January 2
A meeting commemorating the 40th anniversary of issuing the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan was held. Xi Jinping delivered a speech entitled “Jointly Strive to Realize National Rejuvenation and Promote Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland” at the meeting. He elaborated on five major policies and guidelines for promoting peaceful reunification of the motherland in the course of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era: first, the Chinese people should work together to promote China's rejuvenation and achieve its peaceful reunification; second, the Chinese people should explore a “two systems” solution to the Taiwan issue and enrich practical efforts toward peaceful reunification; third, the Chinese people should adhere to the one-China principle and ensure the prospects for peaceful reunification; fourth, the Chinese people should deepen integrated development of the two sides across the Straits and cement the foundation for peaceful reunification; fifth, the Chinese people should forge closer bonds of heart and mind between the people on both sides across the Straits and strengthen our joint commitment to peaceful reunification
January 4
The Central Military Commission's military work conference was held in Beijing. Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech that the entire army should thoroughly implement the military strategic guidelines for a new era and strengthen military preparedness from a new starting point, resolutely fulfilling the missions and tasks entrusted by the CPC and the people.
January 27
The State Council issued the Opinions on Comprehensively Implementing Joint Departmental Supervision Featuring “Two Randomly and One Open ” in the Market Regulatory Sector. The Guiding Opinions on Strengthening and Standardizing Interim and Ex-Post Regulations was issued by the State Council on September 6.
January 31
The CPC Central Committee issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Political Work of the Party.
March 1
The 2019 spring semester training program for young and middle-aged officials at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (the National Academy of Governance) was launched. Xi Jinping stressed in his speech at the opening ceremony that training and selecting outstanding young officials was vital to the fate of the Party, the state and the Chinese nation, and to people's wellbeing, calling it an important task for generations to come.
March 15
The 2nd Session of the 13th NPC adopted the Foreign Investment Law of the People's Republic of China, which would come into force on January 1, 2020.
March 18
When presiding over a symposium for school teachers of ideological and political theories, Xi Jinping delivered a speech and emphasized that in order to provide quality courses on ideological and political theories, it was essential to thoroughly implement the Party's education policy and address the essential issues of “who to educate and how, and for whom.” The key consisted in giving full play to teachers' enthusiasm, initiative and creativity. To promote the reform and innovation of courses on ideological and political theories, teachers needed to elevate the ideological and theoretical content of the courses and bring courses closer to students and make them more focused.
March 19
The General Office of the CPC Central Committee issued the Regulations on Paralleling Civil Servants' Titles and Rankings, which would come into force on June 1, 2019.
March 30
China's first 5G network for an administrative district was completed and put into operation in Shanghai. On June 6, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially rolled out commercial 5G licenses to the country's four telecom carriers, ushering the country's telecommunication industry into the 5G era.
April 23
A naval parade activity celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PLA Navy was held in Qingdao. Xi Jinping attended the parade and reviewed the naval fleets. Naval delegations from 61 countries and 18 military vessels from 13 countries traveled across oceans to gather on the Yellow Sea in celebration of the PLA Navy's birthday.
April 28
The opening ceremony of the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 was held. Xi Jinping attended the ceremony and delivered a speech entitled “Working Together to Seek a Greener Life and Build a Beautiful Home.”
April 30
A meeting commemorating the centenary of the May Fourth Movement was held. Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at the meeting that the May Fourth Movement gave birth to the great May Fourth spirit epitomized by patriotism, progress, democracy and science, with patriotism at the core, and that, in the new era, the theme and direction of the Chinese youth movement and the mission of Chinese young people were to uphold the leadership of the CPC and work with the people to realize the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
May 9
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on the Establishment of a Spatial Land Planning System and Its Implementation and Supervision.
May 15–22
The 1st Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations was held in Beijing. At its opening ceremony, Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech titled “Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations for an Asian Community with a Shared Future,” calling for the need to respect each other and treat each other as equals, uphold the beauty of each civilization and the diversity of civilizations in the world, stay open and inclusive, draw on each other's strengths and advance with the times and explore new ground in development in an effort to create an even better tomorrow for civilizations in Asia and beyond.
