Improving the governance system

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee released a communiqué on Thursday highlighting the importance of modern governance. Which shows advancing modern governance is essential for not only facilitating China's modernization but also enhancing the country's capability to meet internal and external challenges.

Modernization is the fundamental theme of the country's development. As Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said, China's modernization is unique, unprecedented and unparalleled. And that the second-largest economy has chosen the path of modernization testifies to its commitment to promoting the development of civilizations.

In the process of realizing modernization, the continuous improvement of the national governance system and governance capacity will remain the arch goal of reform and development. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee stipulated that the overall aim of comprehensively deepening reform is upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.

The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics was established by the Party combining the basic principles of Marxism and China's concrete practices. And the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity will help develop a modern model of governance based on this system.

To promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, we should stick to the Party's leadership, which is the most basic characteristic and the biggest advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as the choice of the Chinese people.

Even to improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we need to uphold the leadership of the Party, which has already established the basic national system laying a solid foundation for the comprehensive modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. The Party has also devised a road map and timetable for modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity in the new era in line with the changing times.

The modernization of the national governance system is a project that involves interaction among multiple parties. Hence the shift from traditional one-dimensional administration to modern multi-dimensional and multichannel governance.

The Party has also developed people-centric concepts and programs to keep close to the people, and set up a system to receive feedbacks including criticisms and encourage self-criticism in order to modernize the national governance system and governance capacity.

Also, to improve the national governance system and governance capacity, we have to synchronize the construction of the theoretical system of socialist governance with Chinese characteristics. From practice comes understanding, and practice is key to enhance understanding.

As such, China's efforts to improve the national governance system and governance capacity should help form a new theory of governance system with Chinese characteristics. Which is not only an essential component of the "four confidences" (having confidence in China's path, guiding theories, political system and culture), but also essential for continuously testing and developing the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Party's measures for and experience of guiding the Chinese people to explore the socialist path provide Chinese wisdom and the Chinese approach for the world to improve governance. Despite improving modern governance being a challenge confronting all countries, the CPC has made three important breakthroughs in the localization of Marxism in the process of improving national governance. In particular, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which the 19th CPC Central Committee endorsed, has advanced the localization of Marxism and become a new guide for turning China into a major socialist country.

Moreover, to modernize the national governance system and governance capacity, emphasis should be laid upon innovation while maintaining the right balance between innovation and risk control, especially because national governance is aimed at boosting China's development and improving people's welfare, as well as boosting the development of the global community.

In other words, we should dare to make innovation the driving force of economic development while solving the problems left over by history, removing vested interests and pursuing higher goals in the process of deepening reform. But, at the same time, we should also reduce the risks so as to improve national governance and deepen reform.

The author is an associate professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.