. We must strengthen our capacity to address climate change and make new contributions to protecting the global climate.
(V) Promote coordinated regional development and optimize the national land development pattern. Narrowing regional development gaps requires focusing on achieving equal access to basic public services and guiding the rational flow of production factors across regions. We must continue to implement the overall regional development strategy, further promote the development of the western region, comprehensively revitalize old industrial bases such as the Northeast, vigorously promote the rise of the central region, and actively support the leading development of the eastern region. We must strengthen national land planning, improve regional policies, and adjust the economic layout in accordance with the requirements for forming functional zones. Following the laws of the market economy, we must break through administrative boundaries to form several economic circles and belts with strong driving forces and close connections. The layout of major projects should fully consider supporting the development of the central and western regions and encourage the eastern region to drive and assist the development of the central and western regions. We must increase support for the development of old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas, and impoverished areas. We must help resource-depleted areas achieve economic transformation. We must better leverage the important role of special economic zones, Shanghai Pudong New Area, and Tianjin Binhai New Area in reform and opening up and independent innovation. We must follow the path of urbanization with Chinese characteristics, promoting the coordinated development of large, medium, and small cities and towns in accordance with the principles of integrated urban and rural development, rational layout, land conservation, complete functions, and large leading small. With a focus on enhancing comprehensive carrying capacity and relying on megacities, we will form urban clusters with a strong radiating effect and cultivate new economic growth poles.
(VI) Improve the basic economic system and establish a sound modern market system. We will uphold and improve the basic economic system with public ownership as the mainstay and the common development of diverse forms of ownership. We will unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector, and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector. We will adhere to the principle of equal protection of property rights and foster a new pattern of equal competition and mutual promotion among various forms of ownership. We will deepen the corporatization and shareholding reforms of state-owned enterprises, improve the modern enterprise system, optimize the layout and structure of the state-owned economy, and enhance its vitality, control, and influence. We will deepen the reform of monopolistic industries, introduce competition mechanisms, and strengthen government supervision and social oversight. We will accelerate the establishment of a state-owned capital operation budget system. We will improve the management systems and institutions for various types of state-owned assets. We will promote the reform of collective enterprises and develop various forms of collective and cooperative economies. We will promote fair access, improve financing conditions, remove institutional barriers, and promote the development of individual, private, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Based on a modern property rights system, we will develop a mixed ownership economy. We will accelerate the formation of a unified, open, competitive, and orderly modern market system, develop various factors of production markets, improve the price formation mechanism for factors of production and resources that reflects market supply and demand, resource scarcity, and environmental damage costs, regulate the development of industry associations and market intermediary organizations, and improve the social credit system.
(VII) Deepen reforms of the fiscal, taxation, and financial systems, and improve the macro-control system. Focusing on promoting the equalization of basic public services and the construction of functional zones, improve the public finance system. Deepen budget system reform, strengthen budget management and supervision, improve the system that matches central and local government financial resources with their respective responsibilities, accelerate the formation of a unified, standardized, and transparent fiscal transfer payment system, increase the scale and proportion of general transfer payments, and increase investment in public services. Improve the fiscal system below the provincial level and enhance the capacity of grassroots governments to provide public services. Implement a fiscal and taxation system conducive to scientific development, and establish and improve a system for the paid use of resources and an ecological environment compensation mechanism. Promote financial system reform, develop various financial markets, and form a modern financial system with diverse ownership structures and operating forms, a reasonable structure, complete functions, and high efficiency and security. Improve the banking industry...
Enhance the competitiveness of the securities and insurance industries. Optimize the capital market structure and increase the proportion of direct financing through multiple channels. Strengthen and improve financial supervision, and prevent and resolve financial risks. Improve the RMB exchange rate formation mechanism and gradually achieve capital account convertibility. Deepen investment system reform and improve and strictly enforce market access regulations. Improve the national planning system. Give full play to the guiding role of national development plans, programs, and industrial policies in macro-control, and comprehensively utilize fiscal and monetary policies to improve the level of macro-control.
(VIII) Expand the breadth and depth of opening up and improve the level of the open economy. Adhere to the basic national policy of opening up, better combine "bringing in" and "going out," expand the scope of opening up, optimize the structure of opening up, improve the quality of opening up, and improve the open economic system that is interconnected, mutually beneficial, safe, and efficient, forming new advantages for participating in international economic cooperation and competition under economic globalization. Deepen coastal opening up, accelerate inland opening up, and enhance border opening up, achieving mutual promotion between domestic and international opening up. Accelerate the transformation of foreign trade growth patterns, focusing on quality-driven development, adjusting the import and export structure, promoting the transformation and upgrading of processing trade, and vigorously developing service trade. Innovate the ways of utilizing foreign investment, optimize the structure of foreign investment utilization, and give full play to the positive role of foreign investment in promoting independent innovation, industrial upgrading, and coordinated regional development. Innovate the ways of foreign investment and cooperation, support enterprises in conducting international operations in R&D, production, and sales, and accelerate the cultivation of Chinese multinational corporations and internationally renowned brands. Actively carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in international energy resources. Implement the free trade zone strategy and strengthen bilateral and multilateral economic and trade cooperation. Take comprehensive measures to promote a basic balance of international payments. Pay attention to preventing international economic risks.
Achieving sound and rapid development of the national economy will further enhance my country's economic strength and demonstrate the powerful vitality of the socialist market economy.
VI. Firmly and unswervingly develop socialist democracy
People's democracy is the lifeblood of socialism. Developing socialist democracy is the unwavering goal of our Party. Since the reform and opening up, we have actively and steadily promoted political system reform, and my country's socialist democracy has demonstrated even greater vitality. As an important component of my country's comprehensive reform, political system reform must be continuously deepened along with economic and social development and adapted to the ever-increasing enthusiasm of the people for political participation. We must adhere to the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, uphold the organic unity of Party leadership, the people's status as masters of the country, and the rule of law, and uphold and improve the system of people's congresses, the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and the system of grassroots self-governance, continuously promoting the self-improvement and development of the socialist political system.
Deepening political system reform requires adhering to the correct political direction, taking the fundamental goal of ensuring the people's status as masters of the country, and aiming to enhance the vitality of the Party and the state and mobilize the people's enthusiasm. This includes expanding socialist democracy, building a socialist rule-of-law state, and developing socialist political civilization. It is essential to uphold the Party's core leadership role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties, improving the Party's ability to govern scientifically, democratically, and according to law, and ensuring the Party's effective leadership in governing the country. It is also crucial to uphold the principle that all power belongs to the people, expanding orderly political participation by citizens at all levels and in all fields, and mobilizing and organizing the people to manage state and social affairs, as well as economic and cultural undertakings, to the broadest extent possible. Furthermore, it is vital to adhere to the basic strategy of governing the country according to law, establishing the socialist rule-of-law concept, realizing the rule of law in all aspects of state work, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens. Finally, it is essential to uphold the characteristics and advantages of the socialist political system, promoting the institutionalization, standardization, and proceduralization of socialist democratic politics, and providing political and legal guarantees for the long-term stability and security of the Party and the state.
(I) Expanding People's Democracy and Ensuring the People's Role as Masters of the Country. The people's role as masters of the country is the essence and core of socialist democratic politics. We must improve the democratic system, enrich democratic forms, broaden democratic channels, and implement democratic elections, democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic supervision in accordance with the law, guaranteeing the people's rights to know, participate, express opinions, and supervise. We support the National People's Congress in performing its functions according to law, ensuring that the Party's propositions become the will of the state through legal procedures; guaranteeing that NPC deputies exercise their powers according to law, strengthening the ties between NPC deputies and the people, and suggesting the gradual implementation of elections for NPC deputies in urban and rural areas according to the same population ratio; strengthening the institutional construction of the Standing Committee of the NPC, and optimizing the knowledge and age structure of its members. We support the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in performing its functions around the two major themes of unity and democracy, promoting the construction of systems for political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs; incorporating political consultation into the decision-making process, improving the democratic supervision mechanism, and enhancing the effectiveness of participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs; strengthening the CPPCC's own construction, and giving full play to its important role in coordinating relations, pooling strength, offering advice and suggestions, and serving the overall situation. We uphold the principle of equality among all ethnic groups and ensure that ethnic autonomous regions exercise their autonomy according to law. We will promote scientific and democratic decision-making, improve the decision-making information and intellectual support system, enhance the transparency of decision-making and public participation, and, in principle, solicit opinions publicly when formulating laws, regulations, and public policies closely related to the interests of the people. We will strengthen civic education and establish the concepts of socialist democracy and the rule of law, freedom and equality, fairness and justice. We will support trade unions, the Communist Youth League, women's federations, and other people's organizations in carrying out their work in accordance with the law and their respective charters, participating in social management and public services, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people.
(II) Developing grassroots democracy and ensuring that the people enjoy more and more tangible democratic rights. The people's direct exercise of democratic rights according to law, management of grassroots public affairs and public welfare undertakings, and the implementation of self-management, self-service, self-education, and self-supervision, as well as democratic supervision of cadres, are the most effective and widespread ways for the people to be masters of their own affairs. This must be prioritized as a fundamental project for developing socialist democratic politics. We must improve the vibrant grassroots self-governance mechanism led by grassroots Party organizations, expand the scope of grassroots self-governance, improve the democratic management system, and build urban and rural communities into well-managed, well-serviced, civilized, and harmonious social communities. We must wholeheartedly rely on the working class, improve the democratic management system of enterprises and institutions with the workers' congress as its basic form, promote factory transparency, support workers' participation in management, and safeguard workers' legitimate rights and interests. We must deepen the reform of township institutions, strengthen the construction of grassroots political power, improve systems such as government transparency and village transparency, and achieve effective connection and positive interaction between government administration and grassroots self-governance. We must give full play to the positive role of social organizations in expanding public participation and reflecting public demands, and enhance the function of social self-governance.
(III) Fully implement the basic strategy of governing the country according to law and accelerate the construction of a socialist rule-of-law state. Governing the country according to law is a fundamental requirement of socialist democratic politics. We must adhere to scientific and democratic legislation and improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics. We must strengthen the implementation of the Constitution and laws, uphold the principle that all citizens are equal before the law, safeguard social fairness and justice, and maintain the unity, dignity, and authority of the socialist legal system. We must promote administration according to law. We must deepen judicial system reform, optimize the allocation of judicial powers, standardize judicial conduct, build a fair, efficient, and authoritative socialist judicial system, and ensure that judicial and procuratorial organs exercise their judicial and procuratorial powers independently and impartially according to law. We must strengthen the construction of the political and legal teams and ensure strict, fair, and civilized law enforcement. We must conduct in-depth legal publicity and education, promote the spirit of the rule of law, and create a social atmosphere of consciously learning, abiding by, and applying the law. We must respect and protect human rights and guarantee the rights of all members of society to participate and develop equally according to law. Party organizations at all levels and all Party members must consciously operate within the scope of the Constitution and laws and take the lead in upholding the authority of the Constitution and laws.
(IV) Strengthen the patriotic united front and unite all forces that can be united. Promoting harmony among political parties, ethnic groups, religions, social strata, and compatriots at home and abroad plays an irreplaceable role in enhancing unity and building consensus. We must implement the principles of long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, sincere cooperation, and sharing weal and woe; strengthen cooperation with democratic parties; support democratic parties and non-party members in better fulfilling their functions of participating in and deliberating on state affairs and exercising democratic supervision; and select and recommend more outstanding non-Party cadres for leadership positions. We must firmly grasp the theme of common unity, struggle, prosperity, and development among all ethnic groups, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities, and consolidate and develop equal, united, mutually supportive, and harmonious socialist ethnic relations. We must fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious work and give full play to the positive role of religious figures and believers in promoting economic and social development. We must encourage people from new social strata to actively participate in the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must conscientiously implement the Party's policies on overseas Chinese affairs and support overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese, and their relatives in caring for and participating in the modernization of the motherland and the cause of peaceful reunification.
(V) Accelerate the reform of the administrative management system and build a service-oriented government. The reform of the administrative management system is a crucial aspect of deepening reform. We must promptly formulate an overall plan for the reform of the administrative management system, focusing on transforming functions, streamlining relationships, optimizing structure, and improving efficiency to form an administrative management system characterized by consistent power and responsibility, reasonable division of labor, scientific decision-making, smooth execution, and effective supervision. We must improve the government's responsibility system, perfect the public service system, promote e-government, and strengthen social management and public services. We must accelerate the separation of government from enterprises, government from capital, government from public institutions, and government from market intermediary organizations; standardize administrative behavior; strengthen the construction of administrative law enforcement departments; reduce and standardize administrative approvals; and reduce government intervention in microeconomic operations. We must standardize the relationship between vertically managed departments and local governments. We must intensify institutional integration, explore the implementation of a large-department system with organically unified functions, and improve inter-departmental coordination mechanisms. We must streamline and standardize various deliberative and coordinating bodies and their offices, reduce administrative levels, lower administrative costs, and focus on resolving issues of overlapping institutions, overlapping responsibilities, and multiple sources of policy. We must coordinate the establishment of Party committees, governments, people's congresses, and CPPCC institutions, reduce the number of leadership positions, and strictly control staffing. We must accelerate the classification reform of public institutions.
(VI) Improve the checks and balances mechanisms to ensure that the power entrusted by the people is always used to serve the people's interests. To ensure the proper exercise of power, it is essential to operate it transparently. We must adhere to the principle of managing power, affairs, and personnel through systems, and establish a sound power structure and operational mechanism in which decision-making power, executive power, and supervisory power are mutually checked and coordinated. We must improve organizational laws and procedural rules to ensure that state organs exercise power and perform their duties in accordance with statutory authority and procedures. We must improve various open service systems to enhance the transparency and credibility of government work. We must focus on strengthening supervision of leading cadres, especially principal leading cadres, the management and use of personnel, finances, and materials, and key positions, and improve systems such as inquiry, accountability, economic responsibility audits, resignation due to accountability, and removal from office. We must implement the Party's internal supervision regulations, strengthen democratic supervision, give full play to the role of public opinion supervision, and enhance the synergy and effectiveness of supervision.
The more socialism develops, the more democracy develops. In the historical process of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people will certainly be able to continuously develop a socialist democratic political system with strong vitality.
VII. Promoting the Great Development and Prosperity of Socialist Culture
In today's era, culture is increasingly becoming an important source of national cohesion and creativity, and a crucial factor in the competition of comprehensive national strength. Enriching spiritual and cultural life is becoming an increasingly fervent aspiration of the Chinese people. We must adhere to the advanced direction of socialist culture, usher in a new upsurge in socialist cultural development, stimulate the cultural creativity of the entire nation, enhance the country's soft power, better guarantee the people's basic cultural rights, enrich social and cultural life, and elevate the people's spiritual outlook.
(I) Building a socialist core value system to enhance the appeal and cohesion of socialist ideology. The socialist core value system is the essential embodiment of socialist ideology. We must consolidate the guiding position of Marxism, persistently arm the entire Party and educate the people with the latest achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism, unite our strength with the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, inspire fighting spirit with the national spirit with patriotism at its core and the spirit of the times with reform and innovation at its core, and guide social trends with the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, thus consolidating the common ideological foundation for the unity and struggle of the entire Party and all ethnic groups across the country. We must vigorously promote theoretical innovation, continuously endowing contemporary Chinese Marxism with distinct practical, national, and contemporary characteristics. We must carry out publicity and popularization activities on the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoting the popularization of contemporary Chinese Marxism. We must advance the research and construction project of Marxist theory, deeply answer major theoretical and practical questions, and cultivate a group of Marxist theorists, especially young and middle-aged theorists. We must effectively integrate the socialist core value system into the entire process of national education and the construction of spiritual civilization, transforming it into the conscious pursuit of the people. We must actively explore effective ways to guide social trends of thought with the socialist core value system, proactively carry out ideological work, respecting differences and embracing diversity while effectively resisting the influence of various erroneous and decadent ideas. We should promote the prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences, advance innovation in disciplinary systems, academic viewpoints, and research methods, encourage the philosophy and social science community to serve as a think tank for the cause of the Party and the people, and promote my country's outstanding achievements and talents in philosophy and social sciences to the world.
