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Speakers:

Mr. Chen Yixin, secretary-general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Mr. Jiang Jinquan, director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee

Mr. Mu Hong, deputy director in charge of routine work of the Office of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform and vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission

Mr. Wang Jianxin, director of the Publicity Department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC and the National Supervisory Commission

Mr. Tang Fangyu, deputy director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Research Department of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee

Mr. Sun Yeli, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee

Chairperson:

Mr. Liu Siyang, secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the All-China Journalists Association

Date:

Oct. 24, 2022

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Liu Siyang:

Ladies and gentlemen, comrades, friends from the media, good morning. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) successfully concluded on Oct. 22. Today we have invited officials from the CPC Central Committee to introduce and interpret the report to the 20th CPC National Congress. They are Mr. Chen Yixin, secretary-general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee; Mr. Jiang Jinquan, director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; Mr. Mu Hong, deputy director in charge of routine work of the Office of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform of the CPC and vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission; Mr. Wang Jianxin, director of the Publicity Department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC and the National Supervisory Commission; Mr. Tang Fangyu, deputy director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Research Department of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; and Mr. Sun Yeli, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Jiang for his introduction.

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Jiang Jinquan:

Friends from the media, I will brief you mainly from two aspects.

First of all, I would like to briefly introduce the report to the 20th CPC National Congress.

The 20th CPC National Congress is a meeting of great importance. It took place at a critical time as the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups embark on a new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance toward the Second Centenary Goal. It holds high its banner, pools all the strength, and promotes solidarity and dedication. Based on an analysis of the international and domestic environments, the report adopted at the congress sets out the theme of the congress, reviews the work of the past five years and the great changes in the first decade of the new era, and elaborates on major topics including a new frontier in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, the essential requirements of Chinese modernization and its features that are unique to the Chinese context, among others. It draws up a grand blueprint and practical path for building a great modern socialist country in all respects, and formulates policies, guidelines, and overall plans for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the next five years. It is a political declaration and a program of action for the Party to unite the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and lead them in striving for new success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. It is a programmatic document of Marxism.

The report, produced by fully carrying forward intra-Party democracy and whole-process people's democracy, is a crystallization of the wisdom of the whole Party and the Chinese people. The CPC Central Committee conducted two rounds of appropriate intra-Party consultations, soliciting opinions from over 4,700 people, and carried out extensive consultations among the public via online channels, collecting over 8.5 million opinions. The report is a collection of practical experience and theoretical innovation of the Party and the people in the new era and a crystallization of the wisdom of the whole Party and society. It meets the expectations of the people, and will undoubtedly make significant and far-reaching impacts on the endeavor of the Party to rally the people and lead them in building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. It will inevitably help the international community further understand the Party's governance philosophy, approaches, and capacity.

Next, I would like to share with you my understanding of the great changes in the first decade of the new era set forth in the report.

Part I concisely summarizes the work of the past five years since the 19th CPC National Congress, and reviews in detail the great changes in the first decade of the new era. Over the 10 years, China has moved onto a great new step in development, the cause of the Party and the country has broken new ground, and we have stepped up efforts to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Over the 10 years, the Party has united and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to adopt a number of strategic measures, develop a range of transformative practices, and make a series of breakthroughs and landmark advances. We have withstood risks and challenges in the political, economic, ideological, and natural domains, secured historic achievements and seen historic changes in the cause of the Party and the country, and taken China on a new journey toward building a modem socialist country in all respects.

The great changes in the first decade of the new era, which are all-round, fundamental and critical to the whole landscape, are reflected in various respects including reform, development, stability, internal affairs, diplomacy, national defense, as well as running the Party, the country, and the military. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress, stirring and inspiring, summarizes the great transformation in the past decade in 16 respects, fully demonstrating the momentous journey we have traveled in achieving the great changes in the new era. For me, six respects are of most significance. First, we have secured the major political achievement of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been a significant political choice of our Party since the 18th CPC National Congress. It is the most important political achievement in the first decade of the new era that underpins the great transformation. It is of decisive significance for developing the cause of the Party and the country as well as advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Second, the CPC has tempered itself through revolution and grown stronger. Over 10 years of exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party, the problem of lax and weak self-governance in Party organizations has been addressed at the root, serious hidden dangers in the Party, the country, and the military have been removed, the Party's bond with the people has become ever closer, and the Party has made profound headway. These are of critical and far-reaching significance to ensuring that the Party will never change its nature, its conviction, or its character and that the Party remains the strong leadership core in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Third, we have successfully achieved the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Over the past decade, we have implemented the new development philosophy, remained committed to high-quality development, deepened the supply-side structural reform, and accelerated the efforts to create a new pattern of development. We have mobilized the whole country and won the battle against poverty, resolved once and for all the problem of absolute poverty in China, and completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled. We have fostered a great era unprecedented in China's history where across-the-board progress has been made in society and the economy and benefits have been enjoyed by all the people, providing more solid material foundations for achieving the Second Centenary Goal and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Fourth, our capacity for safeguarding national security has been significantly enhanced. Over the past decade, we have pursued a holistic approach to national security, ensured both development and security, improved the national security system, not yielded any ground on matters of principle, effectively addressed the provocation and sabotage by external forces concerning Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Xizang, the South China Sea, and other matters, and resolutely safeguarded China's sovereignty, security, and development interests. National security has thus been strengthened on all fronts. Fifth, our international standing has been remarkably increased. Over the past decade, we have pursued major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics on all fronts, promoted the development of a human community with a shared future, and stood firm in protecting international fairness and justice. We have advocated and practiced true multilateralism, taken a clear-cut stance against hegemonism and power politics in all their forms, and never wavered in our opposition to unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying of any kind. We have actively participated in the reform and development of the global governance system. China's international influence, appeal, and power to shape have risen markedly. Sixth, the strengths of our systems have been further unleashed. Over the past decade, we have comprehensively deepened reform with tremendous political courage, and firmly removed institutional obstacles in all areas. This has enabled us to put in place foundational institutional frameworks in all sectors, and to achieve historic, systemic, and holistic transformations in many fields. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has become more mature and well-defined, and China's system and capacity for governance have been further modernized, providing stronger institutional underpinnings for the long-term stability of the Party and the country as well as the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

We owe these great changes to the firm leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the united efforts and indomitable struggle of the whole Party, the entire military, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, as well as the collective dedication and hard work of our Party and our people. These great changes will go down in history with lasting glory.

Thank you.

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Liu Siyang:

Thank you, Mr. Jiang Jinquan. Now let's give the floor to Mr. Sun Yeli for his introduction. 

Sun Yeli:

Friends from the media, good morning! The report to the 20th CPC National Congress is a political declaration and a program of action for the CPC to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to secure new successes in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. The report features great visions, deep insights, rich connotations, and profound thoughts. It encapsulates the innovations made in the Party's theories and practices since the 18th CPC National Congress, and provides a sound guidance for further innovations in this regard.

I will brief you on the important discourses in the report regarding promoting theoretical innovations and opening a new frontier in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

The second part of the report focuses on theoretical innovations. Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology upon which our Party and our country are founded and thrive, but our Party does not stubbornly adhere to specific discourses of certain classic theorists. Instead, we have been constantly working to adapt it to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, bearing in mind the new changes and practical demands emerging both in and outside of China, Chinese Communists represented by Comrade Xi Jinping have provided in-depth theoretical and practical answers to a series of epochal questions on the cause of the Party and the country as well as the Party's governance of China. Major theoretical innovations have been achieved, which are encapsulated in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The thought is Marxism of contemporary China and Marxism of the 21st century. It embodies the essence of Chinese culture and Chinese spirit, marking a new breakthrough in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The 19th CPC National Congress and the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee have summarized the main points of the thought, which we must adhere to over the long term and continue to enrich and develop.

