The Communist Party of China (CPC) will formulate goals, strategic targets and guidelines for future reform and opening up at its upcoming national congress and vows to eliminate all ideological and institutional hurdles in the way of scientific development, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Calling reform and opening up a distinctive feature of China in the new era, Cai Mingzhao, spokesman for the congress, said at a press conference that upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics also depend on reform and opening up.

"The Communist Party of China has shown its clear-cut attitude in advancing reform and opening up," said Cai, citing President Hu Jintao's remarks in July which described mind emancipation as the "strong ideological weapon", and reform and opening up as the "strong driving force" to push forward the causes of the Party and the people.

The Party shall unswervingly advance reform and opening up, stay away from rigidity and stagnation and never vacillate, the spokesman said.

China's future reforms will revolve around some important sectors, improving the country's basic socialist economic system, socialist market economy mechanism, basic distribution system, socialist democratic system, cultural management system, and social management system, he said.

"Going forward, China will emphasize more on top-down designs and the building of supporting systems for the benefits of the people and provide more solid impetus for the national campaign of building a moderately prosperous society," Cai said.

The 18th CPC National Congress will last seven days till November 14.

More in special coverage: