China's communist leaders foresee a "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" in the decades ahead created by a strong economy, world-beating technology, and a world-class military.
Their vision for the future under President Xi Jinping was revealed in a communique marking the end of the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that began October 26 in Beijing.
The communiqué that highlighted the implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP) also emphasized the importance of strengthening awareness of opportunities and risks and cultivating opportunities amid crisis as China faces the future.
It said the past five years have demonstrated the strength of the leadership of the CPC and the Chinese socialist system.
China's leaders again promised China will be transformed into a "self-reliant" technology power with advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities. They pledged China will become less dependent on foreign imports in the coming decades.
Much of the communiqué highlighted the implementation of the 13th FYP ending in December and praised the plan's success. CPC leaders boasted China's GDP should surpass the RMB100 trillion ($14.9 trillion) mark this year despite the terrible economic damage inflicted by the pandemic.
Economic growth has been better than expected, said the communiqué, and the livelihood of mainland Chinese has been improved. Social stability has been maintained.
Under the 13th FYP, China deepened supply-side reforms, enhanced macro-economic regulations and expanded domestic consumer demand as the strategic foundations for a stronger future economy. The 13th FYP period saw China make great progress with its stable economic growth and better economic structure, the communiqué said.
Among the other notable accomplishment under the 13th FYP is that more than 55 million Chinese were lifted out of poverty over the past five years. In this time span, China also succeeded in building the world's largest social security system.
China's basic medical insurance now covers more than 1.3 billion Chinese, while basic old-age insurance benefits nearly 1 billion elderly citizens. More than 60 million new jobs were created in China's urban areas during the 13th FYP.
The future will see the entire CPC take into account the overall strategic plan for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as the world undergoes changes not seen in a century.
"A thorough understanding is necessary about the new characteristics and requirements brought about by the changes in the evolution of the principal contradiction facing Chinese society," according to the communiqué.