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress expounds on integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realties and fine traditional culture. It has greatly deepened our understanding of upholding and developing Marxism, and is a key for us to understand and gain a good command of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. I will elaborate on this.

First, integrating Marxism with China's specific realities, which has always been emphasized and pursued by the Party, is the most precious experience gained in the 100-year history of the Party, and is an effective instrument for the sustained success of the cause of the Party. During the New Democratic Revolution, based on China's realities, the CPC creatively developed a unique path of revolution, namely, the path of encircling cities from the countryside. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the CPC continued to explore the way of socialist construction to match China's realities. In the 1950s, Comrade Mao Zedong wrote the "On Ten Major Relationships." During the period of reform and opening up, the Party developed the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics. And after the 18th CPC National Congress, we established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a guiding ideology of the CPC. This is exactly a process of combining the tenets of Marxism with China's ever-changing realities. The CPC encountered dogmatism in its history, characterized by a departure from China's realities, and rigid adoption of classic doctrines and foreign experiences. It dealt severe blows to our cause, serving as a constant lesson for us. Therefore, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized in the report that we should not treat Marxism as a rigid dogma, but should continue to free our minds, seek truth from facts, move with the times, and take a realistic and pragmatic approach. 

Second, we must integrate Marxism with the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation. This was proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the ceremony marking the Party's founding centenary, and was then further elaborated in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress. This is another major innovation to the Party's theory system, opening a new paradigm of theoretical innovation of the Party. In fact, our system and path, as well as the lines, principles and policies of our Party, have always reflected China's fine traditional culture, yet it hasn't been made clear theoretically. It is of great significance for General Secretary Xi Jinping for the first time to make a clear statement on the integration. This is an insightful summarization of our history and a deep revelation of the laws governing the development of all things, leading us to the correct direction for future theoretical development. While embodying the new heights of Chinese Communists in their awareness and level of knowledge, it also reflected the strong cultural confidence and self-awareness of the CPC and the Chinese people. This integration is well founded. How did Marxism become the choice of the Chinese people in fierce competition with other theories after it was introduced to China? Not by chance. An important reason is that China's fine traditional culture naturally bonds with the propositions of scientific socialism values. In our Party's course of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, the Chinese civilization which dates back to ancient times has been rejuvenated by the power of Marxism as being truthful, and in turn, China's fine traditional culture nurtured Marxism with its rich cultural elements. So the Marxism adapted to the Chinese context has a distinct Chinese style and Chinese charisma. This second "integration" will be sure to bond even more closely the Party's theories with the more than 5,000 years' history of the splendid Chinese civilization, achieving more abundant ideological and cultural resources. Also, it will ensure that the Party's theories are more deeply rooted in China and in the hearts of hundreds of millions of Chinese people.

The report also explains the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, namely, the "six musts": we must put the people first; we must maintain self-confidence and stand on our own feet; we must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground; we must adopt a problem-oriented approach; we must apply systems thinking; and we must maintain a global vision. This fully exhibits the theoretical character and distinct features of this well-conceived thought, and also shows General Secretary Xi Jinping's dedication to stand firmly with the people, his confidence and pride in the nation, , his courage to uphold fundamental principles while breaking new ground, his strong awareness of problems, his holistic and systems thinking, and his broad mindedness which is like vast oceans admitting all rivers. We must have a firm grasp of and follow through these basic requirements when studying and practicing this thought.

That's all I want to say for now. Thank you all!

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Liu Siyang:

Thank you to Mr. Sun. Mr. Mu, please speak next.

Mu Hong:

Hello, friends from the media. I will brief you on the strategic arrangements for pursuing high-quality development that are mentioned in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress.

The report points out that, to build a modern socialist country in all respects, we must, first and foremost, pursue high-quality development. Development is our Party's top priority in governing and rejuvenating China. Pursuing high-quality development as our overarching task, we will make sure that our implementation of the strategy to expand domestic demand is integrated with our efforts to deepen supply-side structural reform; we will boost the dynamism and reliability of the domestic economy while engaging at a higher level in the global economy; and we will move faster to build a modernized economy. We will raise total factor productivity, make China's industrial and supply chains more resilient and secure, and promote integrated urban-rural development and coordinated regional development, so as to effectively upgrade and appropriately expand China's economic output.

When learning and understanding the guiding principles of the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, one may ask a question: why does the report say that pursuing high-quality development is our overarching task in building a modern socialist country in all respects and stress that it is an essential requirement of Chinese modernization? Since the reform and opening up policy was adopted, we have always taken development as the foundation of and the key to addressing all problems. From the strategic thinking of development being of paramount importance to taking development as the Party's top priority in governance, and from the Scientific Outlook on Development to the new development philosophy, the Party's philosophy on development has been constantly updated, enriched and innovated in light of changes in the development stages and tasks. In the new era, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society is that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. The contradictions and problems in development are more closely related to the quality of development. In building a modern socialist country in all respects, we must uphold a people-centered philosophy of development, work faster to transform the growth model, make economic growth more innovation-driven, and work hard for better quality, higher efficiency and more robust growth drivers through reform, so as to raise the quality and level of development. The CPC Central Committee has underlined that implementing the new development philosophy and pursuing high-quality development are a profound transformation concerning the success of China's modernization drive, and the GDP growth should no longer be taken as the sole criterion for evaluating performance. Instead, we will strive for high-quality development, with innovation being the primary driving force, coordination being an endogenous feature, green development being a prevailing mode, openness being an essential path, and sharing being the fundamental goal. That is why the report places the quality of development at a more prominent position, with requirements illustrated for high-quality development in various fields including the economy, society, culture and ecology.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has made a series of important judgments and strategic deployments on development in the new era. At its fifth plenary session, the 18th CPC Central Committee put forward a new development philosophy emphasizing innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all. The 19th CPC National Congress pointed out that China's economy had been transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development. At its fifth plenary session, the 19th CPC Central Committee clearly put forward that we should prioritize promoting high-quality development, and work faster to foster a new development pattern that is focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows. Over the past decade, China's economic and technological strength, and composite national strength have increased significantly, with its position as the world's second largest economy consolidated. The per capita GDP has increased to 81,000 yuan. In the meanwhile, the ratio of the country's input into research and development to its GDP rose to 2.44% in 2021 from 1.91% in 2012, and its ranking on the Global Innovation Index rose from the 34th to the 11th. The urbanization rate went up from 53.1% to 64.7%. The ratio between the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents dropped from 2.88:1 to 2.5:1. The average life expectancy rose to 78.2 years. The size of middle-income group has been steadily expanded. Nearly 100 million poor rural residents have been lifted out of poverty. We have built the largest education, social security and healthcare systems in the world, witnessed historic, transformative and comprehensive changes in ecological environment, and proactively prevented and defused various risks. All these facts show that China has gradually improved the quality of development.

