Introduction to Key Articles in Xi Jinping’s Book Entitled On Continuing to Comprehensively Deepen Reform

The book by Xi Jinping, entitled On Continuing to Comprehensively Deepen Reform and edited by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, comprises 72 significant articles by Xi Jinping spanning from December 2012 to December 2018. Presented below is an overview of the principal articles featured in this compilation.

“Press Ahead Non-Stop with Reform and Opening Up” delineates the pivotal points from Xi Jinping’s discourse during his visit to Guangdong from December 7 to 11, 2012. This marked Xi’s inaugural local inspection excursion subsequent to the 18th CPC National Congress. Guangdong, a trailblazer in China’s reform and opening up, was chosen symbolically. Xi retraced the historical trajectory of China’s reform and opening up, underscoring the unwavering resolve to propel it forward. He underscored that China had entered a crucial phase and unchartered waters for reform, necessitating greater political courage and sagacity to deepen reform in critical spheres at the opportune moment. Emphasis was placed on bolstering confidence, fostering consensus, undertaking comprehensive planning, and advancing reforms in a concerted manner. The correct course of reform and opening up must be steadfastly adhered to, confronting daunting challenges and taking daring initiatives, with a focus on the systematic, holistic, and coordinated aspects of reforms. Efforts must be made to press ahead non-stop with reform and opening up.

“Deepening Reform and Opening Up Is the Sole Path to Uphold and Advance Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” is grounded in Xi Jinping’s address during the second group study session of the 18th CPC Central Committee’s Political Bureau on December 31, 2012. The speech underscored that reform and opening up is the pivotal endeavor that shapes the destiny of contemporary China and the realization of the Two Centenary Goals and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Xi stressed that the resounding success of China’s reform and opening up emanates from adhering to the Party’s fundamental line, which amalgamates economic development as the central task with the Four Cardinal Principles and the policy of reform and opening up, all within the grand framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He reiterated the commitment to neither revert to the old path of rigid isolation nor veer onto the erroneous path of altering the Party’s banner.

 “Transforming Government Functions Is the Crux of Deepening Administrative Reform” encapsulates segments of Xi Jinping’s address at the Second Fulfill Assembly of the Second Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee on February 28, 2013. He affirmed that the crux of transforming government functions lies in delineating what the government should and should not do, with the overarching objective being to foster an enabling environment for development, deliver quality public services, and uphold social equity and justice. The government must effectively and precisely fulfill its roles in economic regulation, market supervision, social governance, and public services, ensuring it neither overreaches nor falls short in its duties.

“The Explanation on the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Comprehensively Deepening Reform” was an elucidation given by Xi Jinping on November 9, 2013, during the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. The explanation was divided into three parts: first, the drafting process of the Plenary Session’s decision; second, the overall framework and key issues of the decision; and third, several issues to be noted during discussions. It highlighted that enabling the market to play a decisive role in resource allocation while better leveraging the role of the government is a significant theoretical viewpoint proposed by this Plenary Session’s decision. This approach is conducive to establishing a correct understanding of the relationship between the government and the market across the entire Party and society, promoting the transformation of the economic development mode, shifting government functions, and curbing negative phenomena such as corruption.

“Effectively Align Thinking with the Guiding Principles from of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee” was part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on November 12, 2013, during the Second Fulfill Assembly of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. It emphasized that modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance is an inevitable requirement for improving and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and realizing socialist modernization. Modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance means adapting to changes in the times, reforming institutional mechanisms and laws and regulations that do not meet the requirements of practical development, continuously constructing new institutions and mechanisms and laws and regulations, making various systems more scientific and perfect, and institutionalizing, standardizing, and proceduralizing the governance of various Party, state, and social affairs. More attention should be paid to enhancing governance capacity, strengthening awareness of acting in accordance with the system and the law, being adept at using systems and laws to govern the country, transforming various institutional advantages into efficient management of the country, and improving the level of scientific, democratic, and law-based governance by the Party.

“Adhering to and Improving the Basic Rural Operating System” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on December 23, 2013, at the Central Rural Work Conference. It stressed the need to continuously explore effective forms of collective ownership of rural land, implement collective ownership, stabilize the contracted land rights of rural households, and activate the operational rights of land. This involves accelerating the development of a three-dimensional composite modern agricultural management system based on household farming, with cooperation and joint operation as the link, and socialized services as the support.

“Reforming the Party’s Discipline Inspection System and Improving the Anti-Corruption Systems and Mechanisms” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on January 14, 2014, at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. It emphasized that transparency is the best way to prevent corruption. It is necessary to strengthen constraints, reasonably define power, scientifically allocate power, and ensure that different types of power are exercised by different departments, entities, and individuals, forming a scientific power structure and operation mechanism.

