An Important Plenum for Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, held from 15 to 18 July 2024, was a meeting of great importance convened at a critical juncture in advancing the great cause of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization. The theme of the plenum was further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization, and its major outcome was the deliberation and adoption of the *Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization* (hereinafter referred to as the *Decision*). The plenum fully affirmed the work of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee since the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, highly evaluated the successful practices and great achievements of deepening reform comprehensively since the New Era, and scientifically summarized the valuable experience gained since reform and opening up. It is both a practical continuation of the comprehensive deepening of reform initiated at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee and the opening of a new chapter in the era of further deepening reform comprehensively at a new stage. The holding of the plenum is a reaffirmation of what banner to hold and what path to take on the new journey of the New Era, and it bears major and far-reaching significance for advancing the great cause of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization.

2024年7月15—18日召开的中共二十届三中全会，是在以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的关键时期召开的一次十分重要的会议。全会的主题是进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化，重大成果是审议通过了《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》（以下简称《决定》）。全会充分肯定了中共二十届二中全会以来中央政治局的工作，高度评价了新时代以来全面深化改革的成功实践和伟大成就，科学总结改革开放以来宝贵经验，既是中共十八届三中全会全面深化改革的实践续编，也开启了新阶段进一步全面深化改革的时代新篇。全会的举行，是对新时代新征程举什么旗、走什么路的再宣示，对以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业具有重大而深远的意义。

I. The Plenum Is a Scientific Summary of the Valuable Experience Gained Since Reform and Opening Up

一、全会是对改革开放以来宝贵经验的科学总结

Reform and opening up has brought earth-shaking changes to China, becoming the most distinctive hallmark and the most magnificent scene of contemporary China. The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC, held in 1978, resolutely abandoned the erroneous line of "taking class struggle as the key link" and established the correct line of "taking economic construction as the central task," thus raising the curtain on reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and leading China into a new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization. Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, the CPC has led the Chinese people in always holding high the banner of reform and opening up, continuously pushing reform to deeper levels.

改革开放给中国带来了翻天覆地的变化，成为当代中国最显著的标识和最恢宏的景象。1978年召开的中共十一届三中全会，果断摒弃了“以阶级斗争为纲”的错误路线，确立了“以经济建设为中心”的正确路线，拉开了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的序幕，引领中国进入了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期。中共十一届三中全会以来，中国共产党带领中国人民始终高举改革开放的大旗，持续推动改革向纵深发展。

Over the past 46 years, the Party Central Committee has convened a total of ten third plenary sessions. Each third plenary session, closely integrating the characteristics and tasks of that period, focused on reform issues and made a series of significant decisions, driving the wave of reform forward. In the process of reform and opening up, China's economy maintained rapid growth, with an average annual growth rate of 9.9% from 1979 to 2012, far exceeding the average growth level of the world economy over the same period by 7.0 percentage points, and also higher than the average level of the world's major economies over the same period. China's total economic output grew from 53.9 trillion yuan in 2012 to 126.1 trillion yuan in 2023, with its share of the world economy rising from 11.3% to over 17%, and per capita GDP rising from 6,300 US dollars to over 12,700 US dollars. China has achieved a historic leap from relatively backward productive forces to becoming the world's second-largest economy, realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and is now advancing toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.

46年来，中共中央一共召开了10次三中全会。每一次三中全会，都紧密结合该时期的特点和任务，聚焦改革议题，做出一系列意义重大的决策，推动改革的浪潮滚滚向前。在改革开放进程中，中国经济保持高速增长，1979—2012年平均增长率高达9.9%，远超同期世界经济平均增长水平7.0个百分点，也高于世界主要经济体同期平均水平。中国经济总量从2012年的53.9万亿元增长至2023年的126.1万亿元，占世界经济的比重从11.3%提高到超过17%，人均国内生产总值由6300美元提升至超过1.27万美元。中国实现了从生产力相对落后到经济总量位居世界第二的历史性跨越，实现了全面建成小康社会第一个百年奋斗目标，朝着全面建成社会主义现代化强国的第二个百年奋斗目标迈进。

The brilliant achievements of reform and opening up and the practice of creating a world-renowned human miracle fully prove that reform and opening up is a key measure for the cause of the Party and the people to keep pace with the times, a key choice determining the fate of contemporary China, and the only way to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. As General Secretary Xi Jinping summarized at the plenum: "In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, China caught up with the times in big strides by relying on reform and opening up. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, historic achievements and historic transformations have been made in the cause of the Party and the state, also by relying on reform and opening up. On the new journey of the New Era, to open up new prospects for Chinese-path modernization, we still have to rely on reform and opening up."

