Communiqué 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.

　　Present at 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, along with leading officials from relevant departments, attended the meeting as non-voting participants. Additionally, some grassroots comrades and experts and scholars among the delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China also took part in the proceedings.

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

　　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 deliberated and adopted the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese‑style Modernization. Xi Jinping then provided an explanation of the Decision (draft for discussion) to the plenary session.

　　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. It unanimously agreed that, in the face of a severe and complex international environment and arduous domestic tasks related to reform, development, and stability, the Political Bureau has earnestly implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the First and Second Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee; comprehensively, accurately, and thoroughly applied the new development philosophy; adhered to the overarching principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability; coordinated the promotion of the “five-sphere integrated plan” and the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy”; balanced the domestic and international contexts; integrated development with security; made concerted efforts to advance high-quality development; further advanced and planned the comprehensive deepening of reform; steadily promoted the building of socialist democracy and the rule of law; continuously strengthened publicity, ideological, and cultural work; effectively ensured people’s wellbeing and protected the ecological environment; resolutely safeguarded national security and social stability; vigorously advanced national defense and military modernization; continued to advance work related to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan; deepened China’s diplomacy with distinctive features as a major country; and consistently upheld strict Party self‑governance, thereby achieving an economic recovery and steady improvement and taking solid steps toward the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country.

　　The plenary session highly commended the successful practices and remarkable achievements of comprehensively deepening reform since the advent of the new era, and deliberated on further advancing comprehensive reform and promoting Chinese‑style modernization. It concluded that the present and the period ahead constitute a crucial phase for fully advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese‑style modernization and building a strong country. Chinese‑style modernization has been steadily advanced through reform and opening up, and it will undoubtedly continue to open up vast prospects in this ongoing process. In the face of a complex and volatile international and domestic landscape, amid a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and in response to the people’s evolving expectations, we must consciously place reform in an even more prominent position and, with a focus on advancing Chinese‑style modernization, further deepen reform across the board.

　　The plenary session emphasized that, in further deepening reform across the board, it is imperative to uphold Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development; to fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; to thoroughly study and apply General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of new ideas, perspectives, and judgments on comprehensively deepening reform; to fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy; to adhere to the overarching principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability; and to remain committed to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being pragmatic. It is essential to further liberate and develop social productive forces, invigorate and strengthen social vitality, coordinate the domestic and international contexts, promote the “five-sphere integrated plan” in a coordinated manner, and advance the “four-pronged comprehensive strategy” in a balanced way. Taking economic structural reform as the driving force, and taking the promotion of social fairness and justice and the enhancement of the people’s well-being as both the starting point and the ultimate goal, we must place greater emphasis on systemic integration, highlight key priorities, and ensure tangible results, so as to better align production relations with productive forces, the superstructure with the economic base, and national governance with social development, thereby providing robust impetus and institutional safeguards for Chinese‑style modernization.

　　The plenary session pointed out that the overarching goal of further deepening reform in all respects is to continue improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. By 2035, a high-standard socialist market economy will be fully established; the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics will be further improved; the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity will be basically achieved; and socialist modernization will be basically realized, thus laying a solid foundation for building a great modern socialist country by the middle of this century. We must focus on establishing a high-standard socialist market economy, on developing whole-process people’s democracy, on building a strong socialist culture, on enhancing the quality of life of the people, on building a beautiful China, on constructing a higher‑level safe and secure China, and on strengthening the Party’s leadership and its capacity for long-term governance, so as to keep pushing reform forward. By the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2029, the reform tasks set forth in this decision will be completed.

　　The plenary session emphasized that, in further advancing the comprehensive deepening of reform, it is essential to draw on and apply the valuable experiences gained since the launch of reform and opening-up, particularly during the new era of comprehensively deepening reform. This entails upholding the principles of ensuring the Party’s overall leadership, putting the people at the center, adhering to both upholding fundamental principles and promoting innovation, taking institutional development as the central task, pursuing law-based governance across the board, and adopting a systems‑based approach.