“Why We Need to Put forward the Overall Goal of Comprehensively Deepening Reform” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on February 17, 2014 at a seminar for provincial and ministerial-level leading officials to study and implement the guiding principles from the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC National Congress and comprehensively deepen reform. He pointed out: A major historical task before us is to build a more mature and well-defined socialist system with Chinese characteristics. In terms of forming a more mature and well-defined system, China's socialist practice has completed the first half, whose main historical task was to establish the basic socialist system and carry out reform on that basis. In the second half, our main historical task is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, providing a more complete, stable and effective set of institutions to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, to meet the people's ever-growing needs for a better life, to sustain a prosperous society, and to ensure lasting peace and order in the nation. This is an extremely massive undertaking that cannot be accomplished through piecemeal adjustments or fragmentary patching. It must be a comprehensive, systematic reform and improvement, an integrated series of reforms across all fields, forming an overall effect and achieving an overall result in the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance.

“Strengthening and Innovating Social Governance Hinges on Institutional Innovation” is part of the main points of the speech Xi Jinping delivered on March 5, 2014 while participating in the deliberation session of the Shanghai delegation to the Second Session of the 12th National People's Congress. He pointed out: The key to strengthening and innovating social governance lies in institutional innovation, with the people as the core, as only when all people interact harmoniously can society be stable and orderly. There is a subtle difference between "governance" and "management"—while "governance" focuses on systematic governance, rule-of-law-based governance, resolving issues at the source, and integrated policies and measures.

“Adhering to the Goal of Strengthening the Military to Guide Reforms and Advancing Military Reforms around That Goal” is part of Xi Jinping's speech on March 15, 2014 at the First Plenary Session of the Central Military Commission's leading group for deepening national defense and military reform. He stated: National defense and military reforms are an important component of the comprehensive deepening of reform, and also an important indicator of that process. They must be incorporated into the overall plan for comprehensively deepening reform. With a view toward achieving the Party's goals of strengthening the military in the current context, we must firmly grasp the fundamental principle of maintaining the correct direction of reform, firmly focus on being able to fight and win battles, orient toward the modernization of the military's organizational form and building, and adhere to the overall requirement of making active yet steady progress.

“Accelerating the Shift from Factor-Driven and Investment-Driven Development to Innovation-Driven Development” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on June 9, 2014, at the at a joint session of the 17th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 12th Meeting of the Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He pointed out that technological innovation is the strategic support for improving social productivity and composite national strength, and it must be placed at the core of national development. The most fundamental aspect of implementing an innovation-driven development strategy is to enhance independent innovation capabilities. The most urgent task is to eliminate institutional obstacles, thereby liberating and stimulating the enormous potential of science and technology as a primary productive force. It is essential to deepen the reform of management system for science and technology, establish a pathway from strong science and technology to strong industries, a robust economy, and a powerful country, and expedite the establishment and improvement of a national innovation system.

“Unswervingly Upholding the System of People’s Congresses and Improving It with the Times” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on September 5, 2014, at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the National People’s Congress. He stated that in China, the key to developing socialist democracy, ensuring that the people run the country, and maintaining vibrant yet orderly political activities lies in upholding the unity of Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance. In the current context, we must unswervingly uphold the system of people’s congresses while also improving it with the times. We must continue to advance socialist democracy with soundly-designed institutions, standards and procedures, better harnessing the strengths of the socialist political system with Chinese characteristics, and providing more robust institutional guarantees for the prosperity and long-term stability of the Party and the country.

“Promoting the Extensive, Multilevel Institutional Development of Consultative Democracy” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on September 21, 2014, at a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He pointed out that Socialist deliberative democracy is a unique form and a distinctive strength of China’s socialist democracy. Politically, it is an important embodiment of the Party’s mass line. Under China’s socialist system, deliberations help when a problem crops up, and matters involving many people are discussed by all those involved; to reach consensus on the wishes and needs of the whole of society is the essence of people’s democracy. Chinese socialist democracy takes two important forms, in one of which, the people exercise their right to vote in elections, and in the other, people from all sectors of society undertake extensive deliberations before major decisions are made. In China, these two forms do not cancel one another out, and nor are they contradictory; they are complementary. They constitute institutional features and strengths of Chinese socialist democracy.

“Resolutely Advance Reform in the Domain of Law-Based Governance, Tearing down Institutional Obstacles That Are Preventing Us From Comprehensively Advancing the Rule of Law” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on October 23, 2014, at the Second Plenary Session of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. He pointed out that reform in the realm of law-based governance primarily involves organs of state power and power-welding departments, such as public security organs, prosecuting bodies, courts, and other judicial bodies. The considerable public attention our reforms have attracted, coupled with the high difficulty of their implementation, means that we need to show even greater broad-mindedness in bringing change to ourselves. It is imperative that departments and interested parties foster a stronger awareness of the overall situation, consciously think and act in line with the overall situation, free themselves from a closed departmental mentality, and support each other in their initiatives.