改革开放取得辉煌成就、创造了举世瞩目的人间奇迹的实践充分证明，改革开放是党和人民事业紧跟时代步伐的关键举措，是决定当代中国命运的关键抉择，是坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的必由之路。正如习近平总书记在全会上总结的那样：“改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，我国大踏步赶上时代，靠的是改革开放。中共十八大以来，党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，靠的也是改革开放。新时代新征程上，要开创中国式现代化建设新局面，仍然要靠改革开放。”

Anchoring on modernization, reform sets out anew. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC unswervingly holds high the banner of reform and opening up, highly affirms the practical achievements and great accomplishments of deepening reform comprehensively since the New Era, deeply elaborates on the significance and urgency of further deepening reform comprehensively, and emphasizes that the overall goal of further deepening reform comprehensively is to continue to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity. This fully reflects the historical initiative of the Party Central Committee in improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity, and its firm determination to open up broad prospects for Chinese-path modernization through further deepening reform and opening up comprehensively. It fully releases a strong signal that reform will not pause and opening up will not stop.

锚定现代化，改革再出发。中共二十届三中全会坚定不移地高举改革开放大旗，高度肯定了新时代以来全面深化改革的实践成果和伟大成就，深入阐释了进一步全面深化改革的重要意义和紧迫性，强调进一步全面深化改革的总体目标是继续完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，充分体现了党中央完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的历史主动，以进一步全面深化改革开放开辟中国式现代化广阔前景的坚强决心，充分释放了改革不停顿、开放不止步的强烈信号。

The plenum pointed out: "Facing the complex and ever-changing international and domestic situation, facing the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and facing the new expectations of the people, we must consciously place reform in a more prominent position and closely focus on Chinese-path modernization to further deepen reform comprehensively." The "three faces" indicate that at the critical juncture of advancing the great cause of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, the mission of building a strong country is more glorious, and the task of reform is more arduous. We must take comprehensive deepening of reform as the fundamental driving force, continuously liberate and develop social productive forces, and liberate and enhance social vitality. Only by consciously placing reform in a more prominent position, continuing to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advancing the modernization of the state governance system and governance capacity can we promote the great cause to proceed steadily and far, and win new and greater victories. Only by summarizing and applying the valuable experience of deepening reform comprehensively since reform and opening up, especially since the New Era, further scientifically planning reform, paying more attention to system integration, highlighting key points, and emphasizing practical results, opening roads through mountains and building bridges across waters, and tackling difficulties and risks, can we gather the broadest forces for reform and transform them into the fundamental driving force for advancing Chinese-path modernization.

全会指出：“面对纷繁复杂的国际国内形势，面对新一轮科技革命和产业变革，面对人民群众新期待，必须自觉把改革摆在更加突出位置，紧紧围绕中国式现代化进一步全面深化改革。”“三个面对”表明，在以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的关键时期，强国使命更加光荣，改革任务更加艰巨，必须把全面深化改革作为根本动力，不断解放和发展社会生产力、解放和增强社会活力。只有自觉把改革摆在更加突出位置，继续完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，才能推动伟大事业行稳致远，赢得新的更大胜利。只有总结和运用好改革开放以来特别是新时代以来全面深化改革的宝贵经验，进一步科学谋划改革，更加注重系统集成、突出重点、注重实效，逢山开路、遇水搭桥、攻坚克险，才能汇聚最为广泛的改革力量，转化成推进中国式现代化的根本动力。

Planning and deploying reform around the Party's central task is a successful experience of the Party in leading reform and opening up. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC clearly pointed out: "From now on, the central task of the CPC is to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups across the country to build a great modern socialist country in all respects, achieve the second centenary goal, and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization." The 20th National Congress of the CPC established the central task of building a great modern socialist country in all respects, achieving the second centenary goal, and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, elaborated on the Chinese characteristics, essential requirements, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, and made strategic deployments for advancing Chinese-path modernization. At the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "To implement these strategic deployments and turn the blueprint of Chinese-path modernization into reality, the fundamental approach lies in further deepening reform comprehensively, continuously improving various systems and mechanisms, and providing institutional guarantees for advancing Chinese-path modernization." The *Decision* adopted by the plenum, closely centering on the core theme of advancing Chinese-path modernization, targeting the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035, formulates strategic measures for further deepening reform comprehensively from aspects such as the economy, politics, culture, society, ecological civilization, national security, and national defense and the military. It is a programmatic document guiding the further comprehensive deepening of reform on the new journey.

