Communique of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Communique of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

(Adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on July 18, 2024)

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing from July 15 to 18, 2024.

Attending this plenary session were 199 members of the Central Committee and 165 alternate members of the Central Committee. Members of the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and leading officials from relevant departments also attended the meeting as observers. Some grassroots representatives and expert scholars among the delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Party also attended the meeting as observers.

The plenary session was chaired by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech.

The plenary session heard and discussed the work report delivered by Xi Jinping on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and adopted the "Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Comprehensive Reform and Promoting Chinese-style Modernization." Xi Jinping provided an explanation to the plenary session on the draft decision.

The plenary session fully affirmed the work of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee since the Second Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. All participants unanimously agreed that, in the face of a severe and complex international environment and daunting domestic tasks involving reform, development, and stability, the Political Bureau has earnestly implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC as well as the First and Second Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee. It has comprehensively, accurately, and thoroughly upheld the new development philosophy, adhered to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability, coordinated the advancement of the “Five-in-One” overall layout, and promoted the “Four Comprehensive” strategic layout in a coordinated manner. It has also balanced the domestic and international contexts, integrated development with security, focused on promoting high-quality development, further advanced and planned comprehensive deepening of reform, steadily advanced the building of socialist democracy and the rule of law, continuously strengthened propaganda, ideological, and cultural work, effectively ensured people’s livelihoods and protected the ecological environment, firmly safeguarded national security and social stability, powerfully promoted national defense and military development, continued to advance Hong Kong and Macao affairs as well as cross-Strait relations, deepened China’s distinctive major-country diplomacy, consistently pursued strict governance over the Party in all respects, achieved economic recovery and improvement, and taken solid steps toward fully building a modern socialist country.

The plenary session highly praised the successful practices and great achievements made since the new era in comprehensively deepening reform, and deliberated on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-style modernization. It concluded that the current period—and the coming period—represents a critical phase for fully promoting the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. Chinese-style modernization has been continuously advanced through reform and opening-up, and it will surely open up broad prospects precisely through continued reform and opening-up. Faced with a complex and ever-changing international and domestic situation, confronted with a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and responding to the fresh expectations of the people, we must consciously place reform in an even more prominent position and closely focus on further comprehensively deepening reform around the goal of advancing Chinese-style modernization.

The plenary session emphasized that to further deepen reform in a comprehensive and all-around manner, we must uphold Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Important Thought of the “Three Represents,” and the Scientific Outlook on Development; fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of new ideas, new perspectives, and new judgments on deepening reform in a comprehensive and all-around way; fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy; adhere to the general working principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability; uphold the principles of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, and being pragmatic and realistic; further liberate and develop social productive forces, stimulate and enhance social vitality; coordinate the domestic and international contexts; promote the “Five-in-One” overall layout in a coordinated manner; and advance the “Four Comprehensive” strategic layout in a coordinated way. Taking economic structural reform as the driving force and taking promoting social equity and justice and enhancing people’s well-being as both the starting point and the ultimate goal, we should pay even greater attention to systematic integration, highlight key priorities, and focus on the effectiveness of reforms, thereby better aligning production relations with productive forces, the superstructure with the economic base, and national governance with social development, and providing strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-style modernization.

The plenary session pointed out that the overarching goal of further comprehensively deepening reform is to continue perfecting and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and to advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. By 2035, we will have fully established a high-level socialist market economic system, further perfected the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, basically achieved the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and basically realized socialist modernization, thus laying a solid foundation for fully building a great modern socialist country by the middle of this century. We must focus on building a high-level socialist market economic system, on developing whole-process people’s democracy, on building a strong socialist culture, on improving the quality of life of the people, on building a beautiful China, on constructing a higher-level peaceful China, and on enhancing the Party’s leadership and its capacity for long-term governance, and continue to push reform forward. By the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2029, we will have completed the reform tasks set forth in this decision.

