THE third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee was held from July 15 to 18, 2024 at Beijing. During this session, several key decisions and resolutions were made. Foremost among them was the adoption of a resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This includes plans to improve the socialist market economy, enhance governance, and promote high-quality development. President Xi Jinping, who is also the General Secretary, delivered important addresses, emphasizing the need to continue implementing the guiding principles from the 20th National Party Congress and previous plenary sessions.
The session outlined objectives to be achieved by 2035, such as building a high-standard socialist market economy and modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance. These reforms aim to lay a solid foundation for building China into a great modern socialist country by the middle of the century. The resolution highlighted the importance of leveraging the market’s role, fostering a fair and dynamic market environment and promoting the integration of the real economy with the digital economy.
China’s modernization, plan often referred to as the “Chinese path to modernization,” encompasses several key points aimed at achieving comprehensive development and prosperity. Prominent among them are Common Prosperity, Material and Cultural-Ethical Progress, Ecological Development, Peaceful Development, Scientific & Technological Innovation, Global Cooperation and a People-Centred Approach. These aspects reflect China’s unique approach to modernization, which contrasts with Western models by focusing on social equity, ecological sustainability and peaceful development.
It is imperative to delve deeper into China’s approach to balancing economic growth with environmental concerns, which involves several key strategies. These comprise the implementation of a range of policies and regulations aimed at reducing pollution and promoting sustainable development. They also include setting targets for reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy. The bottom line is that China is a global leader in renewable energy investment, particularly in solar and wind power. The country has significantly increased its capacity for renewable energy production, which helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The Chinese Government encourages technological innovation to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. This comprises advancements in electric vehicles, smart grids and green technologies. Essentially, China has revised over 30 laws and regulations related to ecological and environmental protection. These laws aim to control pollution, protect natural resources and promote sustainable development. Contrary to the practice in some other leading nations of the world, China—as a responsible nation—has committed to international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, pledging to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Beijing has made a solemn pledge to promote green development through enterprises like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which includes projects aimed at improving environmental sustainability in participating countries. Resultantly, there is a growing emphasis on raising public awareness about environmental issues and encouraging public participation in environmental protection efforts. These strategies reflect China’s efforts to integrate environmental considerations into its economic development plans, aiming for a balance that supports both economic growth and environmental sustainability. Without fully understanding it, the Occident is often critical of China’s democratic practices. China has adopted a system suited to its needs, yielding positive results in development and growth. In this context, the 20th CPC’s third plenary session is significant due to its potential impact on domestic and international affairs. The session sets the policy direction for China’s future development, influencing economic, social and political strategies that can affect global markets and international relations.
Secondly, the session often introduces or reinforces economic reforms aimed at sustaining China’s growth. Given China’s role as the world’s second-largest economy, these reforms can have far-reaching effects on global trade and investment. Thirdly, it provides insights into the leadership’s priorities and governance style. Understanding these priorities helps other countries and international organizations anticipate China’s actions on the global stage.
Fourthly, the session highlights China’s commitment to environmental sustainability and technological innovation. As a major player, its policies influence global trends in renewable energy, technology, and environmental protection. Fifth, China’s strategic decisions on international cooperation and conflict are closely watched, signalling shifts in foreign policy and impacting geopolitics. Sixth, the session addresses social and cultural policies affecting domestic stability and cultural influence abroad. The world is interested in this session’s outcomes due to China’s significant impact on global economic stability, environmental sustainability, technological advancement and geopolitical dynamics.
A total of 199 members and 165 alternate members of the Central Committee attended the 20th CPC third plenary session in which, it was determined that the reform tasks laid out in the resolution shall be completed by the time the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 80th founding anniversary in 2029, said the communiqué. Keeping in view the prevailing threat potential, the plenary session noted that CPC must fully apply a holistic approach to national security, improve the institutions and mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and ensure that high-quality development and greater security reinforce each other, so as to effectively safeguard the country’s stability and security over the long term.
In the realm of national defence, the final communiqué urged maintaining the Party’s absolute leadership over the people’s armed forces and fully implementing the strategy of strengthening the military through reform to provide a strong guarantee for realizing the goals for the centenary of the People’s Liberation Army in 2027 and achieving basic modernization of national defence and the armed forces. In short, the 20th CPC third plenary session has several potential impacts on China’s foreign policy, especially in the context of Strengthened Global Engagement; Reaffirmation of the BRI; Economic Diplomacy; Environmental Leadership; Peaceful Development; and Strategic Partnerships, promising a brighter future for humankind.
—The writer, Retired Group Captain of PAF, is author of several books on China.
