The year 2021 was undoubtedly extraordinary for China. It marked the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) period (2021-2025). It was also a year during which the time frames for materializing China's two centenary goals – building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and building a great modern socialist country in all respects – made their historic convergence.

"The past year has been a year of exceptional significance," said Chinese President Xi Jinping in his 2022 New Year address.

How did China prepare itself to embark on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in 2021?