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress has made it clear that pursuing high-quality development is our overarching task in building a modern socialist country in all respects. This further highlights that development quality is of overall and long-term significance. The report also makes strategic arrangements on how to boost high-quality development in the following major aspects:

First, we will accelerate the creation of a new development pattern. We will expand domestic demand as a strategic move, deepen supply-side structural reform, accelerate the development of a unified domestic market, promote the full flow of various kinds of production factors, modernize the industrial system, make China's industrial and supply chains more resilient and secure, and deeply involve ourselves in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation. In such a way, we will foster a new pattern of development that is focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows.

Second, we will resolutely implement the innovation-driven development strategy and seek impetus through innovation. We will improve the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide to make key technological breakthroughs, boost China's strength in strategic science and technology, and achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. We will promote social and economic development through greater sci-tech self-reliance and enhance the quality and efficiency of real economy through innovation. In the meantime, we will also optimize the ecosystem for sci-tech innovation and build a multi-layered innovation system involving multiple actors.

Third, we will build a high-standard socialist market economy and seek vitality through reform. We will make better use of our "game-changing move" which is reform and opening up and continue reforms to develop the socialist market economy. We will unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector. We will work to see that the market plays the decisive role in resource allocation and that the government better plays its role, and fully motivate and protect all sectors to use their enthusiasm and creativity to promote socialist modernization.

Fourth, we will advance rural revitalization across the board. We will focus on pursuing integrated development of urban and rural areas and facilitate the flows of production factors between them. We will promote the comprehensive revitalization of rural industries, talents, culture, ecology, and organizations, and foster agricultural and rural modernization.

Fifth, we will focus on promoting coordinated regional development. We will implement major regional strategies and enable developed and under-developed regions, as well as the eastern, middle and western regions and the northeastern region, to complement each other with their respective strength and pursue common development, in a bid to make solid efforts to foster common prosperity among all the people.

Sixth, we will promote high-standard opening up. We will leverage the strengths of China's enormous market to attract global resources and production factors, in a bid to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and engage at a higher level in the global economy. We will steadily expand institutional opening up and establish an open economy featuring shared benefits and win-win outcomes, diversification and balanced development, as well as safety and efficiency.

In conclusion, the 20th CPC National Congress has made important arrangements focusing on the high-quality development. We need to fully grasp and resolutely put into practice these arrangements and earnestly fulfill the requirements of high-quality development in all aspects of our work.

Against the backdrop of a challenging and complex international landscape nowadays, some friends both at home and abroad are concerned about China's development. I believe that the strategic measures proposed in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, which focus on both current and future issues, are certainly conducive to removing misgivings and boosting confidence.

Thank you.

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Liu Siyang:

Thank you, Mr. Mu. Next, I'll give the floor to Mr. Chen.

Chen Yixin:

Friends from the media, good morning. I will brief you on my understanding about exercising law-based governance on all fronts and advancing the rule of law in China.

For the first time, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress has taken advancing the rule of law as a separate section and made arrangements accordingly. This fully shows that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to exercising law-based governance on all fronts. First, from a political point of view, the report has further pledged the Party's resolve to advance the rule of law. The report has also demonstrated that the Party is brave in revolution, adept in construction and bold in reform; and that the Party believes in the rule of law, stands fast to the rule of law, and strives to develop the rule of law. The report is the Party's political declaration to exercising law-based governance on all fronts. Second, from a theoretical point of view, the report has further enriched and developed Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and deepened the understanding of the laws on CPC's law-based governance, on the socialist rule of law, and on the rule of law in human society. The report is an instrumental document for the Party to advance the rule of law in China. Third, from a practical point of view, the report has further deepened and expanded the Party and nation's work arrangements in this field in the new era, and demonstrated that all work of the state will be carried out under the rule of law. This is a significant measure for the Party to exercise the governance of the nation.

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress gives a comprehensive explanation of the status and role, overall requirements and key tasks of advancing the rule of law. In my opinion, there are mainly five aspects in this regard. 

First, the report highlights the principles in advancing the rule of law, which is the overall requirement for advancing the rule of law in the new era. The report explains the position of the comprehensive advancement of law-based governance in the country's overall work, clarifies the general requirements for advancing the rule of law in the new era, which has taken hold of the principles and enables everything fall in place. We must uphold Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as our guide. We must, with a focus on the overall goal of developing a Chinese system of socialist rule of law and establishing China as a socialist country under the rule of law, uphold the unity between Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance, and firmly stay on the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. Only in this way, can we steadily advance the rule of law in China in the new era.

Second, the report highlights the rules for advancing the rule of law, which is to improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics with the Constitution at its core. Laws are the paramount rules to observe in governance. To improve the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, we must continue to make legislation our top priority, and give full play to its guiding and driving role. We will step up legislation in key, emerging, and foreign-related fields and make further headway in making laws in a well-conceived and democratic way and in accordance with the law. We will see that legislative work is more systematic, holistic, coordinated, and responsive, so that good laws are made to promote development and ensure good governance.

Third, the report highlights the key task in advancing the rule of law, which is to steadily advance law-based government administration. Building a law-based government is a key task and major part of comprehensively advancing law-based governance. Only when the government takes the lead to advance law-based administration and comply with the law, can the country realize orderly development under the rule of law. With regard to administrative law enforcement, we will advance structural reform to ensure that it is strict, procedure-based, impartial, and civil across the board, and enhance oversight mechanisms and capacity. We will make further progress in building law-based government.

Fourth, the report highlights the priority in advancing the rule of law, which is to ensure strict and impartial administration of justice. An impartial judiciary is the last line of defense for social fairness and justice. We will deepen comprehensive and integrated reform of the judicial system, fully and faithfully enforce judicial accountability. We will ensure the well-regulated exercise of judicial power and enhance checks and oversight on judicial activities. We will accelerate the development of a fair, efficient, and authoritative socialist judicial system, so that the people can really feel justice has been served in their everyday lives.

Fifth, the report highlights the foundation for advancing the rule of law, which is to step up efforts to establish the rule of law throughout society. A society based on the rule of law is the foundation on which we can build a country under the rule of law. It is a long-term and fundamental task to make everyone in the country to believe in and promote the rule of law. We will promote socialist rule of law and carry forward fine traditional Chinese legal culture. We will carry out intensive activities to raise public awareness of the rule of law. We will see that leading officials play an exemplary role and Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law takes root in the minds of the people and make respecting, learning about, observing, and applying the law common practice throughout society.

Thank you.

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Liu Siyang:

Thank you, Mr. Chen Yixin. Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Tang Fangyu for his introduction.

Tang Fangyu:

Friends from the media, good morning. I would like to share with you my understanding of the important expositions and arrangements on Party building set out in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress.

Our Party has a pivotal role in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects and in advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, so we must ensure that the Party practices effective self-supervision and full and rigorous self-governance. Our Party is the core force leading the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the backbone of the nation as we respond to challenges. The leadership of the CPC is the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. To accomplish the missions and tasks of the CPC on the new journey of the new era, we must firmly uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, and advance the great new project of Party building in the new era. This requirement is reflected in every part of the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, including the review of achievements and experiences, the analysis of the situation and the environment, the launch of objectives and tasks, and the introduction of policies and measures.

The report has a dedicated section which makes important arrangements on "exercising full and rigorous self-governance and advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era." It stresses upholding and strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, enhancing cohesion and forging the Party's soul with the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, improving the systems and regulations for the Party's self-reform, cultivating officials capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation, enhancing the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, taking strict steps to improve Party conduct and enforce Party discipline, and winning the tough and protracted battle against corruption. 

