The 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China took a number of far-reaching decisions.
China is certainly set for greater heights. As the world’s second economic power, the country is expected to take the first position in just a matter of years, thereby overtaking USA. It is perhaps in this light that the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that ended on November 14, 2012, did not only choose the country’s new leaders for the next 10 years, but also took a number of decisions aimed at improving governance, defence and boosting trade.
The Congress approved the report delivered by President Hu Jintao on behalf of the Party's Seventeenth Central Committee, reaffirming the people’s commitment to socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Congress stressed that the whole Party must keep in mind the people’s trust and their great expectations. Members must therefore aim higher, work harder and continue to pursue development in a scientific way. They should also promote social harmony and improve the people's lives.
The Congress endorsed the plan for promoting socialist economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress in China. Delegates emphasized the need to speed up the improvement of the socialist market economy and the change of the growth model, making development based more on improved quality and performance. The Congress required members to promote reform of the political structure and to make people's democracy more extensive, fuller in scope and sounder in practice. Members should ensure the unity of the leadership of the Party, the position of the people as masters of the country and law-based governance, and establish a sound mechanism for conducting checks and oversight of the exercise of power.
They spoke of the importance of responding to China's core security needs following the three-step development strategy. This entails modernizing national defense and the armed forces, intensifying efforts to accomplish the dual historic tasks of military mechanization and full IT application, and building strong national defense and powerful armed forces that are commensurate with China's international standing, security and development interests.
The Congress highlighted the need to fully and faithfully implement the principle of "one country, two systems," under which the people of Hong Kong govern Hong Kong and the people of Macao govern Macao, and both regions enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The Congress stressed that China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, unswervingly stay on the path of peaceful development, and unwaveringly follow a win-win strategy of opening up.
The Congress underscored that combating corruption and promoting political integrity is a clear-cut and long-term political commitment of the Party and a major political issue of great concern to the people. As a result, Party members must make unremitting efforts to combat corruption, promote integrity and remain vigilant against degeneration. The Congress stressed that the whole Party must be keenly aware of potential dangers, be modest and prudent, guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and remain clear-headed.