May 31
A conference on the work of the educational campaign entitled “Remain True to Our Original Aspiration and Keep Our Mission Firmly in Mind” was held. Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the meeting, pointing out that it was imperative to firmly grasp the general requirements of staying true to our original aspiration, taking on our founding mission, finding out where the Party lagged behind, and focusing on adopting workable measures. He noted that it was essential to concentrate on the fundamental task of studying in depth and implementing the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, forging political traits of loyalty, integrity and a keen sense of responsibility, and uniting and leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to strive together for the realization of the great dream. He stressed that it was crucial to strive to achieve the concrete goals of gaining inspirations from theoretical studies, acquiring an enriched mind in ideological and political thinking, showing courage in taking responsibilities for all endeavors, serving the people and helping them with their difficulties, and leading by example to uphold honesty and integrity. These requirements should be fulfilled to ensure that the campaign yielded solid results.
June 4
The CPC Central Committee published a circular on the issuing of the Guidelines on Studying the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
June 20–21
Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He had talks with Kim Jong-un, chairman of the WPK and chairman of the DPRK in Pyongyang. The two leaders agreed to stay true to original aspirations and join hands in moving forward at a new historical starting point, creating a better future for the relationships between the CPC and the WPK and between the two countries.
June 30
Latest statistics on the CPC from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee showed that as of the end of 2018, the CPC had 90.594 million members, around 19 times the number in 1949 (4.488 million) when the PRC was founded. And it had 4.61 million primary-level Party organizations.
July 9
A Party building meeting for all departments under the CPC Central Committee and the central government was convened. Xi Jinping addressed the meeting and pointed out that, under the new circumstances, all the departments of the CPC Central Committee and the central government should give priority to the political work in Party building as the overarching principle, focus on deepening theoretical studies, enhancing the grass-roots basis and promoting discipline and anti-corruption work, and comprehensively improve the quality of the Party building work of the CPC Central Committee and state institutions. All the departments of the CPC Central Committee and the central government should serve as role models in studying in depth and putting into practice the Party's ideological theory, in maintaining high alignment with the CPC Central Committee at all times, and in taking resolute actions to implement in earnest various decisions and guidelines of the CPC Central Committee to build model departments that make the CPC Central Committee feel reassured and make the people satisfied.
August 9
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on Supporting Shenzhen in Building a Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.
September 3
The 2019 fall semester training program for young and middle-aged officials at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (the National Academy of Governance) was launched. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Xi Jinping pointed out that officials, young officials in particular, should go through rigorous ideological, political and practical training, maintain a fighting spirit and strengthen the ability to fight. If there was any risk or challenge that endangered the CPC leadership and the socialist system, harmed China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, jeopardized the core and fundamental interests of the country and the people, or hindered the realization of the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, as long as such a risk or challenge presented itself, we must fight in utmost determination against it and we must win the fight.
September 12
When visiting the revolutionary memorial site of the CPC Central Committee in the Fragrant Hills in Beijing, Xi Jinping remarked that to honor the history was to inherit and carry forward the unyielding revolutionary spirit of the elder generation of revolutionaries, just as Mao Zedong's poem line goes, “we'd better strike to catch the dying foe; from Overlord Hsiang never shall we learn.” Xi Jinping called for adhering to the revolutionary ethos of building the Party for the public and exercising power for the people, and the fine tradition of modesty, prudence and frugality. He said history had proved that the CPC and the Chinese people were capable of not only breaking an old world but also of building a new world. And looking ahead, China would have infinitely bright prospects for development.
September 17
Xi Jinping signed a presidential decree to award 42 people national medals and honorary titles in accordance with the decisions of the NPC Standing Committee on conferring national medals and honorary titles. The Medal of the Republic was conferred on eight people, the Friendship Medal on six people, and national honorary titles on 28.
September 20
The Central Conference on CPPCC Work marking the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPPCC was convened. Xi Jinping attended the conferences and delivered a speech, emphasizing that the CPPCC was a great creation of the CPC, which integrated the Marxist-Leninist theories on the united front, political parties and democratic politics with China's realities, and a great achievement of the political system that the CPC led other political parties, personages without party affiliation, people's organizations, and people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life to accomplish. To strengthen and improve the work of the CPPCC in the new era, it was imperative to make upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics the principal axis for consolidating the common ideological and political foundation, serving to achieve the Two Centenary Goals the main task, and strengthening the ideological and political guidance and building consensus on an extensive scale the key link. It was essential to center on the two themes of unity and democracy, improve the CPPCC work of political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in and deliberation of state affairs, build better ways to form consensus, and carry out sound work in upholding the CPPCC system and developing the cause of the CPPCC so that the political responsibility for implementing the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and its requirements for the CPPCC and bringing together the wisdom and strength of the Chinese people at home and abroad could be fulfilled, making contributions to securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and moving on to all-out efforts to build a great modern socialist country.