My understanding is that this section highlights four aspects. The first is the Party's self-reform. To have the courage to carry out self-reform is the most distinctive part of our Party's character, its hallmark, and the second answer to the question of how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall that the Party has found in its practices of exercising full and rigorous self-governance in the new era. The report fully demonstrates the Party's self-reform spirit, responds to problems, risks and challenges, and stresses that self-reform is a journey to which there is no end. The report sets out targeted tasks and measures for all initiatives of Party building, which focus on comprehensively advancing our efforts to purify, improve, renew, and excel ourselves. The second is the systems for exercising full and rigorous self-governance. Exercising full and rigorous self-governance has been a salient theme of Party building since the 18th CPC National Congress. Strengthening Party leadership is central to the endeavor, full coverage is the foundation, being rigorous is the key, and governance is the most crucial link in the chain. Therefore, full and rigorous Party self-governance needs to be exercised in a systematic manner. The report says that we must meet the overall requirements for Party building in the new era, improve the systems for exercising full and rigorous self-governance, and strengthen overall planning and move forward in a coordinated manner to ensure full and rigorous self-governance in all fields and aspects of Party building. The third is strengthening ourselves politically as the overarching guide for all other initiatives of Party building. The Party's political building is of fundamental importance to the Party. The report stresses that upholding the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is the highest political principle, and prioritizes "upholding and strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee" among tasks for Party building, demonstrating the utmost importance of continuously enhancing the Party's political building on the new journey. The fourth is integrating the Party's ideological work and institution building efforts, which represents an important experience in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance in the new era. The report urges efforts to strengthen the ideals and convictions of our Party members, and arm the whole Party with the Party's new theories as well as efforts to continue to run the Party with systems and regulations and improve the systems and regulations for the Party's self-reform. By doing so, we hope to bring into full play the guiding role of ideology and the regulatory role of institutions in an integrated, concerted, and mutually reinforcing way.

After taking into account the opinions from all sides and to act upon the call of Party organizations at all levels and all Party members, the 20th CPC National Congress made appropriate revisions to the Party Constitution to make it fully embody the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times, the new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies on national governance the CPC Central Committee has developed since the 19th CPC National Congress, and the new experience the Party has gained in its work and Party building. The revision to the Party Constitution is of great significance in advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era. To study and understand the statements and deployments of the 20th CPC National Congress on Party building, it is necessary to refer both to the report to the congress and to the Party Constitution.

Thank you.

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Liu Siyang:

Thank you, Mr. Tang. Now I'll give the floor to Mr. Wang Jianxin.

Wang Jianxin:

Good morning, friends from the media. 

I will mainly share my understanding about the content of the report to the 20th CPC National Congress on unswervingly exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, improving Party conduct, enforcing Party disciplines, and combating corruption. The whole report underlines the political principle to uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership and the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, the political awareness of the need for full and rigorous Party self-governance, and the political requirement to use the Party's own transformation to steer social transformation.

The report says right at the start of its fifteenth part that our Party has a pivotal role in building China into a modem socialist country in all respects and in advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, and we must always stay alert and determined to tackle the special challenges that a large party like ours faces. Our Party, as the world's largest political party and largest Marxist governing party with a history of 100 years, must always maintain solidarity and unity, preserve our Party membership's advanced nature and integrity, and stay as united as one piece of adamantine iron. The report demands that all of us in the Party bear in mind that full and rigorous Party self-governance is an unceasing endeavor and that self-reform is a journey to which there is no end. The Party must remain strict in exercising full and rigorous self-governance and keep sounding the bugle against corruption.

First, we will enhance political oversight with a focus to uphold the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee. The leadership of the CPC is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and upholding the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee is the highest political principle. The report stresses that the Party's leadership is comprehensive, systematic, and integrated, and therefore must be exercised in a comprehensive, systematic, and integrated way. Hence, it is imperative to uphold and strengthen the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee as an important task in strengthening the Party politically and conduct concrete, targeted, and regular political oversight. We must ensure that the whole Party will acquire a deep understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership, closely follow the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in political stance, orientation, principles, and path. We must also ensure that all Party members gain a good command of the missions and tasks of the Party for the new journey of the new era and that the major thinking, viewpoints, strategies, and measures set forth at the 20th CPC National Congress are put in place.

Second, we will improve the systems and regulations for the Party's self-reform. The report reflects our commitment to the strategic thinking of the Party's self-reform and stresses institutional support for it. The report requires us to continue to run the Party with systems and regulations, improve the framework of Party regulations, increase their authority, and fully enforce them. We will put in place mechanisms for upholding truth, correcting errors, uncovering problems, and remedying failings. The report highlights that we should improve the total-coverage, authoritative, and highly effective oversight system under the Party's unified leadership and refine the mechanisms for overseeing power and keeping it in check. We will generate synergy between various forms of oversight with intra-Party oversight serving as the mainstay, and we will ensure that power is exercised in broad daylight.

Third, we will continue to take strict steps to improve Party conduct and enforce Party discipline. In the new era of exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, we kicked off our efforts by formulating and implementing the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct. In the past 10 years, we investigated and handled 761,000 cases for violating the eight-point decision and 683,000 people were given Party and administrative discipline punishments. The report once again warns the whole Party: Good conduct is critical to the survival of a governing party. We must maintain a close bond with the people. Party officials should conduct in-depth research and studies and immerse themselves in hard work, take concrete measures, and deliver solid outcomes. We should steadfastly implement the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct. We will go to great lengths to tackle recurrent problems of "the four malfeasances," i.e., pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, and deal with the new features of pointless formalities and bureaucratism. We must make all-around efforts to tighten Party discipline. We will urge leading officials to be strict with themselves, earnestly fulfill their responsibilities, and conduct rigorous management within their jurisdictions. All violations of Party discipline, once identified, must be resolutely investigated and punished without hesitation or tolerance.

Fourth, we are determined to win the tough and protracted battle against corruption. Corruption is a cancer to the Party, and fighting corruption is the most thorough kind of self-reform. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led the Party to wage a battle against corruption on a scale unprecedented in our history. In the decade-long battle, we have realized the reshaping of the anti-corruption leadership system, organization, workforce, as well as the mechanisms to ensure accountability and the enforcement of disciplines and laws. We have achieved an overwhelming victory and fully consolidated the gains in our fight against corruption. The report profoundly points out that as long as the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption still exist, we must never rest, not even for a minute, in our fight against corruption. We will continue to take a strong stance and exert greater efforts to take simultaneous, coordinated, and comprehensive steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt; we will put greater emphasis on resolutely preventing leading officials from acting for any interest group or power group; we will take firm action to swat "flies," or corrupt low-ranking officials, whose misconduct directly affects people's lives; and we will work hard to improve systems for preventing corruption from being fostered and spreading. We will secure more institutional achievements and greater efficiency in fighting corruption.

Thank you!

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Liu Siyang:

Thank you, Mr. Wang Jianxin. The floor is now open to questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising questions.

People's Daily:

My questions are: Why do we call the changes in the first decade of the new era "great changes"? How do we understand these great changes and their significance as milestones? Thank you.

Jiang Jinquan:

Thanks for your questions. As I said in my opening remarks just now, the great changes in the first decade of the new era are all-round, fundamental, and critical to the whole landscape, and their impacts are holistic and historic, so we call them "great changes." Over the past decade, we have faced immense risks, challenges, issues and problems, arduous tasks of getting things straight at the source and of restoring order and clearing fallacies, as well as enormous difficulties in conquering fortresses and removing deep-seated problems. Given these obstacles rarely seen in the world and in history, the changes we have made did not come easily.

