Greater Breakthroughs for Reform in the New Development Stage

Greater Breakthroughs for Reform in the  New Development Stage*

December 30, 2020

Since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2013, the central leadership has shown unprecedented resolve and made unprecedented efforts. It has broken free from the fetters of old thinking and ideas, broken through the barriers of vested interests, and broken down institutional obstacles.

Responding proactively to the risks and challenges arising from a changing external environment, we have launched another wave of sweeping reform. We have made progress in fulfilling the tasks and goals set at the plenary session, established basic systems and frameworks in all areas, and systematically overhauled or restructured many of these areas in a drive for historic transformation. A solid foundation has been laid for a well-conceived, procedure-based and effective framework to ensure that all our systems are more mature and better-defined. Great successes of historic significance have been achieved in furthering reform. Pressing ahead with confidence, we will forge a strong synergy of reform and work even harder to ensure that reform achieves greater breakthroughs and successes in the new development stage.

Over the past years, we have put forward a series of new theories, adopted a range of major measures, and made a number of important breakthroughs. All of this is revolutionary, bringing about groundbreaking change of historic significance, in which reform and opening up advances all undertakings of the Party and the state.

First, this represents a profound change in thinking and theory. We have continued to use new theory to guide innovations in reform, and summarized past experience to enrich and develop our theory. We have devised a number of groundbreaking, strategic and guiding concepts in terms of general goals, focus, priority tasks and reform measures, to provide an answer to a series of theoretical and practical questions, such as why overall and deeper reform is necessary in the new era, and how to further reform in an all-round way.

Second, it represents a profound change in organization. We have strengthened the Party’s centralized, unified leadership over all-round reform, and driven it forward with a holistic view and systems thinking. From laying the groundwork in the initial stage, through building momentum on all fronts in the intermediate stage, to strengthening systems integration, coordination and efficiency at the present stage, we have done away with institutional barriers, obstructive mechanisms, and problems impeding policy innovation in various areas in a steady, forceful and orderly manner. With clear targets, strategic plans and effective measures, we have removed bottlenecks and achieved a historic change from local pilots to systemic, coordinated and deeper reform across the board.

Third, it represents a profound change in state and governance systems. We have always taken the improvement of systems as the general goal of further reform. We must continue to improve our system framework, consolidate our fundamental systems, improve our basic systems, and upgrade important systems. These endeavors have played an important role in the fight against Covid-19, the completion of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the final victory over absolute poverty, the implementation of the 13th Five-year Plan, and the economic work of the whole year. Institutional reform is obviously essential to these successes. Reviewing the scale and depth of our reforms, and the progress on all undertakings of the Party and the state, we can say that these achievements have been in keeping with the times and have satisfied our practical needs.

Fourth, it represents a profound change involving the people’s extensive participation. We promote reform with the people at the center. We uphold Party leadership while respecting the people’s creativity. As if we were crossing a river by feeling for stones, we explore each step forward while improving top-level design; we launch pilot programs while advancing reform on all fronts. Focusing on the most pressing and immediate problems that concern the people the most, we have implemented reforms in key fields, giving our people a stronger sense of gain, fulfillment and security. Championing reform and innovation, our society is progressing with vitality.

However, reform is still confronted by many complex conflicts and problems. Although we have surmounted many formidable obstacles, still there are tough ones to be overcome.

We should combine our efforts to continue reform with our work towards achieving the overall goals of the Party and the state, and employ innovative and pioneering reforms in such strategic tasks as implementing the new development philosophy, creating the double development dynamic, and promoting high-quality development.

We should combine our efforts to further reform with our work on institutional integration. We should focus on fundamental and leading reform measures, strengthen alignment and coherence among institutional innovations, and increase the comprehensive efficacy of reform.

We should integrate reform with preventing and defusing major risks. We should conduct in-depth analysis and assessment of situations and tasks, and conduct reform measures at the right moment, in a suitable form, and at an appropriate pace, in a bid to achieve solid and sustainable results.

We should combine our efforts to stimulate innovation with our drive to pool our strengths, boost incentive mechanisms, and fully mobilize all sectors to use their initiative and creativity, promote reform in all fields, and open up new vistas in the new development stage.

* Main points of the speech at the 17th meeting of the Central Commission for Further Reform.

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