On October 16, 2022, the 20th National Congress of the CPC opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a report to the congress on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee. The theme of the congress is: holding high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implementing the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carrying forward the great founding spirit of the CPC, staying confident and building strength, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, forging ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and striving in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.

The 20th National Congress of the CPC is held at a critical time when the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups are embarking on a new journey to building a modern socialist country in all respects and march towards the second Centenary Goal. The Congress is therefore seen as a milestone in the history of the CPC and the country.

The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC systematically reviews the work over the past five years since the 19th National Congress of the CPC, and the great changes in the first decade of the new era. It summarizes the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC in the new era, expounds the two-step strategic plan for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, and focuses on the strategic tasks and major initiatives for the next five years. It is a political manifesto and guideline for the whole CPC and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, to embark on a new journey in building a modern socialist country and marching towards the Second Centenary Goal.

The report demonstrates the determination of Chinese Communists to bear their original aspiration in mind and to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It draws a blueprint for learning from history, creating a bright future and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and calls for the whole nation to strive for the realization of the Second Centenary Goal.

The 20th National Congress of the CPC opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 16, 2022.

Reviewing Experience

The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC describes the past five years as “truly momentous and extraordinary.” In the past five years, the CPC Central Committee coordinated domestic and international situations and held seven plenary sessions at which it made major strategic plans. In accordance with these strategic plans, the CPC Central Committee has coordinated the implementation of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, made significant achievements in economic and social development, governance of the Party, development of the state and the military, domestic and foreign affairs and national defense. By doing so, the First Centenary Goal was achieved on schedule, a moderately prosperous society was built, and the problem of absolute poverty was resolved.

The report outlines the success of the CPC Central Committee in uniting and leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in coping with major risks over the past five years. In responding to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, the Central Committee put the people and their lives above all else, worked to prevent both imported cases and domestic resurgences, and tenaciously pursued a dynamic zero-COVID policy. In launching an all-out people’s war to stop the spread of the virus, the country has protected the people’s health and safety to the greatest extent possible, and made tremendously encouraging achievements in both pandemic response and economic and social development.

In the face of turbulent developments in Hong Kong, the central government exercised its overall jurisdiction over the special administrative region as prescribed by China’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong is governed by patriots and order has been restored in Hong Kong. In response to separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence” and gross provocations of external forces, the CPC Central Committee has resolutely fought against separatism and countered interference, demonstrating its resolve and ability to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to oppose “Taiwan independence.”

Confronted with drastic changes in the international landscapes, especially external attempts to blackmail, contain, blockade, and exert maximum pressure on China, the CPC Central Committee has maintained firm strategic resolve and has shown a fighting spirit. Through these endeavors, the Central Committee has safeguarded China’s dignity and core interests and kept China well-positioned for pursuing development and ensuring security.

The report takes a panoramic view and comprehensively summarizes the great changes and achievements of China in 16 aspects under the leadership of the CPC over the past decade: the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was established; CPC leadership in all respects was strengthened; moderate prosperity, the millennia-old dream of the Chinese nation, was achieved; well-conceived and all-around strategic plans were made for the cause of the Party and the country; a new development philosophy was put forward and applied, and efforts were made to foster a new pattern of development; reform was comprehensively deepened with tremendous political courage; a more proactive strategy of opening-up was pursued; the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics was maintained; a foundational system for ensuring the guiding role of Marxism in the ideological domain was established and upheld; the people-centered philosophy of development was implemented; the idea that lucid water and lush mountains are invaluable assets has been acted upon; a holistic approach to national security has been applied; the CPC’s goal for military development in the new era was set; the policy of One Country, Two Systems was fully and faithfully implemented; the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics was advanced on all fronts; and significant progress in exercising full and rigorous CPC self-governance was made.

During the history of the People’s Republic of China, this past decade has been the decade of improving self-confidence and building strength, as it has achieved a great leap from standing up, growing rich, and becoming strong, and increased its comprehensive national power and international influence as never before. In the history of reform and opening-up, this past decade has been a decade of self-improvement through reforms during which China created the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. These have made China the mainstay of revitalizing socialism in the world.

A Long March-5 rocket lifts off with the Tian-wen-1 Mars probe from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province on July 23, 2020. People are watching the rocket launch at a beach.

Explaining Theories

For a nation to lead the trend of the times, it must be guided by theoretical thinking and correct ideology. An essential role of the CPC’s National Congress is to promote theoretical innovation and constantly arm the whole Party with scientific thinking.

The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC specifically points out, “Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology upon which our Party and our country are founded and thrive” and “At the fundamental level, we owe the success of our Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics to the fact that Marxism works, particularly when it is adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of our times.”