Here are some of my thoughts. First, great changes have been achieved in resolving the prominent issues in the Party. Over the past decade, the CPC Central Committee has unswervingly strengthened the overall leadership of the Party, advanced full and rigorous Party self-governance, and focused on addressing the issues with respect to a slide toward weak, hollow, and watered-down Party leadership in practice. The CPC Central Committee has worked ceaselessly to rectify pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, firmly cracked down on corruption, removed hidden political dangers in the Party, and eliminated hidden concerns that the Party will not sustain. As a result, the Party's leadership has become stronger, and the political environment in the Party has taken on a completely new look. These efforts have provided fundamental political underpinnings for achieving the great transformation.

Second, great changes have been achieved in solving the prominent issues concerning economic and social development. In the face of economic and social issues that have been building for years and with a number of new issues emerging from changes both in and outside China, including the turbulent wave of economic, scientific, and technological decoupling stirred up by some Western countries, the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping have proposed a series of new ideas, concepts, and measures, particularly proposing and implementing the new development philosophy and promoting the creation of a new development pattern. This has not only effectively dealt with the triple pressures of shrinking demand, disrupted supply, and weakening expectations, but also laid the foundation for China's stable and secure development in the long term.

Third, great changes have been achieved in responding to external risks and challenges. Over the past decade, confronted with drastic changes in the international landscape and external attempts to blackmail, contain, blockade, and exert maximum pressure on China, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has led all the Chinese people in maintaining firm strategic resolve, showing a fighting spirit, not being swayed by fallacies, deterred by intimidation, or cowed by pressure, and resolutely conducting tit-for-tat fighting. These efforts have effectively safeguarded China's dignity and core interests and firmly kept ourselves well-positioned for pursuing development and ensuring security. 

Judging from the three aspects, the great changes over the past decade in the new era did not come easily. They came from mitigating various risks and surmounting challenges and turbulent waves of issues. They were the result of the whole Party and all Chinese people striving in unity and fighting with determination. 

The report concludes that the great transformation over the past 10 years in the new era marks a milestone. This can be perceived, in my opinion, from five respects.

First, the great transformation has forged a strong leadership core for the great cause of national rejuvenation. Our Party has secured the major political achievement of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and found a second answer to the question of how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall. The answer is self-reform. Our Party has grown stronger, become more unified, and gained fresh vigor.

Second, the great transformation has promoted the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into an irreversible historical course. We have completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled, won the battle against poverty, and taken the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics on a new journey toward building a great modern socialist country in all respects. These have provided stronger institutional underpinnings, more solid material foundations, and a more active source of inspiration for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Third, the great transformation has enhanced the Chinese people's confidence, self-reliance, and strength. The historic achievements and changes in the new era have greatly enhanced Chinese people's confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese people are more inspired than ever to forge ahead, more resolved than ever to work hard, and more confident than ever of securing success. They are filled with a stronger sense of history and initiative. Now, the Chinese people are staying confident and building strength, view themselves as the equals of any other in the world, and have a firmer sense of purpose, fortitude, and self-belief in creating new great historic achievements. 

Fourth, the great transformation has injected strong positive energy into world peace and development. Over the past decade, China has contributed to an annual average of around 30% of global economic growth and 70% of global poverty alleviation. The concept of building a human community with a shared future has been widely praised by the international community, the public goods including the Belt and Road Initiative have provided strong drivers for global development, and Chinese modernization has created a new form of human advancement. All of these have greatly influenced the global development landscape.

Fifth, the great transformation has demonstrated the strong vitality of Marxism. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is Marxism of contemporary China and Marxism of the 21st century. The great transformation over the past decade in the new era has fully demonstrated the power of Marxist theory as being truthful and practical, greatly enhanced the convictions of the Party and Chinese people in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, and remarkably strengthened the confidence of people across the world, especially those from developing countries, in Chinese models and socialist movements. Thank you.

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Asahi Shimbun:

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress mentions "a Chinese path to modernization," which we believe is a key phrase on China's future. What is its essential meaning? The report also says that "Chinese modernization offers humanity a new choice for achieving modernization." Does this mean that China intends to export its development model to other countries? Thank you.  

Sun Yeli:

Thank you for your questions. You must have studied the report carefully as you noticed the key phrase "Chinese modernization." Modernization is a common pursuit of people across the world, but each country has its own way of achieving it. There is no model of modernization that fits all circumstances or overarching standards on modernization. The Chinese path to modernization contains elements that are common to the modernization process of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. Thus we have called it "Chinese modernization."

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress expounds on the five traits of Chinese modernization. First, it is the modernization of a huge population. China has a population of more than 1.4 billion, and it faces great constraints in its resources and environment. China's unique national conditions determine that its modernization cannot rigidly adopt foreign approaches, and that its pathways of development and methods of advancement will be unique. The modernization of such a huge population faces unparalleled difficulty and complexity, and carries unprecedented significance and influence. The modernization on such a large scale will also be a great contribution to the human society. We are thus aware of our huge responsibilities in this endeavor. 

Second, Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all. It is determined by the nature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will not tolerate polarization. Instead, we will work to ensure that all Chinese people enjoy a good life, and that they can participate in the process of modernization according to their own capabilities and share the fruits of China's development according to their own contributions. We will leave no group behind. Of course, common prosperity is not equal to egalitarianism, and still less does it mean robbing the rich to help the poor. It is a process of some people getting rich first and those who get rich first helping those who lag behind. Meanwhile, common prosperity involves a long historical process; it cannot be achieved in one go. But we will work toward it with steadfast resolve. The fact that nearly 100 million rural poor people have been lifted out of poverty since the 18th CPC National Congress is a prime example. 

Third, Chinese modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. One big drawback to the modernization of some countries is excessive materialism. A strong material foundation and material abundance are of course an integral part of modernization. Nonetheless, it will be a tragedy for humanity if people get too materialistic, have no healthy spiritual aspirations or a rich spiritual life at all, and become what sociologists call "one-dimensional man," and succumb to a material desire instead of pursuing a multi-dimensional human nature. This is not something we want. What we would like to see is both material abundance and cultural-ethical enrichment, as well as people's well-rounded development.

Fourth, Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. If we look at the world history of modernization, we will find that damage to the environment is a common problem amid industrialization and urbanization. China also had made blunders before, but after the 18th CPC National Congress, we resolutely halted environmental damage, and brought about historic, transformative, and comprehensive changes in ecological and environmental protection. The idea put forth by General Secretary Xi Jinping that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has been embraced by the people and integrated into our institutions, policies, and culture. We will remain firmly committed to the path of sustainable development. 

Fifth, Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. In pursuing modernization, China will not tread the old path of war, colonization, and plunder taken by some countries. We are dedicated to peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, which is determined by our system and culture. Peaceful development is in the fundamental interests of China, and we will continue to pursue it and hope that other countries pursue it as well. 

You asked whether China intends to export its development model. Our stance and attitude have been consistent and clear. We do not import development models and firmly oppose any attempt of other countries to force their models on us; we also do no export our model and ask other countries to copy it. Every country's efforts to independently explore a modernization path that fits their conditions should be respected. The statement that "Chinese modernization offers humanity a new choice for achieving modernization" serves as an advocation of the diversity of humanity, and shows our attitude toward promoting exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations and countries. If the international community is interested in learning about and drawing on China's experience we are willing to share. At the same time, China is learning about, studying, and drawing on other countries' experience with all sincerity. 