　　The plenary session laid out a systematic plan for further deepening reform across the board, emphasizing the establishment of a high-standard socialist market economy, the improvement of institutional mechanisms to promote high-quality economic development, the creation of systems and mechanisms that support comprehensive innovation, the enhancement of the macroeconomic governance system, the refinement of institutional mechanisms for integrated urban–rural development, the optimization of systems and mechanisms for high-level opening-up, the strengthening of the system of whole-process people’s democracy, the improvement of the rule-of-law system with Chinese characteristics, the deepening of reforms to cultural institutions and mechanisms, the enhancement of systems and mechanisms for safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods, the deepening of institutional reforms in ecological civilization, the advancement of the modernization of the national security system and capabilities, and the continued deepening of defense and military reforms, all aimed at elevating the Party’s leadership in further deepening reform across the board and advancing Chinese‑style modernization.

　　The plenary session stated that a high‑level socialist market economy is a crucial safeguard for Chinese‑style modernization. It is imperative to further leverage the role of market mechanisms, foster a fairer and more dynamic market environment, and achieve optimal resource allocation and maximum efficiency—ensuring both “liberalization” and effective regulation—so as to better uphold market order, address market failures, keep the national economy flowing smoothly, and unleash endogenous momentum and innovative vitality across society. We must unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector, while equally unwaveringly encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of the non‑public sector, guaranteeing that all forms of ownership have equal access to production factors, participate in market competition on a level playing field, and enjoy equal legal protection, thereby promoting complementary strengths and common development among different types of ownership. Furthermore, we must build a unified national market and improve the fundamental institutions of the market economy.

　　The plenary session stated that high-quality development is the primary task in fully building a modern socialist country. We must guide reform with the new development philosophy, ground ourselves in the new stage of development, deepen supply-side structural reform, improve the mechanisms for incentivizing and constraining high-quality development, and foster new drivers and advantages for growth. It is essential to refine institutional frameworks for developing new‑type productive forces tailored to local conditions, strengthen systems that promote the deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy, improve mechanisms for developing the service sector, enhance institutional arrangements for modern infrastructure construction, and bolster systems that reinforce the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains.

　　The plenary session stated that education, science and technology, and talent are the foundational and strategic pillars of Chinese modernization. It is imperative to implement in depth the strategies of invigorating the country through science and education, strengthening the country through talent, and driving development through innovation; to coordinate and advance integrated reforms of the systems and mechanisms governing education, science and technology, and talent; to improve the new national system for major scientific and technological endeavors; and to enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system. Furthermore, we must deepen comprehensive reforms in education, further reform the science and technology management system, and deepen reforms of the systems and mechanisms for talent development.

　　The plenary session stated that sound macroeconomic regulation and effective government governance are intrinsic requirements for harnessing the strengths of the socialist market economy. It is imperative to improve the macroregulation institutional framework, coordinate and advance reforms in key areas such as fiscal and tax policies and the financial sector, and enhance the consistency of macroeconomic policy orientations. Furthermore, we must refine the national strategic planning system and the mechanisms for policy coordination and integration, deepen reform of the fiscal and tax systems, deepen reform of the financial system, and improve the mechanisms for implementing the strategy of regional coordinated development.

　　The plenary session stated that the integrated development of urban and rural areas is an essential requirement of Chinese modernization. It is imperative to coordinate new‑type industrialization, new‑type urbanization, and the all‑round revitalization of rural areas; to comprehensively elevate the level of integration in urban–rural planning, construction, and governance; to promote the equal exchange and two‑way flow of factors between urban and rural areas; to narrow the gap between them; and to foster their shared prosperity and development. We must improve the institutional mechanisms for advancing new‑type urbanization, consolidate and refine the basic rural operating system, enhance support systems that strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers, and enrich rural areas, and deepen reforms of the land system.

