Xi Jinping presided over a symposium with enterprises and experts, emphasizing that…
Closely aligned with the theme of advancing Chinese modernization.
Further comprehensively deepen reform.
Wang Huning and Cai Qi attended.

JINAN, May 23 (Xinhua) — On the afternoon of May 23, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over a symposium with enterprises and experts in Jinan, Shandong Province, and delivered an important speech. He emphasized that the 20th National Congress of the CPC has outlined a grand blueprint for fully building a modern socialist country and set the central task of advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. To further deepen reform across the board, it is essential to keep the theme of advancing Chinese-style modernization at the forefront, prioritize key areas of reform, uphold sound values, and adopt effective approaches and methods, thereby injecting new momentum into the fulfillment of this central task and the realization of strategic goals.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Office, attended the symposium.

At the symposium, nine representatives from enterprises and expert circles—Liu Mingsheng, Chairman of the Board and Party Secretary of State Power Investment Corporation; Zuo Ding, Chairman of the Board and Party Secretary of Shenzhen Innovation Investment Group Co., Ltd.; Ding Shizhong, Chairman of the Board of Anta Sports Products Co., Ltd.; Xu Guanju, Chairman of Zhejiang Chuanhua Group Co., Ltd.; Xu Daquan, President of Bosch (China) Investment Co., Ltd.; Feng Guojing, Chairman of the Fung Group in Hong Kong; Zhou Qiren, Professor at the National School of Development, Peking University; Huang Hanquan, Director of the China Academy of Macroeconomic Research; and Zhang Bin, Deputy Director of the Institute of World Economy and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences—spoke in turn, offering suggestions and recommendations on such issues as deepening power‑sector reform, developing venture capital, leveraging science and technology to upgrade traditional industries, establishing and improving governance systems for private enterprises, optimizing the business environment for foreign‑invested firms, promoting Hong Kong’s greater integration into the new development paradigm, enhancing the public’s sense of gain from reform, advancing integrated urban–rural development, and refining the macroeconomic governance framework. Throughout the discussions, Xi Jinping engaged in in‑depth exchanges with the participants, creating a lively and spirited atmosphere.

After hearing the remarks of all participants, Xi Jinping delivered an important address. He stated that whenever the CPC Central Committee makes major decisions or drafts important documents, it conducts thorough research and extensively solicits opinions from all sectors—this has long been a consistent practice and fine tradition of our Party. With regard to the views and suggestions put forward by everyone on further deepening reform in a comprehensive manner, the relevant authorities should carefully study and incorporate them.

Xi Jinping pointed out that reform is the driving force behind development. To further deepen reform in all respects, we must anchor ourselves to the overarching goal of improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China’s governance system and governance capacity. We must keep firmly focused on advancing Chinese-style modernization, integrate a goal‑oriented approach with a problem‑oriented one, address issues head‑on and pursue targeted reforms, resolutely dismantle ideological barriers and institutional and mechanistic shortcomings that impede the progress of Chinese-style modernization, and work diligently to overcome deep‑seated systemic obstacles and structural contradictions, thereby continuously injecting strong momentum into Chinese-style modernization and providing robust institutional safeguards.

Xi Jinping emphasized that, in further deepening reform across the board, it is essential to grasp the principal contradiction and its principal aspect. We must uphold and develop China’s basic economic system, build a high‑level socialist market economy, improve the macroeconomic governance system and institutional mechanisms for promoting high‑quality development, and refine systems and mechanisms that support comprehensive innovation and integrated urban–rural development. These efforts will help unleash and develop social productive forces, enhance social vitality, and ensure that production relations better align with productive forces, and that the superstructure better suits the economic base. In advancing economic system reform, we must proceed from actual needs, start with the most pressing issues, and, in addressing practical problems, deepen theoretical innovation and promote institutional innovation. Reform in other fields should likewise focus on overarching, strategic issues when designing reform measures, so as to achieve coordinated progress across all fronts.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the people’s aspiration for a better life is our goal and driving force; advancing reform and promoting development ultimately aim to enable the people to enjoy an even better life. We must plan and push forward reforms with the overall, fundamental, and long-term interests of the people in mind, uphold the Party’s mass line in the new era, and focus on identifying key areas and breakthroughs for reform by addressing the pressing concerns and difficulties of the people—such as employment, income growth, access to education, medical care, housing, administrative services, childcare and elderly care, as well as their safety of life and property. We should introduce more reform measures that address urgent needs and reflect the people’s expectations, deliver concrete actions that benefit the people, win their hearts, and align with public opinion, so that reform can bring the people a greater sense of gain, happiness, and security.

Xi Jinping emphasized that reform involves both dismantling the old and building the new; when guided by sound principles, it yields twice the results with half the effort, whereas without such principles, efforts may be doubled for half the results or even produce adverse effects. We must uphold fundamental principles while fostering innovation: no matter how reforms are carried out, we must unswervingly adhere to the Party’s overall leadership, Marxism, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the people’s democratic dictatorship. At the same time, we must dare to innovate, ensuring that those reforms that should be undertaken and can be implemented are carried out thoroughly and effectively, and that once a course is set, it is pursued with unwavering determination. Reform must place greater emphasis on systemic integration, guided by a holistic vision and systems thinking, strengthening the coordination and synergy of all reform measures, so that initiatives across all fields and sectors advance in concert, generating combined momentum and enhancing overall effectiveness, while preventing and overcoming fragmentation and mutual obstruction. Above all, reform requires not only careful planning but also rigorous implementation. We must approach the execution of reforms with the spirit of “nailing down each task,” acting proactively yet steadily and prudently, clearly prioritizing tasks, seizing the right timing, pacing, and effectiveness, doing our utmost within our capabilities, and never losing touch with reality.

Li Ganjie and He Lifeng attended the symposium, which was also attended by responsible officials from relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee and state organs, leading officials from Shandong Province, representatives from state-owned enterprises, private enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises, enterprises with investment from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, “Little Giant” enterprises specializing in niche markets, individual business households, as well as experts and scholars.