In a report delivered at the opening of the 19th CPC National Congress on Wednesday, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping, said China's development had entered a "new era", using the phrase 37 times in the nearly three-and-half hour long speech.

The article from People's Daily aims to interpret the "new era".  

【Interpretation】The 19th CPC National Congress is a key meeting that takes place during the decisive stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and at a critical moment, as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era.

The report defines it as “Five Eras.”

First, inherit the past and forge ahead into the future, continue to strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics under new historic conditions. Second, succeed in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and move towards building a great modern socialist country. Third, unite the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to create better lives and achieve common prosperity. Fourth, all Chinese people are of one heart and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese Dream of great rejuvenation. Fifth, China moves closer to the center stage and makes greater contributions to the mankind.

The “Five Eras” has abundant connotations, involving five keys terms: socialism with Chinese characteristics; a great modern power; common prosperity; and national rejuvenation and the world stage. 

It can answer these questions: What kind of path will China follow? What kind of country should we establish? What type of development does the country need to realize? What are China’s goals? What contributions should China make?

【Interpretation】“Thought is devised from the era, and theory comes from practice,” reads the report. The “new era” should have its new theory. In the past five years, the keynote speeches, new concepts, new thoughts and new strategies provided by General Secretary Xi Jinping for state governance and administration have formed the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era.

Looking back over the past years, the combination of Marxism and China’s practice has led to two leaps. The first leap was generated by Mao Zedong thought and the second one established the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics including the Deng Xiaoping theory, important thoughts of Three Represents and the outlook of scientific development.

The two leaps of thought answered why China needs revolution, for whom China carries out revolution, as well as how to carry out the revolution. The two leaps also answered what socialism is, how to construct socialism, what kind of the Party should be built, how the Party should be constructed, and what and how to achieve development.

The thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era can be defined as a significant achievement in theoretical innovation, the latest outcome in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions and a key component of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Such a systematic theory is the answer to the question of what socialism with Chinese characteristics should be, how it should be developed in the new era, and how to uphold it.

General Secretary Xi Jinping divided the 500-year history of world socialism into six phases. In the first period, Utopian socialism was generated and developed. In the second, the scientific socialist theory system was created by Marx and Engels. The October Revolution under the leadership of Lenin secured the establishment of socialism in the third period. During the next period, the Soviet pattern took shape; and in the fifth period, the CPC embarked on exploring and practicing socialism after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. In this period, the CPC made the historic decision to conduct reforms and open up, creating and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. China is leading world socialist movements and to a large extent determines its development. China has the responsibility to engage in constant exploration, conclusions and deepening in terms of Marxism theory.

It is likely that we can better understand the significance of this new thought in the process of sinicization of Marxism and the world’s socialist movement.

【Interpretation】The Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1981 came up with the "principal Chinese contradiction at the primary stage of socialism," which is the "contradiction between the people's rising material and cultural needs and the low level of social production."

Thirty six years have passed, China's development has undergone historic changes, which altered both sides of the contradiction.

Let us first go with the people's needs. China has solved the problem of food and clothing, and will soon achieve a moderately prosperous society. China has not only made it possible for people to a live decent life. Their non-material demands such as democracy, rule of law, fairness and justice, security and a better environment are growing.

Let us look at social production. As the world's second largest economy, China has significantly improved the social productivity level and pushed several aspects into the global forefront. Unbalanced and inadequate development has become a more acute problem.

It's worth noting that the two main aspects of the principal contradiction not only concern economic development but also involves social development, which means that China will pay more attention to social development and construction.

【Interpretation】From the "two centenaries" ideas put forward in the report of the 15th CPC National Congress, the CPC adjusts the goal according to the plan. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have proposed the building of a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and modern country.

The target becomes more profound, to build a "modern and strong socialist country," which demonstrates our strong resolution and confidence. The report says our mission is to achieve the goal of socialist modernization and national rejuvenation.

Other than to build a "prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious" country, the report adds new aspect to "beautify" the country. A "Five in One" theory takes shape: economic, political, cultural, social and ecological development, with "green development" in the new development plan.

The report defines a "modern and strong socialist country" as to upgrade material, political, spiritual, social and ecological civilization to achieve a modern governance; to take the lead in terms of comprehensive national strength and international reputation; to realize common prosperity, which could give Chinese nationals more pride and confidence.

What Chinese people yearn for is what the nation seeks. We have undergone a period of seeking independence and starting from scratch, as well as the reform and opening-up which began a rapid period for the country. We now stand at a new starting point, walking towards an era of a strong country and great rejuvenation.