2017 News Map: CPC maps out China's direction for next five years

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The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was the most important domestic political event of the year, as it mapped out the country's path for the next five years and beyond.

A fresh line-up for China's new leadership… Xi Jinping was elected as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee for a second term. At the press conference, Xi thanked all Party members for their continued trust.

And a new chapter for the country’s future growth… In the report that he delivered to the CPC Congress, Xi touched upon almost every aspect of China, and laid out specific steps that concern the country's development on political, societal and economic fronts.

Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, October 18, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

He said the coming five years between the 19th and the 20th Party congresses is the period in which the time frames of the Two Centenary Goals will converge. This includes completing the building of a moderately prosperous society by 2020, and a modernized socialist country by mid-21st century.

He also said China is at a critical moment in its history, as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era.

"This is our strategic vision for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era: Finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, proceed to achieving modernization, and then move to turn China into a great modern socialist country in every dimension," Xi said.

Journalists from a number of developing countries visit an exhibition displaying China's achievements over the past five years in Beijing, October 16, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

The general secretary said the new era would bring a shift in the principal contradiction facing Chinese society, which sees unbalanced and inadequate development at odds with the people's ever-growing need for a better standard of living.

Even though the new members of the current standing committee will bring their own visions, the country's crucial policies will continue and remain consistent.

These include the CPC's measures to fight corruption, its commitment to improving the environment and its strong stance on opening up.

"We will make determined efforts to comprehensively deepen reform and open China even more to the world. We will see that reform and opening up complement and reinforce each other," Xi said. "It is my conviction that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will become a reality in the course of reform and opening-up."

(L-R) Ling Jiefang, Wang Liping, Xu Chuan and Huang Yibing, delegates to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), field questions at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, October 19, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

On the sidelines of the National Party Congress, six news conferences and eight group interviews were held, covering almost every aspect of China's development.

And for the very first time in history, a delegate corridor was set up, allowing media from home and abroad to raise questions.

That may seem unremarkable, but these changes represent a giant step for the Chinese ruling Party as it shows greater openness, transparency and confidence.