“Accelerating the Implementation of the Free Trade Zone Strategy and Building a New Open Economic System” is part of the key points from Xi Jinping’s speech on December 5, 2014, during the 19th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee. He emphasized that accelerating the implementation of the free trade zone strategy provides an important platform for China to participate in the formulation of international trade rules, and to acquire the institutional power for global economic governance. Therefore, we should not be a bystander or follower, but a participant and leader. We should enhance our international competitiveness by developing FTZs, giving China a greater voice and injecting more Chinese elements in the formulation of international rules, so as to protect and expand the interests of China’s development.

“Enabling the People to Have a Greater Sense of Fulfillment” consists of excerpts from Xi Jinping’s speeches at the 10th, 11th, 23rd, and 30th meetings of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform, delivered between February 2015 and December 2016. He stated that the development philosophy centered on the people should be reflected in all aspects of economic and social development. Reforms should address what the people care about and expect, and through reform, bring more sense of fulfillment to the people.

“Deepening Judicial Reform” is part of the key points from Xi Jinping’s speech on March 24, 2015, during the 21st group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee. He emphasized that deepening judicial reform and building a fair, efficient and authoritative socialist judicial system are key measures in modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance. We must ensure the correct political direction of judicial reform, focus on improving the credibility of the judiciary, start from the prevailing situation in our country, and follow the law of judicial development. We must focus on solving problems, be resolute in overcoming difficulties, muster strength and confidence, and forge ahead with determination, so as to firmly deepen judicial reform and enhance social fairness and justice.

“Guiding Development with New Philosophies” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on October 29, 2015, during the Second Plenary Session of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. He pointed out that development philosophies are meant to be strategic, to outline and guide, and to be about development ideas, direction and focus. To pursue innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development is a profound reform bearing on the overall development of our country. Each of these five concepts is essential on an individual level. Together they are interconnected, forming one integrated whole that must be implemented in unison and with equal attention. The development process will be hindered if any one of them is neglected. All Party members must improve their ability and competence in implementing these five concepts to open up new frontiers of development.

“Continuously Opening Up New Horizons for Contemporary Chinese Marxist Political Economy” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on November 23, 2015, while presiding over the 28th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee. He pointed out that both the world economy and China’s economy currently face many new major issues that require scientific theoretical answers. We must base our research on China’s national conditions and development practices, deeply study the new situations and new problems faced by the world economy and China’s economy, uncover new features and laws, and distill and summarize the regular achievements of China’s economic development practices. By elevating practical experience into systematic economic theories, we can continuously open up new horizons for contemporary Chinese Marxist political economy and contribute Chinese wisdom to the innovative development of Marxist political economy.

“Comprehensively Implementing the Strategy of Strengthening the Military through Reform and Staying Committed to the Chinese Path of Building Strong Armed Forces” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on November 24, 2015, at the Reform Work Conference of the Central Military Commission. He pointed out that deepening the reform of national defense and the armed forces is a call of the times to realize the Chinese Dream, as well as a strong military dream, a sure path to a strong military, and a crucial step for the future of our armed forces. Following the requirements of the Four-pronged Strategy, with building a strong military in the New Era as the Party’s goal, we will carry out our military strategies, work to break down institutional, structural and policy barriers, modernize the organization of the armed forces, and further unleash the combat capacity and vigor of the armed forces. By doing so, we will build strong national defense and armed forces that are commensurate with China’s international status and in compliance with national security and development interests, which will provide a strong guarantee for realizing the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream.

“Coordinating Reform, Technology, and Culture to Enhance Urban Development Sustainability” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on December 20, 2015, at the Central Urban Work Conference. He elaborated on the idea that improving the sustainability of urban development requires the driving forces of reform, technology, and culture. He pointed out that urban reform involves various aspects, with current priorities being the promotion of reforms in planning, construction, management, and household registration. Deepening urban reform includes advancing reforms in many fields, such as urban technology and culture.

“Adhering to the Unified Leadership of the Party in Building a Clean Government and Combating Corruption, and Establishing a National Supervision System Covering All State Organs and Their Officials” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on January 12, 2016, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. He emphasized that adhering to democratic centralism is the core of strengthening intra-Party supervision. The supervision system must be improved, with top-level design being a key focus. Systems should be designed around responsibilities, and a comprehensive system should be established around these systems. This includes strengthening the supervision of higher-level Party organizations over lower-level organizations, Party members, and leading cadres, and ensuring alignment with other intra-Party regulations to establish a solid institutional framework. Accountability systems must be integrated and improved, with a strict adherence to accountability. This involves institutionalizing and standardizing the content, targets, matters, subjects, procedures, and methods of accountability. The Party’s unified leadership over the building of a clean government and anti-corruption work must be maintained, expanding the scope of supervision, integrating supervisory forces, improving the organizational structure of national supervision, and forming a national supervision system that covers all state organs and their officials.

