By CGTN's Robert Lawrence Kuhn

I’ve just listened to CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping present the Report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in the Great Hall of the People. The highlights, for me, are the ambition of the vision and the comprehensiveness of the categories. People orientation and rejuvenating the country, in the historic context of China’s ancient civilization and long struggle against foreign oppression, form the foundation. Xi stressed confidence in socialism and commitment to deepen reform and strengthen rule of law. The increasing role of the Party in managing all aspects of the country is unequivocal, and the increasingly strict governance of the Party, by reforming and purifying itself, is unambiguous. Moreover, the anti-corruption campaign not only continues but also will be enhanced. For economic development, innovation leads, especially in science and technology. Military reform and modernization are open and specific. China’s sovereignty is sacrosanct. China’s international engagement is pro-active, confident and growing. Xi did not downplay a realistic appraisal of problems, including social imbalances, economic structure, endemic pollution, quality healthcare, rural land reform. Xi's Political Report is an epic narrative of what China has remarkably achieved, what China has yet to do, and what China envisages as necessary to be a great nation. 

General Secretary Xi’s Report confirmed that the 19th CPC National Congress is a grand vision of the future of China, establishing the policies not only for the next five years, but framing the agenda and setting the strategies for the next 30 years. This Congress, Xi said, is the “confluence” of the two centenary goals; a moderately prosperous society by 2020 – 2021 is the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party – and a modern, socialist country by 2050 – 2049 is the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The path to mid-century is now designed in two stages: 2020-2035, building on a moderately prosperous society, China’s strength in all areas grows; 2035-2050, China becomes an advanced, modern, socialist nation, with common prosperity and global leadership in governance, economics, science and technology, and culture. Political legitimacy, Xi states, is founded on competence and accomplishment. Significantly, Xi, who is the “core” of the Party”, sees China as standing at a new historic starting point and that socialism with Chinese characteristics as entering a new development stage. The influence of the 19th CPC National Congress and the impact of Xi Jinping’s new vision, thinking and strategies seem for decades to come, keeping us.... Closer To China.