Xi Jinping Delivers an Important Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Seminar for Principal Leading Cadres at Provincial and Ministerial Levels on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee

The special seminar for principal leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels on studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee opened at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) on the morning of the 20th. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the opening ceremony, emphasizing the need to continuously deepen the study and implementation of the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, further unify thinking and rally strength, and, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, earnestly carry out all tasks and strive for a solid start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the opening ceremony, which was also attended by other members of the Standing Committee—Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi—as well as Vice President Han Zheng.

Xi Jinping pointed out that formulating and implementing five-year plans is an important experience in the Party’s governance of the country and a significant political advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. It helps to ensure the Party’s leadership, concentrate resources on accomplishing major undertakings, proactively address strategic issues, and maintain the continuity of our cause. Over the long course of formulating and implementing five-year plans, the Party has accumulated rich experience, including upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, proceeding from actual conditions, adopting a nationwide coordinated approach, promoting democracy and pooling collective wisdom, and adhering to the principle that planning must be based on law. We must strengthen our confidence in the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and continuously build on this strength by applying it to new realities.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made strategic arrangements for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, which must be comprehensively, profoundly, and accurately understood and grasped. “Comprehensiveness” means viewing the spirit of the plenary session from a holistic perspective and treating all the arrangements as an integrated whole, rather than focusing on one aspect at the expense of another. “Profoundness” requires not only knowing what something is but also understanding why it is so—grasping both the “what” and the “why” and the “how”—so as to achieve a truly thorough and in-depth understanding. “Accuracy” means precisely defining the boundaries and appropriate scope of policies: doing what must be done, striving to do what can be done, and absolutely refraining from doing what should not be done.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China’s development is currently at a stage characterized by the coexistence of strategic opportunities and risks and challenges, as well as an increasing number of uncertain and hard-to-predict factors. In analyzing the situation, we must not only take all relevant factors into comprehensive consideration but also be adept at identifying and seizing upon key ones, such as new developments in the international landscape and in the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. We must adopt a holistic perspective and maintain a long-term vision; uphold strategic resolve while exercising meticulous tactical planning; and continuously enhance the certainty and sustainability of China’s development.

Xi Jinping emphasized that building a modern industrial system and achieving an overall leap in the industrial structure are key strategic tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. All regions and sectors must accurately define their respective roles, adhere to the directions of intelligentization, green development, and integration, leverage their comparative advantages, and foster a dynamic situation in which upstream and downstream industries are seamlessly connected, each plays to its strengths, and all work in concert. It is essential to maintain an appropriate share of manufacturing and vigorously develop advanced manufacturing. New-quality productive forces should be developed in light of local conditions, and deep integration between technological innovation and industrial innovation should be promoted. Furthermore, modern infrastructure must be built.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China, with its large population, vast market, comprehensive industrial base, and strong development momentum, is well positioned to accelerate the establishment of a new development paradigm. It is essential to place the domestic major circulation at the core, properly balance consumption and investment as well as demand and supply, closely integrate measures to improve people’s livelihoods with efforts to boost consumption, and align investment in physical assets with investment in human capital. We must strive to enhance the quality and efficiency of the national economic cycle, making domestic demand the primary driver of economic development. By strengthening the domestic major circulation, we can enhance our autonomy in pursuing high-standard opening-up; by expanding international circulation, we can invigorate domestic reform and development. In this way, we will work to achieve seamless connectivity between domestic and international markets and mutual reinforcement and common progress.

Xi Jinping emphasized that economic development and social development are mutually reinforcing and must advance in a coordinated manner. Improving people’s livelihoods should be prioritized in promoting social development, and while pursuing economic growth, we must steadily enhance the quality of life for the people. We must uphold Party leadership, strengthen the rule of law, consolidate the grassroots foundation, and effectively raise the level of social governance. We must balance development with security, effectively prevent and defuse all types of risks, and earnestly safeguard national security and social stability.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we must uphold scientific, democratic, and law-based decision-making in formulating the national and local 15th Five-Year Plan outlines and specific plans. Local and sector-specific plans must be closely aligned with the national master plan, fully reflecting its spirit and requirements, while also being tailored to local conditions and specific circumstances, balancing needs with feasibility to ensure that once decisions are made, they can be effectively implemented and deliver tangible results.

Xi Jinping emphasized that to ensure the smooth achievement of the goals and tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, it is imperative to focus on enhancing the Party’s capacity and level of leadership in economic and social development. Cadres at all levels, especially leading cadres, must further intensify their study, delve deeply into the Party’s innovative theories, improve their professional competence, and strengthen their ability to deliver concrete results through practical work. They must foster and practice a correct view of political achievements, adhere to pragmatism and act in accordance with objective laws, and consciously strive to deliver tangible benefits for the people and achieve real results through hard work. It is essential to vigorously promote the spirit of struggle, courageously step forward to meet difficulties head-on, and be adept at managing risks, rising to challenges, and overcoming obstacles. Moreover, we must maintain an unrelenting high-pressure stance against corruption, never slackening our efforts or making any concessions, and comprehensively advance the goals of ensuring that no one dares to be corrupt, no one can be corrupt, and no one wants to be corrupt.

During the opening ceremony, Li Qiang pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech is visionary and far-reaching, inspiring and motivating, and imbued with strong political, theoretical, targeted, and guiding significance. It is of paramount importance for the entire Party, especially senior cadres, to gain a profound understanding of the major achievements made in the cause of the Party and the country during the 14th Five-Year Plan period; to accurately grasp the guiding principles, main objectives, and key tasks for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period; to maintain strategic composure and bolster confidence in ultimate victory; and to strive vigorously to open up a new stage in the endeavor to advance Chinese modernization. We must deeply comprehend the rich connotations, essential spirit, and practical requirements of the General Secretary’s important speech, profoundly appreciate the decisive significance of the “two establishments,” resolutely uphold the “two safeguards,” and consciously align our thinking and actions with the spirit of the General Secretary’s important speech and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee. We must apply what we learn to practice, integrate knowledge with action, translate our learning outcomes into concrete achievements and tangible results, and continuously deliver new successes in promoting high-quality development.

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretaries of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission, Party-member Vice Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, State Councilors, the President of the Supreme People’s Court, the Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and Party-member Vice Chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference attended the opening ceremony.

Leading officials from all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; relevant departments of central and state organs; related people’s organizations; centrally administered financial institutions, enterprises, and universities; as well as units of the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force, are participating in the seminar. Leading officials from the central committees of the non-CPC political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and other relevant bodies are attending the opening ceremony as observers.