　　The plenary session stated that opening-up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. We must uphold the fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world, use opening-up to advance reform, and leverage China’s vast market advantages to enhance our capacity for openness through expanded international cooperation, thereby building a new system of a higher‑level open economy. We will steadily expand institution‑based opening-up, deepen reforms of the foreign trade system, further reform the management systems for foreign investment and outbound investment, optimize the regional pattern of opening-up, and improve mechanisms for promoting high‑quality joint efforts to build the Belt and Road Initiative.

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

　　The plenary session stated that the rule of law is a vital safeguard for Chinese‑style modernization. It is imperative to fully implement the Constitution, uphold its authority, and coordinate reforms across all stages—legislation, law enforcement, judicial administration, and compliance with the law—while improving mechanisms that ensure equal protection under the law for all. We must promote the spirit of socialist rule of law, safeguard social fairness and justice, and comprehensively advance the legalization of all aspects of state governance. Furthermore, we should deepen reform in the legislative field, vigorously promote law-based administration, refine systems and mechanisms for impartial law enforcement and judicial administration, improve mechanisms for building a society governed by law, and strengthen the development of the rule of law in international affairs.

　　The plenary session stated that Chinese modernization is a form of modernization in which material and spiritual civilizations are coordinated. It is imperative to strengthen cultural confidence, develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture, and carry forward the fine traditional culture of China. We must swiftly adapt to the new realities brought about by the rapid advancement of information technology, cultivate a large‑scale contingent of outstanding cultural professionals, and unleash the cultural innovation and creativity of the entire nation. Furthermore, we should improve the accountability system for ideological work, optimize mechanisms for delivering cultural services and cultural products, refine the comprehensive governance framework for cyberspace, and build a more effective international communication system.

　　The plenary session stated that safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods in the course of development is a major task of Chinese modernization. We must adhere to the principle of doing our utmost within our capabilities, improve the basic public service system, strengthen inclusive, foundational, and safety-net‑type initiatives to enhance people’s well-being, address the most pressing, immediate, and practical concerns of the people, and continuously meet their aspirations for a better life. We will refine the income distribution system, prioritize employment policies, bolster the social security framework, deepen reform of the medical and healthcare systems, and enhance the support and service systems for population development.

　　The plenary session stated that Chinese modernization is a model of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. It is imperative to improve the institutional framework for ecological civilization, coordinate efforts to reduce carbon emissions, curb pollution, expand green spaces, and promote economic growth, proactively address climate change, and accelerate the refinement of systems and mechanisms for implementing the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.” Furthermore, we must strengthen the foundational institutions of ecological civilization, enhance the governance system for the ecological environment, and establish sound mechanisms for green and low-carbon development.

　　The plenary session stated that national security is a crucial foundation for the steady and sustained progress of Chinese modernization. It is imperative to fully implement the holistic approach to national security, improve the systems and mechanisms for safeguarding national security, foster a virtuous cycle between high-quality development and high-level security, and effectively ensure the country’s long-term stability and enduring peace. To this end, we must strengthen the national security system, refine public safety governance mechanisms, enhance the social governance framework, and improve mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the international arena.

　　The plenary session stated that the modernization of national defense and the armed forces is an essential component of Chinese-style modernization. It is imperative to uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the People’s Armed Forces, thoroughly implement the strategy of strengthening the military through reform, and provide robust support for achieving, on schedule, the centenary goals for building the armed forces and for basically realizing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces. To this end, we must improve the systems and mechanisms for the leadership and management of the People’s Armed Forces, deepen reforms of the joint operations system, and advance cross‑military–civilian reforms.

