BEIJING – The Communist Party of China (CPC) has charted the course for China’s development in the next 15 years to guide the country’s march towards modernization.
Details of the blueprint were unveiled in a communiqué issued after the conclusion of the four-day fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee on Thursday. The roles of innovation, real economy, a strong domestic market, rural vitalization and green development were underscored for China’s growth.
The session adopted the Party leadership’s proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.
Noting that “a victory is in sight” in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the communiqué stresses that fully building a modern socialist China is part of the four-pronged comprehensive strategy for the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made an important speech at the session. He also delivered a work report of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to the session.
The work of the Political Bureau was fully acknowledged, says the communique, adding that China has seen its economic growth beat expectations, people’s living standards ensured, and the overall situation of society maintained stable over the past year.
Progress made in the past five years was highlighted: China’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to cross the 100-trillion-yuan mark in 2020; 55.75 million rural residents were lifted out of poverty; the annual grain output has remained above 650 million tonnes for five consecutive years; China has built the world’s largest social security system, etc.
The communiqué says China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development at present and for the foreseeable future, but there are new developments in both opportunities and challenges.
9 TARGETS THROUGH 2035
The session raised a set of long-range objectives for China to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035.
1) China’s economic and technological strength as well as composite national strength will increase significantly. A new stride will be made in the growth of the economy and the per capita income of urban and rural residents. Making major breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas, China will become a global leader in innovation;
2) New industrialization, IT application, urbanization, and agricultural modernization will be basically achieved. China will finish building a modernized economy;
3) The modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance will be basically achieved. The people’s rights to participate and to develop as equals will be adequately protected. The rule of law for the country, the government, and society will be basically in place;
4) China will become a strong country in culture, education, talent, sports and health. The well-rounded development of all people and social etiquette and civility will be significantly enhanced. China’s cultural soft power will grow much stronger;
5) Eco-friendly ways of work and life will be advanced to cover all areas of society. Carbon emission will steadily decline after reaching a peak, and there will be a fundamental improvement in the environment with the goal of building a Beautiful China basically reached;
6) The opening-up will reach a new stage with substantial growth of the country’s strengths for participating in international economic cooperation and competition;
7) The per capita GDP will reach the level of moderately developed countries. The size of the middle-income group will be significantly expanded. Equitable access to basic public services will be ensured. Disparities in urban-rural development, in development between regions, and in living standards will be significantly reduced;
8) The implementation of the Peaceful China initiative will be promoted to a higher level. The modernization of national defense and the military will be basically achieved;
9) People will lead a better life, and more notable and substantial progress will be achieved in promoting well-rounded human development and achieving common prosperity for everyone. – Xinhua
