“Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy:” Advancing the Strategic Planning of Modernization of National Governance

Modernization of national governance is not only the important content of socialist modernization of China but also the precondition and important approach to realize socialist modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee prescribed the “improvement and development of socialist system with Chinese characteristics and advancement of modernization of national governance system and governance capability” as the general goal of comprehensively deepening reform. Based on the prescription, the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” proposed by Comrade Xi Jinping specifies the way to achieve the modernization of national governance and starts the great journey to accelerate modernization of national governance of China.

The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” deepens people’s understanding of the rule of modernization of national governance and of the way and model of modernization of national governance. It denotes there is more than one way to realize modernization and selection of ways and models must be based on the actual situations of a country. Modernization is the common aspiration of many developing countries. In 1950-60s, the so-called free and democratic modernization of the west encountered frustration and failure when it was applied in the third world countries. Different from the other third world countries, our Party has been leading Chinese people in following China’s own development path since establishment of the Party. Comrade Xi Jinping in depth noted what kind of governance system one country selects is contingent on the country’s historical continuity, cultural tradition and economic and social development level and should be determined by the country’s people. Today’s national governance system of China is developed, improved and evolved intrinsically for a long time on the basis of its historical continuity, cultural tradition and social and economic development. The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” is the summarization and optimization of practical experience in China’s socialist modernization. Every item of the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” takes adherence to and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics as its internal core and direction and fully manifests our Party’s advocacy and willpower; the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” plans the unique model and path for our Party and people to achieve socialist modernization along the socialist path with Chinese characteristics from the perspectives of objective, driving force, system and capability.

The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” shows advancement of modernization of national governance is a complicated systemic project. Coordinated advancement of “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” doesn’t only specify the goal of modernization of national governance but also contains specific measures for achieving modernization of national governance, deeply indicating: the national governance system is a logically precise and indivisible institutional system and thus, all parts must support and collaborate with each other to give full play to the systemic functions and realize the advancement of modernization of national governance system and governance capability. The national governance capability is a comprehensive ability so if we want to form the advanced national governance capability, it is necessary to focus on promotion of the Party’s ruling ability by virtue of enhancement of quality and abilities of cadres at all levels and managers in various areas and improvement of working abilities of Party and government organs, public institutions and enterprises, and mass and social organizations. The national governance system and national governance capability make up an organic whole and the former stipulates the latter’s content, structure and ceiling basically while the latter influences the performance of the former in return. Therefore, only when the modernization of national governance system is compatible with that of national governance capability, the modernization of national governance could form up a resultant force. Division of modernization of national governance into modernization of national governance system and modernization of national governance capability eliminates the incomplete view that a perfect system can solve all problems. It is not only a significant innovation of socialist national governance with Chinese characteristics in concept and practice but also enriches and develops the modern national governance theory, fully demonstrating the scientific nature of “four-pronged comprehensive strategy”.

The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” gives a scientific solution for settlement of basic problems of modernization of national governance, including relations between the ruling party, government, market and society. The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” makes clear the correct principle and effective way to address the relations between the ruling party, government, market and society. In respect of relations between the government and market, the strategy clearly specifies the market’s decisive role in the resources allocation and more play given to the government’s role and specific measures for improvement of system in adherence to the fundamental economic system with the public ownership as the mainstay and common development of diverse forms of ownership. The relations between the ruling party, government and society are based on the consistency of all people’s basic interests and the Party and government’s foothold of good proper achievement, maintenance and development of the maximum people’s basic interests, which could basically ensure the harmonious relations between the ruling party, government and society in terms of the basic interests. In detail, the people’s dominant role should be highlighted, the people’s congress system should be taken as the fundamental political system and it must be upheld that all power belongs to people; the CPC’s core role in leadership should be underscored, the multiparty cooperation, political consultative system and regional ethnic autonomy as well as grass-roots mass autonomy under the leadership of the CPC should be regarded as the basic political system and it is required to identify the Party’s leadership as the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics; we must adhere to the basic guideline of rule of law that means people’s governance of the country under the Party’s leadership and understand that the Party’s leadership is consistent with people’s role as the master of their own country, effective exertion of the government’s role and socialist rule of law. The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” figures out the concept, goal and path of modernization of socialist national governance with Chinese characteristics.

