World will be watching at CPC congress

President Xi Jinping speaks at the National Financial Work Conference in Beijing July 15, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]

As one of the world's largest political parties, with thousands of active members and cadres, Communist Party of China is at a moment of increased global challenges while preparing for its hotly anticipated meeting, the National Congress. The 19th CPC National Congress is scheduled to convene on Oct 18 in Beijing. Many experts on global affairs opined the meeting will be a historical one, determining China's domestic path and declaring a vision and perspective on global agendas as a responsible and highly influential member of the global community. The congress, held every five years, draws out guidelines and policies on important issues of internal and external affairs and reshuffles the leadership.

This year's meeting will be different from previous ones, due to various issues which have emerged in China's internal and external spheres. With Donald Trump's presidency in America and increasing rightist politics and anti-globalization forces in Europe, many complications have risen in the existing international order. These scenarios create genuine pressure for China, the world's second-largest economy and now the prime advocate for globalization and win-win cooperation in the world, to take pragmatic approaches on domestic and global issues.

As the Chinese proverb goes, "Just as distance tests a horse's strength; time will show a person's sincerity." Similarly, at the present juncture, the world is watching the CPC to see its vision for the future at the upcoming National Congress. Under the core leadership of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, the CPC is working hard to outline methods to accomplish the Two Centenaries goals. These goals refer to the 100-year anniversary of the CPC in 2021 and the centenary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2049. The first goal aims to build a moderately prosperous country by 2021, and the latter aims to make China a strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and modern socialist country by 2049. It is said that the second centenary goal will be a major highlight of this year's congress, because to achieve that goal, strong commitment and policies are needed and should pave the way for China to be a fully modernized socialist country.

This year, the congress will elect a new central committee and a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. According to Xinhua, the 19th CPC National Congress will advance coordinated development of the "Four Comprehensives", which refers to a four-pronged strategy that aims to comprehensively accomplish a moderately prosperous society, deepen reform, advance rule of law, and strengthen Party self-governance. This is a big vision from President Xi. In simpler terms, he has called it the "Chinese Dream". China has been achieving a lot with its anti-corruption campaign for some years. More than 200 vice-ministerial and higher-level officials and managers have been investigated since the 18th CPC National Congress, triple that of the period from 2007-12. Two weeks ago, the former secretary of the CPC's Chongqing municipal committee, Sun Zhengcai, has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office for "serious discipline violations". The meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee reviewed and approved a report on Sun's investigation and made the decision. This also shows Xi's strong stance on good governance.

Due to the drastically changing international environment since 2008, this time is very critical for the Chinese leadership. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, which was convened in Beijing from Dec 8 to 22 in 1978, successfully introduced the "reform and opening-up" initiative, which ultimately led China to achieve dramatic economic development, political stability and its current role as an influential party in international affairs. To meet this historical responsibility, present leadership has made a commitment to follow Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the thought of the Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development and to move forward according to the present reality and future roadmap.

With the leadership of President Xi, China has made important proposals for worldwide cooperation and friendship, and also for the creation of a harmonious society in the world. The Belt and Road Initiative, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, New Development Bank , and BRICS Plus concept are programs which clarified the commitment and seriousness of the Chinese leadership for global peace, stability, development and in-depth cooperation on multiple issues.

Buddhi Prasad Sharma is a Ph.D candidate at the Communication University of China.