围绕党的中心任务谋划和部署改革，是党领导改革开放的成功经验。中共二十大报告曾明确指出：“从现在起，中国共产党的中心任务就是团结带领全国各族人民全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。”中共二十大确立了全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的中心任务，阐述了中国式现代化的中国特色、本质要求、重大原则等，对推进中国式现代化做出战略部署。在中共二十届三中全会上，习近平总书记深刻指出：“要把这些战略部署落到实处，把中国式现代化蓝图变为现实，根本在于进一步全面深化改革，不断完善各方面体制机制，为推进中国式现代化提供制度保障”。全会通过的《决定》，紧密围绕推进中国式现代化这一核心主题，瞄准2035年基本实现社会主义现代化的目标，从经济、政治、文化、社会、生态文明、国家安全、国防和军队等方面，制定了进一步全面深化改革的战略举措，是指导新征程上进一步全面深化改革的纲领性文件。

The plenary session scientifically summarized the valuable experience of reform and opening up, especially the comprehensive deepening of reform in the New Era, and clearly stated that to further deepen reform comprehensively, the following principles must be implemented: uphold the Party’s overall leadership, firmly safeguard the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized and unified leadership, give play to the Party’s role as the core of leadership in commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties, and ensure that Party leadership runs through every aspect and the entire process of reform, guaranteeing that reform always advances in the correct political direction; adhere to a people-centered approach, respect the people’s principal position and pioneering spirit, respond to the people’s calls with reform measures, ensuring that reform is for the people, relies on the people, and its fruits are shared by the people; uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, unwaveringly adhere to socialism with Chinese characteristics, keep pace with the times, follow the development of practice, highlight problem orientation, and promote theoretical, practical, institutional, cultural, and other innovations from a new starting point; take institutional improvement as the main thread, strengthen top-level design and overall planning, break and establish simultaneously, establish before breaking, consolidate fundamental institutions, improve basic institutions, and innovate important institutions; adhere to law-based governance, deepen reform and advance Chinese-path modernization on the track of the rule of law, ensuring that reform and the rule of law are unified, major reforms have legal basis, and reform achievements are promptly elevated into legal institutions; uphold a systems perspective, properly handle major relationships such as those between economy and society, government and market, efficiency and fairness, vitality and order, and development and security, enhancing the systemic, holistic, and synergistic nature of reform. These six principles collectively embody the core essence of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourse on comprehensively deepening reform, further deepen the Party’s understanding of the laws governing reform, and serve as an important guide for further deepening reform comprehensively on the new journey.

全会对改革开放以来特别是新时代全面深化改革的宝贵经验进行了科学总结，明确指出进一步全面深化改革，必须贯彻以下原则：坚持党的全面领导，坚定维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，发挥党总揽全局、协调各方的领导核心作用，把党的领导贯穿改革各方面全过程，确保改革始终沿着正确政治方向前进；坚持以人民为中心，尊重人民主体地位和首创精神，人民有所呼、改革有所应，做到改革为了人民、改革依靠人民、改革成果由人民共享；坚持守正创新，坚持中国特色社会主义不动摇，紧跟时代步伐，顺应实践发展，突出问题导向，在新的起点上推进理论创新、实践创新、制度创新、文化创新以及其他各方面创新；坚持以制度建设为主线，加强顶层设计、总体谋划，破立并举、先立后破，筑牢根本制度，完善基本制度，创新重要制度；坚持全面依法治国，在法治轨道上深化改革、推进中国式现代化，做到改革和法治相统一，重大改革于法有据、及时把改革成果上升为法律制度；坚持系统观念，处理好经济和社会、政府和市场、效率和公平、活力和秩序、发展和安全等重大关系，增强改革系统性、整体性、协同性。这六条原则，集中体现了习近平总书记关于全面深化改革重要论述的核心要旨，进一步深化了党对改革规律的认识，是新征程上进一步全面深化改革的重要遵循。

II. The Plenary Session Is a Practical Sequel to the Comprehensive Deepening of Reform

二、全会是全面深化改革的实践续篇

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in the face of a severe and complex international environment and arduous and heavy tasks of domestic reform, development, and stability, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups across the country, never pausing reform and never halting opening up. On the foundation of the tremendous achievements of reform and opening up, on November 12, 2013, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee adopted the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform,” which established that “the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.” Since the 18th National Congress, reform has “highlighted the main thread of institutional improvement, improved various institutions through comprehensive deepening of reform, promoted the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics to become more mature and more established, and significantly raised the level of modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.” Reform has achieved “a transformation from local exploration and breakthrough to systemic integration and comprehensive deepening, with basic institutional frameworks in various fields basically established, and many fields have undergone historic changes, systemic restructuring, and holistic reconstruction.”

