The Three-Step Strategy for Development
As reform and opening up began, the CPC formulated a strategic plan for China's socialist modernization. Unveiled at the 13th CPC National Congress in October 1987, the strategy envisaged three steps for economic development. It drew upon Deng Xiaoping's strategic conclusions. The underlying assumption was that the major challenge in the primary stage of socialism was how to address the inadequate level of development and to satisfy the people's growing material and cultural needs. Aimed at raising the level of development to improve the people's wellbeing, the strategy outlined specific targets for each of the three steps.
First, the years from 1981 to the end of the 1980s would see the doubling of the 1980 GNP, thus meeting the most basic needs of the people; second, GNP would double again between 1991 and the end of the 20th century, bringing the people moderate prosperity; third, with the process of modernization basically completed, per capita GNP was expected to reach the level of a moderately developed country by the mid-21st century, further improving the people's wellbeing.
At its 15th National Congress held in September 1997, the CPC further modified the third step as: first, to double the 2000 GNP by 2010, bring the people greater prosperity, and build a relatively complete socialist market economy; second, to further develop the economy and have a full range of relevant systems in place by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021; and third, to accomplish basic modernization and build China into a prosperous, strong, democratic and culturally advanced socialist country by the time the People's Republic celebrates its centenary in 2049.
At its 19th National Congress in October 2017, the CPC renewed the development goals for the period between 2020 and 2050. The first step is to realize basic modernization by 2035, and the second step is to further develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the mid-21st century.
The three-step strategy for development combined a forward-looking vision for building a prosperous China with prudent and careful planning. As a major blueprint guiding the CPC to advance socialism with Chinese characteristics, it combined the courage and ambition of the Party and the Chinese people with a pragmatic approach rooted in a deep understanding of China's existing conditions.
“三步走”发展战略
改革开放之后，中国共产党对中国社会主义现代化建设作出战略安排，提出“三步走”战略目标。1987年10月，中共十三大根据邓小平的战略构想，明确而系统地阐述了经济发展分“三步走”的战略部署。它以社会主义初级阶段的基本矛盾，即人民日益增长的物质文化需要同落后的社会生产之间的矛盾为线索，以社会生产的发展水平和相应的人民生活水平为标志，来划分经济建设的战略步骤并确定每一步所要达到的目标。
“三步走”发展战略的具体目标为：第一步，1981年到20世纪80年代末，实现国民生产总值比1980年翻一番，解决人民的温饱问题。第二步，1991年到20世纪末，使国民生产总值再增长一倍，人民生活达到小康水平。第三步，到21世纪中叶，人均国民生产总值达到中等发达国家水平，人民生活比较富裕，基本实现现代化。
1997年9月，中共十五大在“三步走”战略的基础上，对实现第三步战略目标制定了具体规划：第一个10年，即到2010年，实现国民生产总值比2000年翻一番，使人民的小康生活更加富裕，形成比较完善的社会主义市场经济体制；再经过10年的努力，到建党100年时，使国民经济更加发展，各项制度更加完善；到21世纪中叶新中国成立100年时，基本实现现代化，建成富强民主文明的社会主义国家。
2017年10月，中共十九大综合分析国际国内形势和中国发展条件，将2020年到21世纪中叶的30年分两个阶段作出规划安排：第一个阶段，从2020年到2035年，在全面建成小康社会的基础上，再奋斗15年，基本实现社会主义现代化。第二个阶段，从2035年到21世纪中叶，在基本实现现代化的基础上，再奋斗15年，建成富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化强国。
“三步走”发展战略，对中华民族百年图强的宏伟目标作了积极而稳妥的规划，既体现了中国共产党和中国人民勇于进取的精神，又反映了从实际出发、遵循客观规律的科学精神，是中国共产党探索中国特色社会主义建设规律的重大成果。