September 25
The commissioning ceremony of Beijing Daxing International Airport is held. Xi Jinping attends the event and announces the official commissioning of the airport.
All 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region adopt the all-in-one medical insurance card, taking the lead in exploring trans-provincial settlement of outpatient medical bills via basic medical insurance accounts. By December 2021, cross-provincial settlement of general outpatient fees had been realized in all the 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
September 27
Xi Jinping states in his speech at the National Conference Commending Model Groups and Individuals for Contributing to Ethnic Unity and Progress that, “We must focus on heightening a sense of identity of the Chinese nation, and take the cause of ethnic unity and progress as a fundamental task. We must fully implement our Party’s theories and policies concerning ethnic groups, work together for common prosperity and development, and help all ethnic groups remain as closely united as the seeds of a pomegranate, so that the Chinese nation will become a more inclusive and cohesive community with a shared future.”
September 29
The Awarding Ceremony of State Medals and Honorary Titles of the People’s Republic of China is held. Xi Jinping presents medals and awards to recipients of state medals and honorary titles and delivers a speech.
October 1
A ceremony is held by the people of the capital to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Xi stresses in his speech at the event that, “A socialist China is standing firm in the East. No force can ever undermine our great motherland’s status, or stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation from marching forward.” More than 200,000 troops and civilians participate in the military parade and mass procession. Xi Jinping reviews the parade.
October 11–13
Xi Jinping attends the Second Informal Meeting between Chinese and Indian Leaders in Chennai, India, and pays a state visit to Nepal. On October 12, he also meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai. He also meets with Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari in Kathmandu. The two heads of state jointly announce the establishment of China-Nepal strategic cooperative partnership of lasting friendship for development and prosperity.
October 15
China’s first domestically made polar icebreaker the Xuelong-2, or Snow Dragon-2, starts its maiden voyage to the Antarctic.
October 17 and 31
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issue the Program for Improving Civic Morality in the New Era and the Patriotic Education Program in the New Era.
October 20
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issue the Guidelines on Promoting the Inheritance and Innovative Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
October 22
The State Council promulgates the Regulations on Improving the Business Environment. On October 31, 2021, it issues the Guidelines on Launching Pilot Work on Business Environmental Innovation.
October 26
At its 14th Meeting, the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC adopts the Cryptography Law of the People’s Republic of China.
October 28–31
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee is held. Xi Jinping reports to the Plenary Session on behalf of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, delivers the Note to the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Upholding and Improving the Chinese Socialist System and Modernizing China’s System and Capacity for Governance (Draft), and makes a speech. The Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Upholding and Improving the Chinese Socialist System and Modernizing China’s System and Capacity for Governance is adopted at the Plenary Session. It is stated at the Plenary Session that, “In upholding and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance, our general objective is to make all our systems significantly more mature and more well-defined than before by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021; improve our systems and basically modernize China’s system and capacity for governance by 2035; and fully modernize the system and capacity for governance by the time the People’s Republic celebrates its centenary in 2049 so that the socialist system with Chinese characteristics will be more consolidated and its superiority will be fully demonstrated.” It is stressed at the Plenary Session, “We should uphold and improve the fundamental system, basic systems, and major systems that underpin the socialist system with Chinese characteristics; make our foundations more solid, give play to our strengths, address inadequacies, and shore up areas of weakness; and make our systems more complete, effective, standard, and operable.”
November 2
Xi Jinping states in his speech during a visit to the Gubei Community Center in Hongqiao Subdistrict, Changning District, Shanghai that, “We are following a path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, and people’s democracy is whole-process democracy.”
November 3
China’s first sub-meter high-resolution optical transmission type stereo mapping satellite Gaofen-7 is successfully launched.