中共十八大以来，面对严峻复杂的国际环境和艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全党全国各族人民，改革不停步，开放不止步。在改革开放取得巨大成就的基础上，2013年11月12日，中共十八届三中全会通过了《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干重大问题的决定》，确定了“全面深化改革的总目标是完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化”。中共十八大以来的改革，“突出制度建设这条主线，通过全面深化改革完善各方面制度，推动中国特色社会主义制度更加成熟更加定型，国家治理体系和治理能力现代化水平明显提高”。改革实现了“从局部探索、破冰突围到系统集成、全面深化的转变，各领域基础性制度框架基本确立，许多领域实现了历史性变革、系统性重塑和整体性重构”。

“Improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a dynamic process that inevitably develops continuously with the development of practice; existing institutions need to be constantly improved, and new fields and new practices require promoting institutional innovation and filling institutional gaps.” The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee systematically summarized the successful experiences and existing problems since China’s reform and opening up, deeply analyzed the contradictions and challenges faced in the reform process of the new stage, deeply analyzed the urgency and importance of further deepening reform comprehensively, and continued to push comprehensive deepening reform further from a higher starting point.

“完善中国特色社会主义制度是一个动态过程，必然随着实践发展而不断发展，已有制度需要不断健全，新领域新实践需要推进制度创新、填补制度空白。”中共二十届三中全会系统总结我国改革开放以来的成功经验与存在问题，深入剖析新阶段改革进程中面临的矛盾与挑战，深入分析进一步全面深化改革的紧迫性与重要性，在更高起点上继续把全面深化改革推向深入。

In the process of comprehensively deepening reform and opening up, the Communist Party of China further deepened its understanding of the three laws [8]8 The “three laws” refer to the law of the development of human society, the law of socialist construction, and the law of the development of the Communist Party of China., continuously achieved theoretical and practical innovations and breakthroughs, established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and promoted historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the state. The historic great achievements in comprehensively deepening reform are fundamentally due to the leadership and helm of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The “Decision” clarifies the guiding ideology for further deepening reform comprehensively, namely: “uphold Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the ‘Three Represents,’ and the Scientific Outlook on Development; fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; thoroughly study and implement a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on comprehensively deepening reform; fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development concept; adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability; adhere to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, keeping pace with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic; further liberate and develop social productive forces, stimulate and enhance social vitality; coordinate the two overall situations of domestic and international affairs; coordinately advance the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy; take economic system reform as the driving force; take promoting social fairness and justice and enhancing the well-being of the people as the starting point and ultimate goal; pay more attention to systemic integration, highlighting key points, and reform effectiveness; promote better adaptation between relations of production and productive forces, between the superstructure and the economic base, and between national governance and social development; and provide strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-path modernization.” This provides the direction and fundamental guidance for further deepening reform comprehensively.

在全面深化改革开放的过程中，中国共产党进一步深化了对三大规律的认识，不断实现理论和实践上的创新突破，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。全面深化改革取得历史性伟大成就，根本在于以习近平同志为核心的党中央领航掌舵，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的科学指引。《决定》明确进一步全面深化改革的指导思想，即“坚持马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、‘三个代表’重要思想、科学发展观，全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于全面深化改革的一系列新思想、新观点、新论断，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进、求真务实，进一步解放和发展社会生产力、激发和增强社会活力，统筹国内国际两个大局，统筹推进‘五位一体’总体布局，协调推进‘四个全面’战略布局，以经济体制改革为牵引，以促进社会公平正义、增进人民福祉为出发点和落脚点，更加注重系统集成，更加注重突出重点，更加注重改革实效，推动生产关系和生产力、上层建筑和经济基础、国家治理和社会发展更好相适应，为中国式现代化提供强大动力和制度保障”，为进一步全面深化改革指明了前进的方向，提供了根本遵循。

