China advancing on path of socialist development

20th National Congress of Communist Party of China

BY Dr. G. Weerasinghe
General Secretary
Communist Party of Sri Lanka

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held from 16th to 22nd October 2022. There is no doubt that the congress was a decisive event in the path of building socialism in China. The main developments or phenomena that happened in China in the 10 years before that congress are as follows;

– Centenary of the Communist Party of Chinese (2021),

– Socialism in China entering a new era,

– China becoming a moderately prosperous country.

The Chinese Communist Party looks at and analyses issues scientifically or dialectically. In this analysis, according to the Chinese Communist Party, the main contradiction in Chinese society is shown as follows.

“That is, that the contradiction between the unbalanced and inadequate development among the provinces on one hand and the growing needs of the people for a better living condition on the other is considered to be the main contradiction”. During last 10 years the CPC worked to solve that contradiction and it will continue to work with the same objective for years to come.

Accordingly, the Chinese Communist Party, in the last 10 years;

Provided guidance to build socialism with Chinese characteristics or socialism in China.

Rallied 96 million party members providing leadership on all fronts/sectors.

Worked to lift more than 100 million people out of poverty in the last 10 years (by 2021) in order to eradicate poverty and create a moderately prosperous country in all respects.

Implemented a comprehensive strategy with the following 04 key points;

Building a modern socialist country

Deepening reforms

Strengthening the rule of law

Strengthening the self-governance of the party

Achievements of China under the leadership of CPC – 2012 to 2022

The measures taken in the last 10 years (2012 – 2022) to achieve high-quality development have resulted many achievements and some of them are listed below.

Gross Domestic Product increased from 54 to 114 trillion Yuan

Becoming the second largest economy in the world, accounting for 18.5% of the total world gross domestic product

Raising per capita gross domestic product from 39,800 Yuan to 81,000 Yuan

China has become the number one producer of goods in the world,

Topping the foreign exchange reserve,

Construction of the world’s longest high-speed highway and railway systems,

Bringing up the investment for research and development from 1 to 2.8 trillion Yuan and becoming the country with the largest group of people engaged in that work,

Development of manned spacecraft, moon and ocean exploration, ocean exploration, exploration of Earth’s interior, supercomputers and quantum computers.

Providing high priority to areas such as people-centered development programme, education, health, employment, care of children and the elderly, housing and social protection.

Life expectancy at birth is 78’2

Annual disposable income increased from 16,500 Yuan to 35,100 Yuan

Deepening the reforms and bringing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics to a mature state and modernising the country’s governance systems.

Accelerated opening up of the country and during that period China became the main trading partner of 140 countries and regions.

Strengthening the people’s democracy involved in the overall process,

The guidance of Marxism in the field of ideology is more stable,

Self-governance of the party and continuous reforms of the party by itself is essential for the party’s progress.

The Communist Party of China held its 20th National Congress in the background of the above-mentioned huge achievements, so there can be no doubt that the preparation of plans and roadmaps for the future was reliable and effective.

Theoretical guidance of the Congress

Marxism has worked based on the following main points in adapting to Chinese conditions and setting the way forward;

The basic ideology of the Chinese Communist Party is Marxism.

China’s socialist development was possible because the Chinese Communist Party was able to apply the basic teachings of Marxism to Chinese conditions through theoretical guidance.

Adapting the teachings of dialectical and historical materialism to Chinese conditions

That the Chinese Communist Party is firmly committed to the following four main principles:

Commitment to the Socialist Path

Maintaining the People’s Democratic Dictatorship

Maintaining the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party

Being guided by Marxist-Leninist and Maoist ideologies

Maintaining people-centric approach

Treating Marxism as a science, solving problems and while working for the welfare of the Chinese people, Commitment to the entire human society

The tasks of the new era decided by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party;

China’s modernisation programme

It was decided to start a massive programme to modernise China. It must be strongly emphasised here that modernisation is not westernisation. The distinctive features of the Chinese modernisation programme are;

The programme is led by the Communist Party of China,

Modernising a large population

Being a modernisation programme for the common prosperity of the entire people

Reforms for peaceful development

To become materially and culturally superior

Modernisation in harmony with the environment

Meanwhile, the other main difference we see between the western modernisation and the Chinese modernisation programme is that the “West” carried out its modernisation programs with the resources gathered through colonial exploitation, while China’s modernisation take place using its own resources.

Building a Modern Socialist State in China

Further, the 20th National Congress of the Party decided that the building of a modern socialist state in China will be done through 02 steps.

I. Completion of socialist modernisation – in 2035

II. Becoming a modern socialist state – by 2049 (second millennium goal)

The socialist China will be;

1. Prosperous

2. Strong

3. Democratic

4. Culturally advanced

5. A beautiful country in harmony with environment

Although 2049 is a relatively distant goal, the Congress has become more specific about the desired goals in 2035.

Expected results in 2035

• Greatly boosted economic strength,

• Enhanced capabilities in science and technology,

• Enhanced overall national strength,

• Becoming the most innovative country in the world,

• Modernised economy

New industrialisation

A new level of information technology

New urbanisation

A modern agricultural development

• Modernised governance and developed “whole process people’s democracy”.

• To become a world leader in education, science, technology, culture, sports and health.

Bringing up disposable per capita annual income

Raising the middle income group as a percentage of the total population

Ensure equal access to basic public services

Ensuring modern living conditions in rural areas

Ensure long-term social stability

Establishing inclusive development and prosperity for all

• Ensuring harmony with the environment and building a beautiful China

• Modernised National Security System

After completing the modernisation programme in 2035, the Chinese Communist Party hopes to build a modern socialist state in China by 2049 and work to lead the world with strength.