　　The plenary session emphasized that the leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee for further deepening reform in all respects and advancing Chinese modernization. It is imperative to deeply understand the decisive significance of the “two establishments,” strengthen the “four consciousnesses,” firmly uphold the “four confidences,” and ensure the “two safeguards.” We must maintain a high degree of consciousness in using the Party’s self-revolution to lead social revolution, adhere to the spirit of reform and stringent standards in governing the Party, improve the institutional framework for the Party’s self-revolution, and continuously promote the Party’s self-purification, self-improvement, self-renewal, and self-enhancement, thereby ensuring that the Party remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must uphold the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over the further deepening of reform in all respects, deepen institutional reforms in Party building, vigorously advance efforts to foster clean governance and combat corruption, and implement reforms with the tenacity and determination to see things through to completion.

　　The plenary session emphasized that Chinese modernization is a path of peaceful development. It is imperative to steadfastly pursue an independent and peaceful foreign policy, advance 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, and champion a world characterized by multipolarity based on equality and order, as well as an inclusive and mutually beneficial economic globalization. Furthermore, we must deepen reforms of the foreign affairs work mechanism, participate in and lead the reform and development of the global governance system, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

　　The plenary session emphasized that thoroughly studying and earnestly implementing the spirit of the session is a major political task for the entire Party and the nation, both now and in the period ahead. It is essential to study and grasp the spirit of the session in depth, gaining a profound understanding of the overarching theme, key principles, major initiatives, and fundamental guarantees underlying the further comprehensive deepening of reform. All levels of the Party must work in unison to ensure the effective implementation of the Decision, transforming the strategic arrangements for further comprehensively deepening reform into a powerful driving force for advancing Chinese modernization.

　　The plenary session analyzed the current situation and tasks, emphasizing the unwavering commitment to achieving the year’s economic and social development goals. In accordance with the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and arrangements on economic work, it is essential to effectively implement macro policies, proactively expand domestic demand, develop new‑type productive forces tailored to local conditions, accelerate the cultivation of new drivers for foreign trade, steadily advance green and low‑carbon development, earnestly safeguard and improve people’s livelihoods, and consolidate and expand the achievements made in poverty alleviation. Furthermore, it is necessary to review and assess the implementation of the 14th Five‑Year Plan and ensure thorough preparatory work for the 15th Five‑Year Plan.

　　The plenary session emphasized the need to strike a balance between development and security, fully implement measures to prevent and defuse risks in key areas such as real estate, local government debt, and small and medium-sized financial institutions, rigorously enforce responsibilities for workplace safety, improve monitoring and prevention mechanisms for natural disasters—particularly floods—and strengthen the network for safeguarding against social security risks, thereby effectively upholding social stability. It also called for bolstering public opinion guidance to proactively identify and mitigate ideological risks, effectively addressing external risks and challenges, leading global governance, and actively shaping a favorable external environment.

　　The plenary session emphasized that, in conjunction with studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the session, we must strengthen the Party’s ideological armament with its innovative theories, thereby elevating the entire Party’s level of Marxist understanding and its capacity for modernization. We must improve the system for exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party, earnestly rectify work styles, eradicate the persistent ills of formalism and bureaucratism, continue to reduce burdens on the grassroots, deepen efforts to build a sound Party conduct and clean government, and intensify the fight against corruption, while ensuring that inspection work is carried out in a solid and effective manner. We must consolidate and expand the achievements of thematic education, deepen discipline‑related study and education, 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 appoint Ding Xiangqun, Yu Lijun, and Yu Jihong—previously alternate members of the Central Committee—as full members of the Central Committee.

　　The Plenary Session decided to accept the resignation of Comrade Qin Gang and to relieve him of his post as a member of the Central Committee.

　　The plenary session reviewed and approved the CPC Central Military Commission’s report on the serious disciplinary and legal violations committed by Li Shangfu, Li Yuchao, and Sun Jinming, and confirmed the decision previously adopted 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 on the entire Party, the armed forces, and all the people of China to rally even more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, hold high the banner of reform and opening up, unite as one, forge ahead with determination, and strive tirelessly to build a modern socialist country in all respects, achieve the Second Centenary Goal, and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese‑style modernization.

Reposted from: Communist Party Member Website