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the comprehensive deepening of reform has been unprecedented in scope, number of plans introduced, depth of interests touched, and intensity of promotion. The Party Central Committee has grasped the relationships between the present and the long term, between intensity and pace, and between principal and secondary contradictions, placed the resolution of major institutional and mechanism issues in a prominent position, and focused on promoting reform measures with a “four beams and eight pillars” [9]9 “Four beams and eight pillars” (四梁八柱) is a Chinese architectural metaphor for the main supporting structure of a building, used here to describe the key, foundational reform measures that provide overall support. nature in areas such as state-owned assets and enterprises, fiscal and taxation, finance, science and technology, land, people’s livelihood security, and ecological civilization construction, leveraging their driving and supporting roles for related reforms. It has insisted on grasping both the introduction of reform plans and the implementation of reform measures, strengthened the responsibility of Party committees at all levels and “first-in-charge” [10]10 “First-in-charge” (一把手) refers to the principal leader of a Party committee or government unit, who bears primary responsibility for implementation. persons for implementation, promoted the formation of a chain of main responsibilities that runs through from top to bottom and assigns responsibility at each level, and promoted the successive implementation and gradual blossoming of various reforms, achieving solid results. On the basis of tremendous achievements in various reform endeavors, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee clarified the overall goal of further deepening reform comprehensively: “Continue to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. By 2035, fully establish a high-level socialist market economy system, further improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, basically realize the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, basically realize socialist modernization, and lay a solid foundation for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century.” “Facing new situations and tasks, it is necessary to further deepen reform comprehensively, continue to improve various institutional mechanisms, consolidate foundations, enhance strengths, shore up weaknesses, and strengthen weak links, and continuously better transform China’s institutional advantages into national governance effectiveness.” The “Decision” requires that “by 2029, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the reform tasks set forth in this Decision shall be completed.” The overall goal and overall tasks determined by the plenary session are both consistent with the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform proposed by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and aligned with the strategic deployments made by the 20th National Congress of the CPC, while also incorporating new and higher requirements.

中共十八大以来，全面深化改革涉及范围之广、出台方案之多、触及利益之深、推进力度之大前所未有，中共中央把握当前和长远、力度和节奏、主要矛盾和次要矛盾的关系，把解决重大体制机制问题放在突出位置，重点推进国资国企、财税、金融、科技、土地、民生保障、生态文明建设等具有“四梁八柱”性质的改革举措，发挥其对相关改革的带动作用和支撑作用。坚持一手抓改革方案出台，一手抓改革举措落地，强化各级党委和“一把手”抓落实责任，推动形成上下贯通、层层负责的主体责任链条，推动各项改革相继落地、渐次开花，取得扎扎实实成效。在各项改革事业取得巨大成就的基础上，中共二十届三中全会明确了进一步全面深化改革的总目标是：“继续完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化。到二〇三五年，全面建成高水平社会主义市场经济体制，中国特色社会主义制度更加完善，基本实现国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，基本实现社会主义现代化，为到本世纪中叶全面建成社会主义现代化强国奠定坚实基础。”“面对新的形势和任务，必须进一步全面深化改革，继续完善各方面制度机制，固根基、扬优势、补短板、强弱项，不断把我国制度优势更好转化为国家治理效能。”《决定》要求“到二〇二九年中华人民共和国成立八十周年时，完成本决定提出的改革任务”。全会确定的总目标总任务，既同中共十八届三中全会提出的全面深化改革总目标一脉相承，又同中共二十大做出的战略部署相衔接，同时还有新的更高的要求。

A high-standard socialist market economy system is an important safeguard for Chinese-path modernization. Following the 15th National Congress of the CPC’s clarification that China “upholds and improves the basic economic system with public ownership as the mainstay and diverse forms of ownership developing side by side,” the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee explicitly stated: “Upholding and improving the basic economic system must adhere to the ‘two unswervinglys.’”[11]11 The “two unswervinglys” (两个毫不动摇) refers to the policy of unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector of the economy, and unswervingly encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of the non-public sector of the economy. The plenary session’s decision proposed reform measures from multiple levels to encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector of the economy, and to stimulate the vitality and creativity of the non-public sector. In terms of functional positioning, it clarified that both the public and non-public sectors of the economy are important components of the socialist market economy and are important foundations for China’s economic development. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee continued to clearly propose upholding and implementing the “two unswervinglys,” namely, “unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector of the economy, and unswervingly encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector of the economy, ensuring that all forms of ownership equally use factors of production according to law, participate fairly in market competition, and receive equal legal protection, and promoting complementary advantages and common development among all forms of ownership.” This is to ensure that all forms of ownership equally use factors of production according to law, participate fairly in market competition, and receive equal legal protection, and to promote complementary advantages and common development among all forms of ownership.

