Blueprint for modernization in a new era

A significant and transformative event, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China convened from July 15 to July 18 in Beijing, culminating in the adoption of a crucial resolution aimed at further deepening comprehensive reforms and advance Chinese modernization.

The resolution, titled Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, is a new era blueprint for the increasingly important global player. President Xi Jinping's explanatory remarks on the draft version of the resolution underscored the depth of thought and meticulous planning that has gone into this monumental endeavor.

The resolution outlines a comprehensive framework for continuing to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It aims to modernize China's system and capacity for governance, setting the stage for achieving socialist modernization by 2035.This ambitious target is envisioned to transform China into a high-standard socialist market economy, characterized by an efficient and dynamic market environment and robust governance mechanisms.

The resolution's objectives are to be completed by the time the People's Republic of China celebrates its 80th founding anniversary in 2029. This timeline reflects the urgency and commitment of the CPC in implementing the reforms swiftly and effectively. The Central Committee has laid out systematic plans for further deepening reform across various sectors.

A central tenet of the resolution is the emphasis on building a high-standard socialist market economy. The role of the market is to be better leveraged, fostering a fairer and more dynamic market environment. This involves lifting unnecessary restrictions on the market while ensuring effective regulation to maintain order and correct market failures. This balanced approach aims to enhance resource allocation efficiency and productivity.

Innovation is the lifeblood of any modern economy, and the resolution places significant emphasis on supporting all-around innovation. The CPC plans to deepen comprehensive reforms in education, carry out structural, scientific and technological reforms, and institutional reforms for talent development. These measures are designed to foster new quality productive forces and create an environment conducive to continuous innovation.

Improving macroeconomic governance is another aspect of the resolution. It calls for coordinated reforms in fiscal, tax, financial and other major areas to enhance the consistency of macro policy orientation. This involves improving the national strategic planning system and policy coordination mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of reforms.

The resolution recognizes the need to promote equal exchanges and two-way flows of production factors between cities and the countryside. This is essential for narrowing disparities and promoting common prosperity and development. Deepening reform of the land system is also a key component of this strategy, aimed at facilitating better integration and utilization of land resources.

One of the most defining features of Chinese modernization, as articulated in the resolution, is the commitment to opening-up. The CPC plans to steadily expand institutional opening-up, deepen foreign trade structural reforms, and improve management systems for inward and outward investment. This also includes refining mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, ensuring that China's modernization is both inclusive and globally integrated.

As the BRI has fundamentally changed the fate of millions of people in the Global South, it is certain that China's persistence in opening-up could bring more benefits and opportunities to people all over the world.

Chinese modernization also uplifts governance exemplified by upholding the whole-process people's democracy and the rule of law. Ensuring the full implementation and authority of the Constitution, promoting sound legislation, law enforcement, administration of justice, and observance of the law are critical to achieving these goals. The resolution calls for improving mechanisms to ensure that all individuals are equal before the law, thus reinforcing the rule of law as a cornerstone of Chinese governance.

The resolution, among other issues, also underscores the importance of ecological conservation, emphasizing a coordinated approach to carbon cutting, pollution reduction, green development, and economic growth in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. This includes actively responding to climate change and improving systems and mechanisms for applying the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.

Chinese modernization, as articulated in the resolution, is characterized by peaceful development. Both the resolution and Xi's speech reaffirmed China's commitment to pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and promoting a human community with a shared future. This global outlook ensures that China's rise contributes positively to international stability and development.

The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC represents a historic milestone in China's journey toward further deepening comprehensive reforms and advancing Chinese modernization. Under the visionary leadership of Xi, the CPC has charted a clear and ambitious path for the nation's future.

The resolution adopted at this session reflects the Party's unwavering commitment to deepening reforms, fostering sustainable development, and enhancing the well-being of the Chinese people. As China continues to progress toward its goals, the positive impact of these reforms will resonate not only within the country but also across the globe, contributing to a more stable, prosperous and harmonious world.

The writer is editor-in-chief at Daily Ittehad Media Group and Pakistan Economic Net. He is also the vice president and chairman of the foreign relations committee of Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE).