In his report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Oct 18, General Secretary Xi Jinping devoted a large chapter to the "Four Greats": to experience the great struggle in the new era, construct the great project of Party building, and promote the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, in order to realize China's great dream of national rejuvenation.

The "Four Greats" set the direction for China's development in the new era. Xi's concept of the "Four Greats" lays out the mission and tasks of, and the guideline for the Party in the new era. The "Four Greats" are mutually connected, and carry a great historical significance and realistic meaning for China's development in the new era.

Xi's concept has emerged from the Party's long-term practice and historic struggle, and reflects the political wisdom and valuable experience of the CPC. The 12th Party Congress in 1982 first presented the concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is the original expression of the great cause.

The Fourth Plenum of the 14th CPC Central Committee in 1994 pushed forward the great project of improving the Party building and the 18th Party Congress in 2012 advanced the great cause of Party building through the great struggle with new characteristics.

Based on these expressions, Xi advanced the "Four Greats" at the 19th Party Congress. It is widely accepted that the experience of governing the country for almost seven decades is the best guideline for the Party to lead the Chinese people in the future.

And only through the great struggle can the other three greats be achieved; the great cause forms the basis for the other three greats; the great project is the political guarantee for the other three greats; and the great dream is the grand target of the other three greats.

During the great struggle we should meet the great challenges, avoid great risks, overcome great obstructions and solve the great contradictions. Also, we should be fully aware that the great struggle is a long-term, complicated and difficult process.

The great project emphasizes Party building, which is the fundamental guarantee of making the great dream come true. Among the "Four Greats", the great project of Party building plays a crucial role, as it is a guarantee that the Party will maintain its leading position in the new era while dealing with various internal and external risks and tests, and sticking to the road of and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The great cause signifies the importance of China sticking to the path of, as well as advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics. It should be noted that China made great achievements in reform and opening-up only because it further developed socialism with Chinese characteristics, which remains the only way to achieve socialist modernization and improve the lives and livelihoods of the people. As such, socialism with Chinese characteristics is the correct theory that will lead the Party and the people to realize the national rejuvenation of China.

According to the Party's goal, by 2020 it will build a moderately well-off society in an all-round way, by 2035 it will basically realize socialist modernization, and by 2050 it will develop China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

In short, the "Four Greats" inject new vitality into China's development in the new era, and are expected to transform it into a strong, harmonious and prosperous modern socialist country.

The author is deputy director of the Center for Anti-corruption Studies, University of Science and Technology of Beijing.

(China Daily 11/21/2017 page9)