(II) Building a Harmonious Culture and Fostering Civilized Customs. A harmonious culture is an important spiritual support for the unity and progress of all the people. We must actively develop the news and publishing, radio and television, and literary and artistic undertakings, adhere to the correct orientation, and promote positive social values. We must attach importance to the coordinated development of urban and rural culture and regional culture, and strive to enrich the spiritual and cultural lives of rural areas, remote areas, and migrant workers. We must strengthen the construction and management of online culture and create a positive online environment. We must vigorously promote patriotism, collectivism, and socialist ideology, focusing on enhancing awareness of integrity, strengthening the construction of social morality, professional ethics, family virtues, and personal morality, giving full play to the exemplary role of moral models, and guiding people to consciously fulfill their legal obligations, social responsibilities, and family responsibilities. We must strengthen and improve ideological and political work, pay attention to humanistic care and psychological counseling, and handle interpersonal relationships in a correct manner. We must mobilize all sectors of society to jointly carry out ideological and moral education for young people and create a good social environment for their healthy growth. We must deeply carry out mass-based activities to promote spiritual civilization, improve the social volunteer service system, and foster a social ethos of gender equality, respect for the elderly and care for the young, mutual love and assistance, and courage in the face of injustice. We must promote the spirit of science and popularize scientific knowledge. We must widely carry out national fitness activities. We will successfully host the 2008 Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and the 2010 World Expo.
(III) Promoting Chinese Culture and Building a Shared Spiritual Home for the Chinese Nation. Chinese culture is the inexhaustible driving force behind the continuous growth, unity, and progress of the Chinese nation. We must have a comprehensive understanding of our motherland.
Traditional culture should be preserved by extracting its essence and discarding its dross, adapting it to contemporary society and harmonizing it with modern civilization, maintaining its national character while reflecting the spirit of the times. We must strengthen education on outstanding traditional Chinese culture and utilize modern technology to develop and utilize the rich resources of national culture. We must strengthen the excavation and protection of the cultures of all ethnic groups, attach importance to the protection of cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage, and do a good job in compiling and organizing cultural classics. We must strengthen international cultural exchanges, absorb the outstanding achievements of civilizations around the world, and enhance the international influence of Chinese culture.
(IV) Promoting cultural innovation and enhancing the vitality of cultural development. Promoting innovation in cultural content, form, systems, mechanisms, and dissemination methods from a high starting point in this era, and liberating and developing cultural productive forces, is the only way to achieve cultural prosperity. We must adhere to...
Adhering to the principles of serving the people and serving socialism, and the policy of letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend, we must stay close to reality, close to life, and close to the masses, always prioritizing social benefits and achieving a unity of economic and social benefits. We will create more excellent spiritual and cultural products that reflect the people's principal position and real life, and that are popular with the masses. We will deepen cultural system reform, improve policies supporting public cultural undertakings, developing cultural industries, and encouraging cultural innovation, and create an environment conducive to producing high-quality works, cultivating talent, and generating economic benefits. We will persist in taking the development of public cultural undertakings as the main way to guarantee the people's basic cultural rights, increase investment, and strengthen the construction of community and rural cultural facilities. We will vigorously develop the cultural industry, implement a major cultural industry project-driven strategy, accelerate the construction of cultural industry bases and regional characteristic cultural industry clusters, cultivate leading cultural enterprises and strategic investors, prosper the cultural market, and enhance international competitiveness. We will utilize high technology to innovate cultural production methods, cultivate new cultural formats, and accelerate the construction of a fast-transmitting and widely covered cultural dissemination system. We will establish a national honor system to commend cultural workers who have made outstanding contributions.
The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will inevitably be accompanied by the prosperity and flourishing of Chinese culture. We must give full play to the people's principal role in cultural development, mobilize the enthusiasm of cultural workers, and more consciously and proactively promote the great development and prosperity of culture, engaging in cultural creation within the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so that the people can share the fruits of cultural development.
VIII. Accelerate social development with a focus on improving people's livelihoods.
Social development is closely related to the well-being and happiness of the people. On the basis of economic development, we must pay even greater attention to social development, focusing on guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods, promoting social system reform, expanding public services, improving social management, promoting social fairness and justice, and striving to ensure that all people have access to education, employment, medical care, elderly care, and housing, thus promoting the building of a harmonious society.
(I) Prioritizing Education and Building a Strong Nation in Human Resources. Education is the cornerstone of national rejuvenation, and educational equity is a crucial foundation for social equity. We must fully implement the Party's education policy, adhere to the principle of prioritizing moral education and cultivating well-rounded individuals, implement quality education, improve the modernization level of education, cultivate socialist builders and successors who are well-rounded in moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic development, and provide education that satisfies the people. We must optimize the education structure, promote the balanced development of compulsory education, accelerate the popularization of senior secondary education, vigorously develop vocational education, and improve the quality of higher education. We must attach importance to preschool education and care for special education. We must update educational concepts, deepen reforms in teaching content and methods, examination and enrollment systems, and quality evaluation systems, reduce the academic burden on primary and secondary school students, and improve students' overall quality. We must uphold the public welfare nature of education, increase financial investment in education, standardize education fees, support education in impoverished and ethnic minority areas, improve the student financial aid system, and ensure that children from economically disadvantaged families and migrant workers have equal access to compulsory education. We must strengthen the construction of the teaching force, focusing on improving the quality of rural teachers. We must encourage and regulate the development of education by social forces. We must develop distance education and continuing education, and build a learning society where everyone learns and learns throughout their lives.
(II) Implement a development strategy to expand employment and promote employment through entrepreneurship. Employment is the foundation of people's livelihood. We must adhere to a proactive employment policy, strengthen government guidance, improve market-based employment mechanisms, expand the scale of employment, and improve the employment structure. We should improve policies supporting self-employment and entrepreneurship, strengthen education on employment concepts, and enable more workers to become entrepreneurs. We should improve the vocational education and training system for all workers and strengthen training for the transfer of surplus rural labor. We should establish a unified and standardized human resources market and form a system for equal employment for urban and rural workers. We should improve the employment assistance system for all people in difficulty and promptly help zero-employment families solve their employment difficulties. We should actively promote employment for college graduates. We should regulate and coordinate labor relations, improve and implement national policies for migrant workers, and protect workers' rights in accordance with the law.
(III) Deepen the reform of the income distribution system and increase the income of urban and rural residents. A reasonable income distribution system is an important manifestation of social fairness. We must adhere to and improve the distribution system with distribution according to work as the mainstay and multiple distribution methods coexisting, and improve the system in which factors of production such as labor, capital, technology, and management participate in distribution according to their contributions. Both primary distribution and redistribution must properly handle the relationship between efficiency and fairness, with redistribution placing greater emphasis on fairness. Gradually increase the proportion of residents' income in national income distribution and increase the proportion of labor remuneration in primary distribution. Focus on increasing the income of low-income earners, gradually raise poverty alleviation standards and minimum wage standards, and establish a normal wage growth mechanism and payment guarantee mechanism for enterprise employees. Create conditions for more people to have property income. Protect legal income, regulate excessively high income, and eliminate illegal income. Expand transfer payments, strengthen tax regulation, break business monopolies, create equal opportunities, rectify the distribution order, and gradually reverse the trend of widening income inequality.
(IV) Accelerate the establishment of a social security system covering urban and rural residents to guarantee people's basic livelihood. Social security is an important guarantee for social stability. We must accelerate the improvement of the social security system, based on social insurance, social assistance, and social welfare, with a focus on basic old-age pensions, basic medical care, and minimum living allowances, supplemented by charitable undertakings and commercial insurance. Promote the basic livelihood of enterprises, government agencies, and public institutions.
Reform the old-age insurance system and explore the establishment of a rural old-age insurance system. Comprehensively promote the construction of basic medical insurance for urban employees, basic medical insurance for urban residents, and the new rural cooperative medical system. Improve the minimum living standard guarantee system for urban and rural residents and gradually raise the level of guarantee. Improve the unemployment, work injury, and maternity insurance systems. Raise the level of pooling and formulate a nationally unified method for the transfer and continuation of social insurance relationships. Adopt various methods to replenish the social security fund, strengthen fund supervision, and achieve value preservation and appreciation. Improve the social assistance system. Do a good job in preferential treatment and resettlement. Uphold humanitarianism and develop the cause of disabled persons. Strengthen work related to the elderly. Enhance disaster prevention and mitigation work. Improve the low-rent housing system and accelerate the resolution of housing difficulties for low-income urban families.
(V) Establish a basic medical and health system to improve the health level of all people. Health is the foundation of people's all-round development and is related to the happiness of every family. We must adhere to the public welfare nature of public medical and health care, adhere to the principle of prevention first, focus on rural areas, and give equal importance to traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, implement the separation of government administration from public institutions, management from operation, separation of medicine from medical practice, and separation of for-profit and non-profit institutions, strengthen government responsibility and investment, improve national health policies, encourage social participation, and build a public health service system, medical service system, medical security system, and drug supply security system covering urban and rural residents, so as to provide the public with safe, effective, convenient, and affordable medical and health services. Improve the prevention and control system for major diseases and enhance the emergency response capacity for public health emergencies. Strengthen the construction of the three-tier rural health service network and the urban community health service system, and deepen the reform of public hospitals. Establish a national essential medicines system to ensure the public's access to basic medicines. Support the development of traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic minority medicine. Strengthen the construction of medical ethics and improve the quality of medical services. Ensure food and drug safety. Adhere to the basic national policy of family planning, stabilize the low birth rate, and improve the quality of the newborn population. Carry out the patriotic health campaign and develop maternal and child health services.
(VI) Improve social management and safeguard social stability and unity. Social stability is the common aspiration of the people and an important prerequisite for reform and development. We must improve the social management structure led by the Party Committee, with the government responsible, society collaborating, and the public participating, and improve the grassroots social management system. We must maximize social creativity, maximize harmonious factors, and minimize disharmonious factors. We must properly handle internal contradictions among the people, improve the petition system, and improve the mechanism for safeguarding the rights and interests of the people led by the Party and the government. We must attach importance to the construction and management of social organizations. We must strengthen services and management for the floating population. We must adhere to safe development, strengthen safety production management and supervision, and effectively curb major and serious safety accidents. We must improve the emergency management mechanism for sudden incidents. We must improve the social security prevention and control system, strengthen comprehensive social security management, carry out in-depth activities to create a safe society, reform and strengthen urban and rural community policing, prevent and combat illegal and criminal activities according to law, and safeguard the lives and property of the people. We must improve the national security strategy, improve the national security system, be highly vigilant and resolutely prevent all kinds of separatist, infiltration, and subversive activities, and effectively safeguard national security.
A harmonious society requires the joint efforts of the entire society. We must rely closely on the people, mobilize all positive factors, and strive to create a vibrant situation where everyone is responsible for social harmony and everyone enjoys the benefits of a harmonious society.
IX. To create a new situation in the modernization of national defense and the armed forces
National defense and military development occupy an important position in the overall framework of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must approach this from the perspective of national security and development strategy, coordinating economic and national defense development, and achieving the unity of a prosperous country and a strong military in the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
To fully fulfill the historical mission entrusted to the military by the Party and the people in the new century and new stage, we must adhere to the guidance of Mao Zedong's military thought, Deng Xiaoping's thought on military building in the new era, and Jiang Zemin's thought on national defense and military building; take the Scientific Outlook on Development as an important guiding principle for national defense and military building; implement the military strategic policy for the new era; accelerate the military transformation with Chinese characteristics; prepare for military struggle; improve the military's ability to respond to various security threats and accomplish diversified military tasks; resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity; and contribute to maintaining world peace.
The revolutionary, modern, and standardized development of the military is a unified whole that must be comprehensively strengthened and coordinated. We must always adhere to the fundamental principle of the Party's absolute leadership over the military and the fundamental purpose of the people's army, deeply educate the military on its historical mission, ideals and beliefs, fighting spirit, and socialist values of honor and disgrace, and vigorously promote the fine traditions of obeying the Party's command, serving the people, and being brave and skillful in combat. We must adhere to the principle of strengthening the military through science and technology, and in accordance with the construction...
The strategic goal is to build an informationized military and win informationized wars. This requires accelerating the integrated development of mechanization and informatization, actively conducting military training under informationized conditions, comprehensively building modern logistics, and expediting the training of a large number of high-quality new-type military personnel to effectively transform the combat capability generation model. We must adhere to the rule of law and strict discipline in the military, improve military regulations, and strengthen scientific management.
To adapt to new trends in global military development and new requirements for my country's development, we must promote innovation in military theory, military technology, military organization, and military management. We will adjust and reform the military's organizational structure and policies, gradually forming a complete set of scientific organizational models, institutional arrangements, and operational methods that are both uniquely Chinese and conform to the laws of modern military construction. We will adjust and reform the defense science and technology industry system and the weapons and equipment procurement system, improving the independent innovation capability and quality and efficiency of weapons and equipment research and development. We will establish and improve a military-civilian integrated system for weapons and equipment research and production, a military personnel training system, and a military support system, adhering to the principle of building a thrifty military and forging a path of integrated military-civilian development with Chinese characteristics. We will conduct in-depth research on the characteristics and laws of military building and governance under new historical conditions, as well as the strategies and tactics of people's war, to promote the prosperity and development of military science.
We must enhance the national defense awareness of all citizens, improve the national defense mobilization system, strengthen national defense mobilization construction, and improve the quality of reserve forces and militia building. We must strengthen the construction of the People's Armed Police Force to better fulfill its responsibilities and missions of safeguarding national security and social stability, and ensuring the people's peaceful and prosperous lives. We must adhere to the principles of supporting the military and giving preferential treatment to families of servicemen, supporting the government and cherishing the people, actively carry out joint military-civilian construction, and consolidate the unity between the military and the government and between the military and the people. Party organizations, governments at all levels, and the people should, as always, support national defense and military construction, and the military should continue to contribute to economic and social development.
10. Advance the practice of "one country, two systems" and the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland.
Since Hong Kong and Macao returned to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" has become increasingly rich. "One country, two systems" is entirely correct and possesses strong vitality. Achieving the peaceful reunification of the motherland in accordance with "one country, two systems" is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.
Maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao is a major challenge facing the Party in governing the country under the new circumstances. We will unswervingly implement the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," "Macao people governing Macao," and a high degree of autonomy, and strictly abide by the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Regions; we will fully support the Special Administrative Region governments in governing according to law, focusing on developing the economy, improving people's livelihoods, and promoting democracy; we will encourage people from all walks of life in Hong Kong and Macao to work together under the banner of patriotism and love for Hong Kong and Macao, and promote social harmony; we will strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao to achieve complementary advantages and common development; we will actively support Hong Kong and Macao in carrying out foreign exchanges, and resolutely oppose external forces interfering in Hong Kong and Macao affairs. Our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao have the wisdom and ability to manage and build Hong Kong and Macao well. Hong Kong and Macao have played and will continue to play an important role in the modernization of the country, and the great motherland will always be a strong backing for the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.
Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all Chinese sons and daughters. We will follow the principles of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal for developing cross-strait relations and advancing the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland at the present stage. We will never waver in adhering to the one-China principle, never give up our efforts to strive for peaceful reunification, never change our policy of placing our hopes on the people of Taiwan, and never compromise in opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities. We will firmly grasp the theme of peaceful development of cross-strait relations, sincerely seek the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the strait, seek peace in the Taiwan Strait region, safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.
Upholding the one-China principle is the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Although the two sides are not yet unified, the fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed. China is the common homeland of compatriots on both sides of the strait, and compatriots on both sides should work together to safeguard and build our common homeland. We are willing to engage in dialogue and negotiation with any political party in Taiwan that acknowledges that both sides of the strait belong to one China; we can discuss any issue. We solemnly call for negotiations, based on the one-China principle, to formally end the state of hostility across the strait, reach a peace agreement, establish a framework for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and create a new situation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
The 1.3 billion mainland compatriots and the 23 million Taiwan compatriots are a community with a shared future, bound by blood. We will do our utmost to do everything that benefits our Taiwan compatriots, everything that is conducive to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, and everything that promotes the peaceful reunification of the motherland. We understand, trust, and care for our Taiwan compatriots, and will continue to implement and enrich policies and measures that benefit them, protect their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law, and support economic development in the west coast of the Taiwan Strait and other areas where Taiwanese investment is relatively concentrated. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait should strengthen exchanges, enhance economic and cultural exchanges, continue to expand areas and raise levels, promote direct "three links" (direct trade, postal, and transportation links), so as to make our feelings more harmonious, deepen cooperation, and work together to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Currently, the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are intensifying their separatist activities, seriously endangering the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait must jointly oppose and curb "Taiwan independence" separatist activities. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are indivisible. Any issue involving China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided jointly by all the Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan. We are willing to achieve peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Strait with the utmost sincerity and the greatest effort, and will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means.
The reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is a historical inevitability for the Chinese nation to achieve its great rejuvenation. With the close unity and joint efforts of Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad, the complete reunification of the motherland will surely be realized.
XI. Unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development
The world today is undergoing profound changes and adjustments. Peace and development remain the themes of our time, and the pursuit of peace, development, and cooperation has become an unstoppable trend. Multipolarity is irreversible, economic globalization is deepening, the technological revolution is accelerating, global and regional cooperation is flourishing, interdependence among nations is growing stronger, the international balance of power is shifting in a direction conducive to maintaining world peace, and the overall international situation is stable.
At the same time, the world remains far from peaceful. Hegemonism and power politics persist, local conflicts and hotspots continue to erupt, global economic imbalances are worsening, the North-South gap is widening, and traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, posing numerous challenges and difficulties to world peace and development.
Sharing development opportunities, jointly addressing various challenges, and advancing the noble cause of peace and development for humankind are matters of fundamental interest to all peoples and are their common aspiration. We advocate that all peoples work together to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. To this end, we should adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abide by international law and universally recognized norms of international relations, and promote the spirit of democracy, harmony, cooperation, and win-win outcomes in international relations. Politically, we should respect each other, engage in equal consultation, and jointly promote the democratization of international relations; economically, we should cooperate with each other, complement each other's strengths, and jointly promote economic globalization towards a balanced, inclusive, and win-win direction; culturally, we should learn from each other, seek common ground while reserving differences, respect the diversity of the world, and jointly promote the prosperity and progress of human civilization; in terms of security, we should trust each other, strengthen cooperation, adhere to resolving international disputes peacefully rather than through war, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability; and in environmental protection, we should help each other, work together, and jointly protect the Earth, the home on which humanity depends for survival.
Contemporary China's relationship with the world has undergone historic changes, and China's future and destiny are increasingly intertwined with those of the world. No matter how the international situation changes, the Chinese government and people will hold high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and adhere to the foreign policy objectives of maintaining world peace and promoting common development.
China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. This is a strategic choice made by the Chinese government and people based on the trend of the times and their own fundamental interests. The Chinese nation is a peace-loving nation, and China has always been a staunch force for safeguarding world peace. We insist on combining the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of the people of all countries, upholding fairness and justice. We insist that all countries, regardless of size, strength, or wealth, are equal, respect the right of all peoples to independently choose their development paths, and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries or imposing our will on others. China is committed to the peaceful resolution of international disputes and hotspots, promoting international and regional security cooperation, and opposing all forms of terrorism. China pursues a defensive national defense policy, does not engage in arms races, and poses no military threat to any country. China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion.
China will unswervingly pursue an open strategy of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. We will continue to promote regional and global common development through our own development, expand the convergence of interests with all parties, and take into account the legitimate concerns of others, especially developing countries, while achieving our own development. We will continue to expand market access and protect the rights and interests of our partners in accordance with the law, in accordance with prevailing international trade and economic rules. We support the international community in helping developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development, improve people's livelihoods, and narrow the North-South gap. We support improving the international trade and financial system, promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and properly handling trade frictions through consultation and cooperation. China will never do anything that harms others for its own benefit or at the expense of its neighbors.
China adheres to developing friendly cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We will continue to strengthen strategic dialogue with developed countries, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, properly handle differences, and promote the long-term, stable, and healthy development of our relations. We will continue to implement the policy of good-neighborliness and partnership with our neighbors, strengthen good-neighborly friendship and pragmatic cooperation with neighboring countries, actively carry out regional cooperation, and jointly create a peaceful, stable, equal, mutually trusting, and win-win regional environment. We will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, deepen traditional friendship, expand pragmatic cooperation, provide assistance to the best of our ability, and safeguard the legitimate demands and common interests of developing countries. We will continue to actively participate in multilateral affairs, assume corresponding international obligations, play a constructive role, and promote the development of a more just and equitable international order. We will continue to conduct exchanges and cooperation with political parties and organizations of other countries, strengthen exchanges between the National People's Congress, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the military, local governments, and non-governmental organizations, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the people of other countries.
China's development cannot be separated from the world, and the world's prosperity and stability cannot be separated from China. The Chinese people will continue to work together with the people of all countries to strive tirelessly for the realization of humanity's aspirations.
12. Advance the great new project of Party building in all aspects with a spirit of reform and innovation.
The cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a cause of reform and innovation. For the Party to stand at the forefront of the times and lead the people in continuously creating new prospects for the development of the cause, it must strengthen its own construction with a spirit of reform and innovation, and always remain the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Our Party has been established for 86 years, governed the country for 58 years, and has more than 70 million members. The task of Party building is more arduous than ever before. The reform and opening-up policy led by the Party has injected tremendous vitality into the Party, but it has also presented the Party with many unprecedented new challenges and tests. The evolving global, national, and Party circumstances determine that strengthening Party building with a spirit of reform and innovation is both extremely important and extremely urgent. We must take the building of the Party's governing capacity and its advanced nature as the main theme, adhere to the principle of the Party managing itself and governing itself strictly, implement the requirements of serving the people, being pragmatic, and maintaining integrity, strengthen ideological building with a focus on firming up ideals and beliefs, strengthen organizational building with a focus on cultivating a high-quality contingent of Party members and cadres, strengthen style building with a focus on maintaining the Party's close ties with the people, strengthen institutional building with a focus on improving democratic centralism, and strengthen anti-corruption and integrity building with a focus on improving the system for punishing and preventing corruption. This will ensure that the Party always remains a Marxist ruling party that is selfless, governs for the people, seeks truth from facts, reforms and innovates, works hard, is honest and upright, and is full of vitality, unity, and harmony.
(I) Deeply study and implement the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strive to arm the entire Party with the latest achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism. Ideological and theoretical construction is the fundamental construction of the Party, and the Party's theoretical innovation leads innovation in all aspects. In accordance with the requirements of building a learning-oriented political party, and closely integrating with the vivid practice of reform and opening up and modernization, we must deeply study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the "…
The important thought of "Three Represents" is being implemented throughout the Party in a thorough study and practice of the Scientific Outlook on Development. This involves adhering to the guidance of developing Marxism in transforming both the objective and subjective worlds, further grasping the laws governing the Communist Party's rule, socialist construction, and the development of human society, and improving the ability to analyze and solve practical problems using scientific theories. Strengthening the education of Party members and cadres on ideals and beliefs, and their ideological and moral development, will ensure that the vast majority of Party members and cadres become models in practicing the socialist core value system, firm believers in the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, loyal implementers of the Scientific Outlook on Development, conscious practitioners of the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, and active promoters of social harmony.
(II) Continue to strengthen the Party's governing capacity and focus on building high-quality leadership teams. The building of the Party's governing capacity is crucial to the overall development of the Party and the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Improving leadership level and governing capacity must be the core content of building leadership teams at all levels. In accordance with the requirements of scientific, democratic, and law-based governance, we must improve the ideological style of leadership teams, enhance the governing skills of leading cadres, improve leadership and governance methods, improve the leadership system, and perfect the working mechanism after the reform of the staffing of local Party committee leadership teams. We must build leadership teams at all levels into strong leading collectives that firmly implement the Party's theories, lines, principles, and policies and are adept at leading scientific development. Strengthening the governing capacity of leadership teams will influence and drive the entire Party, ensuring that all the Party's work always meets the requirements of the times and the expectations of the people.
(III) Actively promote intra-party democracy and strive to enhance the Party's unity and cohesion. Intra-party democracy is an important guarantee for enhancing the Party's innovative vitality and consolidating its unity and cohesion. We must promote people's democracy by expanding intra-party democracy and promote social harmony by enhancing intra-party harmony. We must respect the principal status of Party members, guarantee their democratic rights, promote transparency in Party affairs, and create an environment conducive to democratic discussion within the Party. We must improve the system of Party congresses, implement a term-based system for delegates to Party congresses, and select some counties (cities, districts) to pilot a permanent system for Party congresses. We must improve the working mechanisms of the plenary sessions and standing committees of local Party committees at all levels, and give full play to the decision-making role of the plenary sessions on major issues. We must strictly implement democratic centralism, improve the system combining collective leadership with individual responsibility, and oppose and prevent arbitrary decisions by individuals or a small number of people. We must promote a voting system for local Party committees to discuss and decide on major issues and appoint important cadres. We must establish and improve a system in which the Political Bureau of the Central Committee reports its work regularly to the plenary session of the Central Committee, and the standing committees of local Party committees at all levels report their work regularly to the plenary sessions of the committees and accept supervision. We must reform the intra-party election system and improve the candidate nomination system and election methods. We will promote the practice of combining open nominations by Party members and the masses with nominations from higher-level Party organizations for members of the leadership teams of grassroots Party organizations, gradually expand the scope of direct elections for the leadership teams of grassroots Party organizations, and explore various forms of realizing grassroots democracy within the Party. All Party members must resolutely uphold the Party's centralized unity, consciously abide by the Party's political discipline, always maintain consistency with the Party Central Committee, resolutely safeguard the authority of the Central Committee, and effectively ensure the smooth implementation of government orders.
(IV) Continuously deepen the reform of the cadre and personnel system, and strive to cultivate a high-quality cadre and talent pool. Adhere to the principle of the Party's management of cadres, uphold democracy, openness, competition, and merit-based selection, and establish a scientific mechanism for cadre selection and appointment. Standardize the cadre nomination system, improve the cadre assessment and evaluation system that reflects the requirements of the scientific development concept and the correct view of performance, and improve the methods of open selection, competitive appointment, and differential election. Expand democracy in cadre work and enhance the scientific nature and authenticity of democratic recommendation and democratic evaluation. Strengthen supervision throughout the entire process of cadre selection and appointment. Improve the system of tenure, recusal, and exchange for leading cadres, and refine...
Civil service system. Improve the dual management system for cadres. Promote the reform of personnel systems in state-owned enterprises and public institutions, and improve the management methods for leaders that are suitable for the characteristics of state-owned enterprises.
We must adhere to the correct orientation in personnel selection, selecting cadres based on both moral character and competence, performance, and public recognition, thereby enhancing the credibility of personnel selection. We must intensify efforts to cultivate and select outstanding young cadres, encouraging them to gain experience and grow in grassroots and hardship areas, improving their Marxist theoretical literacy and political qualities. We must attach importance to the cultivation and selection of female cadres and cadres from ethnic minorities. We must pay special attention to cadres who have worked diligently in difficult conditions and challenging environments for extended periods, and focus on selecting outstanding cadres from the grassroots and front lines of production to enrich the leadership of Party and government organs at all levels. We must continue large-scale cadre training, fully leveraging the roles of Party schools, administrative colleges, and cadre academies to significantly improve the quality of cadres. We must comprehensively improve the work related to retired cadres. We must implement the policy of respecting labor, knowledge, talent, and creativity, adhering to the principle of the Party's leadership over talent, and comprehensively promote the development of various talent teams, focusing on high-level and highly skilled personnel. We must innovate the talent work system and mechanisms, stimulating the creativity and entrepreneurial enthusiasm of all types of talent, creating a new situation where talent emerges in abundance and everyone can fully utilize their abilities.
(V) Comprehensively consolidate and develop the achievements of the advanced education campaign, and focus on strengthening grassroots Party building. Advanced nature is the lifeblood and source of strength of a Marxist political party, and it must be embodied by millions of high-quality Party members. We must solidly grasp the fundamental project of building the Party member contingent and unremittingly improve the quality of Party members. We must conscientiously study and abide by the Party Constitution, enhance Party member awareness, establish a system for regular analysis of Party members' Party spirit, broaden channels for Party members to serve the masses, build a system for Party members to connect with and serve the masses, and improve a long-term mechanism to ensure that Party members are regularly educated and maintain their advanced nature, so that Party members truly become advanced elements who remember their mission and care for the masses. We must strengthen and improve the management of mobile Party members, strengthen Party work among migrant workers, and establish and improve a dynamic management mechanism for Party members that integrates urban and rural areas. We must improve the quality of Party member development, optimize the structure of the Party member contingent, and promptly deal with unqualified Party members.
The Party's grassroots organizations are the organizational foundation of the Party's governance. It is essential to implement the responsibility system for Party building, comprehensively promote the construction of grassroots Party organizations in rural areas, enterprises, urban communities, government agencies, schools, and new social organizations, optimize organizational structures, expand organizational coverage, innovate activity methods, and fully leverage the role of grassroots Party organizations in promoting development, serving the masses, uniting people, and fostering harmony. The construction of Party grassroots organizations should drive the construction of other types of grassroots organizations. The campaign to create advanced and exemplary units and individuals should be carried out in depth among Party grassroots organizations and Party members. A sound mutual assistance mechanism between urban and rural Party grassroots organizations should be established. Modern distance education for Party members and cadres should be universally implemented in rural areas nationwide. A sound intra-Party incentive, care, and assistance mechanism should be established to care for and cherish grassroots cadres, veteran Party members, and Party members facing financial difficulties. Attention should be paid to resolving issues such as funding guarantees and activity venues for grassroots organizations.
(VI) Conscientiously improve the Party's work style and focus on strengthening the fight against corruption and promoting integrity. A sound Party style is a tremendous force for uniting the Party and the people. We must adhere to the historical materialist view that the people are the creators of history, uphold the principle of wholeheartedly serving the people, adhere to the mass line, sincerely listen to the voices of the masses, truthfully reflect their wishes, genuinely care about their hardships, and do more good and practical things for them, ensuring that power is used for the people, feelings are connected to the people, and benefits are sought for the people. We must advance all work with a pragmatic style, focusing on laying a solid foundation and doing things that benefit the long term. We must strengthen investigation and research, improve our learning and writing styles, streamline meetings and documents, oppose formalism and bureaucracy, and oppose falsification. We must advocate diligence and thrift in all undertakings and oppose extravagance and waste. All Party members, especially leading cadres, must emphasize Party spirit, moral character, and set an example. We must conduct in-depth education on Party conduct and discipline, actively engage in criticism and self-criticism, so that leading cadres can exemplarily abide by Party discipline and national laws, inherit fine traditions, promote new trends and positive energy, and use a sound Party style to promote good governance and influence public morals.
The nature and purpose of the Communist Party of China determine that the Party is incompatible with all forms of negative and corrupt phenomena. Resolutely punishing and effectively preventing corruption is a matter of public support and the Party's very survival, and is a major political task that the Party must always prioritize. All Party members must fully recognize the long-term, complex, and arduous nature of the anti-corruption struggle, place the building of a clean and honest government in a more prominent position, and unequivocally oppose corruption. We must adhere to the principles of addressing both the symptoms and root causes, comprehensive governance, combining punishment and prevention, and emphasizing prevention; solidly advance the construction of a system for punishing and preventing corruption; while resolutely punishing corruption, we must pay more attention to addressing the root causes, prevention, and institutional building, expanding the scope of work to prevent corruption at its source. We must strictly implement the responsibility system for building a clean and honest Party. We must persist in deepening reform and innovating systems, strengthen the construction of a culture of integrity, and form a long-term mechanism for education on resisting corruption and preventing degeneration, a system of anti-corruption and integrity building, and a power operation monitoring mechanism. We must improve the unified management of disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies and perfect the inspection system. We must strengthen the work of self-discipline among leading cadres and improve the ability of Party members and cadres to resist corruption and prevent degeneration. We must resolutely correct unhealthy tendencies that harm the interests of the masses and effectively solve problems that the masses strongly complain about. We will resolutely investigate and punish cases of violations of discipline and law. Any corrupt elements must be severely punished according to law, and we will never tolerate them!
Comrades! From its very inception, our Party has bravely shouldered the historical mission of leading the Chinese people to create a happy life and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To accomplish this mission, generation after generation of Chinese Communists have followed one after another, and countless revolutionary martyrs have sacrificed their precious lives. Contemporary Chinese Communists must continue to shoulder this historical mission. The reform and opening up and socialist modernization that our Party is leading the people of all ethnic groups across the country in is an inheritance and development of the great cause of socialist construction in our country since the founding of New China, and an inheritance and development of the great cause of the Chinese people's struggle for national independence and the realization of national prosperity and strength since modern times. Looking back on the past and present, we deeply feel the sacred and glorious mission we shoulder. Looking to the future, we are full of confidence in achieving the three major historical tasks of advancing modernization, completing the reunification of the motherland, and safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
All Party members must be keenly aware that achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects will require more than a decade of continued struggle, basically realizing modernization will require several decades of continued struggle, and consolidating and developing the socialist system will require the unremitting efforts of several generations, even dozens of generations. Struggle will inevitably bring difficulties and risks. We must be vigilant in times of peace, enhance our awareness of potential dangers, and always maintain our firm belief in Marxism, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; we must guard against arrogance and complacency, work hard, keep in mind the basic national conditions of the primary stage of socialism, and make unremitting efforts for the cause of the Party and the people; we must study diligently and work hard, constantly creating achievements that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history; we must strengthen unity, consider the overall situation, consciously safeguard the unity of the whole Party, maintain the Party's close ties with the people, consolidate the great unity of all ethnic groups in the country, strengthen the great unity of Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad, and promote the great unity of the Chinese people with the people of all countries in the world, providing a powerful force to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and promote new and greater victories for the cause of the Party and the people.
Let us hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, unite more closely around the Party Central Committee, work together with one heart and one mind, forge ahead, and strive to achieve new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and write a new chapter in the people's better life!
Hu Jintao
Comrades:
Now, on behalf of the 16th Central Committee, I will deliver a report to the Congress.
The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was a very important congress held at a crucial stage of my country's reform and development. The theme of the Congress was: Holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the "Three Represents," thoroughly implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development, continuing to emancipate the mind, adhering to reform and opening up, promoting scientific development, fostering social harmony, and striving for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
The great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the banner of contemporary China's development and progress, and the banner of unity and struggle for the entire Party and all ethnic groups across the country. Emancipating the mind is a major magic weapon for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; reform and opening up is a powerful driving force for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; scientific development and social harmony are the basic requirements for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is the goal of the Party and the country by 2020, and it is in the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups across the country.
The world today is undergoing profound and extensive changes, and contemporary China is experiencing profound and extensive transformations. Opportunities are unprecedented, and so are the challenges, but the opportunities outweigh the challenges. The entire Party must unswervingly hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, lead the people from this new historical starting point, seize and make good use of the important strategic opportunities, seek truth from facts, forge ahead with determination, continue to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, accelerate socialist modernization, and fulfill the lofty mission entrusted to us by the times.
I. Work done in the past five years
The five years since the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China have been extraordinary. Faced with a complex and ever-changing international environment and arduous tasks of reform and development, the Party led the people of all ethnic groups across the country, holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents," overcoming various difficulties and risks, creating a new situation for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and opening up a new realm for the Sinicization of Marxism.
The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) established the guiding role of the important thought of the "Three Represents" and made the strategic decision to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. To implement the spirit of the 16th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee convened seven plenary sessions, making decisions and arrangements on major issues concerning the overall situation, such as deepening institutional reform, improving the socialist market economy system, strengthening the Party's governing capacity, formulating the 11th Five-Year Plan, and building a socialist harmonious society. It also put forward and implemented major strategic thoughts such as the Scientific Outlook on Development, promoting new and significant achievements in the work of the Party and the state.
Economic strength has significantly improved. The economy maintained steady and rapid development, with GDP growing at an average annual rate of over 10%, economic efficiency significantly improved, fiscal revenue increasing substantially year after year, and prices remaining basically stable. Solid progress was made in building a new socialist countryside, and regional development coordination was enhanced. The construction of an innovative nation progressed well, and independent innovation capabilities were greatly improved. Significant achievements were made in the construction of infrastructure and key projects in energy, transportation, and communications. Manned spaceflight was successfully achieved. New progress was made in energy and resource conservation and ecological environmental protection. The 10th Five-Year Plan was successfully completed, and the 11th Five-Year Plan is progressing smoothly.
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Significant breakthroughs were achieved in reform and opening up. Comprehensive rural reforms were gradually deepened, with the complete abolition of agricultural tax, livestock tax, and special product tax, and policies supporting and benefiting agriculture were continuously strengthened. Major progress was made in the reform of the state-owned asset management system, state-owned enterprises, and the financial, fiscal, investment, pricing, and technological sectors. The non-public sector of the economy further developed. The market system was continuously improved, macro-control continued to improve, and the government's functions accelerated their transformation. Total import and export volume increased substantially, the "going global" strategy took solid steps, and the open economy entered a new stage.
People's lives have improved significantly. Urban and rural residents' incomes have increased substantially, and household assets have generally grown. A basic living standard guarantee system for urban and rural residents has been initially established, ensuring the basic living needs of the impoverished population. Residents' consumption patterns have been optimized, with continuous improvements in their clothing, food, housing, and transportation standards, and a marked enhancement in the public services they enjoy.
New progress has been made in the development of democracy and the rule of law. Political system reform has been steadily advanced. The system of people's congresses, the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the system of regional ethnic autonomy have been continuously improved, and grassroots democracy has become more vibrant. Human rights have developed healthily. The patriotic united front has grown stronger. The legal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been basically established, and the basic strategy of governing the country according to law has been effectively implemented. Reforms of the administrative management system and the judicial system have been continuously deepened.
Cultural development has entered a new phase. The construction of the socialist core value system has been steadily advanced, and the research and development of Marxist theory has yielded significant results. Ideological and moral construction has been widely carried out, further enhancing the overall level of civilization in society. Significant progress has been made in cultural system reform, with rapid development in cultural undertakings and industries, enriching the people's spiritual and cultural life. New achievements have been made in mass fitness and competitive sports.
Social development unfolded comprehensively. Education at all levels and of all types developed rapidly, and free compulsory education in rural areas was fully implemented. Employment expanded steadily. The social security system was further strengthened. A major victory was achieved in the fight against SARS, the public health system and basic medical services were continuously improved, and the health level of the people continued to rise. Social management was gradually improved, the overall social situation remained stable, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment.
China has made historic achievements in national defense and military development. The military transformation with Chinese characteristics has been accelerated, the task of reducing the number of military personnel by 200,000 has been successfully completed, the revolutionary, modern, and standardized development of the armed forces has been comprehensively strengthened, and the ability to fulfill the historical mission of the new century and new stage has been significantly improved.
Work related to Hong Kong and Macao, as well as Taiwan, was further strengthened. Hong Kong and Macao maintained prosperity and stability, and their economic and trade relations with the mainland became even closer. Cross-strait party exchanges were successfully launched, and personnel exchanges and economic and cultural exchanges reached new levels. The Anti-Secession Law was enacted to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Significant progress has been made in all-round diplomacy. Adhering to an independent foreign policy of peace, various diplomatic tasks have been actively carried out, exchanges and cooperation with other countries have been extensively strengthened, and an important and constructive role has been played in international affairs, creating a favorable international environment for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
The great new project of Party building has been steadily advanced. The building of the Party's governing capacity and its advanced nature has been deepened. Theoretical innovation and theoretical arming have yielded remarkable results. The campaign to maintain the advanced nature of Communist Party members has achieved significant results. Intra-Party democracy has been continuously expanded. Significant progress has been made in the building of leading bodies and the cadre ranks, especially in cadre education and training; talent work has been further strengthened; and the reform of the cadre personnel system and the innovation of organizational systems have been continuously deepened. The building of Party conduct and integrity and the fight against corruption have achieved remarkable results.
While acknowledging our achievements, we must also be soberly aware that our work still falls short of the people's expectations, and we face numerous difficulties and problems on our path forward. These include: the excessive resource and environmental costs of economic growth; persistent imbalances in urban-rural, regional, and socio-economic development; increasing difficulty in achieving stable agricultural development and sustained income growth for farmers; numerous issues concerning the vital interests of the people, such as employment, social security, income distribution, education and healthcare, housing, workplace safety, the judiciary, and public security, with some low-income groups facing significant hardship; the need to strengthen ideological and moral education; the Party's governing capacity not fully adapting to the new situation and tasks, and insufficient in-depth investigation and research on major practical issues related to reform, development, and stability; weak and disorganized grassroots Party organizations; and a few Party members and cadres exhibiting improper conduct, with formalism and bureaucracy being prominent issues, and extravagance, waste, and corruption remaining serious problems. We must attach great importance to these issues and continue to address them earnestly.
In summary, these past five years have been a period of significant progress in reform and opening up and the comprehensive building of a moderately prosperous society; a period of substantial enhancement of my country's comprehensive national strength and greater benefits for the people; a period of remarkable improvement in my country's international standing and influence; and a period of marked strengthening of the Party's creativity, cohesion, and fighting capacity, and closer unity among the Party and all ethnic groups across the country. Practice has fully proven that the major decisions made by the Central Committee at and since the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China are entirely correct.
The achievements of the past five years are the result of the joint efforts of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of all ethnic groups across the country, to all democratic parties, people's organizations, and patriotic people from all walks of life, to our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan, as well as to the vast number of overseas Chinese, and to all friends from all countries who care about and support China's modernization!
II. The Great Historical Process of Reform and Opening Up
We are about to celebrate the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up. In 1978, our Party convened the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, a meeting of great historical significance, which ushered in a new historical period of reform and opening up. Since then, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people, with their indomitable spirit of enterprise and magnificent innovative practices, have written a new and magnificent epic of the Chinese nation's self-reliance and tenacious progress, and the face of the Chinese people, the face of socialist China, and the face of the Communist Party of China have undergone historic changes.
Reform and opening up is a new great revolution led by the Party under new historical conditions. Its purpose is to liberate and develop social productive forces, realize national modernization, make the Chinese people rich, and revitalize the great Chinese nation; it is to promote the self-improvement and development of my country's socialist system, give socialism new vitality, and build and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics; and it is to strengthen and improve Party building, maintain and develop the Party's advanced nature, and ensure that the Party always stays at the forefront of the times in leading contemporary China's development and progress.
We must always remember that the great cause of reform and opening up was carried out on the basis of the first generation of the Party's central leadership collective with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, who created Mao Zedong Thought, led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to establish a new China, achieved great successes in socialist revolution and construction, and gained valuable experience through arduous exploration of the laws of socialist construction. The victory of the New Democratic Revolution and the establishment of the basic socialist system laid the fundamental political premise and institutional foundation for all development and progress in contemporary China.
We must always remember that the great cause of reform and opening up was initiated by the second generation of the Party's central leadership, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping at its core, leading the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. Faced with the perilous situation caused by the ten-year "Cultural Revolution," the second generation of the Party's central leadership adhered to emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts. With immense political and theoretical courage, they scientifically evaluated Comrade Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought, thoroughly negated the erroneous theory and practice of "taking class struggle as the key link," made the historic decision to shift the focus of the Party and the country's work to economic construction and implement reform and opening up, established the basic line for the primary stage of socialism, sounded the clarion call for taking our own path and building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and created Deng Xiaoping Theory, guiding the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to stride forward on the great journey of reform and opening up.
We must always remember that the great cause of reform and opening up was inherited, developed, and successfully propelled into the 21st century by the third generation of the Party's central leadership with Comrade Jiang Zemin at its core, leading the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country. From the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee to the 16th CPC National Congress, the third generation of the Party's central leadership, entrusted with a crucial historical mission, held high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, adhered to reform and opening up, kept pace with the times, and, in the face of severe tests such as domestic and international political turmoil and economic risks, relied on the Party and the people to defend socialism with Chinese characteristics, create a new system of socialist market economy, open up a new situation of comprehensive opening up, advance the new great project of Party building, establish the important thought of the "Three Represents," and continue to guide the ship of reform and opening up to sail forward in the right direction.
Since the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents," we have adapted to the changing domestic and international situation, seized the important strategic opportunities, carried forward the spirit of seeking truth from facts and pioneering and enterprising, adhered to theoretical and practical innovation, focused on promoting scientific development and social harmony, improved the socialist market economy system, and unswervingly continued to advance the great cause of reform and opening up in the practice of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
The most distinctive feature of the new era is reform and opening up. From rural areas to cities, from the economic sphere to all other sectors, the process of comprehensive reform has unfolded irresistibly; from coastal areas to riverine and border regions, from the east to the central and western regions, the door to the outside world has been resolutely opened. This unprecedented reform and opening up has greatly mobilized the enthusiasm of hundreds of millions of people, enabling my country to successfully achieve the great historical transformation from a highly centralized planned economy to a vibrant socialist market economy, and from a closed or semi-closed state to all-round opening up. Today, a socialist China, facing modernization, the world, and the future, stands tall in the East.
The most significant achievement of the new era is rapid development. Our Party implemented the three-step strategy for modernization, leading the people in arduous struggle and propelling my country to sustained and rapid development at a pace rarely seen in the world. my country's economy has grown from the brink of collapse to become the world's fourth largest economy and the third largest in terms of total imports and exports. People's lives have improved from basic subsistence to a generally well-off society. The rural poor population has decreased from over 250 million to over 20 million. China has achieved remarkable successes in political, cultural, and social development. China's development has not only enabled the Chinese people to steadily embark on a broad path of prosperity and well-being but has also made significant contributions to global economic development and the progress of human civilization.
The most prominent feature of the new era is keeping pace with the times. Our Party adheres to the Marxist ideological line, constantly exploring and answering major theoretical and practical questions such as what socialism is, how to build socialism, what kind of party to build, how to build the party, what kind of development to achieve, and how to achieve development. It continuously advances the Sinicization of Marxism, upholding and enriching the Party's basic theories, basic line, basic program, and basic experience. Socialism and Marxism have flourished on Chinese soil, bringing greater benefits to the people and enabling the Chinese nation to stride forward with the times and usher in a bright future of great rejuvenation.
Facts eloquently prove that reform and opening up is a crucial choice that determines the fate of contemporary China, and the only path to developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; only socialism can save China, and only reform and opening up can develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism.
As a new great revolution, reform and opening up cannot be smooth sailing, nor can it be accomplished overnight. Most fundamentally, reform and opening up conforms to the will of the Party and the people, follows the trend of the times, and its direction and path are entirely correct. Its achievements and merits cannot be denied, and there is no way out for stagnation or regression.
In the historical process of reform and opening up, our Party has combined upholding the basic principles of Marxism with advancing the Sinicization of Marxism, combining upholding the Four Cardinal Principles with upholding reform and opening up, combining respect for the people's pioneering spirit with strengthening and improving the Party's leadership, combining upholding the basic socialist system with developing the market economy, combining promoting changes in the economic base with promoting reforms in the superstructure, combining developing social productive forces with improving the overall quality of the nation, combining improving efficiency with promoting social equity, combining upholding independence and self-reliance with participating in economic globalization, combining promoting reform and development with maintaining social stability, and combining advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics with advancing the new great project of Party building. This has yielded valuable experience for a developing country with a population of over one billion in lifting itself out of poverty, accelerating modernization, and consolidating and developing socialism.
The fundamental reason for all the achievements and progress we have made since the reform and opening up can be summarized as follows: we have opened up the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and formed the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The most fundamental aspect of holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is adhering to this path and this theoretical system.
The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, based on China's fundamental national conditions, centered on economic development, adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles, persisting in reform and opening up, liberating and developing productive forces, consolidating and improving the socialist system, building a socialist market economy, socialist democracy, advanced socialist culture, and a harmonious socialist society, and ultimately building a prosperous, democratic, civilized, and harmonious socialist modern country. The reason why the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is entirely correct and can lead China's development and progress lies in the fact that we have both adhered to the basic principles of scientific socialism and endowed it with distinct Chinese characteristics based on my country's realities and the characteristics of the times. In contemporary China, adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is truly adhering to socialism.
The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a scientific theoretical system that includes Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of the Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, among other major strategic thoughts. This theoretical system upholds and develops Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, embodies the wisdom and hard work of generations of Chinese Communists leading the people in their unremitting exploration and practice, and represents the latest achievement in the Sinicization of Marxism. It is the Party's most valuable political and spiritual asset and the common ideological foundation for the unity and struggle of all ethnic groups in China. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a constantly developing and open theoretical system. Nearly 160 years of practice since the publication of the *Communist Manifesto* have proven that Marxism can only unleash its powerful vitality, creativity, and appeal when combined with the specific conditions of a country, progresses with the times, and shares the destiny of the people. In contemporary China, adhering to the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is truly adhering to Marxism.
Practice is endless, and innovation is endless. All Party members must cherish, uphold, and continuously develop the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which the Party has painstakingly pioneered. We must adhere to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and keeping pace with the times. We must be courageous in reform and innovation, never becoming rigid or stagnant. We must not be afraid of any risks or be misled by any interference, so that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics can become ever broader and that contemporary Chinese Marxism can radiate an even more brilliant light of truth.
III. Thoroughly Implement the Scientific Outlook on Development
In this new stage of development, to continue building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must adhere to the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" and thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development.
The Scientific Outlook on Development is an inheritance and development of the important thoughts on development of the three generations of the Party's central leadership collectives. It is a concentrated embodiment of the Marxist worldview and methodology on development. It is a scientific theory that is both consistent with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" and keeps pace with the times. It is an important guiding principle for my country's economic and social development and a major strategic thought that must be adhered to and implemented in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The Scientific Outlook on Development is based on the fundamental national conditions of China's primary stage of socialism, summarizes my country's development practice, draws on foreign development experience, and adapts to new development requirements. Entering the new century and a new stage, my country's development presents a series of new stage-specific characteristics, mainly: Economic strength has significantly increased, but overall productivity is still not high, independent innovation capacity is not strong, and long-standing structural contradictions and extensive growth patterns have not been fundamentally changed; a socialist market economy system has been initially established, but institutional and systemic obstacles affecting development still exist, and reform faces deep-seated contradictions and problems; people's lives have generally reached a moderately prosperous level, but the trend of widening income inequality has not been fundamentally reversed, and there are still a considerable number of urban and rural poor and low-income people, increasing the difficulty of balancing the interests of all parties; significant achievements have been made in coordinated development, but the weak agricultural foundation and lagging rural development have not changed, and the tasks of narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and regions and promoting coordinated economic and social development are arduous; socialist market economy system has been initially established, but institutional and systemic obstacles affecting development still exist, and reform faces deep-seated contradictions and problems; the overall living standards of the people have reached a moderately prosperous level, but the trend of widening income inequality has not been fundamentally reversed, and there are still a considerable number of urban and rural poor and low-income people, increasing the difficulty of balancing the interests of all parties; significant achievements have been made in coordinated development, but the situation of weak agricultural foundation and lagging rural development has not changed, and the tasks of narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and regions and promoting coordinated economic and social development are arduous; While socialist democracy continues to develop and the basic strategy of governing the country according to law is being solidly implemented, the development of democracy and the rule of law is not yet fully adapted to the requirements of expanding people's democracy and economic and social development, and political system reform needs to be further deepened. Socialist culture is becoming more prosperous, while the people's spiritual and cultural needs are becoming increasingly strong, and the independence, selectivity, variability, and diversity of people's thoughts and activities are significantly enhanced, which puts forward higher requirements for the development of advanced socialist culture. Social vitality has been significantly enhanced, while social structure, social organization forms, and social interest patterns are undergoing profound changes, and social construction and management are facing many new challenges. Opening up to the outside world is expanding, while international competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and the pressure of developed countries' economic and technological advantages persists for a long time. Foreseeable and unforeseeable risks are increasing, and the requirements for coordinating domestic development and opening up to the outside world are higher.