The plenary session emphasized that further deepening reform in a comprehensive and thorough manner requires summarizing and drawing on the valuable experiences gained since the reform and opening-up, especially those accumulated during the new era of comprehensively deepening reform. It also stressed the need to uphold the following principles: maintaining the Party’s overall leadership, putting the people at the center, adhering to both upholding the fundamental principles and promoting innovation, taking institutional development as the main thread, firmly advancing the rule of law in all respects, and adopting a systematic approach.

The plenary session made systematic arrangements for further comprehensively deepening reform, emphasizing the need to build a high-level socialist market economic system, improve the institutional mechanisms that promote high-quality economic development, establish systems and mechanisms that support comprehensive innovation, enhance the macroeconomic governance system, refine the institutional mechanisms for integrated urban-rural development, improve the institutional mechanisms for high-level opening up to the outside world, perfect the system of whole-process people’s democracy, strengthen the rule-of-law system with Chinese characteristics, deepen reform of cultural systems and mechanisms, improve the institutional framework for safeguarding and enhancing people’s livelihoods, deepen reform of the ecological civilization system, advance the modernization of the national security system and capabilities, continuously deepen reform of national defense and the armed forces, and raise the Party’s leadership in further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-style modernization.

The plenary session pointed out that a high-level socialist market economic system is an important guarantee for Chinese-style modernization. We must better leverage the role of market mechanisms, create a more equitable and dynamic market environment, and achieve optimal resource allocation efficiency and maximum benefits—balancing both “letting go” and “keeping control”—to better uphold market order, address market failures, ensure smooth circulation in the national economy, and unleash the endogenous dynamism and innovative vitality of the entire society. We must unswervingly consolidate and develop the public ownership economy, and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public ownership economy. All forms of ownership must enjoy equal access to production factors according to law, participate fairly in market competition, and receive equal legal protection, thereby promoting complementary advantages and common development among various forms of ownership. We must build a nationwide unified large market and improve the fundamental institutions of the market economy.

The plenary session pointed out that high-quality development is the primary task in fully building a modern socialist country. We must use the new development philosophy to guide reform, ground ourselves in the new stage of development, deepen supply-side structural reform, improve the incentive and constraint mechanisms for promoting high-quality development, and foster new drivers and advantages for development. We need to establish sound institutional mechanisms for developing new quality productivity tailored to local conditions, refine systems that promote the deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy, improve institutional frameworks for developing the service sector, perfect institutional mechanisms for modern infrastructure construction, and strengthen systems aimed at enhancing the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains.

The plenary session pointed out that education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic underpinnings of Chinese-style modernization. We must deeply implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the strategy of building a strong nation through talent, and the innovation-driven development strategy. We should coordinate and advance integrated reforms of the systems and mechanisms governing education, science and technology, and talent, improve the new national system of mobilizing resources on a large scale, and enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system. We need to deepen comprehensive reform in education, deepen reform of the science and technology system, and deepen reform of the systems and mechanisms for talent development.

The plenary session pointed out that scientific macroeconomic regulation and effective government governance are intrinsic requirements for leveraging the advantages of the socialist market economy system. We must improve the macroeconomic regulation and control institutional framework, coordinate and advance reforms in key areas such as fiscal and taxation as well as finance, and enhance the consistency of macroeconomic policy orientations. We should also refine the national strategic planning system and the mechanism for coordinated policy alignment, deepen reform of the fiscal and taxation system, further deepen reform of the financial system, and improve the mechanisms for implementing the regional coordinated development strategy.

The plenary session pointed out that integrated urban-rural development is an inevitable requirement for Chinese-style modernization. We must coordinate new industrialization, new urbanization, and the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, comprehensively enhance the integration of urban and rural planning, construction, and governance, promote equal exchange and two-way flow of urban and rural factors, narrow the gap between urban and rural areas, and foster common prosperity and development in both urban and rural regions. We need to improve the institutional mechanisms for advancing new urbanization, consolidate and refine the basic rural operating system, perfect systems supporting agriculture, benefiting farmers, and enriching farmers, and deepen reform of the land system.