Entering the new era, with new changes in the situations at home and abroad, and the new requirements of practice, there is an urgent need for the Chinese Communists to answer a series of major calls of the times regarding the development of the Party and the nation, and the Party’s governance of the country by combining theory and practice. With the courage to make theoretical explorations and innovations, Chinese Communists, with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, have, from an entirely new perspective, deepened their understanding of the laws that underlie governance by a communist party, the development of socialism, and the evolution of human society. The CPC has achieved major theoretical innovations, which are encapsulated in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The report summarizes the main elements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, namely the 10 affirmations, 14 commitments, and 13 areas of achievement that were articulated at the 19th National Congress and the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. This summary systematically expounds the essence of the theory, clears the vague zone in thinking, and allows us to have a deeper understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era follows the basic tenets of Marxism. It focuses on solving the practical problems in reform, opening-up, and socialist modernization in the new era. What’s more, it absorbs philosophical thought, values, moral norms, and historical wisdom from more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. It therefore opens up a new frontier in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times and ensures the truth of Marxism will flourish.

The report illustrates the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era: being people-centered is an essential attribute, self-confidence and self-reliance are internal characteristics, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground are distinctive theoretical features, adopting a problem-oriented approach is a source of vitality, applying systematic thinking is a primary working method, and maintaining a global vision is a unique perspective.

Charting the Course

The National Congress of the CPC determines the Party’s priorities and main tasks by analyzing the present situation. Making sound judgments on the future according to current conditions, taking a clear-cut stance, and charting the course is of great importance to the development of a political party.

The 20th CPC National Congress dedicated itself to achieving lasting greatness for the Chinese nation, committed itself to the noble cause of peace and development for humanity, and drew the blueprint of China’s development in the coming five years and beyond. The report clearly stated that, “From this day forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.”

Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has always been the wish of Chinese people since the advent of modern times. In the past 100 years, the theme of the endeavors of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people has been to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. “Staying committed to our own path” is the historical conclusion drawn by the CPC over more than 100 years of struggle. Upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is the final answer of the CPC as it leads the Chinese people in building the country. Chinese modernization is the path we must take to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the new journey of the new era.

After the report puts forward the central task of the Party on the new journey of the new era, it expounds on the deep meaning of Chinese modernization. It is noteworthy that before elaborating on the five characteristics of Chinese modernization, the report emphasizes, “Chinese modernization is socialist modernization pursued under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context.” This conclusion demonstrates the CPC’s theoretical self-consciousness and confidence in putting Chinese modernization into practice.

Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all. Common prosperity embodies the purpose and value of socialist development. We will always make people’s aspirations for a better life as the starting point and final goal of modernization. We will also endeavor to promote social fairness and justice, bring prosperity to all, and prevent polarization.

Chinese modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. In advancing socialist modernization, we must promote both all-around material abundance and people’s well-rounded development to achieve progress on all fronts.

Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. Only by staying committed to sustainable development, by following the principles of prioritizing resource conservation and environmental protection and letting nature restore itself, by protecting nature and the environment as we do our own eyes, and by continuing to pursue a model of sound development featuring improved production, higher living standards, and healthy ecosystems, can we ensure the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. Peace and development are the trends of the times and the wish of the people, and profound changes have taken place surrounding the international political and economic order. The old path of war, colonization, and plunder to modernization no longer works. China will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. Dedicated to peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, China will proactively participate in global governance, strive to safeguard world peace and development as we pursue our own development, and make greater contributions to world peace and development through our own development.

To ensure stable and long-term advances, we must understand the essential requirements of Chinese modernization. The report elucidates them as follows: upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China and socialism with Chinese characteristics, pursuing high-quality development, developing whole-process people’s democracy, enriching the people’s cultural lives, achieving common prosperity for all, promoting harmony between humanity and nature, building a human community with a shared future, and creating a new form of human advancement. This is the first time the CPC has summarized the essential requirements of Chinese modernization, emphasizing Party leadership and socialism with Chinese characteristics as the political orientation, highlighting the key requirements and strategic tasks for various fields, and expounding on its contributions and significance to the world.

Doing Solid Work

The report details efforts in 12 aspects to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects by giving full play to the great creative power of the Chinese people. They are: accelerating the creation of a new development pattern and pursuing high-quality development; invigorating China through science and education and developing a strong workforce for the modernization drive; advancing whole-process people’s democracy and ensuring that the people run the country; exercising law-based governance on all fronts and advancing the rule of law in China; building cultural confidence and strength and securing new successes in developing socialist culture; improving the people’s wellbeing and raising the quality of life; pursuing green development and promoting harmony between humanity and nature; modernizing China’s national security system and capacity and safeguarding national security and social stability; achieving the centenary goal of the People’s Liberation Army and further modernizing national defense and the military; upholding and improving the policy of One Country, Two Systems and promoting national reunification; promoting world peace and development and building a human community with a shared future; and exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance while advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era.

The report shows in detail the blueprint and path for the CPC to lead the people in practical work in the next five years and beyond. For an ancient nation to advance ceaselessly and stay engaged with the world, and for a century-old political party to maintain its vigor and embrace the future, they should avoid the distractions of unsubstantial ideas and superficial fame, stay firmly grounded, and carry out substantial work.  

XIA YIPU is an associate research fellow with the Research Center of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.