Thank you.

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CCTV:

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress points out the need to invigorate China through science and education and develop a strong workforce for the modernization drive. Compared with the reports to previous Party national congresses, this is different in terms of the content arrangement, as it puts education, science and technology, and human resources together in one section. This has caught the public's attention. What are the strategic intentions of this arrangement? Thank you.

Mu Hong:

Thank you for the question. Indeed, the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, the workforce development strategy, and the innovation-driven development strategy are all major national strategies proposed by the CPC Central Committee, which need to be adhered to over the long term and concern key issues involved in the high-quality development of China's modernization drive. Based on the Party's historic mission on the new journey and in the new era, the CPC Central Committee holds the perspective of highlighting the core position of innovation in China's overall modernization drive and has made coordinated arrangements on science and technology, education, and human resources as a whole in the fifth section of the report to the 20th CPC National Congress.

As you said, in the reports to previous CPC national congresses, science and technology were set out under the section of economic development, education was under the section of social development, and human resources was under the section of Party building. Following the requirement put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping on strengthening systems thinking, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress has for the first time put these three major strategies together. This is an innovative step and has profound significance. While insisting that education, science and technology, and human resources are the fundamental and strategic pillars for building a modern socialist country in all respects, such an arrangement also stresses the links between the three in creating and developing new driving forces and advantages through coordination and systematic efforts.

These three major strategies jointly serve the development of an innovative country. First, we will continue to give high priority to the development of education. We will fully implement the Party's educational policy, carry out the basic task of fostering virtue through education, and nurture a new generation of capable young people with sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility and work skills who will fully develop socialism and carry forward the socialist cause. We will continue to follow a people-centered approach to developing education, move faster to build a high-quality educational system, promote fairness in education, promote people's well-rounded development, and improve the overall caliber of the population. Second, we will continue the innovation-driven development strategy. We will improve the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide to make key technological breakthroughs. We will strengthen basic research, and work to make breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields and enhance innovation capacity. We will also improve systems for scientific and technological innovation, and move faster to achieve great self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Third, we will continue regarding talent as our primary resource. We will improve the strategic distribution of human resources, speed up efforts to build a contingent of personnel with expertise of strategic importance, and further reform the systems and mechanisms for talent development. We will cultivate a large workforce of high-quality talent who have both integrity and professional competence and attract the brightest minds from all over. Thank you.

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NBC:

We are hearing China's campaign for common prosperity and against disorganized expansion of capital. But on the other hand, we are also witnessing China's roaring economic growth seemingly coming to an end, with reports of high unemployment especially among the youth and escalating U.S. trade and technology control measures that could suppress China's growth. So, based on the 20th Congress, what is the principle contradiction here that China should tackle first: growing the economic pie bigger and faster, or dividing the economic pie more fairly? Of course, both are important, but which one should be prioritized? Thank you.

Thank you. It is a very good question. It could be said that common prosperity is the dream of humankind, but it is not easy to realize. You just mentioned whether we should grow the economic pie bigger before dividing it. In my view, this issue also concerns social system. In the capitalist system, which is capital-based, maximum capital benefits are pursued, and thus, common prosperity cannot be achieved in a real sense. However, the socialist system offers the conditions and the possibility to realize it. I would like to break my answer to your questions into five aspects.

First, the goal of achieving common prosperity for all, on the one hand, is determined by the Party's nature and purpose, and our Party is the one serving the people wholeheartedly. On the other hand, it is determined by the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is a distinctive feature of Chinese modernization. Common prosperity is one of the five features of Chinese modernization, and an unswerving goal of the Party. Our Party unites and leads the people to carry out revolution, construction, and reform, so that the people live a happier life. This is determined by the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, ideals and convictions, and nature and purpose. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress contains further elaborations on this point.

Second, we have always been exploring ways to achieve common prosperity. Since reform and opening up, we have been encouraging some regions and some people to create wealth as a first step to bringing prosperity for all. In the first decade of the new era, we have lifted nearly 100 million people out of poverty and eliminated absolute poverty that had plagued China for thousands of years. These have been our exact efforts to progress toward common prosperity. Therefore, we are making solid steps toward common prosperity, and the elimination of extreme poverty has laid a solid foundation and accumulated valuable experience for further steps toward common prosperity.

Third, to advance common prosperity, we must properly deal with the relationship between making the pie and sharing it. You also mentioned it in your questions. Now that one can only share a pie if he or she has one, so in logic, one should make the pie first. Only when the pie is well made, it could be fairly shared. On the one hand, we will keep up economic development as our central task, regard development as the CPC's top priority in governance, and pursue high-quality development, so as to grow the pie bigger and better through concerted efforts of all the people. On the other hand, we will ensure and enhance wellbeing of the public in the course of development, uphold the distribution system in which distribution according to work is the principal part that coexists with other forms of distribution, build a basic system to arrange and coordinate the primary, secondary, and tertiary distribution, strive to raise the proportion of individual income in the national income, increase the proportion of work remuneration in primary distribution, improve our policies and systems for distribution based on factors of production, ensure good order in income distribution, and improve the way wealth is accumulated, so as to divide the pie well, share it fairly and prevent polarization through sound institutional arrangements.

Fourth, achieving common prosperity for all involves a long historical process that cannot be rushed or delayed. "Cannot be rushed" means we must further unleash and develop productive forces, continuously create and accumulate social wealth, and steadily improve people's living standards while basing our efforts on China's realities, bearing in mind the fact that China is still a developing country, and following the law of economic and social development. "Cannot be delayed" means we must take effective measures, actively create conditions, and improve systems to gradually narrow the gap in income distribution; instead of waiting to address the wealth gap until we become developed, we should address it step by step during the process of development, so that people will genuinely feel the effects of continuous progress toward common prosperity.

Fifth, we should now strive to maintain stable macroeconomic performance and sound momentum of economic development. We must earnestly study and implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, fully implement the requirements for effective COVID-19 prevention, economic stability, and safe development, continue to ensure stability on six key fronts (employment, finance, foreign trade, inbound investment, domestic investment, and market expectations) and maintain security in six key areas (jobs, daily living needs, food and energy, industrial and supply chains, the interests of market players, and the smooth functioning of grassroots government), strive to resolve prominent issues and problems, and effectively avoid and mitigate various risks. In fact, China's economic performance since the COVID-19 outbreak has been relatively good compared with the world in general. Some of the difficulties we are facing now are universal. For example, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of industrial and supply chains, the Chinese economy has slowed down somewhat compared with the previous years. However, it is doing well overall, and is expected to get stronger, so we should have confidence in the Chinese economy. We should give priority to employment, continue to strengthen the real economy, actively support the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, strive to create more job and business opportunities, address difficulties in the employment of college graduates and other young people, and guide people to create a happy life through their own efforts. This is the prerequisite to making solid progress toward common prosperity for all. Thank you.

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Legal Daily:

In the section "improving the social governance system" in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, the word "community" appears many times, which demonstrates the importance attached to social governance at the community level. What efforts will be made to strengthen and promote innovation in community-level governance? Thank you.