These circumstances demonstrate that, through the unremitting efforts since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the reform and opening up, our country has achieved remarkable development achievements, with profound and significant changes occurring from productive forces to relations of production, and from the economic base to the superstructure. However, the fundamental national condition that my country is still in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a long time has not changed, nor has the principal contradiction in Chinese society—the contradiction between the people's ever-growing material and cultural needs and the backward social production—remained unchanged. The current stage-specific characteristics of my country's development are a concrete manifestation of the fundamental national condition of the primary stage of socialism in the new century and new stage. Emphasizing the recognition of the fundamental national condition of the primary stage of socialism is not about being self-deprecating or complacent, nor is it about being divorced from reality or eager for quick success; rather, it is about adhering to it as the fundamental basis for promoting reform and planning development. We must always maintain a clear mind, base ourselves on the greatest reality of the primary stage of socialism, scientifically analyze the new opportunities and challenges of my country's full participation in economic globalization, comprehensively understand the new situation and tasks of the in-depth development of industrialization, informatization, urbanization, marketization, and internationalization, profoundly grasp the new issues and contradictions facing my country's development, more consciously follow the path of scientific development, and strive to open up a broader prospect for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The Scientific Outlook on Development prioritizes development, centers on people-centeredness, requires comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development, and employs a holistic approach that takes all factors into consideration.
—We must always prioritize development as the Party's primary task in governing and rejuvenating the country. Development is of decisive significance for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and accelerating socialist modernization. We must firmly grasp economic development as the central task, concentrate our efforts on construction and development, and continuously unleash and develop social productive forces. We must better implement the strategies of invigorating the nation through science and education, strengthening the nation through talent, and sustainable development, focusing on grasping the laws of development, innovating development concepts, transforming development methods, and solving development problems to improve the quality and efficiency of development, achieve sound and rapid development, and lay a solid foundation for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must strive to achieve people-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable scientific development; harmonious development that achieves the organic unity of all undertakings and the solidarity and harmony of all members of society; and peaceful development that both develops itself by safeguarding world peace and safeguards world peace through its own development.
—We must adhere to a people-centered approach. Wholeheartedly.
Serving the people is the fundamental purpose of the Party, and all the Party's struggles and work are for the benefit of the people. We must always take realizing, safeguarding, and developing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people as the starting point and end result of all the work of the Party and the state, respect the people's principal position, give full play to the people's pioneering spirit, safeguard the people's various rights and interests, follow the path of common prosperity, promote the all-round development of people, and ensure that development is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people.
—We must adhere to comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development. In accordance with the overall layout of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must comprehensively advance economic, political, cultural, and social development, promoting coordination among all aspects and stages of modernization, and ensuring harmony between the relations of production and the productive forces, and between the superstructure and the economic base. We must adhere to a path of civilized development characterized by production growth, improved living standards, and a sound ecological environment; build a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society; achieve a balance between speed, structure, quality, and efficiency; and coordinate economic development with population, resources, and the environment, enabling people to live and work in a healthy ecological environment and achieving sustainable economic and social development.
—We must adhere to the principle of overall planning and coordination. We must correctly understand and properly handle the major relationships within the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, coordinating urban and rural development, regional development, economic and social development, harmonious development between humanity and nature, domestic development and opening up to the outside world, coordinating the relationship between the central and local governments, and coordinating individual and collective interests, local and overall interests, and current and long-term interests, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of all parties. We must coordinate the domestic and international situations, cultivate a global perspective, strengthen strategic thinking, and be adept at seizing development opportunities and responding to risks and challenges from the evolving international landscape, creating a favorable international environment. We must not only have an overall grasp of the situation and make comprehensive plans, but also focus on key tasks that affect the overall picture and prominent issues concerning the interests of the masses, vigorously promoting and achieving breakthroughs in key areas.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must always adhere to the basic line of "one central task and two basic points." The Party's basic line is the lifeline of the Party and the country, and the political guarantee for achieving scientific development. Taking economic development as the central task is essential for national prosperity and is the fundamental requirement for the prosperity and long-term stability of our Party and our country; the Four Cardinal Principles are the foundation of our nation and the political cornerstone for the survival and development of our Party and our country; reform and opening up is the path to national strength and the source of vitality for the development and progress of our Party and our country. We must consistently unify taking economic development as the central task with the Four Cardinal Principles and the two basic points of reform and opening up in the great practice of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and this must never be shaken at any time.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must actively build a socialist harmonious society. Social harmony is an essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Scientific development and social harmony are intrinsically unified. There can be no social harmony without scientific development, and scientific development is difficult to achieve without social harmony. Building a socialist harmonious society is a long-term historical task that runs through the entire process of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is a historical process and social outcome of correctly handling various social contradictions on the basis of development. We must increase social material wealth and continuously improve people's lives through development, while also ensuring social fairness and justice and continuously promoting social harmony through development. Achieving social fairness and justice is a consistent proposition of the Communist Party of China and a major task in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must adhere to the general requirements of democracy and the rule of law, fairness and justice, integrity and amity, vitality, stability and order, and harmony between humanity and nature, and the principles of common construction and common enjoyment. We must focus on resolving the most pressing, direct, and realistic issues concerning the interests of the people, and strive to create a situation where all people can contribute their abilities and receive their due rewards while living in harmony, thus providing a favorable social environment for development.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must continue to deepen reform and opening up. We must integrate the spirit of reform and innovation into every aspect of governance, unswervingly adhere to the direction of reform, improve the scientific nature of reform decisions, and enhance the coordination of reform measures. We must improve the socialist market economy system, promote institutional reform and innovation in all aspects, accelerate the pace of reform in important areas and key links, comprehensively improve the level of openness, and strive to build a dynamic, efficient, more open system and mechanism conducive to scientific development, providing strong impetus and institutional guarantees for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must adhere to improving people's lives as the key to correctly handling the relationship between reform, development, and stability, ensuring that reform always enjoys the support of the people.
To thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, we must earnestly strengthen and improve Party building. We must approach this from the perspective of fulfilling the Party's mission of governing and rejuvenating the country, and prioritize enhancing the Party's governing capacity, maintaining and developing its leadership.
The Party's advanced nature is reflected in leading scientific development and promoting social harmony, and is implemented in guiding China's development and progress and better representing and realizing the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people, making the Party's work and Party building more in line with the requirements of the scientific outlook on development, and providing reliable political and organizational guarantees for scientific development.
All Party members must fully grasp the scientific connotation and essence of the Scientific Outlook on Development, enhance their consciousness and determination to implement it, strive to change their mindset that is incompatible with or inconsistent with the Scientific Outlook on Development, focus on solving the prominent problems that affect and restrict scientific development, guide the enthusiasm of the whole society for development towards scientific development, and implement the Scientific Outlook on Development in all aspects of economic and social development.
IV. New Requirements for Achieving the Goal of Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects
We have taken solid steps toward the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, as set forth at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We must continue to work hard to ensure that we achieve this goal by 2020.
We must adapt to the new changes in the domestic and international situation, meet the new expectations of people of all ethnic groups for a better life, grasp the trends and laws of economic and social development, adhere to the basic program consisting of the basic goals and basic policies of socialist economic, political, cultural and social development with Chinese characteristics, and put forward new and higher requirements for my country's development on the basis of the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects established at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
—Enhance the coordination of development and strive to achieve sound and rapid economic development. Significant progress has been made in transforming the development model. Based on optimizing the structure, improving efficiency, reducing consumption, and protecting the environment, per capita GDP will quadruple by 2020 compared to 2000. The socialist market economy system will be further improved. Independent innovation capabilities will be significantly enhanced, and the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress to economic growth will rise sharply, placing China among the ranks of innovative countries. The household consumption rate will steadily increase, forming a growth pattern driven by coordinated consumption, investment, and exports. A mechanism for coordinated and interactive development between urban and rural areas and between different regions, as well as the layout of functional zones, will be basically established. Significant progress has been made in building a new socialist countryside. The proportion of the urban population has increased significantly.
—Expanding socialist democracy to better safeguard the rights and interests of the people and social fairness and justice. Citizens' political participation has expanded in an orderly manner. The basic strategy of governing the country according to law has been thoroughly implemented, the public's awareness of the rule of law has been further enhanced, and new achievements have been made in building a law-based government. The grassroots democratic system has been further improved. The government's capacity to provide basic public services has been significantly strengthened.
—Strengthening cultural development and significantly improving the overall quality of the nation's civilization. The socialist core value system has taken root in people's hearts, and sound moral values have been further promoted. A public cultural service system covering the whole society has been basically established, the cultural industry's share of the national economy has significantly increased, its international competitiveness has been significantly enhanced, and cultural products that meet the needs of the people have become more abundant.
—Accelerate the development of social undertakings and comprehensively improve people's lives. The modern national education system will be further improved, a lifelong education system will be basically established, and the overall level of education for all citizens and the cultivation of innovative talents will be significantly enhanced. Social employment will be more adequate. A social security system covering urban and rural residents will be basically established, ensuring basic living standards for everyone. A rational and orderly income distribution pattern will be basically formed, with the majority of income earners being middle-income earners, and absolute poverty will be basically eliminated. Everyone will enjoy basic medical and health services. The social management system will be more sound.
—Building an ecological civilization and basically forming a conservation-oriented system
The industrial structure, growth model, and consumption patterns related to energy resources and ecological environment protection have been optimized. A circular economy has been established on a significant scale, and the proportion of renewable energy has increased markedly. Emissions of major pollutants have been effectively controlled, and the quality of the ecological environment has improved significantly. The concept of ecological civilization has been firmly established throughout society.
By 2020, when the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is achieved, our ancient civilization and developing socialist country will have basically achieved industrialization, significantly enhanced comprehensive national strength, and a domestic market that ranks among the world's largest. It will be a country where people's wealth has generally increased, their quality of life has significantly improved, and the ecological environment is sound. It will be a country where people enjoy fuller democratic rights, have higher levels of civilization and spiritual pursuits, and where various systems are more complete, society is more vibrant, stable, and united. It will be a country that is more open to the outside world, more approachable, and makes greater contributions to human civilization.
The next five years are a crucial period for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We must strengthen our confidence, work diligently, and lay a more solid foundation for building a higher-level moderately prosperous society that benefits more than one billion people.
V. Promote sound and rapid development of the national economy
To achieve future economic development goals, the key lies in making significant progress in accelerating the transformation of the economic development model and improving the socialist market economy system. We must vigorously promote the strategic adjustment of the economic structure, placing greater emphasis on enhancing independent innovation capabilities, improving energy conservation and environmental protection levels, and raising the overall quality and international competitiveness of the economy. We must deepen our understanding of the laws governing the socialist market economy, better leverage the fundamental role of the market in resource allocation through institutional reforms, and establish a macroeconomic control system conducive to scientific development.
(I) Enhancing Independent Innovation Capability and Building an Innovative Nation. This is the core of the national development strategy and the key to improving comprehensive national strength. We must adhere to the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics and integrate the enhancement of independent innovation capability into all aspects of modernization. We must earnestly implement the National Medium- and Long-Term Science and Technology Development Plan Outline, increase investment in independent innovation, and focus on breaking through key technologies that restrict economic and social development. We must accelerate the construction of a national innovation system and support basic research, cutting-edge technology research, and social welfare technology research. We must accelerate the establishment of a technology innovation system with enterprises as the main body, market-oriented, and integrating industry, academia, and research, guiding and supporting the aggregation of innovation elements towards enterprises and promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces. We must deepen the reform of the science and technology management system, optimize the allocation of science and technology resources, and improve the legal guarantee, policy system, incentive mechanism, and market environment for encouraging technological innovation and the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements. We must implement the intellectual property strategy. We must make full use of international science and technology resources. We must further create an environment that encourages innovation, strive to cultivate world-class scientists and leading scientific and technological talents, focus on cultivating front-line innovative talents, and enable the innovative wisdom of the whole society to burst forth and a large number of innovative talents to emerge in all aspects.
(II) Accelerate the transformation of the economic development model and promote the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure. This is an urgent and important strategic task concerning the overall national economy. We must adhere to the path of new industrialization with Chinese characteristics, persist in the policy of expanding domestic demand, especially consumer demand, and promote the transformation of economic growth from being mainly driven by investment and exports to being driven by a coordinated approach of consumption, investment, and exports; from being mainly driven by the secondary industry to being driven by the coordinated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries; and from being mainly driven by increased consumption of material resources to being mainly driven by scientific and technological progress, improved workforce quality, and management innovation. We must develop a modern industrial system and vigorously promote…
The integration of informatization and industrialization will promote the transformation of industry from large to strong, revitalize the equipment manufacturing industry, and eliminate outdated production capacity; it will upgrade high-tech industries and develop industries such as information technology, biotechnology, new materials, aerospace, and marine industries; it will develop modern service industries and increase their proportion and level; it will strengthen the construction of basic industrial infrastructure and accelerate the development of modern energy industries and comprehensive transportation systems. Product quality and safety will be ensured. The development of large enterprise groups with international competitiveness will be encouraged.
(III) Coordinate urban and rural development and promote the construction of a new socialist countryside. Solving the problems of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers is crucial to the overall goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and must always be a top priority for the entire Party. We must strengthen the fundamental position of agriculture, follow the path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics, establish a long-term mechanism for promoting agriculture through industry and rural development through urban development, and form a new pattern of integrated urban and rural economic and social development. We must adhere to developing modern agriculture and revitalizing the rural economy as our primary tasks, strengthen rural infrastructure construction, and improve the rural market and agricultural service system. We must increase the strength of policies supporting agriculture and benefiting farmers, strictly protect arable land, increase agricultural investment, promote agricultural scientific and technological progress, enhance comprehensive agricultural production capacity, and ensure national food security. We must strengthen the prevention and control of animal and plant diseases and improve the quality and safety of agricultural products. With increasing farmers' income as the core, we must develop township enterprises, strengthen the county economy, and transfer farmers to employment through multiple channels. We must improve the level of poverty alleviation and development. We must deepen comprehensive rural reform, promote the reform and innovation of the rural financial system, and reform the collective forest tenure system. We must adhere to the basic rural management system, stabilize and improve land contracting relations, and, in accordance with the principles of legality, voluntariness, and compensation, improve the land contracting and management rights transfer market. Where conditions permit, various forms of appropriately scaled operations can be developed. Explore effective forms of collective economy, develop farmers' professional cooperative organizations, and support the industrialization of agriculture and the development of leading enterprises. Cultivate a new type of farmer who is educated, technically skilled, and good at management, and give full play to the leading role of hundreds of millions of farmers in building a new countryside.
(IV) Strengthen energy and resource conservation and ecological environmental protection to enhance sustainable development capabilities. Adhering to the basic national policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment is crucial to the vital interests of the people and the survival and development of the Chinese nation. We must place the construction of a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society in a prominent position within the industrialization and modernization development strategy, implementing it in every unit and every household. We must improve laws and policies conducive to energy and resource conservation and ecological environmental protection, and accelerate the formation of a sustainable development system and mechanism. We must implement the responsibility system for energy conservation and emission reduction. We must develop and promote advanced and applicable technologies for conservation, substitution, recycling, and pollution control; develop clean and renewable energy; protect land and water resources; build a scientifically sound energy and resource utilization system; and improve energy and resource utilization efficiency. We must develop the environmental protection industry. We must increase investment in energy conservation and environmental protection, focusing on strengthening the prevention and control of water, air, and soil pollution, and improving the urban and rural living environment. We must strengthen water conservancy, forestry, and grassland construction; strengthen the control of desertification and rocky desertification; and promote ecological restoration. We must strengthen our capacity to address climate change and make new contributions to protecting the global climate.
