Key Takeaways from the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee charted the course for China's future, emphasizing reform, innovation, and stability.

The recent Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held from July 15 to 18, 2024, in Beijing, was a significant event. It brought together 199 members and 165 alternate members of the Central Committee, along with non-voting attendees including Standing Committee members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and leading officials from various departments.

Major Highlights

Affirmation of Political Bureau’s Work

The session began with General Secretary Xi Jinping addressing the assembly, providing a comprehensive report on the work undertaken by the Political Bureau. The Central Committee lauded the bureau’s efforts in navigating the complex international environment and advancing domestic reforms. Key areas of progress include:

- Implementation of Guiding Principles: Upholding the principles from the 20th National Party Congress and prior plenary sessions.

- Development Philosophy: Advocating for progress while ensuring stability.

- Strategic Plans: Coordinating the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy.

- High-Quality Development: Emphasizing both development and security.

- National Defense and Social Stability: Enhancing the well-being of the people and safeguarding the environment.

Deepening Reforms for Chinese Modernization

One of the central themes was the discussion and adoption of the Resolution on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization. Xi Jinping provided explanatory remarks on the draft resolution, which emphasizes:

- Commitment to Marxist Ideologies: Staying true to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and subsequent theories.

- Xi Jinping Thought: Fully implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

- Reform Goals: Building a high-standard socialist market economy, promoting whole-process people's democracy, and ensuring harmony between humanity and nature.

Objectives and Future Plans

The session outlined ambitious objectives for reform and modernization:

- By 2035: Establishing a high-standard socialist market economy, modernizing governance systems, and achieving significant milestones in socialist modernization.

- By the Mid-Century: Transforming China into a great modern socialist country.

Areas of Focus

The Central Committee made systematic plans for reforms across various sectors:

- Economic Development: Promoting high-quality economic growth, improving macroeconomic governance, and fostering innovation.

- Urban-Rural Integration: Advancing integrated development between urban and rural areas to narrow disparities.

- Opening Up: Enhancing cooperation with other countries and developing new institutions for a higher-standard open economy.

- Democracy and Rule of Law: Strengthening the institutions through which the people run the country and promoting the rule of law.

- Cultural and Ethical Advancement: Boosting cultural confidence and developing advanced socialist culture.

- People’s Wellbeing: Refining the system for guaranteeing basic public services and improving the income distribution system.

National Security and Defense

Ensuring national security remains pivotal, with a focus on:

- National Security System: Improving mechanisms for safeguarding national security.

- Military Reforms: Modernizing national defense and armed forces to achieve the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army by 2027.

Leadership and Governance

The session reiterated the importance of the Party’s leadership in driving these reforms:

- Xi Jinping’s Core Leadership: Upholding Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the Party Central Committee.

- Party Self-Governance: Enhancing the Party's capacity for leadership and ensuring rigorous self-governance.

- International Relations: Pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and promoting a human community with a shared future.

Key Resolutions and Appointments

Several important decisions were made during the session:

- Appointment of Alternate Members: Ding Xiangqun, Yu Lijun, and Yu Jihong filled empty seats on the Central Committee.

- Expulsion of Members: Confirming the expulsion of Li Shangfu, Li Yuchao, and Sun Jinming for grave violations of Party discipline and state laws.

Conclusion

The Third Plenary Session concluded with a call to action for the entire Party, military, and Chinese people to unite under the leadership of Xi Jinping and strive towards the Second Centenary Goal. The session emphasized the significance of these reforms in building a modern socialist country and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. The path ahead is clear: continued reform, adherence to socialist principles, and unwavering commitment to national development and security.

This plenary session not only reinforced the CPC's strategic direction but also set the stage for the next phase of China's development, balancing progress with stability, and reform with continuity.