The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened on the morning of October 18. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC, delivered a report to the congress, concluding the Party's work in the past five years and laying out its vision for the future. 

"Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era" is the strongest message signaled in the report. 

"With decades of hard work, socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. This is a new historic juncture in China's development," Xi pointed out in the report.  

The "new era" is a key word to understand the direction that China is heading for in future and thus to seize opportunities that come with China's development. 

China has witnessed three significant leaps in development since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 when Chinese people realized national liberation. With adopting the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has made great strides in advancing economic development and improving people’s livelihood. Now, on the basis of these achievements, China is preparing to make another great leap towards national rejuvenation, which is a footnote to the "new era."  

In this new period, the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved to be that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. This change implies new demands for China’s economic and social development and means new missions for the CPC to accomplish. 

As for the Party's mission, it has shifted from toppling the three mountains imposed by imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism and establishing a socialist system to leading the Chinese people to build the Chinese dream. The new mission tells why only the CPC can lead the Chinese people toward a brighter future. 

The following five years will be a historic juncture for the realization of the Two Centenary Goals, namely, to complete building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021, and to turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the time the PRC celebrates its centenary in 2049. Xi's report gives a clear blueprint for Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC to achieve the two goals.  

The world is undergoing profound and complex changes. The process of economic globalization faces new challenges. Terrorism and populism are increasingly undermining the world's development, and some regions are slipping into conflict. While striving for its own development, China, as an important member of the international community, is willing to make more contributions to world’s peace and development.  

The CPC always stays true to its mission and keeps vigilance to dangers from inside and outside. The Party is determined to deepen reform comprehensively and overcome all difficulties ahead.  As the facts in the past have proved, the CPC will surely lead the Chinese nation to reach the goal of rejuvenation.