“Advancing Supply-Side Structural Reform” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on January 18, 2016, at a speech at a study session on the guiding principles from Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, attended by the principal officials at the provincial/ministerial level. He pointed out that the key to our supply-side structural reform is to release and develop productive forces, to adjust structures through reform, to reduce ineffective and lower-end supply while increasing effective and medium- and high-end supply, to make supply structure more adaptive and flexible to changes in demand, and to increase total factor productivity. To promote supply-side structural reform, we should start with production. The key is to resolve overcapacity effectively, promote industrial restructuring, reduce enterprise costs, develop strategic emerging industries and modern service industries, increase the supply of public goods and services, and ensure that the supply structure is more adaptive and flexible to changes in demand. In short, measures are required to cut overcapacity and excess inventory, deleverage, reduce costs, and strengthen points of weakness.

“Unwaveringly Adhering to China’s Basic Economic System and Promoting the Healthy Development of Diverse Forms of Ownership” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on March 4, 2016, during a joint panel discussion of CPPCC National Committee members from the China National Democratic Construction Association and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce held during the Fourth Session of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC. He pointed out that the basic economic system in which public ownership is dominant and diverse forms of ownership develop side by side is a fundamental policy inaugurated by the CPC. The CPC’s stand on the basic economic system is clear-cut, consistent and unwavering. The status and role of the private sector in China’s economic and social development have not changed, nor have our guidelines and policies of encouraging, supporting and guiding the growth of the sector and of devoting ourselves to creating a favorable environment and providing more opportunities for its development.

“The Speech at the Conference on Rural Reform” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on April 25, 2016, during a conference on rural reform he hosted in Xiaogang Village, Fengyang County, Anhui Province. China’s reform began in the countryside, and Xiaogang Village is a primary birthplace of rural reform. Xi Jinping specifically visited Xiaogang Village to observe its development and changes, listen to opinions and suggestions on rural reform and development, and discuss issues concerning rural reform and development in the current context. He pointed out that for China to be strong, agriculture must be strong; for China to be beautiful, the countryside must be beautiful; and for China to be rich, farmers must be rich. In the current context, the main line of deepening rural reform is still to properly handle the relationship between farmers and land. The most important policy is to adhere to and improve the basic rural operating system, which must not waver. We must maintain collective ownership of rural land, uphold the foundational position of household-based operations, and ensure the stability of land contract relationships. The existing rural land contract relationships should remain stable and unchanged for a long period of time.

“Continuing to Expand the Middle-Income Group” is part of the key points from Xi Jinping’s speech on May 16, 2016, at the 13th Meeting of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs. He pointed out that expanding the middle-income group is related to achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, is a necessary requirement for transforming the development mode and adjusting the structure, and is essential for maintaining social harmony, stability, and long-term national peace. Expanding the middle-income group requires pursuing quality and effective development, promoting the spirit of getting rich through hard work, improving the income distribution system, strengthening human capital, leveraging the role of entrepreneurs, and enhancing property rights protection.

“Comprehensively Deepening Medical and Healthcare Reform” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on August 19, 2016, at the National Health Conference. He pointed out that China’s healthcare reform has entered a critical phase where tough problems must be tackled. We should continue to build the basic healthcare system, making breakthroughs in five basic mechanisms—tiered medical treatment, modern hospital management, medical insurance for all citizens, pharmaceutical supply, and comprehensive supervision.

“Make Consistent Efforts to Help State-Owned Enterprises Become Bigger, Stronger, and Better” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on October 10, 2016, at the National Conference on Party Development in SOEs. He pointed out that SOEs are an important material and political foundation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They are crucial for consolidating the dominant position of public ownership, maintaining the Party’s ruling position and governance capacity, and supporting China’s socialist system. SOEs must be managed well and consistent efforts must be made to help them become bigger, stronger, and better.

“Comprehensively Implementing the Responsibility for Intra-Party Supervision” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on October 27, 2016, at the Second Full Assembly of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. He pointed out that intra-Party supervision is the first and most fundamental means among all forms of scrutiny for the Party and the country. intra-Party supervision is a task for our Party. Party committees or Party leadership groups are responsible for supervision, and their secretaries are first in the line of responsibility. Party officials at various levels must understand and shoulder their responsibilities. Intra-Party supervision should be carried out everywhere and in everything. All Party members should make a habit of reminding each other and of correcting mistakes, in order to make common progress.

