The upcoming Third Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is set to play a pivotal role in outlining the nation’s roadmap towards its centenary in 2049. This session will deliberate on the vision, principles, and policies established by President Xi Jinping to achieve China’s ambitious goal of national rejuvenation.
Drawing parallels to the 2013 Third Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which focused on extensive reforms across 60 areas with 336 major measures, the 2024 session aims to consolidate China’s progress and address ongoing challenges. Notable achievements since 2013 include significant environmental improvements, with Beijing witnessing an increase of 95 days of blue skies annually, transforming temporary 'APEC blue' into lasting 'Beijing Blue'. Additionally, China's social security system has expanded remarkably, now covering 94.6% of the population compared to just 15.7% in 2004.
Despite these advancements, President Xi acknowledges that numerous challenges remain. These include disparities in development and income distribution between urban and rural areas, as well as difficulties in sectors such as employment, education, medical services, childcare, elderly care, housing, and environmental protection. Addressing these issues is a key focus of the upcoming Plenum.
At the heart of China’s strategy is the concept of 'new quality productive forces,' which emphasizes high-quality development driven by indigenous innovation, particularly in science and technology. This approach aims to pivot China’s growth model towards quality over quantity, fostering scientific innovation to drive economic transformation, revitalize existing industries, develop future sectors, and enhance environmental sustainability.
System reforms will also play a crucial role, including modernizing scientific and technological management and removing existing bottlenecks. The Politburo has emphasized that advancing Chinese modernization requires law-based governance, ensuring that major reforms are supported by a robust legal framework.
This Third Plenum is expected to declare an expansive mission and comprehensive policies that will guide China’s economic and social developments in the foreseeable future, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and high-quality growth.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
