Understanding China's path in the next 5 years

BEIJING - The eyes of the world will turn to China as the Communist Party of China (CPC) will hold its 19th national congress, at which the CPC will unveil new leadership and set a blueprint for national development for the next five years and beyond.

Analysts said that comprehensive, strategic and foresighted guidelines are expected to be raised at the congress. China is aiming for a "moderately prosperous society" and a modern socialist country while moving toward the world's center stage.

The congress comes at a critical time for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, under which China has witnessed an economic miracle and accomplished even impossible missions.

SOCIALISM WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS

When many Western countries continue to stagnate, China has grown and remained stable. This is due to the strong leadership of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is markedly different from the Western system, in which multiple parties hold office in turn, often bickering on their way to power.

"Since the 12th CPC National Congress in 1982, the CPC has always held high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is what the Party has learned over the past four decades," said Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

China has become the world's second-largest economy after decades of rapid economic growth. China's GDP expanded by an average annual rate of 7.2 percent during 2013-2016, compared with 2.6-percent average global growth and the 4-percent growth of developing economies.

Chen Shuguang, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said that one of the major advantages of the Chinese political system is its ability to formulate long-term development plans and implement them in an effective manner.

The CPC has maintained consistency in its commitment and policy-making while adapting to changing domestic and international conditions, Chen said.

The International Monetary Fund raised Tuesday its forecast for China's economic growth to 6.8 percent this year, reflecting the country's stronger-than-expected economic performance and its efforts in deepening economic reform.

Under current circumstances, the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics entails pushing forward the "Four Comprehensives" as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new development stage, said Xin.

The "Four Comprehensives" refers to a four-pronged strategy to create a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepen reform, advance rule of law and strengthen Party governance.

China's great achievements in socialism with Chinese characteristics do not only mean that socialism has gained strong vitality in China, but has also expanded the pathway to modernization for developing countries around the world, said President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.