“Advancing Supply-Side Structural Reform: Handling Several Major Relationships” is part of the key points from Xi Jinping’s speech on January 22, 2017, during the 38th group study session of the 18th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau. He pointed out that deeply advancing supply-side structural reform is a critical task for China’s economic development. It is essential to handle several major relationships properly: those between the government and the market, the short term and the long term, subtraction and addition, and supply and demand. The goal is to unwaveringly push forward the supply-side structural reform.

“Upholding the CPC Central Committee’s Authority and Implementing Democratic Centralism” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on February 13, 2017, at a study session on the guiding principles from Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, attended by the principal officials at the provincial/ministerial level. It emphasizes that the Party exercises overall leadership over all areas of endeavor in every part of the country. The theories, guidelines and policies defined by the CPC Central Committee are the foundation to ensure all Party members and people of all ethnic groups in China are united in mindset, determination and action. Only with authority can the CPC Central Committee pool the strength of all Party members and unite the whole Party and the whole nation, bringing into being an invincible force of the same aspiration. The entire Party must maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee in terms of political direction, political line, political stance, and political propositions.

“The Party Must Dare to Engage in Self-Reform” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on February 13, 2017, at a study session on the guiding principles from Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, attended by the principal officials at the provincial/ministerial level. It points out that daring to engage in self-reform is the most distinctive character of our Party and its greatest advantage. The greatness of the CPC lies not in its absence of mistakes, but in its readiness to address problems head-on, dare to engage in self-reform, and possess a strong capacity for self-renewal. To maintain its advanced nature and purity and fulfill its lofty mission, a Marxist political party must constantly address its own problems without relaxation, always keeping pace with the requirements of the times, practice, and the people, and forging and tempering itself with the spirit of daring to engage in self-reform.

“Forming a Green Development Model and Lifestyle Is a Profound Revolution in Development Thinking” is from a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on May 26, 2017, during the 41st group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee. It emphasizes that forming a green development model and lifestyle is an inevitable requirement for implementing the new development philosophy. It calls for properly balancing economic development and environmental protection, adhering to the basic state policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment, and adhering to the guidelines of giving priority to conservation, protection, and natural restoration. This aims to create a spatial pattern, industrial structure, production mode, and lifestyle that conserve resources and protect the environment, thus providing a favorable production and living environment for the people.

“Deepening Financial Reform” is part of a speech delivered by Xi Jinping on July 14, 2017, during the National Financial Work Conference. It emphasizes the rapid development of China’s financial industry in recent years, marked by continuous innovation and increasing complexity and openness of the financial system, which calls for urgent acceleration of financial reform. The speech outlines the need to optimize the system of financial institutions, refine the modern financial corporate system, enhance management of state-owned financial capital, improve the foreign exchange market system and mechanism, deepen the reform of the multilevel capital market, bolster the function of the insurance market, and guide the healthy development of the futures market. Currently, the focus lies on better coordinating financial supervision and enforcing supervision on weaker links.

“The Past Five Years: Our Work and Historic Change” is part of a report delivered by Xi Jinping on October 18, 2017, at the 19th CPC National Congress. It stated that the five years since the 18th National Congress have been a truly remarkable five years in the course of the development of the Party and the country. The achievements of the past five years have touched every area and broken new ground; the changes in China over the past five years have been profound and fundamental. For five years, our Party has demonstrated tremendous political courage and a powerful sense of mission as it has developed new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies, adopted a raft of major principles and policies, launched a host of major initiatives, and pushed ahead with many major tasks. We have solved many tough problems that were long on the agenda but never resolved, and accomplished many things that were wanted but never done. With this, we have prompted historic shifts in the cause of the Party and the country. These historic changes will have a powerful and far-reaching effect on the development of this cause. With decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. This is a new historic juncture in China’s development. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the principal challenge facing Chinese society has evolved. What we now face is the gap between unbalanced and inadequate development and the ever-growing expectation of the people for a better life. The evolution of the principal challenge facing Chinese society represents a historic shift that affects the whole landscape and that creates many new demands for the work of the Party and the country. Building on continued efforts to sustain development, we must devote great energy to addressing development’s imbalances and inadequacies, and push hard to improve the quality and effect of development. With this, we will be better placed to meet the ever-growing economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological needs of our people, and to promote well-rounded human development and all-round social progress.

“Applying a New Vision of Development and Developing a Modernized Economy” is part of Xi Jinping’s political on October 18, 2017, during the 19th CPC National Congress. It stressed that China’s economy has been transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development. This is a pivotal period for transforming our growth model, improving our economic structure, and fostering new drivers of growth. It is imperative that we develop a modernized economy. This is both an urgent requirement for getting us smoothly through this critical transition and a strategic goal for China’s development. We must put quality first and give priority to performance. We should pursue supply-side structural reform as our main task, and work hard for better quality, higher efficiency, and more robust drivers of economic growth through reform. We need to raise total factor productivity and accelerate the building of an industrial system that promotes coordinated development of the real economy with technological innovation, modern finance, and human resources. We should endeavor to develop an economy with more effective market mechanisms, dynamic micro-entities, and sound macro-regulation. This will steadily strengthen the innovation capacity and competitiveness of China’s economy. We should further supply-side structural reform, make China a country of innovators, pursue a rural revitalization strategy, implement the coordinated regional development strategy, accelerate efforts to improve the socialist market economy, make new ground in pursuing opening up on all fronts, and strive to achieve better quality, more efficient, fairer, and more sustainable development.

