The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee presides over the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. The session was held from October 28 to 31. Photo: Xinhua

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee adopted a decision after its fourth plenary session last week which covered fields ranging from politics and military to the "one country, two systems" principle and environmental protection, and observers noted that the decision showed that the Party's leadership will cover all aspects of the nation's reform since it is the foundation for China to realize its goal of modernization and development, and the biggest advantage of China's socialist system.

The decision noted that the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a scientific system developed by the Party and the people through their long-term practices and exploration, said the document which was made public on Tuesday. 

The work and activities of China's governance are carried out in accordance with the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, said the document, noting that the country's system and capacity for governance are the embodiment of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and its enforcement capability.

Zhang Weiwei, director of the China Institute of Fudan University, said that in past decades, China had gained many experiences on governance and innovations of political systems and theories, such as "concentrating resources across the nation to resolve major problems or achieve great goals," and the "socialist market economy" which can scientifically avoid major crises and allocate resources. 

These are based on the Party's leadership, and proves that the Party's leadership is not only the most essential characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics, but also the biggest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as what the decision stated, experts noted.

The documents summarized the strengths of China's state and governance systems in 13 aspects, which covered politics, military, diplomacy, education, health, environmental protection and the "one country, two systems" principle, and called for efforts to better turn institutional strength into effective governance.

Among the 13 aspects, the first one is "Upholding and improving the system of institutions for the Party's leadership and improving the Party's capacity to practice scientific, democratic and law-based governance."Liu Chun, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said the decision is aimed at improving and reinforcing the Party leadership system so that the Party could have a broad view on the overall situation and be capable of coordinating different groups and forces.

"To implement the Party's leadership in every field and aspect is to ensure that the country always marches along the direction of socialism," he noted.

General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping's explanatory speech on the CPC Central Committee's decision was also made public on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. 

Xi explained the background and considerations for focusing on how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance.

First, this is a major task to fulfill the two centenary goals; second, this is the fundamental requirement for advancing reform and opening-up in the new era; and third, this is a strong guarantee for the country's response to risks and challenges and in taking initiatives, Xi said.

In a world undergoing changes unseen in a century, the risks and challenges the country is facing are more severe than ever, Xi said.

Zhang, the professor, noted that protectionism and the reverse of globalization emerging in some major Western powers have caused the slowdown in global economic growth, and the trade war launched by the US against China, frictions in sci-tech and financial sectors between China and the US also add risks and challenges.

The impact of the risks and challenges must be dealt with using the power of the system, Xi noted.

As the CPC moves to realize the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance, it will encounter problems from inside and outside the country, so when it deals with these problems, a powerful core of leadership — the Party's leadership — is the precondition for it to overcome the challenges, said Song Luzheng, a political studies expert at Fudan University.