January 8

When addressing the Central Rural Work Conference, Hu Jintao pointed out that efforts should be made to coordinate economic and social development in urban and rural areas, to give top priority to solving the issues relating to agriculture, rural areas and rural people and place them in a more central position on the work agenda of the Party, to adhere to the policy of “offer more, take less and allow flexibility,” to give full play to the role of cities in driving the growth of rural areas, and to achieve an integration of urban and rural economic and social development. On January 16, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on the Work Concerning Agriculture and Rural Areas.

March 3–14

The 1st Session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee was held and Jia Qinglin was elected chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

March 4

In his discussion with the members of the ethnic minority at the 1st Session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee, Hu Jintao pointed out that all ethnic groups jointly striving for common prosperity and development was the theme of the ethnic work at the new stage in the new century.

March 5–18

The 1st Session of the 10th NPC was convened. Hu Jintao was elected president of the PRC, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission, and Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. Wen Jiabao was appointed as premier of the State Council.

Spring

China suffered from an intense outbreak of SARS never seen before. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the whole Party and the people across the country made persistent efforts to prevent and control SARS, while striving to promote economic growth, achieving a great victory for SARS prevention and control. On July 28, Hu Jintao delivered a speech at the National Conference on SARS Prevention and Control, and stated that from a long-term point of view, it was essential to further study and promote the coordinated development of the economy and society.

June 29

The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong signed the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

August 28–September 1

During his visit to Jiangxi Province, Hu Jintao proposed the Scientific Outlook on Development and made it clear that efforts must be made to internalize a Scientific Outlook on Development featuring comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development.

October 5

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on Implementing the Strategy of Revitalizing the Old Industrial Bases in Northeast China.

October 14

The 3rd Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee adopted the Decision on Certain Issues Concerning Improving the Socialist Market Economy. It clearly identified the major task of improving the socialist market economic system, and proposed that a development outlook that put people first and aimed at comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development must be upheld to promote an all-round development of the economy, society and people.

October 15–16

Shenzhou-5 was successfully launched and returned safe and sound, marking a complete success of China’s first manned space flight and making China the third country that had acquired manned space technology on its own. On September 27, 2008, Shenzhou-7 completed the extra-vehicular activity by crew members, which made China the third country in the world to independently develop the EVA technology. On June 18, 2012, Shenzhou-9 automatically docked with the Tiangong-1 space lab, and then redocked with it manually by crew members on June 24, 2012. Shenzhou-11 was launched on October 17, 2016. During its in-orbit flight, two astronauts stayed at the dock connecting Tiangong-2 space lab with Shenzhou-11 for 30 days and conducted a series of scientific and technological experiments. On November 18, Shenzhou-11 safely returned.

October 17

The Chinese mainland and Macao signed the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

December 10

The Chinese government signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) at the United Nations High-Level Political Conference. The UNCAC was deliberated and ratified at the 18th Session of the Standing Committee of the 10th NPC on October 27, 2005.

December 19

In his speech delivered at the National Talents Work Conference, Hu Jintao stated that to implement the strategy of strengthening China by developing a quality workforce, it was essential to take a scientific outlook on talents to make China, with its Large population, into a talent-strong country. On December 26, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council adopted the Decision on Further Strengthening the Work on Talents.

December 31

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on Certain Policies for Promoting the Increase in Farmers’ Income.

From: Chronicle of the People's Republic of China(October 1949—September 2019),edited by The Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, PP.187-192.