(V) Promote coordinated regional development and optimize the national land development pattern. Narrowing regional development gaps requires focusing on achieving equal access to basic public services and guiding the rational flow of production factors across regions. We must continue to implement the overall regional development strategy, further promote the development of the western region, comprehensively revitalize old industrial bases such as the Northeast, vigorously promote the rise of the central region, and actively support the leading development of the eastern region. We must strengthen national land planning, improve regional policies, and adjust the economic layout in accordance with the requirements for forming functional zones. Following the laws of the market economy, we must break through administrative boundaries to form several economic circles and belts with strong driving forces and close connections. The layout of major projects should fully consider supporting the development of the central and western regions and encourage the eastern region to drive and assist the development of the central and western regions. We must increase support for the development of old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas, and impoverished areas. We must help resource-depleted areas achieve economic transformation. We must better leverage the important role of special economic zones, Shanghai Pudong New Area, and Tianjin Binhai New Area in reform and opening up and independent innovation. We must follow the path of urbanization with Chinese characteristics, promoting the coordinated development of large, medium, and small cities and towns in accordance with the principles of integrated urban and rural development, rational layout, land conservation, complete functions, and large leading small. With a focus on enhancing comprehensive carrying capacity and relying on megacities, we will form urban clusters with a strong radiating effect and cultivate new economic growth poles.
(VI) Improve the basic economic system and establish a sound modern market system. We will uphold and improve the basic economic system with public ownership as the mainstay and the common development of diverse forms of ownership. We will unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector, and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector. We will adhere to the principle of equal protection of property rights and foster a new pattern of equal competition and mutual promotion among various forms of ownership. We will deepen the corporatization and shareholding reforms of state-owned enterprises, improve the modern enterprise system, optimize the layout and structure of the state-owned economy, and enhance its vitality, control, and influence. We will deepen the reform of monopolistic industries, introduce competition mechanisms, and strengthen government supervision and social oversight. We will accelerate the establishment of a state-owned capital operation budget system. We will improve the management systems and institutions for various types of state-owned assets. We will promote the reform of collective enterprises and develop various forms of collective and cooperative economies. We will promote fair access, improve financing conditions, remove institutional barriers, and promote the development of individual, private, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Based on a modern property rights system, we will develop a mixed ownership economy. We will accelerate the formation of a unified, open, competitive, and orderly modern market system, develop various factors of production markets, improve the price formation mechanism for factors of production and resources that reflects market supply and demand, resource scarcity, and environmental damage costs, regulate the development of industry associations and market intermediary organizations, and improve the social credit system.
(VII) Deepen reforms of the fiscal, taxation, and financial systems, and improve the macro-control system. Focusing on promoting the equalization of basic public services and the construction of functional zones, improve the public finance system. Deepen budget system reform, strengthen budget management and supervision, improve the system that matches central and local government financial resources with their respective responsibilities, accelerate the formation of a unified, standardized, and transparent fiscal transfer payment system, increase the scale and proportion of general transfer payments, and increase investment in public services. Improve the fiscal system below the provincial level and enhance the capacity of grassroots governments to provide public services. Implement a fiscal and taxation system conducive to scientific development, and establish and improve a system for the paid use of resources and an ecological environment compensation mechanism. Promote financial system reform, develop various financial markets, and form a modern financial system with diverse ownership structures and operating forms, a reasonable structure, complete functions, and high efficiency and security. Improve the banking industry...
Enhance the competitiveness of the securities and insurance industries. Optimize the capital market structure and increase the proportion of direct financing through multiple channels. Strengthen and improve financial supervision, and prevent and resolve financial risks. Improve the RMB exchange rate formation mechanism and gradually achieve capital account convertibility. Deepen investment system reform and improve and strictly enforce market access regulations. Improve the national planning system. Give full play to the guiding role of national development plans, programs, and industrial policies in macro-control, and comprehensively utilize fiscal and monetary policies to improve the level of macro-control.
(VIII) Expand the breadth and depth of opening up and improve the level of the open economy. Adhere to the basic national policy of opening up, better combine "bringing in" and "going out," expand the scope of opening up, optimize the structure of opening up, improve the quality of opening up, and improve the open economic system that is interconnected, mutually beneficial, safe, and efficient, forming new advantages for participating in international economic cooperation and competition under economic globalization. Deepen coastal opening up, accelerate inland opening up, and enhance border opening up, achieving mutual promotion between domestic and international opening up. Accelerate the transformation of foreign trade growth patterns, focusing on quality-driven development, adjusting the import and export structure, promoting the transformation and upgrading of processing trade, and vigorously developing service trade. Innovate the ways of utilizing foreign investment, optimize the structure of foreign investment utilization, and give full play to the positive role of foreign investment in promoting independent innovation, industrial upgrading, and coordinated regional development. Innovate the ways of foreign investment and cooperation, support enterprises in conducting international operations in R&D, production, and sales, and accelerate the cultivation of Chinese multinational corporations and internationally renowned brands. Actively carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in international energy resources. Implement the free trade zone strategy and strengthen bilateral and multilateral economic and trade cooperation. Take comprehensive measures to promote a basic balance of international payments. Pay attention to preventing international economic risks.
Achieving sound and rapid development of the national economy will further enhance my country's economic strength and demonstrate the powerful vitality of the socialist market economy.
VI. Firmly and unswervingly develop socialist democracy
People's democracy is the lifeblood of socialism. Developing socialist democracy is the unwavering goal of our Party. Since the reform and opening up, we have actively and steadily promoted political system reform, and my country's socialist democracy has demonstrated even greater vitality. As an important component of my country's comprehensive reform, political system reform must be continuously deepened along with economic and social development and adapted to the ever-increasing enthusiasm of the people for political participation. We must adhere to the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, uphold the organic unity of Party leadership, the people's status as masters of the country, and the rule of law, and uphold and improve the system of people's congresses, the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and the system of grassroots self-governance, continuously promoting the self-improvement and development of the socialist political system.
Deepening political system reform requires adhering to the correct political direction, taking the fundamental goal of ensuring the people's status as masters of the country, and aiming to enhance the vitality of the Party and the state and mobilize the people's enthusiasm. This includes expanding socialist democracy, building a socialist rule-of-law state, and developing socialist political civilization. It is essential to uphold the Party's core leadership role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties, improving the Party's ability to govern scientifically, democratically, and according to law, and ensuring the Party's effective leadership in governing the country. It is also crucial to uphold the principle that all power belongs to the people, expanding orderly political participation by citizens at all levels and in all fields, and mobilizing and organizing the people to manage state and social affairs, as well as economic and cultural undertakings, to the broadest extent possible. Furthermore, it is vital to adhere to the basic strategy of governing the country according to law, establishing the socialist rule-of-law concept, realizing the rule of law in all aspects of state work, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens. Finally, it is essential to uphold the characteristics and advantages of the socialist political system, promoting the institutionalization, standardization, and proceduralization of socialist democratic politics, and providing political and legal guarantees for the long-term stability and security of the Party and the state.
(I) Expanding People's Democracy and Ensuring the People's Role as Masters of the Country. The people's role as masters of the country is the essence and core of socialist democratic politics. We must improve the democratic system, enrich democratic forms, broaden democratic channels, and implement democratic elections, democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic supervision in accordance with the law, guaranteeing the people's rights to know, participate, express opinions, and supervise. We support the National People's Congress in performing its functions according to law, ensuring that the Party's propositions become the will of the state through legal procedures; guaranteeing that NPC deputies exercise their powers according to law, strengthening the ties between NPC deputies and the people, and suggesting the gradual implementation of elections for NPC deputies in urban and rural areas according to the same population ratio; strengthening the institutional construction of the Standing Committee of the NPC, and optimizing the knowledge and age structure of its members. We support the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in performing its functions around the two major themes of unity and democracy, promoting the construction of systems for political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs; incorporating political consultation into the decision-making process, improving the democratic supervision mechanism, and enhancing the effectiveness of participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs; strengthening the CPPCC's own construction, and giving full play to its important role in coordinating relations, pooling strength, offering advice and suggestions, and serving the overall situation. We uphold the principle of equality among all ethnic groups and ensure that ethnic autonomous regions exercise their autonomy according to law. We will promote scientific and democratic decision-making, improve the decision-making information and intellectual support system, enhance the transparency of decision-making and public participation, and, in principle, solicit opinions publicly when formulating laws, regulations, and public policies closely related to the interests of the people. We will strengthen civic education and establish the concepts of socialist democracy and the rule of law, freedom and equality, fairness and justice. We will support trade unions, the Communist Youth League, women's federations, and other people's organizations in carrying out their work in accordance with the law and their respective charters, participating in social management and public services, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people.
(II) Developing grassroots democracy and ensuring that the people enjoy more and more tangible democratic rights. The people's direct exercise of democratic rights according to law, management of grassroots public affairs and public welfare undertakings, and the implementation of self-management, self-service, self-education, and self-supervision, as well as democratic supervision of cadres, are the most effective and widespread ways for the people to be masters of their own affairs. This must be prioritized as a fundamental project for developing socialist democratic politics. We must improve the vibrant grassroots self-governance mechanism led by grassroots Party organizations, expand the scope of grassroots self-governance, improve the democratic management system, and build urban and rural communities into well-managed, well-serviced, civilized, and harmonious social communities. We must wholeheartedly rely on the working class, improve the democratic management system of enterprises and institutions with the workers' congress as its basic form, promote factory transparency, support workers' participation in management, and safeguard workers' legitimate rights and interests. We must deepen the reform of township institutions, strengthen the construction of grassroots political power, improve systems such as government transparency and village transparency, and achieve effective connection and positive interaction between government administration and grassroots self-governance. We must give full play to the positive role of social organizations in expanding public participation and reflecting public demands, and enhance the function of social self-governance.
(III) Fully implement the basic strategy of governing the country according to law and accelerate the construction of a socialist rule-of-law state. Governing the country according to law is a fundamental requirement of socialist democratic politics. We must adhere to scientific and democratic legislation and improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics. We must strengthen the implementation of the Constitution and laws, uphold the principle that all citizens are equal before the law, safeguard social fairness and justice, and maintain the unity, dignity, and authority of the socialist legal system. We must promote administration according to law. We must deepen judicial system reform, optimize the allocation of judicial powers, standardize judicial conduct, build a fair, efficient, and authoritative socialist judicial system, and ensure that judicial and procuratorial organs exercise their judicial and procuratorial powers independently and impartially according to law. We must strengthen the construction of the political and legal teams and ensure strict, fair, and civilized law enforcement. We must conduct in-depth legal publicity and education, promote the spirit of the rule of law, and create a social atmosphere of consciously learning, abiding by, and applying the law. We must respect and protect human rights and guarantee the rights of all members of society to participate and develop equally according to law. Party organizations at all levels and all Party members must consciously operate within the scope of the Constitution and laws and take the lead in upholding the authority of the Constitution and laws.
(IV) Strengthen the patriotic united front and unite all forces that can be united. Promoting harmony among political parties, ethnic groups, religions, social strata, and compatriots at home and abroad plays an irreplaceable role in enhancing unity and building consensus. We must implement the principles of long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, sincere cooperation, and sharing weal and woe; strengthen cooperation with democratic parties; support democratic parties and non-party members in better fulfilling their functions of participating in and deliberating on state affairs and exercising democratic supervision; and select and recommend more outstanding non-Party cadres for leadership positions. We must firmly grasp the theme of common unity, struggle, prosperity, and development among all ethnic groups, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities, and consolidate and develop equal, united, mutually supportive, and harmonious socialist ethnic relations. We must fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious work and give full play to the positive role of religious figures and believers in promoting economic and social development. We must encourage people from new social strata to actively participate in the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must conscientiously implement the Party's policies on overseas Chinese affairs and support overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese, and their relatives in caring for and participating in the modernization of the motherland and the cause of peaceful reunification.
(V) Accelerate the reform of the administrative management system and build a service-oriented government. The reform of the administrative management system is a crucial aspect of deepening reform. We must promptly formulate an overall plan for the reform of the administrative management system, focusing on transforming functions, streamlining relationships, optimizing structure, and improving efficiency to form an administrative management system characterized by consistent power and responsibility, reasonable division of labor, scientific decision-making, smooth execution, and effective supervision. We must improve the government's responsibility system, perfect the public service system, promote e-government, and strengthen social management and public services. We must accelerate the separation of government from enterprises, government from capital, government from public institutions, and government from market intermediary organizations; standardize administrative behavior; strengthen the construction of administrative law enforcement departments; reduce and standardize administrative approvals; and reduce government intervention in microeconomic operations. We must standardize the relationship between vertically managed departments and local governments. We must intensify institutional integration, explore the implementation of a large-department system with organically unified functions, and improve inter-departmental coordination mechanisms. We must streamline and standardize various deliberative and coordinating bodies and their offices, reduce administrative levels, lower administrative costs, and focus on resolving issues of overlapping institutions, overlapping responsibilities, and multiple sources of policy. We must coordinate the establishment of Party committees, governments, people's congresses, and CPPCC institutions, reduce the number of leadership positions, and strictly control staffing. We must accelerate the classification reform of public institutions.
(VI) Improve the checks and balances mechanisms to ensure that the power entrusted by the people is always used to serve the people's interests. To ensure the proper exercise of power, it is essential to operate it transparently. We must adhere to the principle of managing power, affairs, and personnel through systems, and establish a sound power structure and operational mechanism in which decision-making power, executive power, and supervisory power are mutually checked and coordinated. We must improve organizational laws and procedural rules to ensure that state organs exercise power and perform their duties in accordance with statutory authority and procedures. We must improve various open service systems to enhance the transparency and credibility of government work. We must focus on strengthening supervision of leading cadres, especially principal leading cadres, the management and use of personnel, finances, and materials, and key positions, and improve systems such as inquiry, accountability, economic responsibility audits, resignation due to accountability, and removal from office. We must implement the Party's internal supervision regulations, strengthen democratic supervision, give full play to the role of public opinion supervision, and enhance the synergy and effectiveness of supervision.
The more socialism develops, the more democracy develops. In the historical process of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people will certainly be able to continuously develop a socialist democratic political system with strong vitality.
VII. Promoting the Great Development and Prosperity of Socialist Culture
In today's era, culture is increasingly becoming an important source of national cohesion and creativity, and a crucial factor in the competition of comprehensive national strength. Enriching spiritual and cultural life is becoming an increasingly fervent aspiration of the Chinese people. We must adhere to the advanced direction of socialist culture, usher in a new upsurge in socialist cultural development, stimulate the cultural creativity of the entire nation, enhance the country's soft power, better guarantee the people's basic cultural rights, enrich social and cultural life, and elevate the people's spiritual outlook.
(I) Building a socialist core value system to enhance the appeal and cohesion of socialist ideology. The socialist core value system is the essential embodiment of socialist ideology. We must consolidate the guiding position of Marxism, persistently arm the entire Party and educate the people with the latest achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism, unite our strength with the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, inspire fighting spirit with the national spirit with patriotism at its core and the spirit of the times with reform and innovation at its core, and guide social trends with the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, thus consolidating the common ideological foundation for the unity and struggle of the entire Party and all ethnic groups across the country. We must vigorously promote theoretical innovation, continuously endowing contemporary Chinese Marxism with distinct practical, national, and contemporary characteristics. We must carry out publicity and popularization activities on the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promoting the popularization of contemporary Chinese Marxism. We must advance the research and construction project of Marxist theory, deeply answer major theoretical and practical questions, and cultivate a group of Marxist theorists, especially young and middle-aged theorists. We must effectively integrate the socialist core value system into the entire process of national education and the construction of spiritual civilization, transforming it into the conscious pursuit of the people. We must actively explore effective ways to guide social trends of thought with the socialist core value system, proactively carry out ideological work, respecting differences and embracing diversity while effectively resisting the influence of various erroneous and decadent ideas. We should promote the prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences, advance innovation in disciplinary systems, academic viewpoints, and research methods, encourage the philosophy and social science community to serve as a think tank for the cause of the Party and the people, and promote my country's outstanding achievements and talents in philosophy and social sciences to the world.
(II) Building a Harmonious Culture and Fostering Civilized Customs. A harmonious culture is an important spiritual support for the unity and progress of all the people. We must actively develop the news and publishing, radio and television, and literary and artistic undertakings, adhere to the correct orientation, and promote positive social values. We must attach importance to the coordinated development of urban and rural culture and regional culture, and strive to enrich the spiritual and cultural lives of rural areas, remote areas, and migrant workers. We must strengthen the construction and management of online culture and create a positive online environment. We must vigorously promote patriotism, collectivism, and socialist ideology, focusing on enhancing awareness of integrity, strengthening the construction of social morality, professional ethics, family virtues, and personal morality, giving full play to the exemplary role of moral models, and guiding people to consciously fulfill their legal obligations, social responsibilities, and family responsibilities. We must strengthen and improve ideological and political work, pay attention to humanistic care and psychological counseling, and handle interpersonal relationships in a correct manner. We must mobilize all sectors of society to jointly carry out ideological and moral education for young people and create a good social environment for their healthy growth. We must deeply carry out mass-based activities to promote spiritual civilization, improve the social volunteer service system, and foster a social ethos of gender equality, respect for the elderly and care for the young, mutual love and assistance, and courage in the face of injustice. We must promote the spirit of science and popularize scientific knowledge. We must widely carry out national fitness activities. We will successfully host the 2008 Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and the 2010 World Expo.