The plenary session pointed out that opening-up is a defining feature of Chinese-style modernization. We must uphold the basic national policy of opening up to the outside world, continue to use opening-up to drive reform, and leverage China’s enormous market advantages to enhance our capacity for opening-up through expanded international cooperation, thus building a new system of a higher-level open economy. We should steadily expand institutional openness, deepen reforms of the foreign trade system, further refine the regulatory framework for foreign investment and outbound investment, optimize the spatial layout of opening-up, and improve mechanisms for promoting high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The plenary session pointed out that developing whole-process people’s democracy is an essential requirement for Chinese-style modernization. We must unswervingly follow the path of political development with Chinese characteristics, uphold and improve our country’s fundamental political system, basic political system, and important political institutions, enrich democratic forms at all levels, and concretely and realistically embody the principle of the people being masters of the country in all aspects of political and social life. We must strengthen institutional building to ensure that the people are truly the masters of the country, improve mechanisms for consultative democracy, enhance grassroots democratic systems, and refine the overall framework for united front work.

The plenary session pointed out that the rule of law is an important guarantee for Chinese-style modernization. We must fully implement and uphold the Constitution, safeguard its authority, and synergistically advance reforms across all aspects—legislation, law enforcement, judicial administration, and compliance with the law. We should establish and improve mechanisms to ensure that everyone is equal before the law, promote the spirit of socialist rule of law, uphold social fairness and justice, and comprehensively advance the rule-of-law-based governance of all aspects of state affairs. We need to deepen reform in the legislative field, further promote law-based administration, refine the institutional framework for fair law enforcement and judicial administration, improve mechanisms for building a law-based society, and strengthen the development of the rule of law in foreign-related affairs.

The plenary session pointed out that Chinese-style modernization is a modernization characterized by the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations. We must strengthen cultural confidence, develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, inherit China’s outstanding traditional culture, accelerate our adaptation to the new situation brought about by the rapid development of information technology, cultivate and build a large-scale contingent of talented cultural professionals, and unleash the innovative and creative vitality of the entire nation’s culture. We need to improve the accountability system for ideological work, optimize mechanisms for providing cultural services and cultural products, refine the comprehensive governance system for cyberspace, and construct a more effective international communication system.

The plenary session pointed out that safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods during development is a major task in Chinese-style modernization. We must adhere to the principle of doing our utmost within our capabilities, continuously improve the basic public service system, strengthen inclusive, foundational, and safety-net-oriented livelihood-building efforts, properly address the most pressing, direct, and realistic concerns of the people, and constantly meet their aspirations for a better life. We need to refine the income distribution system, enhance employment-first policies, improve the social security system, deepen reform of the medical and healthcare system, and strengthen the support and service system for population development.

The plenary session pointed out that Chinese-style modernization is a modernization characterized by harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. We must improve the institutional framework for ecological civilization, synergistically promote carbon reduction, pollution control, greening, and economic growth, proactively address climate change, and accelerate the refinement of mechanisms and systems for implementing the philosophy that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." We need to enhance the foundational institutions of ecological civilization, strengthen the governance system for the ecological environment, and improve mechanisms for green and low-carbon development.

The plenary session pointed out that national security is a crucial foundation for China’s modernization to proceed steadily and achieve long-term success. We must fully implement the Overall National Security Concept, improve the institutional mechanisms for safeguarding national security, foster a virtuous cycle of high-quality development and high-level security, and effectively ensure the country’s enduring stability and prosperity. We need to strengthen the national security system, refine public safety governance mechanisms, enhance the social governance system, and improve mechanisms for safeguarding national security in foreign-related affairs.

The plenary session pointed out that the modernization of national defense and the armed forces is an important component of Chinese-style modernization. We must uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the People’s Armed Forces, deeply implement the strategy of strengthening the military through reform, and provide strong guarantees for achieving the centenary goal of building a strong military on schedule and basically realizing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces. We need to improve the leadership and management systems and mechanisms of the People’s Armed Forces, deepen reforms of the joint operations system, and further advance cross-military and civilian reforms.

