Firmly March on the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive to Complete the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects

The report delivered by Hu Jintao on behalf of the 17th Central Committee to the 18th National Congress of the CPC on November 8, 2012. Contained in Selection and Compilation of Important Documents since the 18th National Congress (Vol. 1). The report holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, guided by Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of “Three Represent” and the “Scientific Outlook of Development”, analyses the development and changes of the international and domestic situation, reviews and summarizes the historical achievements of the struggle of the Party five years after the 17th National Congress and evaluates ten years-period after the 16th National Congress of the Party, the course of struggle and the historic achievements made in the past year have established the historical position of the “Scientific Outlook on Development”, put forward the basic requirements for the new victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, put forward the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and comprehensively deepening the Reform and Opening-up in an all-round way, and made a comprehensive plan for advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and clear requirements were raised for comprehensively improving the scientific level of Party building.

The report points out that the underlying theme of the congress is to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of “Three Represents” and the “Scientific Outlook on Development”, free up the mind, implement the policy of Reform and Opening-up, pool our strength, overcome all difficulties, firmly march on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strive to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The report points out that the most important achievement in our endeavors in the past ten years is that we have formed the “Scientific Outlook on Development” and put it into practice by following the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of “Three Represents” and by making courageous theoretical innovations on the basis of practices and developing closely interconnected new ideas and viewpoints on upholding and building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The “Scientific Outlook on Development” is the latest achievement in developing the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the CPC and a powerful theoretical weapon for guiding all the work of the Party and country. Together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of “Three Represents”, the “Scientific Outlook on Development” is the theoretical guidance the Party must adhere to for a long time. The report emphasizes that this path concerns the lifeline of the Party, the future of the country, the destiny of the nation and the happiness of the people. We must unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics in order to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, accelerate socialist modernization, and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the system of theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics are the fundamental accomplishments made by the Party and people in the course of arduous struggle over the past 90-plus years. We must cherish these accomplishments, uphold them all the time and continue to enrich them.

The report summarized the scientific connotation of the path, theoretical system and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and pointed out that the three are unified in the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The path is the way to realize, the theoretical system is the guide to action, and the system is the fundamental guarantee. In building socialism with Chinese characteristics, we base ourselves on the basic reality that China is in the primary stage of socialism. Our overall approach is to promote economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress, and our general task is to achieve socialist modernization and the great renewal of the Chinese nation. Socialism with Chinese characteristics both upholds the basic principles of scientific socialism and has distinctive Chinese features that reflect contemporary conditions. The report profoundly pointed out that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental direction of contemporary development of China and that only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China.

The report puts forward the basic requirements that must be firmly grasped in order to win the new victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the new historical conditions: (1) We must maintain the people's principal position in the country; (2) We must continue to release and develop the productive forces; (3) We must persevere in Reform and Opening-up. Reform and Opening-up are crucial to adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics; (4) We must safeguard social fairness and justice; (5) We must strive for common prosperity. This is the fundamental principle of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We should adhere to the basic socialist economic system and the socialist income distribution system; (6)We must promote social harmony; (7) We must pursue peaceful development; (8) We must uphold the leadership of the Party.

The report said: “We need to have a correct understanding of the changing nature and conditions of this period, seize all opportunities, respond with cool-headedness to challenges, and gain initiative and advantages to win the future and attain the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.” Making comprehensive arrangements for advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and comprehensively improving the scientific level of Party building in the new era emphasizes that we should speed up the improvement of the socialist market economic system and the transformation of the mode of economic development, and continuously enhance the long-term development potential; we should adhere to the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics and promote the reform of the political system to develop a broad, fuller, and more sound people's democracy; we should follow the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics and solidly promote the building of a strong socialist cultural power; we should strengthen social construction in improving people's wellbeing and innovation management, and strive to make people life a better life; we should integrate the construction of ecological civilization into all aspects and the entire process of economic, political, cultural, and social construction, and strive to build a beautiful China; we should firmly grasp the main line of strengthening the Party's capability of governance, vanguard nature, and purity, and build a learning, service-oriented, and innovative Marxist governing Party.

The report drew a grand blueprint for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, accelerating socialist modernization and winning the new victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the new historical conditions.