Reform an inexhaustible driver of modernization

Editor's Note: The third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee is scheduled to be convened in Beijing in July. According to the main agenda of the session, the Political Bureau will report its work to the CPC Central Committee, and the session will primarily study issues concerning further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization. The following are excerpts from a People's Daily comment on reform.

If China is to move forward, it must comprehensively deepen reform and opening-up. Deepening reform is essential to uphold and improve the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and to modernize China's governance system and capacity. The central leadership has put forward a series of original new ideas since 2012, among which, many have prompted historical changes and the reshaping of the governance system, and overall reconstruction in some crucial fields.

Focusing on the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development, the authorities have carried out regional coordinated development strategies and household registration system reforms. Aimed at enhancing the endogenous driving force of business entities, the authorities have deepened the reform of the fiscal and taxation system to reduce taxes and fees, as well as the reform of the science and technology system to promote innovation.

By carrying out medical care and health system reforms, the authorities have tried to resolve the difficulties and high costs people face in seeing a doctor. And to meet the people's higher demand for fairness and justice, the authorities have continuously deepened comprehensive reform of the judicial system.

To enhance the efficiency of governance, the authorities have carried out systematic institutional reforms of the Party and the government, and are making all-out efforts to enforce strict Party discipline.

The reforms always adhere to a problem-solving approach, seek to break through the constraints of entrenched ideas and concepts, break through the barriers of vested interests, and resolutely address the drawbacks in various systems and mechanisms.

The nation should continue to carry out reforms to consistently improve the institutional mechanisms to advance the country's modernization along the Chinese path.

The current and future periods are critical for building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. China's reform efforts must continue in the face of the complex international and domestic situations and the latest round of the scientific and technological revolution and the new demands of the people.

Opening-up is also reform. Believing that opening-up brings progress, while closure leads to backwardness, China will continue to promote high-level opening-up by opening its door wider and wider.

To further comprehensively deepen reform, attention must be paid to the effectiveness of reforms, as reform requires not just planning but also implementation.