November 8 and 9
The Joint Session of the Expert Seminar on the Integrated Plan for the Construction of a Free Trade Port in Hainan and the Special Meeting of the Leading Group for Promoting the Comprehensive Deepening of Reform and Opening Up of Hainan is held in Haikou. Han Zheng presides over the meeting and delivers a speech.
November 8–10
The Meeting of the Central Military on Primary-Level Military Development is held. At the meeting, Xi Jinping states in his speech that strengthening the primary-level military development in the new era is the foundation and power for strengthening the military. On November 21, the Central Military Commission makes the Decision on Strengthening Primary-Level Military Development in the New Era.
November 10–15
Xi Jinping pays a state visit to Greece and attends the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil. On November 14, he delivers a speech entitled “Together for a New Chapter in BRICS Cooperation” at the meeting.
November 13
The General Office of the State Council issues the Guidelines on Effectively Strengthening the Development of High-Standard Farmland to Enhance the National Food Security Guarantee Capability, proposing to build 1 billion mu of high-standard farmland nationwide by 2022. On November 4, 2020, it issues the Guidelines on Preventing Cropland from Being Used for Any Purpose Other Than Agriculture to Stabilize Grain Production. In 2021, China’s grain output reaches a record high of 685 million metric tons and has been kept above 650 million metric tons for seven consecutive years.
November 19
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issue the Guidelines on Promoting High-Quality Development of Trade, proposing to promote the coordinated development between imports and exports, between trade in goods and services, between trade and two-way investment, and between trade and industry.
November 20
The Communiqué of the Fourth National Economic Census is released. The census is conducted with December 31, 2018 as the standard time point.
November 27
Xi Jinping stresses in his speech at the opening ceremony of the Training Session for the Heads of All Military Academies that, “It is necessary to thoroughly implement the military education policy in the new era, fully put into practice the strategy of strengthening the military with talent, and comprehensively deepen the reform and innovation of military academies to cultivate high-quality and specialized new military talent with both integrity and competence.”
December 3
A Seminar Marking the 20th Anniversary of the Implementation of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region is held. At the meeting, Li Zhanshu delivers a speech.
December 10–12
The Central Economic Work Conference is held. At the conference, Xi Jinping reviews economic work in 2019, analyzes the economic situation and plans economic work in 2020. Li Keqiang makes specific arrangements for economic work in 2020 and gives a concluding speech. It is stated at the meeting that the new development philosophy is an integrated whole, and its requirements are all-around and multifaceted and are never just about economic indicators, which is an inevitable demand of the new stage of China’s development and the change in the principal contradiction of Chinese society.
December 17
China’s first domestically manufactured aircraft carrier—the Shandong—is launched for the navy, Xi Jinping attends its commissioning ceremony and inspects the aircraft carrier.
December 20
Xi Jinping attends the ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to China and the inauguration of the fifth government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. He states in his speech that, “Four important things can be learned from Macao’s successful application of the One Country, Two Systems policy: We must always have rock-solid confidence in it; stay on the right course of the One Country, Two Systems concept; maintain a strong sense of mission and responsibility in implementing the One Country, Two Systems principle; and cement the social and political foundations for it.”
December 24
The Eighth China-Japan-ROK Leaders’ Meeting is held in Chengdu. Li Keqiang presides over the meeting and delivers a speech.
December 27
The Long March-5 Y3 carrier rocket is successfully launched.
December 28
At its 15th Meeting, the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC adopts the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Basic Medical and Health Care, the Community Correction Law of the People’s Republic of China, the revised Securities Law of the People’s Republic of China, the revised Forestry Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Decision on Revising the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Investments of Taiwan Compatriots, and the Decision on Abolishing the System of “Custody and Education” for Prostitution Related Offences and Related Legal Regulations.
December 30
The State Council promulgates the Regulations on Safeguarding the Payment of Wages to Migrant Workers.
The Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-Speed Railway, the world’s first intelligent high-speed railway with a speed of 350 kilometers per hour, designed and built by China, is opened to traffic.
2019
China’s GDP per capita exceeds US$10,000 for the first time.
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.309-320.
From:A Chronicle of Events Since the Communist Party of China's 19th National Congress, edited by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, published by Central Compilation & Translation Press,2023