As the important first step for realization of Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the full building of a well-off society points out the direction, path and important content of modernization of national governance. By 2020, a well-off society will be fully built up, taking a core place in the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy”, and other three elements closely surround the strategic goal of full building of a well-off society. The modernization of national governance follows the goal of full building of a well-off society, aims at the realization of Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, improves and develops a whole set of complete, constant and practical institutional system, and boosts maturation and stabilization of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The path modernization of national governance follows is the development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The current modernization of national governance puts its focus on the further liberation of thought, liberation and development of social productive force and liberation and enhancement of social vitality, realization of institutionalization, standardization and routinization of governance of the Party, state and society over various issues through different system reforms and building of executive capability of system, and continuous promotion of effective national governance under socialism with Chinese characteristics. Furthermore, we should understand the close connection between full building of a well-off society and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the present goal and realization method of the Chinese dream. Accordingly, as important part of modernization of national governance, the modernization of both national governance system and national governance capability should be achieved by full building of a well-off society.

Comprehensively deepening reform is a new great revolution carried out by Chinese people under leadership of the Party in the context of new era and provides driving forces and guarantee for modernization of national governance. To carry forward modernization of national governance based on comprehensive deepening of reform, we should thoroughly implement the six “close surroundings” set forth within the Decision adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in an effort to push forward reforms in various areas such as economy, politics, culture, society, ecological progress and the Party building. The economic reform makes up the important part of comprehensive deepening of reform and the core issue of economic reform lies in the settlement of relations between the government and market, in a bid to make the market play a decisive role in resources allocation and give more play to the government’s role. By adhering to and improving the fundamental economic system, accelerating improvement of modern market system and deepening the reform of fiscal and taxation systems, great efforts should be made to have the economic reform play a driving role. Meanwhile, under the requirements of modernization of national governance, we should also focus on actively and steadily advancing the political reform in adherence to the people’s dominant role in order to develop the wider, fuller and sounder people’s democracy; we should focus on keeping the Party’s core leadership in the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics and deepening the institutional reform of the Party building so as to develop the modern Marxist political party governance system; we should focus on building the rule of law, innovative, clean and service-oriented government and deepening the administrative reform in order to build the modernized government governance system; we should focus on inspiring the social vitality and deepening the reform of social governance system in an effort to build the modernized social governance system.

The all-round rule of law, as the mark and cornerstone of modern social governance, bolsters up modernization of national governance in all aspects. To comprehensively push forward the rule of law is a widespread and profound revolution. Rule of law has special effects on economic and social development, humankind modernization and modernization of national governance and plays an irreplaceable significant role in coordinating social forces, balancing social interests, adjusting social relations and regulating social behaviors. The all-round rule of law’s support to modernization of national governance is shown as follows: the rule of law is the basic strategy that the Party leads people to govern the country and the governance by law is the basic method of the Party to rule the country and carry out administration; China’s Constitution and laws is the uniform reflection of the Party’s advocacy and people’s wills and could reflect social consensuses to the largest extent and produce cohesive forces; the organic unification of the Party’s leadership, people’s role as the master of their own country and rule of law demonstrates the great advantage of socialist rule of law; the all-round rule of law is the forceful guarantee for achievement of impartiality and justice of the society; the law is the important tool to rule a country and the rule of law is the important basis of national governance system and governance capability so we must boost modernization of national governance on the track of rule of law. Currently, we adhere to the joint promotion of rule of law, governance by law and administration by law and insist on the overall building of the rule of law country, government and society to realize the scientific legislation, strict enforcement of laws, judicial justice and all people’s observance of laws so modernization of national governance will be greatly accelerated.

To comprehensively strictly govern the Party is the foundation to make the Party constantly hold the core leadership in the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics and provides the basic guarantee for modernization of national governance. The strong or poor governance capability and stable or unstable core leadership of the Party will not only affect all sides and fields of economic and social development but also influence the effective exertion of people’s enthusiasm, initiative and creativity, people’s role as the master of their own country and the capability building of each governing bodies. Thus, promotion of national governance capability should concentrate on enhancement of the Party’s governance capability. To keep the Party’s close connection with people and make the Party constantly take the core leadership in the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics, the strict governance over the Party must adhere to the following basic paths and strategic measures: we must stand for the close combination of ideological and institutional Party building; we must expand the settlement of “four styles” and thoroughly purify the Party’s styles with the work-style building as a breakthrough; we must strictly manage cadres, implement the requirements of “three stricts and three honests” and grasp the “key minority” of leaders and cadres to fully tightly close the cage of regulation; we should strengthen the systematicness, foreseeability, creativity and effectiveness of the strict governance over the Party. All those measures will not only raise the governance capability of the Party but also greatly promote the national governance capability.

