President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the opening session of a workshop in Beijing. A workshop for provincial and ministerial officials was held from July 26 to 27, 2017 in preparation for the 19th National Congress of the CPC. [Photo/Xinhua]

The keynote speech Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered at a high-level workshop on July 26 offers a glimpse into the themes of the 19th CPC National Congress scheduled for the fall, and lays an important political, ideological and theoretical foundation for its success.

Xi shared five points with senior Party officials. To begin with, he said the 19th Party Congress is of key importance to the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and building a moderately well-off society in an all-round way. The Party must hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and feel more confident about the road, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said. It should also contribute to people's pursuit of better livelihoods, and devise new strategies and take new measures to help realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Second, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new development stage, Xi said. Having experienced tribulations and hardships in modern times, the Chinese nation fought hard to "stand up" after the First Opium War in 1840 to establish the People's Republic of China in 1949. In the years since, China has made a historic leap from "standing up" to becoming the world's second-largest economy and gaining in national strength while developing the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Based on the fact that China's GDP crossed $11 trillion and its national fiscal income was nearly 16 trillion yuan ($2.38 trillion) last year, Xi concluded that after reaching a new stage, China's comprehensive capability is "getting stronger". So it would be logical to make decisions at the 19th Party Congress based on these facts.

Third, the 19th Party Congress must make a series of decisions and policies on politics, economy, culture, ecological civilization, national defense, diplomacy and Party building, whose common goal should be building a moderately well-off society in an all-round way by 2020. And the campaign to root out poverty and the fight against pollution must be successful, so as to promote sustainable development and help the people to build a comprehensively well-off society.

After fulfilling that task in 2020, the entire nation will strive to fully develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Fourth, since socialism with Chinese characteristics has reached a new starting point, there is a need for innovative theory and practice to develop it further. And the Party must boost its theoretical confidence and strategic focus, broaden its vision, and provide a new summation so that socialism with Chinese characteristics reaches the highest stage of maturity.

The fifth point Xi shared with senior Party officials is that the Party leadership must propel the great mission of Party building with greater dedication and belief. And to strictly govern the Party, the leadership should take more effective and firm measures, so as to ensure the Party always works with the people and navigates the ship of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation to its glorious destination.

The author is a professor specializing in Party building at the Central Party School.