China has unveiled an ambitious roadmap charting its path towards national rejuvenation, marking significant milestones in 2029, 2035, and culminating in 2049—the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Robert Lawrence Kuhn, a renowned commentator on Chinese affairs, delves into the significance of these dates and the decisions emanating from the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. He emphasizes the importance of understanding CPC announcements to grasp China’s future direction.
“Those who dismiss Party statements as mere rhetoric miss an opportunity to discern insights,” Kuhn notes. The recent plenum reaffirms the nation’s commitment to the Chinese Dream—the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation—set forth by President Xi Jinping.
Key Takeaways from the Third Plenum
The plenum’s communiqué highlights the CPC’s determination to carry out reforms to their completion. Kuhn identifies several significant points:
- Challenging International Environment: Describing the current global landscape as both “grave” and “complex,” acknowledging the difficulties ahead in advancing reform and ensuring stability.
- Upholding Principles While Innovating: Encouraging new thinking without undermining core ideology, balancing tradition with progress.
- Institution Building as a Main Task: Focusing on organizational continuity over individual agendas to strengthen governance.
- Law-Based Governance: Emphasizing that laws apply universally, ensuring no exceptions in their enforcement.
- Systems Thinking Approach: Adopting modern management practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
The communiqué repeatedly uses phrases like “It was stressed” and “It was stated,” which Kuhn interprets as deliberate structuring to emphasize priorities. Notably, the plenum stresses Party ideological commitment and the importance of deepening reforms comprehensively.
Milestone Dates: 2029, 2035, and 2049
The roadmap sets clear targets:
- 2029: A five-year timetable to implement all necessary reforms, establishing criteria for official accountability.
- 2035: Achieving the “basic” realization of socialist modernization.
- 2049: Fully realizing Chinese modernization, fulfilling the aspirations of the Chinese Dream.
Kuhn highlights the significance of the 2029 date, noting it underscores President Xi’s profound commitment to the nation’s goals. “It represents how profoundly President Xi is committed to ‘basically’ realizing socialist modernization by 2035. This should not be taken lightly,” he asserts.
Embracing Reform for Modernization
The plenum’s resolution outlines over 300 reform measures across 15 parts and 60 articles, divided into three sections:
- Significance and requirements of deepening reforms and promoting modernization.
- Economic system reform as the driving force in all fields.
- Strengthening the CPC’s leadership over reforms.
While the term “common prosperity” was not expressly stressed, its essence permeates the themes of integrated urban and rural development and enhancing the people’s wellbeing.
As China navigates its path forward amidst global complexities, understanding these strategic plans provides valuable insights into the nation’s future trajectory and its impact on global affairs.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
