19th CPC Congress: China Announces Transition To New Development Era

The overall goal is to deliver on the two centenary goals, realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and steadily improve people’s lives.

After decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on October 18, 2017 in the capital Beijing, at the opening of the Communist Party of China, CPC 19^th national congress. Addressing 2,280 party delegates in the Great Hall of the People, Xi, who is also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said the “new historic juncture in China’s development” will build on past successes to further advance the nation’s cause.  

Presenting a report of the CPC’s stewardship in the past five years that took 3 hours, 15 minutes, Xi noted that the period between 2017 and 2020 will be decisive in completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. He explained that based on a comprehensive analysis of the international and domestic environments and the conditions for China’s development, a two-stage development plan for 2020 to the middle of the 21^st Century has been developed.

The first stage, which runs from 2020-2035, is to build on the foundation laid by the moderately prosperous society expected to be achieved in 2020; and 15 years of hard work to ensure socialist modernization. The second stage of the development plan from 2035 to the middle of 21^st Century, another period of 15 years, is meant to develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. The overall goal is to deliver on the two centenary goals, realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and steadily improve people’s lives.

Looking back at the past five years since the 18^th CPC national congress in 2012 when he took over as CPC Central Committee General Secretary and President, Xi Jinping said a number of achievements have been made. These include Gross Domestic Product, GDP rising from 54 trillion Yuan to 80 trillion Yuan and China maintaining its position as the world’s second largest economy, contributing more than 30 per cent of global economic growth. China’s annual grain production reached 600 million metric tonnes, and more than 80 million people who moved from rural to urban areas secured permanent jobs after receiving skills training.

Breakthroughs were made in deepening reforms with 1,500 reform measures taken, while democracy and the rule of law were strengthened and living standards improved with over 60 million people lifted out of poverty. Employment grew steadily with 13 million urban jobs on average created each year as China also became an important participant, contributor and torchbearer in the global endeavour for ecological civilization. Military training and war preparedness received strengthening and weapons and equipment development was stepped up.

The principle of “one country, two systems” concerning Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions was fully implemented, the Belt and Road Initiative pursued, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank initiated and the Silk Road Fund set up. With continuous party reforms, the Chinese leader said CPC party members’ sense of consciousness was deepened. Firm measures were employed to “take out tigers,” “swat flies,” and “hunt down foxes,” Xi said, referring to the anti-graft and party indiscipline drive that targets both the high...