“Improving the System of Institutions through Which the People Run the Country and Developing Socialist Democracy” is another segment of Xi Jinping’s report on October 18, 2017, during the 19th CPC National Congress. It highlighted that the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics is the logical outcome of the evolution of history, theory, and practice as the Chinese people have long engaged in struggles since the advent of modern times. It is a requisite for maintaining the very nature of the Party and fulfilling its fundamental purpose. We must uphold long term and steadily strengthen China’s socialist democracy, make active and prudent efforts to advance the reform of the political system, and improve the institutions, standards, and procedures of socialist democracy. We should ensure that people participate, in accordance with law and in various ways and forms, in the management of state, economic, cultural, and social affairs, and consolidate and enhance political stability, unity, and vitality. We should uphold the unity of Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance, strengthen institutional guarantees to ensure the people run the country, give play to the important role of socialist consultative democracy, advance law-based governance, deepen reform of Party and government institutions and the system of government administration, and consolidate and develop the patriotic united front.

“Building Stronger Cultural Confidence and Helping Socialist Culture to Flourish” is part of Xi Jinping’s report on October 18, 2017, during the 19th CPC National Congress. It underscored that culture is a country and nation’s soul. Our country will thrive only if our culture thrives, and our nation will be strong only if our culture is strong. Without full confidence in our culture, without a rich and prosperous culture, the Chinese nation will not be able to rejuvenate itself. We must develop a socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, inspire the cultural creativity of our whole nation, and develop a great socialist culture in China. We should hold firmly the leading position in ideological work, cultivate and observing core socialist values, raise intellectual and moral standards, see socialist literature and art thrive, and promote the development of cultural programs and industries.

“Growing Better at Ensuring and Improving People’s Wellbeing and Strengthening and Developing New Approaches to Social Governance” is another segment of Xi Jinping’s part on October 18, 2017, during the 19th CPC National Congress. It highlighted that to lead the people to a better life is our Party’s abiding goal. We must put the people’s interests above all else, see that the gains of reform and development benefit all our people in a fair way, and strive to achieve shared prosperity for everyone. As we work to ensure and improve people’s wellbeing, we must focus on the most pressing, most immediate issues that concern the people the most. We should give priority to developing education, improve the quality of employment and raising incomes, strengthen the social security system, win the battle against poverty, and carry out the Healthy China initiative.

“Speeding up Reform of the System for Developing an Ecological Civilization, and Building a Beautiful China” is another key focus of Xi Jinping’s report on October 18, 2017, during the 19th CPC National Congress. It emphasized that The modernization that we pursue is one characterized by harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In addition to creating more material and cultural wealth to meet people’s ever-increasing needs for a better life, we need also to provide more quality ecological goods to meet people’s ever-growing demands for a beautiful environment. We should, acting on the principles of prioritizing resource conservation and environmental protection and letting nature restore itself, develop spatial layouts, industrial structures, and ways of work and life that help conserve resources and protect the environment. With this, we can restore the serenity, harmony, and beauty of nature. We should promote green development, solve prominent environmental problems, intensify the protection of ecosystems, reform the environmental regulation system, and develop a new model of modernization with humans developing in harmony with nature.

“Staying Committed to the Chinese Path of Building Strong Armed Forces and Fully Advancing the Modernization of National Defense and the Military” is also a part of Xi Jinping’s report during the 19th CPC National Congress on October 18, 2017. It emphasized that confronted with profound changes in our national security environment and responding to the demands of the day for a strong country with a strong military, we must fully implement the Party’s thinking on strengthening the military for the new era and the military strategy for new conditions, build a powerful and modernized army, navy, air force, rocket force, and strategic support force, develop strong and efficient joint operations commanding institutions for theater commands, and create a modern combat system with distinctive Chinese characteristics. Our armed forces must be up to shouldering the missions and tasks of the New Era entrusted to them by the Party and the people. We will adapt to the trend of a new global military revolution and to national security needs; we will upgrade our military capabilities, and see that, by the year 2020, mechanization is basically achieved, IT application has come a long way, and strategic capabilities have seen a big improvement. We will make it our mission to see that by 2035, the modernization of our national defense and our forces is basically completed; and that by the mid-21st century our people’s armed forces have been fully transformed into world-class forces.