高水平社会主义市场经济体制是中国式现代化的重要保障。继中共十五大明确我国“坚持和完善社会主义公有制为主体、多种所有制经济共同发展的基本经济制度”后，中共十八届三中全会明确提出：“坚持和完善基本经济制度必须坚持‘两个毫不动摇’。全会决定从多个层面提出鼓励、支持、引导非公有制经济发展，激发非公有制经济活力和创造力的改革举措。在功能定位上，明确公有制经济和非公有制经济都是社会主义市场经济的重要组成部分，都是我国经济发展的重要基础”。中共二十届三中全会继续鲜明提出坚持和落实“两个毫不动摇”，即“毫不动摇巩固和发展公有制经济，毫不动摇鼓励、支持、引导非公有制经济发展，保证各种所有制经济依法平等使用生产要素、公平参与市场竞争、同等受到法律保护，促进各种所有制经济优势互补、共同发展”。以保证各种所有制经济依法平等使用生产要素、公平参与市场竞争、同等受到法律保护，促进各种所有制经济优势互补、共同发展。

It is precisely on the basis of the gradual realization of the overall goal of deepening reform comprehensively that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, centering on the central tasks set by the report of the 20th National Congress, drew up a blueprint for the era. Within the framework of coordinated advancement of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and coordinated promotion of the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, it proposed five specific goals, the “six adherences” principle, the “seven focal points” priorities, and systematic deployments in fourteen areas, advancing the deepening of reform comprehensively.

正是在全面深化改革的总目标逐步实现的基础上，中共二十届三中全会围绕二十大报告确定的中心任务，擘画时代蓝图，在统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局、协调推进“四个全面”战略布局框架下，提出了五个具体目标、“六个坚持”原则、“七个聚焦”重点和十四个方面的系统部署，将全面深化改革向前推进。

III. The Plenary Session Opened a New Chapter of the Era for Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively

三、全会开启了进一步全面深化改革的时代新篇

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee is both a practical continuation of the comprehensive deepening of reform since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee and another general mobilization and general deployment to push comprehensive deepening of reform to greater breadth and depth on the new journey of the New Era. It is a new chapter of the era for advancing Chinese-path modernization on the new journey.

中共二十届三中全会既是中共十八届三中全会以来全面深化改革的实践续篇，也是新时代新征程上推动全面深化改革向广度和深度进军的又一次总动员、总部署，是新征程推进中国式现代化的时代新篇。

The plenary session deeply recognized the current historical juncture and the situation and tasks facing China, pointing out that “the current and future period is a critical period for comprehensively building a strong country and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.” It deeply analyzed the new situations and new problems facing the advancement of Chinese-path modernization, expounded the great significance and overall requirements of further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization, and, standing at a new historical starting point, closely centered on advancing Chinese-path modernization and implementing the strategic deployments of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. Anchoring the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035, it made systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively, with a key focus on laying out a reform roadmap up to 2029, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The plenary session clarified the key areas and crucial links of reform, aiming to build a more complete socialist market economy system, a more efficient government governance system, a fairer social security system, and other goals. It deployed reforms across various economic and social fields, systematically and profoundly elaborated on strengthening the Party’s leadership over reform, deepening the reform of the Party building system, and promoting clean governance, combating corruption, and building a clean and honest administration. It proposed over 300 forward-looking and innovative reform measures.

全会深刻认识到当前我国所处的历史方位和面临的形势任务，指出：“当前和今后一个时期是以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的关键时期”，深入分析推进中国式现代化面临的新情况新问题，阐述了进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的重大意义和总体要求，站在新的历史起点上，紧紧围绕推进中国式现代化、落实中共二十大战略部署，锚定2035年基本实现社会主义现代化目标，对进一步全面深化改革作出系统谋划，重点部署了到2029年中华人民共和国成立80周年时的改革路线图。全会明确改革的重点领域与关键环节，着眼于构建更加完善的社会主义市场经济体制、更加高效的政府治理体系、更加公平的社会保障体系等目标，从经济社会各领域部署改革，对加强党对改革的领导、深化党的建设制度改革、党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争等各个方面进行系统而深刻的阐述，提出了300多项具有前瞻性、创新性的改革举措。

The “seven focal points” proposed by the plenary session broadly encompass the strategic priorities for advancing Chinese-path modernization, namely: focusing on building a high-standard socialist market economy system; focusing on developing whole-process people’s democracy; focusing on building a socialist cultural power; focusing on improving the quality of life of the people; focusing on building a Beautiful China; focusing on building a higher-level Peaceful China; and focusing on improving the Party’s leadership level and long-term governance capacity, continuing to push reform forward.

