Three-step development strategy

The three-step strategy developed gradually after the third plenary session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, on the basis of the experience of the Chinese people in pursuing socialist modernization under the leadership of the CPC. Unveiled at the 13th CPC National Congress in October 1987, the strategy envisaged three steps for economic development. It drew upon the concept of the preliminary stage of socialism and Deng Xiaoping’s strategic conclusions on development reached since 1985, and built on the economic development strategy adopted at the 12th CPC National Congress. The underlying assumption was that the major challenge in the preliminary stage of socialism was how to address the inadequate level of development and to satisfy the people’s growing material and cultural needs. Aimed at raising the level of development to improve the people’s wellbeing, the strategy outlined specific targets for each of the three steps.

First, the years from 1981 to the end of the 1980s would see the doubling of the 1980 GDP, thus meeting the most basic needs of the people. Second, GDP would be doubled again between 1991 and the end of the 20th century, enabling the people to enjoy a “moderately prosperous” life. Third, with the process of modernization basically completed, per capita GDP was expected to reach the level of a moderately developed country by the mid-21st century, further improving the people’s wellbeing.

The three-step strategy for economic development combined a forward-looking vision for building a prosperous China with prudent and careful planning. As a major document guiding the CPC in its search for ways to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, it showed not only the courage and ambition of the Party and the Chinese people but also a pragmatic approach rooted in a deep understanding of the existing conditions. The strategy provided guidance for China’s economic development in the preliminary stage of socialism, on the basis of a careful analysis of the realities during this period of time and what could be done to drive economic development. It clarified our historic mission and goal of economic development, which remain relevant to what the Party, the government and the people are pursuing in a new era.

In order to meet the targets specified in the three-step strategy, further reform and greater openness are imperative. Reform injects dynamism into the economy, inspiring the people to create more wealth. Greater openness allows more competition over projects, financial resources, technology, talent, and market share. Essential to successful implementation of this strategy is improving the ability of political and business leaders to manage change in our modernization process.

“三步走”發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略

“三步走”發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略是十一屆三中全會(huì)以來(lái)，在中國(guó)共產(chǎn)黨領(lǐng)導(dǎo)全國(guó)人民進(jìn)行社會(huì)主義現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)的實(shí)踐中逐步形成的。1987年10月召開(kāi)的黨的十三大從社會(huì)主義初級(jí)階段理論出發(fā)，結(jié)合鄧小平1985年以來(lái)經(jīng)過(guò)反復(fù)思考后得出的發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略結(jié)論，將黨的十二大提出的經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略部署作了進(jìn)一步豐富和發(fā)展，確定了經(jīng)濟(jì)建設(shè)分“三步走”的發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略部署。它以社會(huì)主義初級(jí)階段的主要矛盾，即人民日益增長(zhǎng)的物質(zhì)文化需要同落后的社會(huì)生產(chǎn)之間的矛盾演化為線(xiàn)索，以社會(huì)生產(chǎn)的發(fā)展水平和相應(yīng)的人民生活水平為標(biāo)志，來(lái)劃分經(jīng)濟(jì)建設(shè)的戰(zhàn)略步驟并確定每一步所要達(dá)到的目標(biāo)。

“三步走”的具體目標(biāo)為：第一步，1981年到20世紀(jì)80年代末，實(shí)現(xiàn)國(guó)民生產(chǎn)總值比1980年翻一番，解決人民的溫飽問(wèn)題；第二步，1991年到20世紀(jì)末，使國(guó)民生產(chǎn)總值再增長(zhǎng)一倍，人民生活達(dá)到小康水平；第三步，到21世紀(jì)中葉，人均國(guó)民生產(chǎn)總值達(dá)到中等發(fā)達(dá)國(guó)家水平，人民生活比較富裕，基本實(shí)現(xiàn)現(xiàn)代化。

“三步走”經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略，對(duì)中華民族百年圖強(qiáng)的宏偉目標(biāo)做了積極而穩(wěn)妥的規(guī)劃，既體現(xiàn)了黨和人民勇于進(jìn)取的雄心壯志，又反映了從實(shí)際出發(fā)、遵循客觀規(guī)律的科學(xué)精神，是中國(guó)共產(chǎn)黨探索中國(guó)特色社會(huì)主義建設(shè)規(guī)律的重大成果。“三步走”經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略是中國(guó)社會(huì)主義初級(jí)階段建設(shè)的經(jīng)濟(jì)綱領(lǐng)，它從中國(guó)社會(huì)主義初級(jí)階段基本國(guó)情和經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展內(nèi)在規(guī)律出發(fā)，進(jìn)一步明確了中國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)建設(shè)的歷史任務(wù)和奮斗目標(biāo)，成為新時(shí)期黨和政府及全國(guó)各族人民奮斗的總目標(biāo)。

實(shí)現(xiàn)“三步走”戰(zhàn)略目標(biāo)有兩條基本途徑——深化改革和擴(kuò)大開(kāi)放。改革突出一個(gè)“活”字，激發(fā)全社會(huì)創(chuàng)造財(cái)富的活力；開(kāi)放突出一個(gè)“爭(zhēng)”字，爭(zhēng)項(xiàng)目、爭(zhēng)資金、爭(zhēng)技術(shù)、爭(zhēng)人才、爭(zhēng)市場(chǎng)。實(shí)現(xiàn)“三步走”戰(zhàn)略目標(biāo)的一個(gè)根本保證是提高領(lǐng)導(dǎo)現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)的能力和水平。