Setting Sail for a New Era

Xi Jinping lays out a grand vision for China’s development in the decades to come as the 19th CPC National Congress opens

“The original aspiration and mission of Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation，” remarked Xi Jinping， General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China （CPC）， while delivering a report at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 18， 2017.

More than 2，300 CPC delegates and specially invited delegates attended the opening session， which also drew remarkable attention from around the world. What is the historic position China is holding in this day and age？ What is its future direction？ And， what is the influence the emerging power will bring to the world？ Xi’s report to the 19th CPC National Congress provides answers to these questions.

New Thought in the New Era

Offering a blueprint for China to embark on a new journey with new missions to accomplish in a new epoch， Xi’s 30，000-character report puts forth a series of new thought， new concepts and new propositions the CPC is to adhere to while striving for great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era， as the report states. The historic achievements and theoretical innovations of the past five years have laid a solid foundation for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The valuable governance experience of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core has helped forge the fundamental policies of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The nationwide efforts to realize the Chinese Dream have also facilitated strategic planning for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The notable progress made in exercising full and strict Party self-governance over the past five years has consolidated the leadership of the CPC.

Elaborating on the historic mission of the CPC in the new era， General Secretary Xi stressed that achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream for the nation in modern times. “Realizing our great dream demands great struggle，” he said. “Realizing our great dream also needs great projects and great undertaking.” These factors are closely linked and interact with one another， with the great new project of Party building playing a pivotal role， he explained.

A new era calls for new thought. The CPC rolled out the “Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” at its 19th National Congress， which has generated interest and discussion among scholars. The report makes clear that the CPC leadership is the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics， and that the Party is the highest force for political leadership.

The 19th CPC National Congress was held at a key juncture ahead of China’s Two Centenary Goals. In his report， Xi Jinping noted that the next five years before the 20th CPC National Congress will be a vital period in which China will complete building a moderately prosperous society by 2020 to celebrate the Party’s centenary while embarking on the journey of realizing its second centennial goal — building a modern socialist country that is prosperous， strong， democratic， culturally advanced and harmonious by the middle of the 21st century to mark the centenary of the People’s Republic.

As a guiding document for China’s development， Xi’s report mobilized all Party members to work hard to fulfill the first Centenary Goal and prepare to set sail on a new voyage towards the goal of building a modern socialist country with lasting peace and glory.

Congratulatory Messages

The historic shifts over the past five years have not only brought changes to China， but also exerted influence upon the world. Xi’s report lasted three-and-a-half hours， during which the entire audience burst into spontaneous applause more than 70 times. Since the 18th CPC National Congress， under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee， China has scored remarkable achievements in its modernization drive after trials and hardships， bringing tangible benefits to its citizens and wowing the world as well.

Political parties， organizations and politicians from other countries have sent congratulatory messages to the CPC on the convening of its 19th National Congress， agreeing that the successful experience of the CPC in upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics based on its fundamental realities has proven to be a correct path that allows China to offer a new option for other nations which strive to accelerate development while maintaining their independence， and contribute Chinese proposals and Chinese wisdom to the settlement of problems faced by mankind.

In her letter of congratulation， Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi affirmed her belief that under the wise leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping， major policies formulated at the 19th CPC National Congress will not only promote progress and prosperity of China， but will also benefit world peace and stability.

Jose de Venecia， founding chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties （ICAPP）， and ICAPP Vice Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed also extended their congratulations， hailing that significant results have been achieved towards the realization of the Chinese Dream under the leadership of the CPC. The ICAPP will further enhance ties with the CPC， also a founding member of the ICAPP， to make joint efforts to promote world peace and development， they added.

Secretary-General Tengku Adnan bin Tengku Mansor of the United Malays National Organization （UMNO） sent a letter of congratulation， showing his confidence in greater achievements of China through the insightful leadership of Xi Jinping as well as further contributions the country will make to global growth.

There is no end to practice， nor to theoretical innovation. Many foreign scholars have pointed out that Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era best testifies to the CPC’s theoretical character of advancing with the times.

According to Dr. Oh Ei Sun， former political secretary to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and principal adviser at the Malaysia-based Pacific Research Centre， new diplomatic theories China has put forward in recent years including the new type of major power relations， the Belt and Road Initiative and human community of shared future have achieved positive results. Belt and Road construction， in particular， has helped China improve relations with neighboring countries.

The Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is also meaningful to the international community. General Secretary Xi stated in his report that the continuous development of the path， theory， institution and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics has expanded the developing nations’ path towards modernization. He also stressed that China will stick to the path of peaceful development and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.