Press conference on the 20th CPC National Congress

Liu Siyang:

Now the floor is open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising questions.

China Media Group:

At last year's ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping declared to the world that China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Has this society met the preset objectives? How do you evaluate it? In addition, at the 19th CPC National Congress, the Party set the goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects through two stages by the middle of the 21st century. What new arrangements will be made at the 20th CPC National Congress to achieve this goal?

Sun Yeli:

Building a moderately prosperous society was a strategic goal put forward by our Party at the beginning of reform and opening up. The term "moderately prosperous," or "Xiaokang" in Chinese, was originally defined as a more comfortable life, neither rich nor poor, with the per capita gross domestic product ranging from $800 to $1,000. 

As China advanced its reform and opening up and continuously accelerated its development, the definition of "Xiaokang" has been further expanded, and our Party has constantly raised new requirements for achieving a moderately prosperous society. The 18th CPC National Congress set the clear goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the centenary of the CPC, further outlined what such a society should look like, and put forward new related requirements. 

Thanks to the sustained efforts of generations after generations of Chinese people, particularly the efforts by the whole Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have been united and overcome obstacles and difficulties, won decisive battles, and finally realized this long-cherished aspiration.

Currently, the moderately prosperous society we have built has far exceeded our expectations at the beginning of reform and opening up, and has met the goals and requirements set forth at the 18th CPC National Congress. It is fair to say that this moderately prosperous society is of high quality. By 2020, for example, our GDP had reached 101.6 trillion yuan and per capita GDP had exceeded $10,000, maintaining the country's status as the world's second largest economy. By 2020, more than 400 million Chinese had joined the middle-income group, and they had become the largest middle-income group with the greatest growth potential in the world. By 2020, the Engel's coefficient of urban and rural residents had dropped to 29.2% and 32.7%, respectively, and people's quality of life had improved significantly.

A moderately prosperous society is not only judged by the economic aggregate, average numbers, or the living conditions of the middle-income group, but judged, first and foremost, by how the living conditions have improved for the impoverished. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, our Party has made ending extreme poverty China's benchmark task in achieving moderate prosperity in all respects. On top of the long-term poverty alleviation work in the past, we have launched a critical battle against the remaining most entrenched poverty, and achieved a full victory. By the end of 2020, all the 98.99 million poor rural residents had shaken off poverty, and all the 832 poverty-stricken counties and 128,000 impoverished villages had gotten rid of poverty, which was unprecedented in China's history and constituted a miracle in poverty reduction work through human history as well.

It should also be noted that our moderately prosperous society is one in all respects. Our whole-process people's democracy has continued to develop, people's intellectual and cultural lives have been further enriched, access to basic public services has become much more equal, and breakthroughs have been made in ecological conservation. These accomplishments are concrete and real, and can stand up to scrutiny.

Completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects marks historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country and constitutes a new starting point for the cause. Our next goal is to build a great modern socialist country in all respects. The 20th CPC National Congress, built on the 19th CPC National Congress, will broadly envision the two strategic stages in the building of a great modern socialist country in all respects, and focus on setting out the strategic tasks and important measures for the next five years. Looking ahead, we have the confidence, resolve, and capability to achieve the new goals and create greater miracles. Thank you.