Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Wang Xiaohui, deputy head in charge of routine work of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee;

Jiang Jinquan, deputy director in charge of routine work of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee;

Han Wenxiu, deputy director in charge of routine work of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs;

Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress;

Yuan Shuhong, vice minister and secretary of the Leading CPC Members Group of the Ministry of Justice;

Shu Qiming, deputy secretary-general of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Chairperson:

Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office.

Date:

Nov. 1, 2019

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Xu Lin:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to the press conference on the fourth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The fourth plenary session was convened Oct. 28 to 31 in Beijing, attracting great attention of Chinese and foreign media. To help media friends get a better understanding of the meeting, today, we have invited the heads of six departments to introduce related issues and answer some of your questions. 

Present at today's conference are: Mr. Wang Xiaohui, deputy head in charge of routine work of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; Mr. Jiang Jinquan, deputy director in charge of routine work of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; Mr. Han Wenxiu, deputy director in charge of routine work of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs; Mr. Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; Mr. Yuan Shuhong, vice minister and secretary of the Leading CPC Members Group of the Ministry of Justice; and Mr. Shu Qiming, deputy secretary-general of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Since there are many foreign reporters on the site, simultaneous interpretation service is provided to help you learn about the situation. If you ask questions in English, we will provide translations on the spot. 

Now, Mr. Wang Xiaohui will make an introduction of the plenary session.

Wang Xiaohui:

Friends from the media, good morning. It's my pleasure to brief you on the fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). As the chairperson has just said, the fourth plenary session, presided over by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, was convened from Oct. 28 to 31 in Beijing. The plenary session heard and discussed the work report delivered by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, as being entrusted by the Political Bureau. It fully recognized and highly praised the bureau's work since the third plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. It reviewed and approved the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Some Major Issues Concerning Upholding and Improving Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Modernizing National Governance System and Capacity. It also reviewed and approved the decisions to fill the vacancies on the CPC Central Committee, and impose disciplinary penalties on a rule breaker. At the conclusion of the plenary session, General Secretary Xi delivered an important speech. All items of the session's agenda were completed. 

This is the first time for the Party to use a plenary session to discuss the country's system and governance issues, and make decisions on them. From my point of view, to understand the historical position and the far-reaching influence of the fourth plenary session, we should relate it to the overall situation and long-term advancement of the causes of the Party and the country.

First, this plenary session is an important meeting held at a critical moment. Currently, China is at a crucial moment in fulfilling the "two centenary goals." Internationally, the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, making the external environment for China's development more complicated. Domestically, China is in a crucial period of achieving national rejuvenation, and has entered the final stage of securing a decisive victory in establishing a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. At this moment, we need to better reflect on the past and plan for the future. The background and the timing make the plenary session particularly important with special strategic significance.

Second, the theme of the plenary session is of fundamental importance. Upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing the national governance system and capacity is vital to advancing the causes of the Party and the country, to the long-term stability of the country, and to the wellbeing of the people. The CPC Central Committee decided to use a plenary session to discuss this important issue from its comprehensive judgment of the political situation, the overall national situation and the existing strategies. The decision made according to the current situation with a view to the future fully demonstrates the broad and long-term strategic vision and the strong sense of responsibility of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core. 

It is a political declaration of increasing confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics to unswervingly uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is also a political mobilization to carry out our great struggle, advance our great cause, develop our great project and realize our great dream to unswervingly promote reform and opening-up in the new era.

Third, the plenary session is a fruitful meeting that will have a far-reaching influence. Its most important outcome is the Decision. The Decision's greatest historical contribution is finding answers to important political questions of "What to uphold and consolidate? What to improve and develop?". The Decision encapsulates the historical achievements in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. It summarizes the distinct advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the country's governance system. It also expounds on the fundamental, basic and important systems that support socialism with Chinese characteristics. It identifies the overall requirements, overall objectives and major tasks of upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing the national governance system and capacity. There are both new conclusions of theories and new requirements for implementation. The Decision thus serves as a political declaration and a plan of action for upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing the national governance system and capacity. 

To sum up, the fourth plenary session is a groundbreaking and landmark event of great importance. We believe that with the implementation of its principles, it must have a significant and far-reaching influence on promoting socialism with Chinese characteristics to be more mature and complete, and on better translating the advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the strengths of our national governance. Thank you.