(III) Promoting Chinese Culture and Building a Shared Spiritual Home for the Chinese Nation. Chinese culture is the inexhaustible driving force behind the continuous growth, unity, and progress of the Chinese nation. We must have a comprehensive understanding of our motherland.
Traditional culture should be preserved by extracting its essence and discarding its dross, adapting it to contemporary society and harmonizing it with modern civilization, maintaining its national character while reflecting the spirit of the times. We must strengthen education on outstanding traditional Chinese culture and utilize modern technology to develop and utilize the rich resources of national culture. We must strengthen the excavation and protection of the cultures of all ethnic groups, attach importance to the protection of cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage, and do a good job in compiling and organizing cultural classics. We must strengthen international cultural exchanges, absorb the outstanding achievements of civilizations around the world, and enhance the international influence of Chinese culture.
(IV) Promoting cultural innovation and enhancing the vitality of cultural development. Promoting innovation in cultural content, form, systems, mechanisms, and dissemination methods from a high starting point in this era, and liberating and developing cultural productive forces, is the only way to achieve cultural prosperity. We must adhere to...
Adhering to the principles of serving the people and serving socialism, and the policy of letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend, we must stay close to reality, close to life, and close to the masses, always prioritizing social benefits and achieving a unity of economic and social benefits. We will create more excellent spiritual and cultural products that reflect the people's principal position and real life, and that are popular with the masses. We will deepen cultural system reform, improve policies supporting public cultural undertakings, developing cultural industries, and encouraging cultural innovation, and create an environment conducive to producing high-quality works, cultivating talent, and generating economic benefits. We will persist in taking the development of public cultural undertakings as the main way to guarantee the people's basic cultural rights, increase investment, and strengthen the construction of community and rural cultural facilities. We will vigorously develop the cultural industry, implement a major cultural industry project-driven strategy, accelerate the construction of cultural industry bases and regional characteristic cultural industry clusters, cultivate leading cultural enterprises and strategic investors, prosper the cultural market, and enhance international competitiveness. We will utilize high technology to innovate cultural production methods, cultivate new cultural formats, and accelerate the construction of a fast-transmitting and widely covered cultural dissemination system. We will establish a national honor system to commend cultural workers who have made outstanding contributions.
The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will inevitably be accompanied by the prosperity and flourishing of Chinese culture. We must give full play to the people's principal role in cultural development, mobilize the enthusiasm of cultural workers, and more consciously and proactively promote the great development and prosperity of culture, engaging in cultural creation within the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so that the people can share the fruits of cultural development.
VIII. Accelerate social development with a focus on improving people's livelihoods.
Social development is closely related to the well-being and happiness of the people. On the basis of economic development, we must pay even greater attention to social development, focusing on guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods, promoting social system reform, expanding public services, improving social management, promoting social fairness and justice, and striving to ensure that all people have access to education, employment, medical care, elderly care, and housing, thus promoting the building of a harmonious society.
(I) Prioritizing Education and Building a Strong Nation in Human Resources. Education is the cornerstone of national rejuvenation, and educational equity is a crucial foundation for social equity. We must fully implement the Party's education policy, adhere to the principle of prioritizing moral education and cultivating well-rounded individuals, implement quality education, improve the modernization level of education, cultivate socialist builders and successors who are well-rounded in moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic development, and provide education that satisfies the people. We must optimize the education structure, promote the balanced development of compulsory education, accelerate the popularization of senior secondary education, vigorously develop vocational education, and improve the quality of higher education. We must attach importance to preschool education and care for special education. We must update educational concepts, deepen reforms in teaching content and methods, examination and enrollment systems, and quality evaluation systems, reduce the academic burden on primary and secondary school students, and improve students' overall quality. We must uphold the public welfare nature of education, increase financial investment in education, standardize education fees, support education in impoverished and ethnic minority areas, improve the student financial aid system, and ensure that children from economically disadvantaged families and migrant workers have equal access to compulsory education. We must strengthen the construction of the teaching force, focusing on improving the quality of rural teachers. We must encourage and regulate the development of education by social forces. We must develop distance education and continuing education, and build a learning society where everyone learns and learns throughout their lives.
(II) Implement a development strategy to expand employment and promote employment through entrepreneurship. Employment is the foundation of people's livelihood. We must adhere to a proactive employment policy, strengthen government guidance, improve market-based employment mechanisms, expand the scale of employment, and improve the employment structure. We should improve policies supporting self-employment and entrepreneurship, strengthen education on employment concepts, and enable more workers to become entrepreneurs. We should improve the vocational education and training system for all workers and strengthen training for the transfer of surplus rural labor. We should establish a unified and standardized human resources market and form a system for equal employment for urban and rural workers. We should improve the employment assistance system for all people in difficulty and promptly help zero-employment families solve their employment difficulties. We should actively promote employment for college graduates. We should regulate and coordinate labor relations, improve and implement national policies for migrant workers, and protect workers' rights in accordance with the law.
(III) Deepen the reform of the income distribution system and increase the income of urban and rural residents. A reasonable income distribution system is an important manifestation of social fairness. We must adhere to and improve the distribution system with distribution according to work as the mainstay and multiple distribution methods coexisting, and improve the system in which factors of production such as labor, capital, technology, and management participate in distribution according to their contributions. Both primary distribution and redistribution must properly handle the relationship between efficiency and fairness, with redistribution placing greater emphasis on fairness. Gradually increase the proportion of residents' income in national income distribution and increase the proportion of labor remuneration in primary distribution. Focus on increasing the income of low-income earners, gradually raise poverty alleviation standards and minimum wage standards, and establish a normal wage growth mechanism and payment guarantee mechanism for enterprise employees. Create conditions for more people to have property income. Protect legal income, regulate excessively high income, and eliminate illegal income. Expand transfer payments, strengthen tax regulation, break business monopolies, create equal opportunities, rectify the distribution order, and gradually reverse the trend of widening income inequality.
(IV) Accelerate the establishment of a social security system covering urban and rural residents to guarantee people's basic livelihood. Social security is an important guarantee for social stability. We must accelerate the improvement of the social security system, based on social insurance, social assistance, and social welfare, with a focus on basic old-age pensions, basic medical care, and minimum living allowances, supplemented by charitable undertakings and commercial insurance. Promote the basic livelihood of enterprises, government agencies, and public institutions.
Reform the old-age insurance system and explore the establishment of a rural old-age insurance system. Comprehensively promote the construction of basic medical insurance for urban employees, basic medical insurance for urban residents, and the new rural cooperative medical system. Improve the minimum living standard guarantee system for urban and rural residents and gradually raise the level of guarantee. Improve the unemployment, work injury, and maternity insurance systems. Raise the level of pooling and formulate a nationally unified method for the transfer and continuation of social insurance relationships. Adopt various methods to replenish the social security fund, strengthen fund supervision, and achieve value preservation and appreciation. Improve the social assistance system. Do a good job in preferential treatment and resettlement. Uphold humanitarianism and develop the cause of disabled persons. Strengthen work related to the elderly. Enhance disaster prevention and mitigation work. Improve the low-rent housing system and accelerate the resolution of housing difficulties for low-income urban families.
(V) Establish a basic medical and health system to improve the health level of all people. Health is the foundation of people's all-round development and is related to the happiness of every family. We must adhere to the public welfare nature of public medical and health care, adhere to the principle of prevention first, focus on rural areas, and give equal importance to traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, implement the separation of government administration from public institutions, management from operation, separation of medicine from medical practice, and separation of for-profit and non-profit institutions, strengthen government responsibility and investment, improve national health policies, encourage social participation, and build a public health service system, medical service system, medical security system, and drug supply security system covering urban and rural residents, so as to provide the public with safe, effective, convenient, and affordable medical and health services. Improve the prevention and control system for major diseases and enhance the emergency response capacity for public health emergencies. Strengthen the construction of the three-tier rural health service network and the urban community health service system, and deepen the reform of public hospitals. Establish a national essential medicines system to ensure the public's access to basic medicines. Support the development of traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic minority medicine. Strengthen the construction of medical ethics and improve the quality of medical services. Ensure food and drug safety. Adhere to the basic national policy of family planning, stabilize the low birth rate, and improve the quality of the newborn population. Carry out the patriotic health campaign and develop maternal and child health services.
(VI) Improve social management and safeguard social stability and unity. Social stability is the common aspiration of the people and an important prerequisite for reform and development. We must improve the social management structure led by the Party Committee, with the government responsible, society collaborating, and the public participating, and improve the grassroots social management system. We must maximize social creativity, maximize harmonious factors, and minimize disharmonious factors. We must properly handle internal contradictions among the people, improve the petition system, and improve the mechanism for safeguarding the rights and interests of the people led by the Party and the government. We must attach importance to the construction and management of social organizations. We must strengthen services and management for the floating population. We must adhere to safe development, strengthen safety production management and supervision, and effectively curb major and serious safety accidents. We must improve the emergency management mechanism for sudden incidents. We must improve the social security prevention and control system, strengthen comprehensive social security management, carry out in-depth activities to create a safe society, reform and strengthen urban and rural community policing, prevent and combat illegal and criminal activities according to law, and safeguard the lives and property of the people. We must improve the national security strategy, improve the national security system, be highly vigilant and resolutely prevent all kinds of separatist, infiltration, and subversive activities, and effectively safeguard national security.
A harmonious society requires the joint efforts of the entire society. We must rely closely on the people, mobilize all positive factors, and strive to create a vibrant situation where everyone is responsible for social harmony and everyone enjoys the benefits of a harmonious society.
IX. To create a new situation in the modernization of national defense and the armed forces
National defense and military development occupy an important position in the overall framework of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must approach this from the perspective of national security and development strategy, coordinating economic and national defense development, and achieving the unity of a prosperous country and a strong military in the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
To fully fulfill the historical mission entrusted to the military by the Party and the people in the new century and new stage, we must adhere to the guidance of Mao Zedong's military thought, Deng Xiaoping's thought on military building in the new era, and Jiang Zemin's thought on national defense and military building; take the Scientific Outlook on Development as an important guiding principle for national defense and military building; implement the military strategic policy for the new era; accelerate the military transformation with Chinese characteristics; prepare for military struggle; improve the military's ability to respond to various security threats and accomplish diversified military tasks; resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity; and contribute to maintaining world peace.
The revolutionary, modern, and standardized development of the military is a unified whole that must be comprehensively strengthened and coordinated. We must always adhere to the fundamental principle of the Party's absolute leadership over the military and the fundamental purpose of the people's army, deeply educate the military on its historical mission, ideals and beliefs, fighting spirit, and socialist values of honor and disgrace, and vigorously promote the fine traditions of obeying the Party's command, serving the people, and being brave and skillful in combat. We must adhere to the principle of strengthening the military through science and technology, and in accordance with the construction...
The strategic goal is to build an informationized military and win informationized wars. This requires accelerating the integrated development of mechanization and informatization, actively conducting military training under informationized conditions, comprehensively building modern logistics, and expediting the training of a large number of high-quality new-type military personnel to effectively transform the combat capability generation model. We must adhere to the rule of law and strict discipline in the military, improve military regulations, and strengthen scientific management.
To adapt to new trends in global military development and new requirements for my country's development, we must promote innovation in military theory, military technology, military organization, and military management. We will adjust and reform the military's organizational structure and policies, gradually forming a complete set of scientific organizational models, institutional arrangements, and operational methods that are both uniquely Chinese and conform to the laws of modern military construction. We will adjust and reform the defense science and technology industry system and the weapons and equipment procurement system, improving the independent innovation capability and quality and efficiency of weapons and equipment research and development. We will establish and improve a military-civilian integrated system for weapons and equipment research and production, a military personnel training system, and a military support system, adhering to the principle of building a thrifty military and forging a path of integrated military-civilian development with Chinese characteristics. We will conduct in-depth research on the characteristics and laws of military building and governance under new historical conditions, as well as the strategies and tactics of people's war, to promote the prosperity and development of military science.
We must enhance the national defense awareness of all citizens, improve the national defense mobilization system, strengthen national defense mobilization construction, and improve the quality of reserve forces and militia building. We must strengthen the construction of the People's Armed Police Force to better fulfill its responsibilities and missions of safeguarding national security and social stability, and ensuring the people's peaceful and prosperous lives. We must adhere to the principles of supporting the military and giving preferential treatment to families of servicemen, supporting the government and cherishing the people, actively carry out joint military-civilian construction, and consolidate the unity between the military and the government and between the military and the people. Party organizations, governments at all levels, and the people should, as always, support national defense and military construction, and the military should continue to contribute to economic and social development.
10. Advance the practice of "one country, two systems" and the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland.
Since Hong Kong and Macao returned to the motherland, the practice of "one country, two systems" has become increasingly rich. "One country, two systems" is entirely correct and possesses strong vitality. Achieving the peaceful reunification of the motherland in accordance with "one country, two systems" is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.
Maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao is a major challenge facing the Party in governing the country under the new circumstances. We will unswervingly implement the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," "Macao people governing Macao," and a high degree of autonomy, and strictly abide by the Basic Law of the Special Administrative Regions; we will fully support the Special Administrative Region governments in governing according to law, focusing on developing the economy, improving people's livelihoods, and promoting democracy; we will encourage people from all walks of life in Hong Kong and Macao to work together under the banner of patriotism and love for Hong Kong and Macao, and promote social harmony; we will strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao to achieve complementary advantages and common development; we will actively support Hong Kong and Macao in carrying out foreign exchanges, and resolutely oppose external forces interfering in Hong Kong and Macao affairs. Our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao have the wisdom and ability to manage and build Hong Kong and Macao well. Hong Kong and Macao have played and will continue to play an important role in the modernization of the country, and the great motherland will always be a strong backing for the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.
Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all Chinese sons and daughters. We will follow the principles of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal for developing cross-strait relations and advancing the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland at the present stage. We will never waver in adhering to the one-China principle, never give up our efforts to strive for peaceful reunification, never change our policy of placing our hopes on the people of Taiwan, and never compromise in opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities. We will firmly grasp the theme of peaceful development of cross-strait relations, sincerely seek the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the strait, seek peace in the Taiwan Strait region, safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.
Upholding the one-China principle is the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Although the two sides are not yet unified, the fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed. China is the common homeland of compatriots on both sides of the strait, and compatriots on both sides should work together to safeguard and build our common homeland. We are willing to engage in dialogue and negotiation with any political party in Taiwan that acknowledges that both sides of the strait belong to one China; we can discuss any issue. We solemnly call for negotiations, based on the one-China principle, to formally end the state of hostility across the strait, reach a peace agreement, establish a framework for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and create a new situation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
The 1.3 billion mainland compatriots and the 23 million Taiwan compatriots are a community with a shared future, bound by blood. We will do our utmost to do everything that benefits our Taiwan compatriots, everything that is conducive to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, and everything that promotes the peaceful reunification of the motherland. We understand, trust, and care for our Taiwan compatriots, and will continue to implement and enrich policies and measures that benefit them, protect their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law, and support economic development in the west coast of the Taiwan Strait and other areas where Taiwanese investment is relatively concentrated. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait should strengthen exchanges, enhance economic and cultural exchanges, continue to expand areas and raise levels, promote direct "three links" (direct trade, postal, and transportation links), so as to make our feelings more harmonious, deepen cooperation, and work together to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Currently, the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are intensifying their separatist activities, seriously endangering the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait must jointly oppose and curb "Taiwan independence" separatist activities. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are indivisible. Any issue involving China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided jointly by all the Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan. We are willing to achieve peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Strait with the utmost sincerity and the greatest effort, and will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means.
The reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is a historical inevitability for the Chinese nation to achieve its great rejuvenation. With the close unity and joint efforts of Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad, the complete reunification of the motherland will surely be realized.
XI. Unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development
The world today is undergoing profound changes and adjustments. Peace and development remain the themes of our time, and the pursuit of peace, development, and cooperation has become an unstoppable trend. Multipolarity is irreversible, economic globalization is deepening, the technological revolution is accelerating, global and regional cooperation is flourishing, interdependence among nations is growing stronger, the international balance of power is shifting in a direction conducive to maintaining world peace, and the overall international situation is stable.