The plenary session emphasized that the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for further deepening reform in a comprehensive manner and advancing Chinese-style modernization. We must deeply grasp the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," enhance our "Four Consciousnesses," firmly uphold our "Four Confidences," and ensure "Two Safeguards." We must maintain a high degree of consciousness in using the Party’s self-revolution to lead social revolution, adhere to governing the Party with a spirit of reform and stringent standards, improve the institutional framework for the Party’s self-revolution, and continuously promote the Party’s self-purification, self-improvement, self-innovation, and self-enhancement, thereby ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over further deepening reform in a comprehensive manner, deepen reforms in the system of Party building, advance with greater vigor Party conduct and integrity building as well as the fight against corruption, and implement reforms with the tenacity and determination characteristic of driving nails home.

The plenary session emphasized that Chinese-style modernization is a modernization that follows the path of peaceful development. We must firmly pursue an independent and peaceful foreign policy, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, uphold the common values of all humanity, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, advocate for a multipolar world characterized by equality and order, and for economic globalization that is inclusive and beneficial to all. We should deepen reform of our foreign affairs mechanisms, actively participate in and lead the reform and construction of the global governance system, and firmly safeguard our national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

The plenary session pointed out that thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the plenary session is a major political task for the entire Party and the whole country, both now and in the period ahead. We must deeply study and grasp the spirit of the plenary session, gaining a profound understanding of and firmly holding onto the theme, key principles, major initiatives, and fundamental guarantees for further comprehensively deepening reform. All Party members at every level must work together with one heart and one mind to ensure the effective implementation of the "Decision," transforming the strategic plan for further comprehensively deepening reform into a powerful driving force for advancing Chinese-style modernization.

The plenary session analyzed the current situation and tasks, emphasizing the need to unswervingly achieve the annual economic and social development goals. We must, in accordance with the Party Central Committee’s strategic plans and deployments for economic work, effectively implement macroeconomic policies, actively expand domestic demand, develop new-quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, accelerate the cultivation of new driving forces for foreign trade, steadily promote green and low-carbon development, earnestly safeguard and improve people’s livelihoods, and consolidate and expand the achievements made in poverty alleviation. We should also summarize and evaluate the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan and earnestly carry out preliminary planning for the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The plenary session pointed out that we must strike a balance between development and security, effectively implement measures to prevent and resolve risks in key areas such as the real estate sector, local government debt, and small- and medium-sized financial institutions, strictly enforce responsibilities for safe production, improve monitoring and prevention measures for natural disasters—especially flood disasters—and strengthen the network for preventing and controlling social security risks, thereby genuinely safeguarding social stability. We must enhance public opinion guidance and effectively prevent and resolve ideological risks. We must respond effectively to external risks and challenges, lead global governance, and proactively shape a favorable external environment.

The plenary session emphasized that, in conjunction with studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the plenary session, we must strengthen the Party’s ideological armament with innovative theories, thereby enhancing the entire Party’s level of Marxist understanding and its capacity for modernization. We must improve the comprehensive system for strict Party governance, earnestly rectify work styles, tackle the persistent problems of formalism and bureaucratic practices, continue to reduce burdens on the grassroots level, deepen efforts to build a clean and honest Party and fight against corruption, and carry out inspection work in a solid and effective manner. We must consolidate and expand the achievements of thematic education, deepen study and education on Party discipline, safeguard the Party’s unity and solidarity, and continuously enhance the Party’s creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness.

In accordance with the Party Constitution, the plenary session decided to promote Ding Xiangqun, Yu Lijun, and Yu Jihong—alternate members of the Central Committee—to full members of the Central Committee.

The plenary session decided to accept Comrade Qin Gang’s resignation and relieve him of his post as a member of the Central Committee.

The plenary session reviewed and adopted the report submitted by the Central Military Commission of the CPC on the serious disciplinary and legal violations committed by Li Shangfu, Li Yuchao, and Sun Jinming, and confirmed the disciplinary actions previously taken by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to expel Li Shangfu, Li Yuchao, and Sun Jinming from the Party.

The plenary session calls upon all Party members, the armed forces, and people of all ethnic groups across the country to unite even more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, hold high the banner of reform and opening-up, pool our hearts and minds, forge ahead with vigor and determination, and strive tirelessly to fully build a modern socialist power and achieve the second centenary goal—advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in a comprehensive manner through Chinese-style modernization!