Chen Yixin:

Thank you for your question. General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed that a country will prosper only when its communities prosper and stability at the community level brings peace to the world. Communities stand on the frontline of social governance and constitute the foundation of the Chinese governance model. The key to strengthening and promoting innovation in community-level governance is to apply and further develop the "Fengqiao model" in the new era, and to do our best to see that problems are resolved as they emerge at the community level. From my understanding, we should make greater efforts in the following aspects to strengthen and promote innovation in social governance at the community level:

First, more efforts must be made to crack down on crime and other violations. We should, based on the public security situation at the community level, work in accordance with the law to combat illegal and criminal activities that cause grave public concern. We will continue to maintain a tough stance against illegal and criminal activities, cracking down on them as soon as they emerge and at an early stage, so as to earnestly protect people's lives and property.

Second, more efforts must be made to handle problems and disputes. We will provide more convenient and regulated channels for people to express their opinions and demands, coordinate their interests, and safeguard their rights and interests. We will improve mechanisms for settling problems and disputes through one-stop services and multiple means, and strive to achieve the goal that "trivial matters are solved in the villages, major problems are settled in the town, and no conflicts are passed on to the higher authorities."

Third, more efforts must be made to improve management. We will improve the governance mechanism featuring grid-based management, strengthen management over key industries and sectors, and timely detect and defuse various risks and potential dangers as well as emerging problems. 

Fourth, more efforts must be made to improve services. We will make access to public services at the community level more equitable, innovate methods for delivering services, improve service efficacy, and make our services inclusive, equally accessible, convenient, effective, smart and targeted. 

Fifth, more efforts must be made to provide public psychological services. We will improve mechanisms to provide crisis intervention counseling, cultivate self-esteem, self-confidence, rationality, composure and optimism among our people, and strictly prevent individuals from committing extreme crimes.

Sixth, more efforts must be made to boost public participation. We will boost public participation in crime prevention and control. We will encourage individuals who rise to the occasion during emergencies, and improve policies and measures to reward them and ensure their wellbeing, so as to see that such virtue and good conduct become a social norm in the new era. Thank you.

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Xinhua News Agency:

It was just mentioned that in the second part of the report is a conclusion on theoretical innovation that can be summarized as "six musts," which is a new phrase. Can you explain how we should understand the "six musts"? Thank you.

Sun Yeli:

Thank you for your question. The "six musts" are very important as they are the stances, viewpoints and methods running through Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Each one of them is with rich connotations. For example, "put the people first" reflects a stance and an attitude, as well as our Party's nature and purpose. It also reflects the summarized understanding of the rules governing theoretical innovation of our Party as a Marxist governing party. People are the creators of history, and the people's creative practices are the inexhaustible source of our theoretical innovations, so our Party's theories are from the people. Our Party serves the people, so the theories of our Party are certainly for the people and beneficial to the people. The main task of our Party is to organize and lead the people to strive to realize a better life. This theory can be a powerful tool for changing the world only when it "gripped the masses" and is fully understood by the people. Our theories must be the ones liked, accepted and adopted by the people. General Secretary Xi Jinping explains this thoroughly. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era fully embodies this people-centeredness. 

Also, taking "maintain self-confidence and stand on our own feet" and "maintain a global vision" as examples. We maintain the Four-sphere Confidence and the principal position of our own culture. We won't mechanically imitate others or indiscriminately absorb foreign ideas. We also maintain a global vision to play our part in resolving the common issues facing humankind, and keep an open mind to draw inspiration from all of human civilization's outstanding achievements. These are two sides of the same coin: Without maintaining our own principal position, as through self-confidence and standing on one's own feet, no civilization or culture can be developed or effectively absorb fine foreign culture; while maintaining mutual learning, cultural exchanges and an open and inclusive mind is the only way to keep enhancing our vitality and continuing to diversify and grow stronger. Our Party is keenly aware of this. 

As for "adopt a problem-oriented approach," our Party does not indulge in empty talk, but rather we take action. We focus on combining knowledge with practice. Well-conceived theories lead us in addressing practical issues. At the same time, our knowledge of the rules governing all things is increased in the process of problem-solving, with our theories enriched and further developed. We develop new ideas, new approaches and new solutions in the process of solving problems and addressing challenges. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was formed and further developed in such a way. A decade ago, we secured great achievements while facing a number of prominent issues and problems, some of which had been building for years and others were just emerging, such as corruption, structural and institutional problems of the economy, and damage to the environment. They were quite severe and many people concerned about the future of the Party and the country. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core brought together the entire Party, the military and the Chinese people and led them in effectively responding to these problems and solving them with decisive actions, thus opening new ground for the cause of the Party and the country. Along the way, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was established. Theories are for solving problems. They should work in reality because only those that are effective will live on. Such traits of our Party's theories have demonstrated its practicality as a Marxist philosophy as well as the strong responsibility of our Party for the people, the country and history. Thank you. 

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Phoenix TV:

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress clearly requires us to win the tough and protracted battle against corruption. How are you planning to secure more institutional achievements and improve efficiency in fighting corruption by taking simultaneous, coordinated, and comprehensive steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt?

Wang Jianxin:

Thank you for your question. I will take this question.

Exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance is a great practice of the Party's self-reform in the new era, and the fight against corruption is a key battle in this effort. After the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech for the first time at a plenary session of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which was the second plenary session of the 18th CCDI. He stressed that unwaveringly fighting against corruption demonstrates the Party's strength, and there is no exception before the law and Party discipline, no matter who might be involved, and we shall show no mercy to corruption and conduct full investigations. In the past decade, with the resolution to "offend a few thousand rather than fail 1.4 billion," the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has waged a battle against corruption on a scale unprecedented in our history. Discipline inspection and supervision organs nationwide have filed 4.648 million cases for investigation and prosecution, which involved 553 officials registered at and supervised by the CPC Central Committee. A total of 4.573 million individuals received punishments as a result. Through the resolute battle, the spread of corruption has been effectively curbed. An overwhelming victory has been won in the anti-corruption campaign, and the success has been consolidated. Simultaneous, coordinated, and comprehensive steps have been taken to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt. The CPC has successfully embarked on an anti-corruption path with Chinese characteristics. The CPC has tempered itself through revolution on a large scale and in a profound way, and thus the CPC is able to take the historical initiative to maintain its progressive nature and integrity. 

In the past 10 years of the new era, the fight against corruption has been tremendous, and the world has marveled at our achievements. However, we are also keenly aware that we still face a grave and intricate situation in the fight against corruption. Fighting corruption is a war with life-and-death consequences. We can only move forward and never retreat. We can only win and never lose. Therefore, we must resolutely implement the strategic plan of the 20th CPC National Congress, always maintain a tough stance against corruption, and continue to take simultaneous, coordinated, and comprehensive steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt. Just as the report to the 20th CPC National Congress stresses, we are determined to win the tough and protracted battle against corruption.

First, we will improve the accountability system for the Party to lead the fight against corruption. We will uphold Party leadership in the whole process of taking simultaneous, coordinated, and comprehensive steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt. 

We will ensure that leadership and oversight responsibilities for full and rigorous Party self-governance are assumed. We will give full play to the role of political supervision, education, and organizational management, conduct regulation, discipline enforcement, and system improvement in waging an all-out war of preventing and combating corruption.  

Second, we will continue to show zero tolerance in opposing corruption and punishing wrongdoing. We will keep sounding the bugle in our fight against corruption. We will investigate and deal with corruption that involves both political and economic elements, resolutely prevent officials in leadership positions from acting for any interest group or power group, and crack down on any collusion between officials and businesspeople that undermines the political ecosystem or economic development. We will never let the power given by the Party and the people become a tool of a few people to seek profit.