To advance modernization of both national governance system and governance capability under the guidance of “four-pronged comprehensive strategy”, we should not only understand the strategic measures but also grasp the spiritual essence, focusing on understanding of following three issues.

The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” is an organic whole so the coordinated advancement should be the important part of implementation of “four-pronged comprehensive strategy”. We must deeply understand and grasp the scientific connotations of “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” through the coordinated advancement. First, the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” in depth reflects the basic nature and essential requirements of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the red line linking all parts of the strategy is adherence to and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics; it profoundly represents an unchangeable standpoint, i.e., realization, maintenance and development of people’s basic interests. Second, full building of a well-off society plays a leading role in the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy”, not only providing a strategic direction for other three parts of the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” but also being based on the implementation of those three parts; comprehensive deepening of reform and all-round rule of law are like two wings of a bird to advance full building of a well-off society and deep development of comprehensively strict governance over the Party; comprehensively strict governance over the Party and buildup of the Party’s strong core leadership is the basic guarantee for full building of a well-off society, comprehensive deepening of reform, adherence to direct path under rule of law, following correct direction and achievement of various set goals. Third, each “comprehensive” in the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” includes a whole set of strategic measures and thoughts based on reality, continuation of the past, dauntless innovation and special features so we must well adjust the whole advancement and the important breakthrough and pay attention to the systematicness, integrity and synergy. Fourth, due to different conditions in local areas, we should not only have the awareness of overall situation to identify people’s own role in the whole country but also properly handle issues according to actual situations and development demands of local areas.

The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” is set forth based on China’s actual development requirements so we must deeply grasp the spiritual essence of the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy”. At present, there are only five years to fully build a well-off society in 2020 so it is a heavy duty in such a short time. Coordinated advancement of the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” has great significance in realization of modernization of national governance. The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” is presented with a focus put on actual requirements of China’s current development and prominent contradictions facing China, marking a new high level of our Party’s understandings of socialist rules with Chinese characteristics. We should view the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” from the perspective of development. Full building of a well-off society is set as the goal of the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” in order to highlight the strategy’s significant meaning as a connecting link between the preceding and the following. In the current crucial stage, the strategy may play its role of gathering consensuses and uniting different forces, in a bid to overcome difficulties and achieve success. However, full building of a well-off society is not the final goal and connects with the Chinese dream. Comprehensively deepening of reform, all-round rule of law and comprehensively strict governance over the Party will never be finished so the spiritual essence of the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” is of the strategic technique of adherence to and development of socialist path, theory and system with Chinese characteristics, strategic planning of development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and harmonious with the general planning of socialist “five-in-one” with Chinese characteristics. Certainly, the socialist theoretical system with Chinese characteristics keeps pace with the times and the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” also keeps pace with the times as it is the latest outcome of socialist theoretical system with Chinese characteristics. The strategy must accept the inspection in practice of guidance and enrich and improve its content based on the development and change of practice.

The “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” emits brilliant rays of truth of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, representing the significance of methodology. First, we should adhere to the basic principle of scientific socialism and uphold the correct direction of socialist path with Chinese characteristics, which is not only the basic methodology advancing the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” but also the bottom line we must defend. Second, we should innovatively apply the principle that the world is made up of matter and the matter determines the consciousness, start from the objective reality that China is in the primary stage of socialism, exactly grasp new changes and characteristics of China in different development stages, and understand current situations, plan the future, formulate the policy and advance fulfillment of causes. Third, we should creatively apply the basic principle of paradoxical movement, grasp the main urgent contradictions in development of causes of the Party and country, emphasize the enhancement of problem consciousness and adherence to problem orientation, not only focus on the general planning but also concentrate on the key solution, attach importance to not only the two-point theory but also the focal-point theory, give priority to the settlement of main contradictions and main aspects of contradictions, and boost the settlement of other contradictions. Fourth, we should adhere to the basic standpoint of dialectical materialism of “world being in the universal connection”, enhance the top-level design and overall planning, form up the orderly association and organic linkage of all parts of the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” and further make all parts support in policy, improve in practice and benefit in actual effect each other. Fifth, we should uphold the standpoint that people are the creator of history, adhere to not only the starting point and foothold on realization, maintenance and development of people’s basic interests but also settlement of relations between respect of objective rules and exertion of subjective initiative, and closely depend on people to advance various causes.