全会提出的“七个聚焦”，从总体上囊括了推进中国式现代化的战略重点，即：聚焦构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制，聚焦发展全过程人民民主，聚焦建设社会主义文化强国，聚焦提高人民生活品质，聚焦建设美丽中国，聚焦建设更高水平平安中国，聚焦提高党的领导水平和长期执政能力，继续把改革推向前进。

The plenary session continued to make deepening economic system reform the focus of further deepening reform comprehensively, emphasizing the role of economic system reform as a driving force and promoting coordinated reforms in various fields. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the “Explanation on the ‘Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization’”: “Deepening economic system reform remains the focus of further deepening reform comprehensively. The main tasks are to improve the systems and mechanisms conducive to promoting high-quality development, shape new drivers and new advantages for development, uphold and implement the ‘two unswervinglys,’ build a unified national market, and improve the basic systems of the market economy.” The plenary session specifically proposed: “A high-standard socialist market economy system is an important safeguard for Chinese-path modernization. It is necessary to better leverage the role of market mechanisms, create a fairer and more dynamic market environment, achieve optimal allocation of resources and maximization of benefits, be both ‘able to let go’ and ‘able to manage well,’ better maintain market order and compensate for market failures, smooth the circulation of the national economy, and stimulate the endogenous driving force and innovation vitality of the whole society.”

全会继续将深化经济体制改革作为进一步全面深化改革的重点，强调发挥经济体制改革牵引作用，协同推进各领域改革。习近平总书记在《关于〈中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定〉的说明》中指出：“深化经济体制改革仍是进一步全面深化改革的重点，主要任务是完善有利于推动高质量发展的体制机制，塑造发展新动能新优势，坚持和落实‘两个毫不动摇’，构建全国统一大市场，完善市场经济基础制度。”全会特别提出：“高水平社会主义市场经济体制是中国式现代化的重要保障。必须更好发挥市场机制作用，创造更加公平、更有活力的市场环境，实现资源配置效率最优化和效益最大化，既‘放得活’又‘管得住’，更好维护市场秩序、弥补市场失灵，畅通国民经济循环，激发全社会内生动力和创新活力。”

The key to further deepening reform comprehensively lies in “deepening,” and the focus lies in “comprehensiveness.” The plenary session planned further deepening reform comprehensively within the framework of coordinated advancement of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and coordinated promotion of the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, coordinated the deployment of economic system reform and reforms in other fields, and focused on building systems and mechanisms to comprehensively support innovation. It pointed out the need to “coordinate the advancement of the integrated reform of education, science and technology, and talent systems and mechanisms, emphasizing deepening comprehensive education reform, deepening science and technology system reform, and deepening talent development system and mechanism reform, to enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system.” The major reform deployments established by the plenary session proceed in parallel with “breaking” and “establishing,” integrate “systems” and “governance,” and are comprehensive and targeted.

进一步全面深化改革，关键在于“深化”，重点在于“全面”。全会在统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局、协调推进“四个全面”战略布局框架下谋划进一步全面深化改革，统筹部署经济体制改革和其他各领域改革，注重构建支持全面创新体制机制，指出要“统筹推进教育科技人才体制机制一体改革，强调深化教育综合改革、深化科技体制改革、深化人才发展体制机制改革，提升国家创新体系整体效能”。全会确立的一系列改革的重大部署，“破”“立”并行，“制”“治”融合，全面而具有针对性。

Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese-path modernization. The “Decision” proposed to “improve the implementation mechanism for major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee; deepen the reform of the cadre and personnel system, clearly establish the correct orientation for selecting and appointing personnel, vigorously select cadres who are politically reliable, dare to take responsibility, are determined to reform, have outstanding achievements, and are clean and honest, and strive to solve the problems of cadres acting arbitrarily, not acting, not daring to act, and not acting well; establish and practice a correct outlook on political performance, implement the ‘three distinctions,’[12]12 The “three distinctions” (三个区分开来) refers to distinguishing between mistakes made in exploring new paths and violations of discipline and law; between mistakes made in promoting reform and innovation and intentional violations of regulations; and between mistakes made in pursuing development and engaging in corruption or abuse of power. and encourage cadres to forge ahead, start businesses, and take initiative; strengthen the political functions and organizational functions of Party organizations; improve the systems and mechanisms for preventing and combating formalism and bureaucracy, improve the mechanisms for jointly investigating and rectifying unhealthy tendencies and corruption, and enrich effective methods for preventing and combating new types and hidden forms of corruption.”