Third, we will improve the systems for preventing corruption from being fostered and spreading. To address both the symptoms and root causes of corruption, we will improve the systems and mechanisms for overseeing power and managing officials, and improve the performance assessment and evaluation system for officials. We will specify the responsibilities and scope of power for officials who hold key positions in areas such as policy making, decision-making procedures, approval and supervision, law enforcement, and the judiciary, and strengthen checks on power. While investigating and punishing violations of discipline and the law, we will also seek to identify problems, strengthen rectification, deepen reforms, and improve systems, so as to enhance the efficiency in fighting corruption.

Fourth, we will improve the total-coverage, authoritative, and highly effective oversight system under the Party's unified leadership, and continue to deepen the reform of the oversight system of the Party and the country. We will create synergy between various forms of oversight with intra-party oversight serving as the mainstay, remove impediments to the formation of synergy, and ensure the full coverage and effectiveness of power oversight.

Fifth, we will refine the effective and practical approaches to fighting corruption in a coordinated way. We will ensure the internal connection of measures to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt, and develop an effective vehicle to integrate these measures, so as to closely coordinate harsh punishment, the regulation on the exercise of power, and education and guidance, and give better play to the leading role of beliefs and convictions. This will ensure that Party members enhance their Party consciousness, promote a culture of integrity, and bolster their resistance to corruption and moral decline. Thank you.

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China Daily:

"Improving the systems for exercising full and rigorous self-governance" has been set out in the report to this CPC national congress for the first time. How should we understand this? Thank you.

Tang Fangyu:

Thank you. As you said, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress sets out the requirement of improving the systems for exercising full and rigorous self-governance for the first time in the report to the CPC National Congress. In my opinion, this is a major initiative for exercising Party self-governance in a comprehensive, systematic, coordinated and effective manner.

Our Party is a long-term Marxist governing party and the largest party in the world. Its ambitious goals and historic missions, its huge membership featuring widespread distribution, as well as the risks and challenges it faces, all determine that our Party can only develop well when full and rigorous self-governance is exercised to a high standard, in a comprehensive, systematic and long-term manner, and under a well-conceived, unified and efficient system.

As the CPC rose and grew strong, Party building has been advanced in a more systematic manner through explorations and practices. In particular, since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has strengthened overall planning and moved forward in a coordinated manner to ensure full and rigorous Party self-governance. Now, Party self-governance is exercised under the guidance of a set of theories, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. There is a complete task layout: We have set strengthening ourselves politically as the overarching guide for all other initiatives of Party building; we must strengthen ourselves theoretically and see the Party's organizations consolidated, its conduct improved and its discipline enforced, with institutional improvements incorporated into every aspect of strengthening the Party; and we must step up our efforts to combat corruption. There is sound system design: We have nearly 4,000 Party regulations currently in effect. There are supporting measures, including in the well-planned and high-quality enrolling of new Party members; carrying out intensive education initiatives; organizing systematic training; strengthening internal oversight, especially of Party officials at all levels; enhancing assessment of Party building; and making unremitting efforts to improve conduct, enforce discipline and combat corruption. It's fair to say that we have established a relatively mature system for exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Full and rigorous Party self-governance is an unceasing endeavor. When improving the systems for exercising full and rigorous self-governance, we must focus on the strategic arrangements set out in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, and further strengthen planning and implementation. I think the following three aspects are particularly important:

First, we need to ensure Party self-governance covers all fields, the whole process and all targeted groups. That is to say, we need to prioritize full coverage, further increase the breadth and depth of rigorous Party self-governance, coordinate various fields, closely connect different links, and leave no ground unturned to effectively manage all Party members and organizations.

Second, we need to provide education, while at the same time improving systems and strengthening oversight. That is to say, we need to continue being rigorous, take simultaneous and coordinated steps, and forge synergy to exercise Party self-governance through genuine, brave and constant efforts.

Third, we need to improve the standards, quality and effect. That is to say, we need to take concrete measures to strengthen Party self-governance, and introduce more targeted and solid steps to address both symptoms and root causes. All these are aimed at high-quality Party building. Thank you.

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Liu Siyang:

Due to the time limit, let's have the last question.

Radio Algeria:

We have noticed from the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, citing that to pursue green development and promote harmony between humanity and nature when planning the development. This is an important strategic issue for China. How to ensure the efficient execution of the strategy? Thank you. 

Mu Hong: 

You raised a very good question. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress makes it clear that we must remember to maintain harmony between humanity and nature when planning our development. This is an intrinsic requirement of high-quality development. Harmony between humanity and nature is an important feature of Chinese modernization. 

Mr. Sun has just touched upon this issue, and I would like to add some more details. 

Over the past decade, we have acted on the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and witnessed historic, transformative and comprehensive changes in ecological environment. Across the country there are more blue skies, greener mountains and cleaner waters. This is one of the huge changes felt most directly by the people. The average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has dropped by 34.8%, and the percentage of days with good or excellent air quality has risen to 87.5% in cities at or above prefectural level. Energy consumption per unit of GDP, or energy intensity, has declined by 26.4%. The average annual growth of energy consumption was 3%, while the country's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 6.6%. Water consumption per 10,000 yuan of value-added by industry decreased by 55%, and the output rate of major resources increased by 58%. It can be said that we have achieved remarkable results in the transition toward green development. Territorial space planning has been improved; major progress has been made in the development of the national park-based nature reserve system; and efforts have been stepped up to further implement the development strategy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt to ensure well-coordinated environmental protection, and the strategy for ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. These concrete actions have yielded tangible results which have brought a strong sense of gain to the people, and the idea that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has been more widely embraced.

Ecological conservation is of fundamental importance for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. We must stay committed to sustainable development, do more to promote green, circular and low-carbon development, and continue to pursue a model of sound development featuring improved production, higher living standards and healthy ecosystems. The report has also made systematic arrangements on this respect. First, we will accelerate the transition to a model of green development. We will work faster to adjust and improve the industrial structure, the energy mix and the composition of the transportation sector; implement a comprehensive conservation strategy; encourage green consumption; and promote green and low-carbon ways of production and life. Second, we will intensify pollution prevention and control. We will continue to control pollution in a lawful, targeted and science-based way; make further efforts to keep our skies blue, waters clear and lands clean; continue to improve living environments in both urban and rural areas; and do more to modernize the environmental governance system. Third, we will enhance diversity, stability and sustainability in our ecosystems. We will hasten our efforts in preserving and restoring key ecosystems, and carry out major biodiversity protection projects. Fourth, we will work actively and prudently toward the goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. We will promote concerted efforts to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, expand green development and pursue economic growth; exercise better control over the amount and intensity of energy consumption, particularly of fossil fuels, and gradually transition toward controlling both the amount and intensity of carbon emissions; and actively involve ourselves in global governance in response to climate change.

Achieving harmony between humanity and nature is a major issue not only for the Chinese people, but for all the people of the world. We will focus on playing our part well, and at the same time, call for the joint efforts of the international community. Thank you. 

Liu Siyang: 

Thank you to our six speakers and all friends from the media. Today's press conference is hereby concluded.

Translated and edited by Zhang Jiaqi, Wang Wei, Xu Xiaoxuan, Zhang Lulu, Li Huiru, Liu Sitong, Zhang Junmian, Zhou Jing, Zhu Bochen, Huang Shan, Wang Qian, Zhang Liying, Yuan Fang, He Shan, Wang Yiming, David Ball and Daniel Xu. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.