“Deepening Reform of the National Oversight System” excerpts from Xi Jinping’s writings between October 2017 and January 2018 on the reform of the national oversight system. It emphasized the significance of this reform as a major political overhaul to enhance Party and state self-oversight. The goal is to establish an authoritative, efficient oversight system with complete coverage under the Party’s unified command; and integrate intra-Party oversight with oversight by state organs, democratic oversight, judicial oversight, public oversight, and oversight through public opinion. All this will create a powerful synergy for conducting oversight.

“Enrich the Thought on the Socialist Economy in the New Era” is part of Xi Jinping’s speech at the Central Economic Work Conference on December 18, 2017. It summarized China’s economic achievements and changes since the 18th CPC National Congress, elaborating on the thought on the socialist economy in the New Era. It stated that we have successfully steered the economy on the right course since the 18th CPC National Congress and developed the thought on the economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era with the new development philosophy as its core. First, we have strengthened the centralized and unified leadership of the Party over economic work. Second, we must always remain committed to a people-centered philosophy of development. Third, we have adapted to and steered the new normal in economic development. Fourth, we have ensured that the market will play the decisive role in resource allocation and that the government will exercise its functions better. Fifth, we have adapted to changes of key problems in economic development and improved our macro-control. Sixth, we have taken a problem-oriented approach in developing new strategies for economic growth. Seventh, we should have sound tactics and approaches.

“Follow a Chinese Socialist Path to Rural Revitalization” is a part of the speech delivered by Xi Jinping on December 28, 2017, during the Central Rural Work Conference. In this speech, he emphasized several key aspects of implementing the rural revitalization strategy: reshaping urban-rural relations to achieve integrated development, consolidating and improving the basic rural management system to achieve common prosperity, deepening structural reforms on the supply side of agriculture to enhance agricultural quality, adhering to harmony between humans and nature to promote green rural development, inheriting, developing, and elevating agricultural civilization to foster rural cultural prosperity, innovating rural governance systems to promote good governance in rural areas, and effectively fighting poverty with precision to pursue poverty reduction with Chinese characteristics.

“Understanding the Significant Significance of Constitutional Revisions” is a part of the speech delivered by Xi Jinping on January 19, 2018, during the Second Full Assembly of the Second Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. He emphasized that that comprehensively implementing the Constitution is the primary and basic task for governing the country in accordance with the law and building China into a socialist country under the rule of law. He pointed out that the Central Committee's proposed revisions are based on thorough consideration and comprehensive analysis. They serve three goals, subject to the conditions of maintaining the continuity, consistency, and authority of the Constitution. The first is to better embody the will of the people. The second is to better reflect the strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The third is to better extend the Party’s capacity in long-term governance, in implementing comprehensive law-based governance, and in modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance, so as to provide the constitutional guarantee for upholding and developing Chinese socialism in the New Era.

“Accelerating the Development of a Modern Economy” is a key point of the speech delivered by Xi Jinping on January 30, 2018, during the third group study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee. He emphasized that developing a modern economy is the strategic goal of China’s development, requiring the transformation of economic development modes, optimization of economic structures, and transition of economic growth drivers. The entire Party must deeply understand the importance and arduousness of building a modern economy, scientifically grasp the goals and priorities, and elevate the revitalization of China’s economic development to a new level.

“Note to the Draft Decision and Draft Program on Further Reform of Party and State Institutions” is a statement made by Xi Jinping on February 26, 2018, during the Third Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. The Third Plenary Session specifically discussed the issue of furthering reform of Party and state institutions with the aim of seizing favorable opportunities in the comprehensive reform process and resolving the prominent conflicts and problems existing in the establishment and functional allocation of Party and state institutions. The note is divided into three parts: 1. Background and process of drafting the decision and program; 2. Main considerations and basic framework of the decision to further the reform of Party and state institutions; 3. Key contents of the program for furthering the reform of Party and state institutions. It is noted that this endeavor to further institutional reform is unprecedented in scope, depth, and magnitude. It represents a comprehensive, thorough, and feasible top-level design for reform, encompassing both immediate "reform" measures and long-term "establishment" plans.

“Understanding the Significance of Furthering the Reform of Party and State Institutions” is a part of the speech delivered by Xi Jinping on February 28, 2018, during the Second Full Assembly of the Third Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. It is emphasized that deepening the reform of party and state institutions is an important task for adhering to and strengthening the Party’s leadership, improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance. It is related to the overall situation of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, as well as the Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation. It is necessary to seize favorable opportunities, grasp the new requirements of historical changes in the cause of the Party and the state for organizational structure and management systems, design overall plans, make breakthroughs in key areas, coordinate the reform of Party and state institutions, enhance the systematic, comprehensive, and coordinated nature of the reform, and resolutely solve longstanding problems that have not been solved for many years, focusing on addressing prominent conflicts and issues.

“Openness for Greater Prosperity, Innovation for a Better Future” is the keynote speech delivered by Xi Jinping on April 10, 2018, at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018. It is pointed out that a comprehensive study of world development trajectories shows that economic globalization is an irreversible trend of our times. China’s door of opening-up will not be closed and will only open even wider! It also announced that China will take a series of measures including significantly broadening market access, creating a more attractive investment environment, strengthening protection of intellectual property rights, and taking the initiative to expand imports.

“Economic Special Zones Should Embrace Their New Strategic Role” forms a part of Xi Jinping’s report delivered on April 13, 2018, during an ceremony marking the 30th anniversary the Hainan Province Economic Special Zone. It emphasizes that the establishment of economic special zones stands as a significant decision made by our Party and country to propel reform, openness, and socialist modernization. Confronted with the current context, tasks, and challenges, economic special zones are entrusted with fresh historical missions. They must not lose sight of their initial aspirations, remain steadfast in their missions, grasp the new strategic positioning, and evolve into vital conduits, experimental hubs, pioneers, and practitioners of reform and opening up.

“Firmly Eliminating Institutional Barriers to Education Sector Development” is excerpted from Xi Jinping’s speech on September 10, 2018, at the National Education Conference. It stated that our drive to modernize education should be socialism-oriented, maintain the nature of education as a public undertaking, ensure equal access to education as the basic national policy, and promote innovation in reforming the education system. The mechanism to promote education on values and moral integrity should be improved to correct the warped evaluation system that guides the development of education. We should drive deeper reform of school operating mechanisms and education management to fully release the vigor of education. We should improve the capacity of education to serve economic and social development. We should open our educational sector wider to the outside world to enhance its influence around the world.

“Speech at a Meeting on Private Enterprises” was delivered by Xi Jinping on November 1, 2018. The speech reflects on the continuous advancement and growth of China’s private sector over the past four decades of reform and opening up, unequivocally affirming the crucial position and role of the private sector. It underscores that the basic economic system in which public ownership is dominant and diverse forms of ownership develop side by side is a pivotal part of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics as well as an essential requirement for improving the socialist market economy. The private sector represents an intrinsic element of our economic structure, and private enterprises and entrepreneurs are integral members of our society. The private sector must only thrive and not weaken. Rather than withdrawing, it should venture onto a broader stage. It is imperative to accurately discern the difficulties and challenges facing the current development of the private sector and provide robust support for the development and expansion of private enterprises.

”For a Global Economy—Open, Innovative and Inclusive” is the keynote speech delivered by Xi Jinping on November 5, 2018, at the opening ceremony of the First China International Import Expo held in Shanghai. The China International Import Expo is the world’s first national-level exhibition with import as its theme, marking a significant milestone in the history of international trade development. Xi Jinping’s speech emphasized that China has made an important decision to pursue a new round of high-level opening up, a major new initiative to further widen market access to the rest of the world. It demonstrates China’s consistent position of supporting the multilateral trading system and promoting free trade. It is a concrete action by China to advance an open world economy and support economic globalization. To broaden its opening up, China will step up efforts to tap the potential for increased imports, continue to relax market access, foster a world-class business environment, explore new heights of opening up, and promote international cooperation at multilateral and bilateral levels.

“Speech at a Ceremony Marking the 40th Anniversary Reform and Opening Up” was delivered by Xi Jinping on December 18, 2018. The speech profoundly summarized the great achievements and valuable experiences of the Party and the country over the past 40 years of reform and opening up. It highly praised the outstanding contributions made by the Chinese people to the cause of reform and opening up. It solemnly declared that reform and opening up is an ongoing process with no endpoint, and China is confident and determined to continue this path unswervingly. It sets forth the objectives and requirements of resolutely deepening comprehensive reform, expanding opening up, and advancing reform and opening up in the New Era. The speech emphasized that reform and opening up is a great awakening of our Party, which has given birth to the great creativity of our Party from theory to practice. Reform and opening up is a great revolution in the history of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation’s development, which has propelled the great leap forward of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The valuable experience accumulated over 40 years of reform and opening up is a precious intellectual wealth of the Party and the people and has extremely important guiding significance for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. We must cherish it more and adhere to it for the long term, continuously enriching and developing it in practice. Although reform and opening up has gone through countless challenges and difficulties, there are still mountains to climb and rivers to cross. The mission facing the entire Party and the Chinese people is more glorious, the tasks are more arduous, the challenges are more severe, and the work is more significant. We must never be the slightest bit arrogant or complacent, nor should we hesitate or waver. We must take charge of the great struggle, the great project, the great cause, and the great dream, bravely stand at the forefront, and strive forward courageously.

* People’s Daily, December 30, 2018, p. 3.