With over 20,000 words, 15 parts, 60 articles, and more than 300 important reform measures...

The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese Modernization" (referred to as the "Decision") was published in full on the 21st. One specific measure after another has shown the world the breadth, strength, and depth of China's reform. The world's largest ruling party has once again demonstrated to the outside world that reform will not stop and opening up will not halt.

As the "Decision" points out, the current and upcoming period is a crucial time for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. In the face of the complex international and domestic situation, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and new expectations of the people, we must continue to push reform forward.

Three Major Sections with Clear Layout

In terms of content, the "Decision" is divided into three major sections. The general introduction mainly elaborates on the great significance and overall requirements of further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization. The sub-sections mainly deploy reforms in areas such as the economy, politics, culture, society, ecological civilization, national security, national defense, and the military. The third section mainly discusses strengthening the Party's leadership over reform, deepening the reform of the Party's building system, improving Party conduct and clean government, and combating corruption.

In terms of timeline, the "Decision" anchors the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035, focuses on deploying major reform measures for the next five years, and clearly proposes to "complete the reform tasks proposed in this Decision by the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2029." "Since the reform and opening up, all previous third plenary sessions of the Central Committee have studied and discussed the issue of deepening reform. Facing the urgent need for reform, the outside world expects major decisions to be issued at this crucial period," analyzed Yan Jirong, dean of the School of Government at Peking University. The "Decision" has clarified the direction for further comprehensively deepening reform in the future and will ensure that China steadily and sustainably advances on the track of high-quality development.

　　Reform Maintains Continuity

From the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee, which introduced a package of 336 reform measures in 15 areas, to the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, which consists of 15 parts, lists 60 articles, and proposes more than 300 important reform measures, the outside world sees a high degree of continuity in the reform deployments of the two third plenary sessions.

"The overall goal of further comprehensively deepening reform is to continue to improve and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's governance system and capacity," pointed out Xue Lan, dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. "This formulation is completely consistent with the one at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee, indicating that the fundamental direction of reform has not changed."

Moreover, the continuity of reform is intuitively presented in some key formulations. At the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee, the major thesis that the market plays a "decisive role" in resource allocation attracted widespread attention at home and abroad. In the "Decision" reviewed and approved at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, the formulation "fully leverage the decisive role of the market in resource allocation" has been consistently maintained.

"In a highly uncertain environment, the continuity of reform demonstrates the steadfastness of China's development," believed Wang Heng, a researcher at the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China. In the face of the complex domestic and international situation, as well as noise and misunderstandings, the systematic reform deployment of the CPC will serve as a weather vane and a reassurance, and also send a stable expectation of China's development to the outside world.

　　Highlighting the Main Line of Institutional Building

Comprehensively deepening reform is a profound and comprehensive social change, and also a complex systematic project. From building a high-level socialist market economy system to improving the systems and mechanisms for high-level opening up, some commentators have pointed out that the "Decision" highlights the main line of institutional building, demonstrating the systematic nature of the CPC's reform efforts. The outside world has noticed that this round of reform is planned under the framework of coordinating the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy," and coordinates the deployment of economic system reform and reforms in other fields.

Yan Jirong stated that whether it is continuously improving existing systems or advancing institutional innovation in new areas and filling institutional gaps, further comprehensively deepening reform focuses on institutions, with systematic integration being an important feature, continuously advancing "China's governance" through "China's systems."

In comprehensive reform, how to grasp the "bull's nose" and target key links is another mandatory question. In this regard, the "Decision" revolves around the core issue of properly handling the relationship between the government and the market, places the building of a high-level socialist market economy system in a prominent position, and deploys key areas and critical links of economic system reform.

"In the CPC's reform methodology, both system and key points are emphasized," Wang Heng pointed out. In the face of intersecting areas in reform, systematic thinking is needed; in the face of complex problems, it is necessary to grasp the key and exert precise efforts. Systematic integration and highlighting key points ultimately aim to enhance the effectiveness of reform.

A review of the full text of the "Decision" reveals that the word "people" appears nearly 50 times. In the "reform list" listed in the "Decision," whether it is "medical care, food, housing, and transportation" or "the elderly and children," whether it is improving the income distribution system or improving the employment-first policy, "Chinese modernization, people's livelihood is paramount" has become one tangible and concrete policy after another.