China Voice: Reform, rule of law pivotal to China's future

Ninety-five years since its founding, the Communist Party of China (CPC) is leading China on a fast track toward national rejuvenation.

When the new leadership of the CPC Central Committee took office in 2012, they were faced with a challenge. Three decades of reform and opening-up had entered a "deep-water zone," in which the easy work was finished and the tasks that remained would be much more difficult.

Continued reform and establishing rule of law are the only solution to address these daunting and complicated challenges.

Since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee held in 2013, China has rolled out about 330 reform plans involving 15 sectors.

These plans touched upon realignment of deep-rooted interests, which had long stalled, including judicial reform, fiscal and taxation reform, reform of the household registration system, remuneration reform of state-owned enterprises, public hospital reform and rural land reform.

Reform will cause pain, yet without it, the pain will last longer.

Reform should be regarded as a revolution to rectify the system and challenge vested interests, as major obstructions to reform have held back national development and hurt the people's immediate interests.

During an event marking the 95th founding anniversary of the CPC last Friday, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, called on his comrades to "stay true to the mission" taken up by the Party 95 years ago.

Authorities should dare to "conduct surgery for chronic, stubborn diseases," "break the shelters of vested interests" and "sweep away institutional obstacles hampering development," according to Xi.

"Reform and opening up are key to deciding the fate of modern China," Xi said, urging local authorities to be more reform-minded and ensure the timely implementation of reform.

In his speech, Xi also emphasized the rule of law and the anti-corruption drive.

Rule of law should be the cornerstone of the modernization of China's governance and national rejuvenation.

A rule-of-law government features statutory rights and responsibilities, strict law enforcement, openness, justice and integrity. It is efficient and observant of the law, while being free of corruption.

With China's reform drive picking up momentum, the quest to make Chinese governance more law-based is becoming more urgent than ever.

Major social and economic issues, from corruption to pollution and overcapacity, all need and must be solved within the framework of the law. The rule of law can help institutionalize the popular anti-corruption campaign, rectify long-standing irregularities and push forward reforms.

Given continued economic headwinds and ambitious growth targets, promoting rule of law will benefit growth by reducing unwarranted administrative interference and creating a fair and free market.

In its 95-year history, the Party has emerged victorious through major challenges, by adapting to changes and listening to people's voices.

At this new stage of development, the CPC has decided to embrace a new path of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.

We believe that the new path will lead China to its first "centenary goal" of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, and lay a foundation for the second, i.e., building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the middle of the century. Endi