党的领导是进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的根本保证。《决定》提出，要“完善党中央重大决策部署落实机制；深化干部人事制度改革，鲜明树立选人用人正确导向，大力选拔政治过硬、敢于担当、锐意改革、实绩突出、清正廉洁的干部，着力解决干部乱作为、不作为、不敢为、不善为问题；树立和践行正确政绩观，落实‘三个区分开来’，激励干部开拓进取、干事创业；增强党组织政治功能和组织功能；健全防治形式主义、官僚主义制度机制，健全不正之风和腐败问题同查同治机制，丰富防治新型腐败和隐性腐败的有效办法”。

On December 31, 2012, in his speech at the second collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Reform and opening up is an unprecedented new undertaking; we must adhere to the correct methodology and advance it through continuous practical exploration.” Further deepening reform comprehensively faces more deep-seated institutional and systemic issues. The plenary session thoroughly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions on deepening reform comprehensively, proposing to “take economic system reform as the driving force, take promoting social fairness and justice and enhancing the well-being of the people as the starting point and ultimate goal, pay more attention to systemic integration, pay more attention to highlighting key points, and pay more attention to the actual effectiveness of reform, to better adapt the relations of production to the productive forces, the superstructure to the economic base, and national governance to social development, providing strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-path modernization.” Paying attention to systemic integration, highlighting key points, and focusing on actual effectiveness are important ideological methods and working methods of the Party’s leadership over the reform cause since the New Era. The plenary session highlighted three “greater emphases,” which is both a full affirmation of past successful practices and a higher requirement for further deepening reform comprehensively.

2012年12月31日，习近平总书记在十八届中央政治局第二次集体学习时的讲话中指出：“改革开放是前无古人的崭新事业，必须坚持正确的方法论，在不断实践探索中推进。”进一步全面深化改革，更多面对的是深层次体制机制问题，全会深入贯彻习近平总书记关于全面深化改革的一系列新思想、新观点、新论断，提出要“以经济体制改革为牵引，以促进社会公平正义、增进人民福祉为出发点和落脚点，更加注重系统集成，更加注重突出重点，更加注重改革实效，推动生产关系和生产力、上层建筑和经济基础、国家治理和社会发展更好相适应，为中国式现代化提供强大动力和制度保障”。注重系统集成，注重突出重点，注重改革实效，是新时代以来党领导改革事业的重要思想方法和工作方法。全会突出三个“更加注重”，既是对过去成功做法的充分肯定，也是对进一步全面深化改革的更高要求。

The *Decision* states: “Chinese-path modernization is continuously advanced through reform and opening up, and it will surely open up broad prospects through reform and opening up.” In the history of reform and opening up, “the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee was epoch-making, ushering in a new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee was also epoch-making, inaugurating a new journey of comprehensively deepening reform in the New Era, systematically designing and advancing reform as a whole, and creating an entirely new situation for China’s reform and opening up.”[13]13 The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee (December 1978) launched China’s reform and opening up under Deng Xiaoping. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee (November 2013) set the goal of “comprehensively deepening reform” under Xi Jinping. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC further clarified the overall goal of comprehensively deepening reform, closely linking reform and opening up with the future of the Chinese nation, the process of Chinese-path modernization, and the destiny of every individual. It is another important milestone in the historical process of reform and opening up.

《决定》指出：“中国式现代化是在改革开放中不断推进的，也必将在改革开放中开辟广阔前景。”在改革开放的历史中，“党的十一届三中全会是划时代的，开启了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期。党的十八届三中全会也是划时代的，开启了新时代全面深化改革、系统整体设计推进改革新征程，开创了我国改革开放全新局面”。中共二十届三中全会，进一步明确了全面深化改革的总目标，将改革开放和中华民族的前途、中国式现代化的进程、每个人的命运紧密地联系在了一起，是改革开放的历史进程中又一座重要的里程碑。

(Author: Li Zhenghua, Professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Deputy Director and Researcher at the Institute of Contemporary China Studies)

（作者：李正华，中国社会科学院大学教授、当代中国研究所副所长、研究员）

Online Editor: Jin Qiu

网络编辑：金秋