The Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixteenth Central Committee of the CPC

Held in Beijing from October 8 to 11, 2006. The Plenary Session listened to and discussed Hu Jintao's Work Report entrusted by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, and reviewed and adopted the “Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Several Important Questions Concerning the Building of a Socialist Harmonious Society”.

Guided by Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of “Three Represents”, fully implementing the “Scientific Outlook on Development” and proceeding from the overall layout of the socialist cause of Chinese characteristics and the overall situation of building a moderately prosperous society, the “Decision” put forward the guiding ideology, objectives and tasks, working principles and major deployments for building a harmonious socialist society by 2020. The “Decision” pointed out that social harmony is an essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics and an important guarantee of national prosperity, national revitalization and people's happiness. Meanwhile, social harmony is also the goal of the Communist Party of China's unremitting struggle.

The “Decision” emphasized that in the new century and new stage, China is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges, and that in taking forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, China must adhere to the economic construction as the center, and put the building of a harmonious socialist society in a more prominent position. The “Decision” set out the objectives and major tasks for building a harmonious socialist society by 2020, and made comprehensive arrangements for economic, political, cultural, social and national defense construction around these objectives and tasks. The proposed major strategic objective of building a socialist harmonious society makes the overall layout of the socialism with Chinese characteristics develop from the "three-in-one" to the "four-in-one" consisting of economic construction, political construction, cultural construction and social construction. It was emphasized that the key to building a harmonious socialist society is the Party, and that we must give full play to the leading core role of the Party, adhere to building the Party for the public and governing for the people, promote the building of a socialist harmonious society with the construction of the Party's ruling capacity and advanced nature, and provide a strong political guarantee for the building of a socialist harmonious society. The Plenary Session reviewed and adopted the “Resolution on the 17th National Congress of the Party” and decided that the Congress would be held in Beijing in the second half of 2007.