CPC national congress to chart out China's future development

BEIJING - The 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress is expected to open on Oct. 18, where the new leadership for the next five-year term will be elected.

The congress is an important meeting to be held when China is striving towards achieving a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, and at a critical time in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The 19th CPC National Congress will analyze the present international and domestic situations, and draw out guidelines and policies that respond to the call of the times.

"Whether we can raise comprehensive, strategic and foresighted guidelines [at the congress] concerns the development of the causes of the Party and the nation, the destiny of socialism with Chinese characteristics as well as the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people," said President Xi Jinping, at a high-profile workshop in late July, which was regarded as setting the tone for the congress.

The CPC must explicitly declare "what banner to hold, what road to take, in what state of mind, what historic mission to shoulder and what target to achieve," said Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

The answer was given at the tone-setting meeting. The Party will hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and have firm confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics to ensure the causes of the CPC and the nation are always advanced in the right direction.

At the congress, the Party's work over the past five years will also be reviewed.

Xi has hailed "the historic changes" in development over the past five "extraordinary" years, saying China's development is standing at a new historical starting point, and socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new development stage.

There is every reason to be confident about the country's growth. Last year, China contributed about 15 percent of global GDP, and GDP per capita reached 53,980 yuan (8,011 U.S. dollars).

Remarkable progress has been made in deepening reforms, enhancing the rule of law, improving the environment and building a strong army. The fight against corruption has also gained crushing momentum.

Such major achievements mean that after experiencing tribulations and hardships since modern times, China has made a historic leap from standing-up to becoming better-off to getting stronger.

Despite progress made in the past five years, the president repeatedly warned the Party against resting on its laurels, as the country still faces many daunting challenges, ranging from corruption to poverty and pollution.

China has set 2020 as the target year to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society, which requires the eradication of poverty.

To achieve this goal, it needs to lift more than 10 million people out of poverty every year.

However, it is the CPC's solemn promise to the people, and that promise must be kept, as it has been over the past decades.