At the same time, the world remains far from peaceful. Hegemonism and power politics persist, local conflicts and hotspots continue to erupt, global economic imbalances are worsening, the North-South gap is widening, and traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, posing numerous challenges and difficulties to world peace and development.
Sharing development opportunities, jointly addressing various challenges, and advancing the noble cause of peace and development for humankind are matters of fundamental interest to all peoples and are their common aspiration. We advocate that all peoples work together to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. To this end, we should adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abide by international law and universally recognized norms of international relations, and promote the spirit of democracy, harmony, cooperation, and win-win outcomes in international relations. Politically, we should respect each other, engage in equal consultation, and jointly promote the democratization of international relations; economically, we should cooperate with each other, complement each other's strengths, and jointly promote economic globalization towards a balanced, inclusive, and win-win direction; culturally, we should learn from each other, seek common ground while reserving differences, respect the diversity of the world, and jointly promote the prosperity and progress of human civilization; in terms of security, we should trust each other, strengthen cooperation, adhere to resolving international disputes peacefully rather than through war, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability; and in environmental protection, we should help each other, work together, and jointly protect the Earth, the home on which humanity depends for survival.
Contemporary China's relationship with the world has undergone historic changes, and China's future and destiny are increasingly intertwined with those of the world. No matter how the international situation changes, the Chinese government and people will hold high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and adhere to the foreign policy objectives of maintaining world peace and promoting common development.
China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. This is a strategic choice made by the Chinese government and people based on the trend of the times and their own fundamental interests. The Chinese nation is a peace-loving nation, and China has always been a staunch force for safeguarding world peace. We insist on combining the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of the people of all countries, upholding fairness and justice. We insist that all countries, regardless of size, strength, or wealth, are equal, respect the right of all peoples to independently choose their development paths, and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries or imposing our will on others. China is committed to the peaceful resolution of international disputes and hotspots, promoting international and regional security cooperation, and opposing all forms of terrorism. China pursues a defensive national defense policy, does not engage in arms races, and poses no military threat to any country. China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion.
China will unswervingly pursue an open strategy of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. We will continue to promote regional and global common development through our own development, expand the convergence of interests with all parties, and take into account the legitimate concerns of others, especially developing countries, while achieving our own development. We will continue to expand market access and protect the rights and interests of our partners in accordance with the law, in accordance with prevailing international trade and economic rules. We support the international community in helping developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development, improve people's livelihoods, and narrow the North-South gap. We support improving the international trade and financial system, promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and properly handling trade frictions through consultation and cooperation. China will never do anything that harms others for its own benefit or at the expense of its neighbors.
China adheres to developing friendly cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We will continue to strengthen strategic dialogue with developed countries, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, properly handle differences, and promote the long-term, stable, and healthy development of our relations. We will continue to implement the policy of good-neighborliness and partnership with our neighbors, strengthen good-neighborly friendship and pragmatic cooperation with neighboring countries, actively carry out regional cooperation, and jointly create a peaceful, stable, equal, mutually trusting, and win-win regional environment. We will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, deepen traditional friendship, expand pragmatic cooperation, provide assistance to the best of our ability, and safeguard the legitimate demands and common interests of developing countries. We will continue to actively participate in multilateral affairs, assume corresponding international obligations, play a constructive role, and promote the development of a more just and equitable international order. We will continue to conduct exchanges and cooperation with political parties and organizations of other countries, strengthen exchanges between the National People's Congress, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the military, local governments, and non-governmental organizations, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the people of other countries.
China's development cannot be separated from the world, and the world's prosperity and stability cannot be separated from China. The Chinese people will continue to work together with the people of all countries to strive tirelessly for the realization of humanity's aspirations.
12. Advance the great new project of Party building in all aspects with a spirit of reform and innovation.
The cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a cause of reform and innovation. For the Party to stand at the forefront of the times and lead the people in continuously creating new prospects for the development of the cause, it must strengthen its own construction with a spirit of reform and innovation, and always remain the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Our Party has been established for 86 years, governed the country for 58 years, and has more than 70 million members. The task of Party building is more arduous than ever before. The reform and opening-up policy led by the Party has injected tremendous vitality into the Party, but it has also presented the Party with many unprecedented new challenges and tests. The evolving global, national, and Party circumstances determine that strengthening Party building with a spirit of reform and innovation is both extremely important and extremely urgent. We must take the building of the Party's governing capacity and its advanced nature as the main theme, adhere to the principle of the Party managing itself and governing itself strictly, implement the requirements of serving the people, being pragmatic, and maintaining integrity, strengthen ideological building with a focus on firming up ideals and beliefs, strengthen organizational building with a focus on cultivating a high-quality contingent of Party members and cadres, strengthen style building with a focus on maintaining the Party's close ties with the people, strengthen institutional building with a focus on improving democratic centralism, and strengthen anti-corruption and integrity building with a focus on improving the system for punishing and preventing corruption. This will ensure that the Party always remains a Marxist ruling party that is selfless, governs for the people, seeks truth from facts, reforms and innovates, works hard, is honest and upright, and is full of vitality, unity, and harmony.
(I) Deeply study and implement the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strive to arm the entire Party with the latest achievements of the Sinicization of Marxism. Ideological and theoretical construction is the fundamental construction of the Party, and the Party's theoretical innovation leads innovation in all aspects. In accordance with the requirements of building a learning-oriented political party, and closely integrating with the vivid practice of reform and opening up and modernization, we must deeply study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the "…
The important thought of "Three Represents" is being implemented throughout the Party in a thorough study and practice of the Scientific Outlook on Development. This involves adhering to the guidance of developing Marxism in transforming both the objective and subjective worlds, further grasping the laws governing the Communist Party's rule, socialist construction, and the development of human society, and improving the ability to analyze and solve practical problems using scientific theories. Strengthening the education of Party members and cadres on ideals and beliefs, and their ideological and moral development, will ensure that the vast majority of Party members and cadres become models in practicing the socialist core value system, firm believers in the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, loyal implementers of the Scientific Outlook on Development, conscious practitioners of the socialist concept of honor and disgrace, and active promoters of social harmony.
(II) Continue to strengthen the Party's governing capacity and focus on building high-quality leadership teams. The building of the Party's governing capacity is crucial to the overall development of the Party and the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Improving leadership level and governing capacity must be the core content of building leadership teams at all levels. In accordance with the requirements of scientific, democratic, and law-based governance, we must improve the ideological style of leadership teams, enhance the governing skills of leading cadres, improve leadership and governance methods, improve the leadership system, and perfect the working mechanism after the reform of the staffing of local Party committee leadership teams. We must build leadership teams at all levels into strong leading collectives that firmly implement the Party's theories, lines, principles, and policies and are adept at leading scientific development. Strengthening the governing capacity of leadership teams will influence and drive the entire Party, ensuring that all the Party's work always meets the requirements of the times and the expectations of the people.
(III) Actively promote intra-party democracy and strive to enhance the Party's unity and cohesion. Intra-party democracy is an important guarantee for enhancing the Party's innovative vitality and consolidating its unity and cohesion. We must promote people's democracy by expanding intra-party democracy and promote social harmony by enhancing intra-party harmony. We must respect the principal status of Party members, guarantee their democratic rights, promote transparency in Party affairs, and create an environment conducive to democratic discussion within the Party. We must improve the system of Party congresses, implement a term-based system for delegates to Party congresses, and select some counties (cities, districts) to pilot a permanent system for Party congresses. We must improve the working mechanisms of the plenary sessions and standing committees of local Party committees at all levels, and give full play to the decision-making role of the plenary sessions on major issues. We must strictly implement democratic centralism, improve the system combining collective leadership with individual responsibility, and oppose and prevent arbitrary decisions by individuals or a small number of people. We must promote a voting system for local Party committees to discuss and decide on major issues and appoint important cadres. We must establish and improve a system in which the Political Bureau of the Central Committee reports its work regularly to the plenary session of the Central Committee, and the standing committees of local Party committees at all levels report their work regularly to the plenary sessions of the committees and accept supervision. We must reform the intra-party election system and improve the candidate nomination system and election methods. We will promote the practice of combining open nominations by Party members and the masses with nominations from higher-level Party organizations for members of the leadership teams of grassroots Party organizations, gradually expand the scope of direct elections for the leadership teams of grassroots Party organizations, and explore various forms of realizing grassroots democracy within the Party. All Party members must resolutely uphold the Party's centralized unity, consciously abide by the Party's political discipline, always maintain consistency with the Party Central Committee, resolutely safeguard the authority of the Central Committee, and effectively ensure the smooth implementation of government orders.
(IV) Continuously deepen the reform of the cadre and personnel system, and strive to cultivate a high-quality cadre and talent pool. Adhere to the principle of the Party's management of cadres, uphold democracy, openness, competition, and merit-based selection, and establish a scientific mechanism for cadre selection and appointment. Standardize the cadre nomination system, improve the cadre assessment and evaluation system that reflects the requirements of the scientific development concept and the correct view of performance, and improve the methods of open selection, competitive appointment, and differential election. Expand democracy in cadre work and enhance the scientific nature and authenticity of democratic recommendation and democratic evaluation. Strengthen supervision throughout the entire process of cadre selection and appointment. Improve the system of tenure, recusal, and exchange for leading cadres, and refine...
Civil service system. Improve the dual management system for cadres. Promote the reform of personnel systems in state-owned enterprises and public institutions, and improve the management methods for leaders that are suitable for the characteristics of state-owned enterprises.
We must adhere to the correct orientation in personnel selection, selecting cadres based on both moral character and competence, performance, and public recognition, thereby enhancing the credibility of personnel selection. We must intensify efforts to cultivate and select outstanding young cadres, encouraging them to gain experience and grow in grassroots and hardship areas, improving their Marxist theoretical literacy and political qualities. We must attach importance to the cultivation and selection of female cadres and cadres from ethnic minorities. We must pay special attention to cadres who have worked diligently in difficult conditions and challenging environments for extended periods, and focus on selecting outstanding cadres from the grassroots and front lines of production to enrich the leadership of Party and government organs at all levels. We must continue large-scale cadre training, fully leveraging the roles of Party schools, administrative colleges, and cadre academies to significantly improve the quality of cadres. We must comprehensively improve the work related to retired cadres. We must implement the policy of respecting labor, knowledge, talent, and creativity, adhering to the principle of the Party's leadership over talent, and comprehensively promote the development of various talent teams, focusing on high-level and highly skilled personnel. We must innovate the talent work system and mechanisms, stimulating the creativity and entrepreneurial enthusiasm of all types of talent, creating a new situation where talent emerges in abundance and everyone can fully utilize their abilities.
(V) Comprehensively consolidate and develop the achievements of the advanced education campaign, and focus on strengthening grassroots Party building. Advanced nature is the lifeblood and source of strength of a Marxist political party, and it must be embodied by millions of high-quality Party members. We must solidly grasp the fundamental project of building the Party member contingent and unremittingly improve the quality of Party members. We must conscientiously study and abide by the Party Constitution, enhance Party member awareness, establish a system for regular analysis of Party members' Party spirit, broaden channels for Party members to serve the masses, build a system for Party members to connect with and serve the masses, and improve a long-term mechanism to ensure that Party members are regularly educated and maintain their advanced nature, so that Party members truly become advanced elements who remember their mission and care for the masses. We must strengthen and improve the management of mobile Party members, strengthen Party work among migrant workers, and establish and improve a dynamic management mechanism for Party members that integrates urban and rural areas. We must improve the quality of Party member development, optimize the structure of the Party member contingent, and promptly deal with unqualified Party members.
The Party's grassroots organizations are the organizational foundation of the Party's governance. It is essential to implement the responsibility system for Party building, comprehensively promote the construction of grassroots Party organizations in rural areas, enterprises, urban communities, government agencies, schools, and new social organizations, optimize organizational structures, expand organizational coverage, innovate activity methods, and fully leverage the role of grassroots Party organizations in promoting development, serving the masses, uniting people, and fostering harmony. The construction of Party grassroots organizations should drive the construction of other types of grassroots organizations. The campaign to create advanced and exemplary units and individuals should be carried out in depth among Party grassroots organizations and Party members. A sound mutual assistance mechanism between urban and rural Party grassroots organizations should be established. Modern distance education for Party members and cadres should be universally implemented in rural areas nationwide. A sound intra-Party incentive, care, and assistance mechanism should be established to care for and cherish grassroots cadres, veteran Party members, and Party members facing financial difficulties. Attention should be paid to resolving issues such as funding guarantees and activity venues for grassroots organizations.
(VI) Conscientiously improve the Party's work style and focus on strengthening the fight against corruption and promoting integrity. A sound Party style is a tremendous force for uniting the Party and the people. We must adhere to the historical materialist view that the people are the creators of history, uphold the principle of wholeheartedly serving the people, adhere to the mass line, sincerely listen to the voices of the masses, truthfully reflect their wishes, genuinely care about their hardships, and do more good and practical things for them, ensuring that power is used for the people, feelings are connected to the people, and benefits are sought for the people. We must advance all work with a pragmatic style, focusing on laying a solid foundation and doing things that benefit the long term. We must strengthen investigation and research, improve our learning and writing styles, streamline meetings and documents, oppose formalism and bureaucracy, and oppose falsification. We must advocate diligence and thrift in all undertakings and oppose extravagance and waste. All Party members, especially leading cadres, must emphasize Party spirit, moral character, and set an example. We must conduct in-depth education on Party conduct and discipline, actively engage in criticism and self-criticism, so that leading cadres can exemplarily abide by Party discipline and national laws, inherit fine traditions, promote new trends and positive energy, and use a sound Party style to promote good governance and influence public morals.
The nature and purpose of the Communist Party of China determine that the Party is incompatible with all forms of negative and corrupt phenomena. Resolutely punishing and effectively preventing corruption is a matter of public support and the Party's very survival, and is a major political task that the Party must always prioritize. All Party members must fully recognize the long-term, complex, and arduous nature of the anti-corruption struggle, place the building of a clean and honest government in a more prominent position, and unequivocally oppose corruption. We must adhere to the principles of addressing both the symptoms and root causes, comprehensive governance, combining punishment and prevention, and emphasizing prevention; solidly advance the construction of a system for punishing and preventing corruption; while resolutely punishing corruption, we must pay more attention to addressing the root causes, prevention, and institutional building, expanding the scope of work to prevent corruption at its source. We must strictly implement the responsibility system for building a clean and honest Party. We must persist in deepening reform and innovating systems, strengthen the construction of a culture of integrity, and form a long-term mechanism for education on resisting corruption and preventing degeneration, a system of anti-corruption and integrity building, and a power operation monitoring mechanism. We must improve the unified management of disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies and perfect the inspection system. We must strengthen the work of self-discipline among leading cadres and improve the ability of Party members and cadres to resist corruption and prevent degeneration. We must resolutely correct unhealthy tendencies that harm the interests of the masses and effectively solve problems that the masses strongly complain about. We will resolutely investigate and punish cases of violations of discipline and law. Any corrupt elements must be severely punished according to law, and we will never tolerate them!
Comrades! From its very inception, our Party has bravely shouldered the historical mission of leading the Chinese people to create a happy life and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To accomplish this mission, generation after generation of Chinese Communists have followed one after another, and countless revolutionary martyrs have sacrificed their precious lives. Contemporary Chinese Communists must continue to shoulder this historical mission. The reform and opening up and socialist modernization that our Party is leading the people of all ethnic groups across the country in is an inheritance and development of the great cause of socialist construction in our country since the founding of New China, and an inheritance and development of the great cause of the Chinese people's struggle for national independence and the realization of national prosperity and strength since modern times. Looking back on the past and present, we deeply feel the sacred and glorious mission we shoulder. Looking to the future, we are full of confidence in achieving the three major historical tasks of advancing modernization, completing the reunification of the motherland, and safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
All Party members must be keenly aware that achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects will require more than a decade of continued struggle, basically realizing modernization will require several decades of continued struggle, and consolidating and developing the socialist system will require the unremitting efforts of several generations, even dozens of generations. Struggle will inevitably bring difficulties and risks. We must be vigilant in times of peace, enhance our awareness of potential dangers, and always maintain our firm belief in Marxism, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; we must guard against arrogance and complacency, work hard, keep in mind the basic national conditions of the primary stage of socialism, and make unremitting efforts for the cause of the Party and the people; we must study diligently and work hard, constantly creating achievements that can withstand the test of practice, the people, and history; we must strengthen unity, consider the overall situation, consciously safeguard the unity of the whole Party, maintain the Party's close ties with the people, consolidate the great unity of all ethnic groups in the country, strengthen the great unity of Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad, and promote the great unity of the Chinese people with the people of all countries in the world, providing a powerful force to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and promote new and greater victories for the cause of the Party and the people.
Let us hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, unite more closely around the Party Central Committee, work together with one heart and one mind, forge ahead, and strive to achieve new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and write a new chapter in the people's better life!