Xu Lin:

Thank you, Mr. Wang. Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Han Wenxiu.

Han Wenxiu:

Good morning everyone. I will now brief you on the drafting of the Proposals of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. I'll talk about three main aspects.

First, the Proposals have been drafted under General Secretary Xi Jinping's personal leadership. To compile and implement medium- and long-term plans is an important way for the Party to run the country and guide economic and social development. Since China began its reform and opening up, for every five years, a medium- and long-term plan is drafted and, before that, the CPC Central Committee would formulate its proposals and set the guidelines and principles for the drafting of the document. This has become a good tradition. In March this year, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee made the decision that the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee would review the Proposals of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, and that a drafting group was to be set up with General Secretary Xi Jinping as the head, and Comrades Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng as deputy heads. Over the past seven months, General Secretary Xi Jinping has chaired two meetings of the Political Bureau, three meetings of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, and two meetings of the drafting group, to discuss and review the guiding principles, general approaches, overall framework and major contents of the draft. By giving important remarks and instructions, General Secretary Xi Jinping established the orientation, approach and strategy regarding the drafting of the Proposals. He has conducted in-depth research during field trips to different localities and communities, listened to views and suggestions from all sectors of society, and personally revised the draft document several times before its approval. His strategic oversight and personal devotion have ensured the successful completion of the draft Proposals with high quality.

Second, a main feature in drawing up the Proposals is the democratic and open approach intended to pool the wisdom and generate ideas in the drafting process. Late last year, General Secretary Xi Jinping instructed the relevant departments under the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to organize initial research on the major issues related to China's economic and social development in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission have commissioned more than 60 research institutions and agencies, including top think tanks in the country, to conduct research on 37 major issues, which produced more than 130 research reports. The National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have also sponsored research on special subjects and presented a series of research reports. The CPC Central Committee has twice solicited opinions inside and outside the CPC. The drafting group has studied and incorporated in the draft document helpful views and suggestions from various regions, competent departments and circles. In early August, General Secretary Xi Jinping gave an important instruction that top-level design should be combined with public opinions, and that the general public and different social sectors should be encouraged to offer their views and suggestions through various means, so that public aspirations, people's wisdom, expert views, and community experiences could all be absorbed to make the 14th Five-Year Plan a sound document. Between August 16 and 29, opinions were solicited online for the drafting of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the first time in the history of drafting CPC Central Committee Plenary Session documents. The public showed great interest and posted more than 1 million messages, based on which more than 1,000 suggestions were sorted out. Between July and September, General Secretary Xi Jinping chaired symposiums on the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and with prominent non-CPC personages, entrepreneurs, economic and social experts, scientists, grassroots representatives, and experts of education, culture, public health, and sports, to listen to their views. In revising the draft Proposals, the drafting group has fully studied and taken in the views and suggestions from all sides. The drafting of the Proposals is a fine example of China's socialist democracy, and an important reflection of scientific and democratic decision-making process.

Third, the main considerations and basic framework of the Proposals. The Proposals have been drawn up in line with the strategic two-stage development plan made at the 19th CPC National Congress for realizing the second of China's two centennial goals. They are formulated in light of the international and the domestic environments and conditions regarding China's development in the coming period. They are based on the Party's original aspiration and founding mission to seek rejuvenation for the Chinese nation and well-being for the Chinese people. They are consistent with the philosophy of people-centered development. They carry systematic planning and strategic arrangements for China's economic and social development for the next five years. The Proposals serve as a guiding program as China sets out on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country and realizing its second centennial goal. They also serve as a guide of action for China's economic and social development in the next five years and beyond.

The drafting of the Proposals has followed five principles: first, balancing the relationship between coherence and innovation to dovetail the two centennial goals; second, balancing the relationship between the government and the market to better leverage China's institutional strength; third, balancing the relationship between opening up and independence to better coordinate domestic and international imperatives; fourth, balancing the relationship between development and security to avoid any systemic risks that will impede China's modernization drive; and fifth, balancing the relationship between strategy-making and operational tactics to ensure both oversight and results-oriented implementation.

The Proposals consist of three main sections with 15 parts: The General Introduction summarizes the achievements China has scored in completing the building of a society of moderate prosperity in all respects, the environment for development, the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, and the guidelines, principles, and main targets for the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The Middle Section, structured in accordance with the various dimensions of the new development philosophy, spells out China's priority tasks for economic and social development during 2021-2025 in different fields and for reform and opening up. The Conclusion mainly elaborates on strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee and on improving relevant mechanisms to ensure sound implementation of the Five-Year Plan.

The logical framework for the Proposals is that after achieving a society of moderate prosperity in all respects, China will embark on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country. China will take hold the new stage of development, thoroughly implement the new development philosophy and accelerate a new development paradigm. China will take pursuing high-quality development as the main theme and deepening supply-side structural reforms as the main task, and strive to achieve steady and sustained economic progress and maintain social stability and harmony, so as to ensure a good start for building a modern socialist country in all respects. To put it simply, the Proposals highlight three new aspects: a new development stage, a new development philosophy, and a new development paradigm.

Thank you.

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